Motley Mutts Rescue was formed by a few friends wanting to rescue dogs
Motley Mutts Rescue is a registered 501c3 and works primarily with rescuers in MS who have no local shelter or have a shelter that provides below minimum care to the dogs they house. Most of our rescue partners work out of their homes, fostering homeless dogs within their community until they can get them into loving homes.
Motley Mutts Rescue provides veterinary care, as well as food, vaccines, wormer, preventatives, and other basic needs. When we have funding we also provide and help maintain housing for the dogs while in Mississippi, since there is no community facility or kennels that don’t meet standard levels of care for the dogs in the county.
Motley Mutts Rescue is an all inclusive dog rescue. We rescue small dogs, big dogs, old dogs, and puppies regardless of breed. We’ve even been known to let some purebred dogs into the rescue!
While we take in every type of dog, we are known to have a soft spot for seniors. At Motley Rescue, we try hard to take multiple seniors a month because a shelter is no place for a dog in its golden years. We welcome every Mama dog who comes with puppies. We have also never turned away a dog in need of heartworm treatment.
Motley Mutts Rescue runs as well as it does because of the generosity and kindness of friends, family, and more often than not strangers. We are so thankful to folks who have and continue to support our mission. In our first year, we rescued nearly 600 dogs.
Believe it or not, Melissa started out as a cat person. While she’s loved dogs her whole life, she never thought of owning one until her girlfriend (now wife of 22 years) Ellie mentioned they should get a chihuahua. When Melissa and Ellie got their first chihuahua it changed their lives. Sophia, the 6-pound chihuahua, became everything. As soon as Melissa and Ellie bought their house, they located local rescues to become a foster home. Their first foster was a long-haired senior dachshund named Buddy from the Manchester Animal Shelter. It’s been a roller coaster journey being the crash pad for well over a couple thousand different dogs from Great Danes to Chihuahuas, but they said they’d do it all over again. The only thing that Melissa loves as much as her 4 dogs and her wife, is music. She will sneak away any chance she gets for live entertainment.
Kayla has always had a passion for animals starting from a very young age. She grew up with dogs, cats, chickens, and small animals, all in search of a forever home. Kayla got her bachelors of science in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire and has since used this degree to become an Animal Control Officer full time. When she isn’t volunteering at the rescue, she and her husband foster any dog that needs a warm couch to hang out on. Her family consists of 4 Motley Mutts which have come into her life over the years and never left, in addition to 3 cats, 2 ferrets, and chickens She has a strong devotion to the welfare of all animals and giving the beings without a voice, their voice. She loves to focus on fostering dogs that need extra love and time to find their perfect forever homes. She finds great joy in seeing each and every one grow as they settle in for a life time of being spoiled. Kayla loves the outdoors, reading, and crafts and can typically be found hanging outside with her motley mutts doing what she loves.
No board would be complete without adding a Southern perspective and we sure felt like the lucky ones when Laura agreed to join us from afar. For the last eight years Laura has fostered hundreds of puppies and dogs that have made their way up North from her home state of Mississippi. Laura loves getting to experience different breeds (often times several different breeds all in one dog) and personalities. Although she becomes attached to her fosters she knows there’s always another one that will need help. Taking in dogs that occasionally need medical TLC is right up her alley as Laura is a surgical nurse. Laura has a dog supportive husband and two children that live with their 8 personal dogs. Laura says being in rescue is hard, frustrating, and heartbreaking at times. The reward is updates on dogs that had no chance for a loving home in Mississippi. Her connection with Motley Mutts Rescue is the perfect way to contribute to connecting families with their new fur baby.
Sandy is known most for her generous heart and kindness. Her love for animals stretches back as far as she can remember and she has rescued many a dog along the way. She is notorious for adopting “those dogs” most would not take on, providing them with the best possible life. Her friendships with Motley Mutt team members and love for dogs led her to join this wonderful organization. When not applying her love for numbers and spreadsheets as a full-time financial officer. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and volunteering.
Brittany’s reputation for taking in animals of all shapes and sizes needing soft landings has been growing over the past 20 years. Her first South Carolina “ditch dog” started her love for rescues while she was in college and she is so grateful for the opportunity to have welcomed two Motley Mutts to her menagerie of dogs, cat, reptiles, rodents, rabbits, and equine family. Working as a school based occupational therapist with children with special needs, Brittany enjoys being a part of a team encouraging confidence, curiosity, a love of learning, and building relationships with her students and families. Brittany can most often be found at the barn with her horse, mucking stalls, and enjoying several equine activities such as eventing, endurance riding, trail riding, and using the obstacle course!
Carolyn has always been an animal lover since she was a small child. She has been involved in animal rescue for over 20 years in several capacities. She is a certified dog trainer owning her dog training business, Wagtime Dog Training for over 15years, teaching classes, private lessons and consults. It has always been rewarding to Carolyn when she has been working with dogs and their owners to help build their relationship and communication through trust and respect. She is passionate about working with homeless dogs using positive reinforcement to help them improve better skills to be adopted.
Carolyn lives with her husband, Art and 4 rescued dogs, a cat, chickens, and 3 small goats. She has lived with and loved many other dogs and cats that have passed on. Her belief is animals come into our lives to show us love and loyalty. It is a special gift that is given to us when that special relationship is built. Being semi retired, Carolyn loves to spend time on the “farm” but also share many travel adventures with her husband.
