Pup Culture Rescue is a dedicated team for saving dogs & educating the community on the importance of adoption.
Our Mission
We believe that every pup deserves a loving home and every individual deserves a loyal companion. Our personalized approach ensures every adopter is united with their perfect match. Through outreach and education we are committed to preventing dogs from abandonment and easing the stress on our shelter system.
Pup Culture Rescue is a female-founded 501(c)(3) operating out of Pasadena, CA.
Meet Our Team
Victoria Lily Shaffer
CEO & FOUNDER
Victoria (@victorialilyshaffer) launched Pup Culture Rescue in October 2021 after writing her debut publication, Pup Culture: Stories, Tips, and the Importance of Adopting a Dog.
She is passionate about combining her advocacy for animal welfare with her experience in entertainment, aiming to create content that inspires and educates viewers about responsible dog parenting and to #AdoptDontShop.
Her home is the epitome of organized chaos, often housing puppies, dogs with special medical needs, and behavioral cases (on top of her own diverse quad squad!)
Riley O’Day, RVT
CO-FOUNDER & HEAD OF OUTREACH
Riley (@rileyoday) has been involved in dog rescue since age eleven when she fostered her first puppy — but her love for animals stretches back as far as she can remember.
While working from home during the pandemic Riley fostered dozens of neonatal and medical cases. This ultimately prompted her career shift from tv/film casting to veterinary medicine. She returned to school and graduated at the top of her class with an Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology. Riley now works as a veterinary technician in Emergency and Critical Care.
Riley is always expanding the pup cult[ure] by making partnerships with brands like The Dodo and BarkBox paw-sible!
Maria Perez
LEAD RESCUER
Maria is a crucial member of our rescue, always going above and beyond for dogs in need.
Her dedication stems from a personal connection to the plight of abandoned dogs in East LA, where her family owns a factory. She regularly goes out of her way to rescue strays and neglected dogs, even in the most challenging of circumstances.
Maria's selflessness extends beyond her tireless work for our rescue. She frequently opens her home to dogs in need, providing them with a safe and nurturing environment until we can step in.
Maria's kindness and generosity have impacted more lives - both canine and human - than we can count. We’re incredibly lucky to have her as a partner in this work, and the dogs are even luckier.
Austin Brady
KENNEL MANAGER
Austin Brady originally comes from Omaha, Nebraska. After going to school for Musical Theatre at Nebraska Wesleyan, he moved out to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Once deciding that acting wasn’t his path, he spent some time restructuring and came back to his first passion, animal care.
He started as a Kennel Attendant with the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society in June 2023, and after spending some time regularly volunteering with us, we asked if he would come on to our team as our official Kennels Manager! He currently lives in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles with his boyfriend, cat, and Chihuahua mix.
From Austin: “I’m so overwhelmingly grateful for this opportunity. Thank you Pup Culture!”
Ashley Perez
LEAD VOLUNTEER & TRANSPORTER
Ashley has been with Pup Culture Rescue since our very beginning in 2021.
She has proven herself to be an incredibly dedicated volunteer, and has additionally fostered for us at extended months at a time.
Not only did Ashley adopt a German Shepherd from us, Stella (formerly known as Raven), but she is a mainstay in our weekly operations - driving dogs to and from vet appointments, fostering, volunteering and assisting at events.
We can’t thank Ashley enough for her unwavering commitment to our rescue's mission!
Catherine Heath
MEDIA LEAD & CREATIVE PROJECT MANAGER
A former Chicagoan now rooted in LA, Catherine (@catherineheath.mov) is a photographer, graphic designer, and seasoned entertainment professional, having worked high-profile events like the Grammys and the Oscars. Beyond her professional endeavors, she seamlessly integrates herself into the heart of Pup Culture's mission.
Whether she's taking pictures of our adoptable dogs, leading our website/ social media, or passionately sharing our dogs’ stories with prospective adopters, you’ll find her popping up everywhere our rescue does.
She brings her creative talents to the rescue by leading projects, pitching fresh ideas, and working closely with the team to keep our space inspiring and our social media and storytelling vibrant. While she has her adorable cat Chubbs for now, one day she hopes to adopt a Pup Culture dog!
Jacq Harriet
PET PROFILE MANAGER
Jacq is our Pet Profile Manager, and we don’t know what we’d do without her!
She handles the massive (and crucial) task of keeping their profiles up to date on Petfinder as well as taking their photos to spark adoption interest.
