FGDR - The Team

Kim Knapp - Founder: I have been involved with animals in some way for most of my life. I recall bringing home the pocket pets from the science room in elementary school for summer break and strays I found in the neighbourhood. Needless to say my parents were not impressed. Both myself and my children have been involved with the local SPCA's as dog walkers and then as a foster home. We were also a foster home for both the Toronto and Ottawa wildlife centers and were involved in the school education programs on wildlife. I have also been a vet assistant and groomer. Animals are a large and rewarding part of my life and I hope to continue doing what I do into retirement

Brett William Lee - FGDR Webmaster/Co-Founder: My family has always had dogs all of our live's. My family's first dog was a German Shep mix in Quebec named Shan, in the early 1970's. Well from that point on we always had dogs in our family history. We moved to Vancouver Island and got our first Shelty, Shannon. After that day, my Mother bred Shelties and I have had many Shelties ever since I was just a little kid. Ever since I was introduced to Great Danes a few years ago, they are now my breed of choice. I now have a passion and love for the larger breeds. Being the FGDR Webmaster and being asked to move a dog from the Adoption web page to the Happy Tails web page is one of the most gratifying experiences. There is no feeling like saving a dog that was about to be destroyed, and placing them in a loving home. I have fostered many of these dogs, and although sometimes it's hard to see them leave as a foster, I know they are going to great forever homes.

Kristina Hamilton - Western Ontario Director: I have always loved animals, and always had dogs growing up. As a child I was always catching snakes, frogs, toads when camping, and as I got older trying to bring home strays from the nearby Reservation where we camped. As an adult I always donated money, food, treats and supplies to the local Humane Society, but I always felt helpless, like I could be doing "more." When we bought our first home in Wallaceburg, ON we began fostering for their local animal shelter. Fostering gave me the first real taste of making a difference in a dog's life. You know that feeling you get when you enter a shelter, and you just want to take them all home. Well with fostering, in a way, I could. Our twins had just been born and the day after we brought them home from the hospital, we took in our first foster dog, a Rotti mix (so all of those idiots who abandon dogs because of a new baby, SHAME ON YOU). I was hooked, I couldn't imagine my life without fostering. Our three girls have grown up exposed to dogs of all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and behavioural issues. They have learned to respect dogs in so many different aspects, and a firm understanding that love is not disposable. They have never experienced the joy of picking out their own puppy, but they have shared their home with many. When we moved from Wallaceburg we were out of their immediate "foster" area, but still fostered on an emergency basis, when a dog really needed to be out of the shelter. I found Friendly Giants Dog Rescue online, and minutes later was begging my spouse to let me help. It cost me him having some weekends away, concerts, and the occassional new toy, and I discovered what a whole other world rescue is, apart from just working hands on with a shelter. It really takes a huge network, of dedicated, selfless people, to come through for just one dog.

Jaclyn Higginson - Eastern Ontario Co-Director/Adoption Co-ordinator: I could not imagine life without a dog. I grew up with a black lab and never wanted a single second of my life to be dog-less. When I met my husband and we got a place of our own I was able to not only continue my life with dogs, but also branch out into the world of giant breeds. We have added 2 Great Danes to our family and I know I will always have at least one Great Dane for the rest of my life. Getting involved with Friendly Giants Dog Rescue has not only been a wonderful outlet for my love and passion for the giant breeds, but also such a rewarding experience to know that we are making a difference. I hope to be involved with FGDR for many, many years to come. Hopefully one day soon we will be able to open our home to some foster giants as well.

Patty Hoyland - Eastern Ontario Co-Director/Adoption Co-ordinator: I have had animals in my life in some way or anther since I was born. Whether it be the family dogs/cats, volunteering at a local vet clinic, or even doing conservation work in Thailand at an elephant sanctuary (and consequently adopting a Thai dog and bringing her back to Canada on a cargo plane), I have always surrounded myself with fuzzy creatures. When I moved to Ottawa to start school, I decided it was time to add another dog to my family, and began looking at different rescue organizations. After going through the adoption process with FGDR, I was very impressed with how much time and energy was devoted to making sure the ‘perfect’ match was found; I was sold on FGDR. From that point on, I wanted to become involved in anyway possible, and am now responsible for helping other families find their perfect canine addition.

Alexandra Hickey - Ontario Foster Home Director: I have always had a soft spot for animals but dogs have always had a special place in my heart. I have loved dogs for as long as I can remember. As a child, I would visit my grandparents on their farm and I remember spending the day strolling the fields with their dogs at my side. I currently have a 13 year old Golden Retriever at home and I know there are many more dogs in my future. Recently, I've heard quite a few stories of people giving up their giant breeds because of a variety of different excuses. It saddens me to think that these loving animals get discarded so easily. Volunteering for Friendly Giants Dog Rescue was an easy choice for me once I decided that I wanted to find a cause close to my heart. I am excited to get started and thrilled to be able to make a difference, one dog at a time!

