Pup Culture Rescue is a female-led team dedicated to saving dogs and 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, CVT
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
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. Her generosity and kindness have touched the lives of countless dogs and humans alike, and we're lucky to work with her every day.
Ashley Perez
LEAD VOLUNTEER & TRANSPORTER
Ashley has been with Pup Culture Rescue since our very beginning. She has proven herself to be an incredibly dedicated volunteer, and has additionally fostered for us at 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!
Kim Kanter
LEAD VOLUNTEER
Kim, a current zoo tech, has been the biggest blessing since we opened our physical space in June. 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 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!
Catherine Heath
CREATIVE PROJECT MANAGER
A Chicago native who now calls LA home, Catherine thrives in the creative realm as a photographer, designer, and a seasoned entertainment worker for high-profile events like the Grammys and the Oscars. Beyond her professional endeavors, Catherine seamlessly integrates herself into the heart of Pup Culture's mission.
Whether she's taking pictures of our adoptable dogs, executing creative decisions for our space or passionately sharing our dogs’ stories with prospective adopters, you’ll find her popping up everywhere that our rescue does. She enthusiastically champions our rescue to the public by telling people all about why our rescue is so meaningful. Catherine is beyond excited to bring her creative energy to several upcoming projects at our physical space in Pasadena!
Mary Ann Ortolano
CORE VOLUNTEER
Whatever it is, Mary Ann is on it!
Mary Ann is the reason our facility is so organized. No matter what, she is always ready to step in and help. She is a dedicated, generous, and hardworking teamp 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 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!