Her eye for detail and dedication behind the scenes helps ensure each dog has the best possible chance of finding their perfect match.
Deanna Tamiazzo
DIRECTOR OF IMPROVEMENT
Deanna, a Southern California native who grew up surrounded by animals, can’t remember a time when they weren’t a central part of her life. Her professional journey has taken her through many industries, but no matter where life led, she always found her way back to helping dogs in need.
She’s our go-to volunteer for fixing, building, and improving things around the rescue. When she’s not tinkering behind the scenes, you’ll find her bombing any on-camera opportunities, hiking with her dog, or cramming for an exam she definitely isn’t prepared to take. She has an extra-large dachshund mix at home and began volunteering with Pup Culture Rescue to honor the memory of her beloved late dog.
Whether it’s repairing equipment, brainstorming solutions, or simply offering a patient hand to a nervous pup, Deanna brings dedication, warmth, and a little bit of humor to everything she does at PCR!
Daniella Mora-Balbo
DIRECTOR OF ENRICHMENT & CONTENT CREATOR
Hailing from the surf mecca that is San Diego - but who wouldn’t be caught dead on a surfboard because that’s where sharks live - comes Pup Culture’s Director of Enrichment and resident Content Creator, Daniella.
A freelance videographer, novice photographer, and avid tennis/soccer/pickleball player, Daniella recently added “Creator of Pup Culture’s Run Club” to her list of things she’s most proud of. Time spent exercising the pups, meeting new people, becoming a better runner, and advocating for our rescues has already been a huge joy for her - and she’s just getting started.
It didn’t take long for volunteering at Pup Culture to become her entire personality, so she says. She credits the incredible women of Pup Culture for channeling her obvious love for dogs into something bigger - and helping her grow into a more confident and competent dog handler. From behavior and safety to dog psychology and care, she’s soaking it all in and looks forward to a future full of rescue pups of her own.
Kim Kanter
LEAD VOLUNTEER
Kim, a current zoo tech, has been the biggest blessing since we opened our physical space in June 2024.
Kim is consistently showing up for our dogs and bringing her incredible knowledge and training to our rescue. You will find Kim at our events, our intake exams for our new pups, and every week at our space in Pasadena. She’s one of our most regular volunteers, and our dogs are always thrilled to see her walk through the door.
She’s always thinking of the rescue on her time off and how she can improve it at every single turn. We appreciate you so much, Kim!
Mary Ann Ortolano
LEAD VOLUNTEER
Whatever it is, Mary Ann is on it!
Mary Ann is the reason our facility is so organized. She’s our go-to organization queen and keeps our linen and storage rooms in tip-top shape. From labeling shelves to tidying up chaos, she always has it handled.
No matter what, she is always ready to step in and help. She is a dedicated, generous, and hardworking team player who comes (at minimum) three times a week. Known as the ultimate Pup Culture cheerleader, Mary Ann cares for each and every one of the dogs as if they were her own and will rearrange her schedule to attend all our special events.
Our dogs are truly better off because of her! Thank you so much, Mary Ann!
Eileen & Chris Mastro
FEATURED FOSTERS
Eileen and Chris’ dedication to Pup Culture Rescue proves that distance does not interfere with your ability to foster. They live two hours from Los Angeles and drive in regularly to pick up their foster dogs. Eileen and Chris’ experience and passion for dog rescue is evident.
They are incredible trainers, teaching their fosters how to walk perfectly on a leash from day one, solving food aggression with ease, and overall building the dog’s confidence and manners before they get adopted. When adopters come to meet their new companion, they spend multiple hours going over training and transitioning. If it weren’t for Eileen and Chris, many dogs wouldn’t be thriving today.
Alex Kirshner
EVENT MANAGER
Alex (@awesomejewkitty) recently moved to Los Angeles from Chicago. She was featured in BizBash’s “40 Under 40” for her work in Experiential Marketing for SiriusXM and Pandora and is now working for Disney’s FreeForm on the West Coast. When she isn’t planning killer events, Alex enjoys watching movies with a glass of wine and her 13-year-old Yorkie mix, Lovi, by her side. Alex is particularly passionate about rescuing senior dogs who have been abandoned by their owners, uprooted from the only homes they have ever known, and who are often overlooked in shelters. Alex is the comedian of the PCR women and we are so happy to have her expertise and humor on board!