Brenda Doughty - Fundraising Co-Ordinator: I have always loved animals. Before I was born my parents had 2 cats. That being said, from birth to age 18, I only had cats in my life but have always adored and wanted a dog. I used to visit friends and walk and play with their dogs as my parents wouldn’t let me have one. Then when I moved out I got the opportunity to finally get a dog. My husband, 2 young children and I currently have 1 dog and he is absolutely amazing and if I had a larger place I would try and take all the dogs in, but I can’t so I am helping in any way that I can. I stumbled across FGDR on facebook and I am truly happy that I did! The group is truly warm hearted and is very kind and helpful. I am dedicated to FGDR and will be organizing events to create awareness of what we do and how we help out dogs in need and raise funds for those dogs who need to be rehabilitated outside of the normal vetting costs.

Linda Bamber - Western Ontario Co-Ordinator: I have always had such a deep love and connection with animals. I have always had dogs growing up and would bring home every stray that would cross my path, I even remember having to hide cats and small dogs I would bring home in my room or the barn behind our house. I recently lost my diabetic dog of 13 years and was deeply affected by his loss. I felt so empty and my heart was full of sadness and thought I could never go through this again and vowed to never get another dog. But one day, 7 months later, I came across the FGDR website and thought what an amazing thing this small group of people were doing to make a difference in this world for these sweet babies. I knew after looking through the site, reading the stories, seeing the dogs' innocent faces, that this was something I needed to get involved with, so I filled out the application to be a foster mommy, the best thing I could have ever done. Once told I was getting my first foster, I started to feel my heart was no longer filled with sadness and that I too was going to make a difference in a dog's life. My first foster "Ryker" is now mine forever. I have two teenage daughters that both love animals as much as I do and spend their time volunteering and donating goods to the humane society. My husband and I have been together for 20 years, he supports me in everything I do including having our very own animal kingdom with 4 cats 1 dog as well as a foster dog. When I was asked to join the FGDR team, I never felt so honored and proud to be apart of something this wonderful in my life and truly believe this is what I was meant to do in life. Making a difference in a dog's life is the most rewarding feeling you could ever hope for.

Nicole Lewis - Eastern Ontario Co-Ordinator/Foster Home: I have always been around dogs. I think this was instilled in me by my mom, who from the moment we did not have a dog pushed until we could have a dog. So I was never really without. I rescued from Friendly Giants for my first personal dog and have loved the great work that they have done, and wanted to help out. Since working with Friendly Giants, I have been fostering, training my dog for therapy dog work, and work at dogs at camp as a casual staff. It seems that my life revolves around dogs now and I love it!

Melanie Vignola - Eastern Ontario Administrative Assistant: I have always had a deep passion for all animals since I was a little girl tying to save stray cats. My first dog Moose was an English Bulldog rescue and was my best friend in the world! He helped me get through Vet Tech school which I worked as for 2 years and has brought my passion for wrinkle fur babies to a new level. I could not imagine my life without the drool and snoring!! I also now have 3 cats, Riley a Lab/Dane mix and an American Bulldog Clarabean that is perfect. I look forward to working with all of you to help save some of the most amazing dogs that need a second chance at a life!!

Lindsay (Sid) Thompson - Eastern Ontario Foster/Volunteer: Sid is known as a bird whisperer, and has focused all his attention on birds up until recently but got involved in dogs because of Nicole. I had little to no knowledge of dogs before adopting from Friendly Giants but have become a dog lover. I have been learning from those around me about dogs to help all the foster dogs that come into our home. I have been told I have a real calm about me around the dogs and that they respond to me very quickly. As a result I have a real love for the dogs and connection.

Lori Huisman - Western Ontario Foster/Volunteer: My LOVE for animals started when I was a small child, I grew up on a rural farm in Lambton County and loved every minute of it. Our closest neighbour didn't have any children, therefore my friends were the cows ( you take what you can get LOL) My very first dog was a Belgian Shepherd named Sheba who lived to be 16 she was by far the best dog :) . My dad used to bring home stray dogs or ones that people just wanted to get rid of . Our family Sunday afternoon outings would be going into town to our local shelter where we adopted a very pregnant poodle, we even had a pet chicken named Bob who just showed up one day out of th blue....All in all I am a Huge animal lover and could never imagine my life with out them. So when I heard about FGDR I knew this was my opportunity to LOVE so many wonderful doggies and to help give them a second chance at living a long happy life with a furever family.....Fostering has been by far one of the greatest most enjoyable yet rewarding things I have done so far.

Destiny Scrivener - Eastern Ontario Foster Home Co-Ordinator: I was always surrounding myself with one sort of animal or other growing up and to this day I love them still. My first real love was founded when I watched a big 200lb Newfoundlander pulling two children up a snow hill and then race back to the bottom to do it all over again the big droopy eyes and slobbery grin etched itself in my heart until this day. I am currently a mother of 3 wonderful children 1 exciting fur child and am fostering some delightful furry giants that fill my heart with wonder. My family and I were introduced to FGDR through an online search for a friend for my Dog Teddy. I was hit with the amount of fosters needed and my heart lept at the chance to be able to help with the situation, like they say "to the world it may only be one dog but to the dog you mean the whole world" and everyone deserves a chance at a better life even the four legged. I feel very proud to be a part of the team at FGDR and can't stress enough how thankful I am that they allowed me to be a part of a team that makes such positive changes in so many ways.

Crystal Heimbecker - Western Ontario Foster Home Co-Ordinator: I am an animal lover and have been right from an early age. My very first pet that I remember was a raccoon that was left by its mother and she never came back I was 3 years old and fed it from a bottle. From then on I brought every stray animal big or small home. From frogs, fish, bunnies, cats, dogs, birds, rats you name it I brought it home. I have always had the friends who were considered the “out casts”. Helping others just comes natural I do whatever I can for those who cannot help themselves. I have always been interested in fostering and helping out with a shelter, and have helped with our local shelter, I wanted to do more than just sit on the side lines I wanted to be involved, but I didn’t know how. I did research and we were going to adopt a dog from Friendly Giants, but I decided that I could help so many more animals if we fostered. I didn’t want to just stop at fostering though I knew that more help was needed and I decided that I needed to become an active member of the wonderful team that is Friendly Giants. I love fostering I love the dogs I meet, the people I meet and the knowing that even if it never seems like I am doing enough to help at least I can say I am doing something!

Lindsey Ross - Founder: I have been an animal lover since as long as I can remember! I have 2 young children and a boyfriend with a severe brain injury. I am also a full time student in the process of getting my bachelors in nursing. We have 3 dogs of our own; Bella a boxer/dane mix who is 95lbs, Brutus a pit/american bulldog mix who is about 90lbs and our newest member Bliss, who adopted my kids before we even had a chance to adopt her out! Bliss is a red nose pit bull, about 50lbs. My boyfriend and I started rescuing/rehabbing pittys about 5 years ago and started our own rescue, Pals 4 Paws Rescue, in Ohio. We usually did one at a time but often sometimes 2. I had to take a bit of a break when Chris got in his accident but started again shortly after. My first experience with FGDR was in May 2010 with a dog named Max's transport and over night stay! Since then, Kim, founder of FGDR and myself have become very good friends and have been working together daily and have decided to blend both rescues together in order to help save more dogs from high kill gassing and heart stick facilities! In Ohio I take care of all the vetting that needs to be done, making an assessment of each dog, transporting, and adopting out in the US.

Heather Barajas - Ohio Volunteer: I've been volunteering with Pals 4 Paws for about a year. Originally my husband Dan and I contacted Lindsey with the intention of adopting a dog but after meeting with her and hearing the stories of all the dogs in need of foster homes we decided to do that instead. We have had many dogs in our home that have been adopted into great homes,although its difficult to see them go its worth it to see the love people have for these dogs in need. I have 5 children and they all help and always look forward to us bringing a new dog into our home for them to give lots of TLC too. They get so excited when the dogs get adopted and we feel like we are teaching them responsibility, respect for animals along with proper care of dogs. We have a pit bull named Capone who is 8 which we rescued 7 years ago and recently got a pit mix named Jager who is 8 months. We are dog lovers and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing we are helping to make a difference everyday.

Sarah Mitchell - Ohio Volunteer: I have been volunteering for Pals 4 Paws and Friendly Giants Dog Rescue for about a year now. I have 2 dogs that are completely spoiled rotten and I realized that all dogs aren't so lucky. I have always been an animal lover and wanted to help out in some way. I found FGDR on Facebook and they were requesting some help with a transport in my area, so I thought, why not?? I started transport driving and loved it!! It was a great way for me to be able to help out without the commitment of taking on a foster dog. You get to spend time with a bunch of different dogs and help them get to their foster or forever homes and you can tell they are truly grateful for it. On my second transport, I met a Mastiff named Monet, her sweet nature and playfulness really solidified my resolve to continue in rescue because she was set to be killed when she was saved by the rescue at the last minute. I am truly committed to saving as many dogs as possible and doing as much as I can to support the wonderful rescues that I support!