Our Team
My Dog Is My Home acknowledges that all of our team members are located on lands that belong to Indigenous people of North America.
Shoshana’s dog — Ellen Louise Ripley
SHOSHANA MOSTOLLER (SHE/HER)
Carrollton, VA — Nansemond Lands
Shoshana is dedicated to helping people and pets stay together by providing support for families in crisis. She began her animal welfare career as the Program Director and then Executive Director of an animal shelter in Illinois. Seeing people’s heartache as they struggled to keep their pets led Shoshana to her current role as the Community Engagement Manager for the Chesapeake Humane Society in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Her role includes managing the shelter’s community outreach and Stronger Together crisis boarding program. Shoshana received her Masters Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently working toward her postgraduate certification in Veterinary Social Work from the University of Tennessee. Shoshana swims in the ocean all year long and enjoys hiking and kayaking with her husband and her dogs. She is the mother of three adult children who are required to live in places that she likes to visit.
Jillian’s cat — Bebop
Jillian’s cat — Cowboy
JILLIAN MCMILLIAN (SHE/HER)
Long Beach, NY - Lekawe (Rockaway) and Munsee Lenape lands
Jillian is a homeless advocate and cat trainer in training. My Dog Is My Home's mission resonates with Jillian because of her lived experience of homelessness with her two children and three cats. During her time experiencing homelessness, the transitional housing facility where she was staying did not allow Jillian to keep her cats with her. Her cats were placed with a foster, and one of her cats passed away during this placement. The two surviving cats were removed from the foster home by an animal welfare enforcement agency and Jillian continues to grieve for her cats today. She is now stably housed in Long Island, NY with her son, daughter, and the latest additions to her family, Cowboy and Bebop (pictured left). Once Jillian completes her cat behavior training program, she hopes to apply her knowledge and skills to help shelter cats, keep families connected with their animals, and provide intervention before people surrender their animals for reasons they think are beyond their control.
Vanessa’s earless and (mostly) leash trained cat — Hera
VANESSA HIDDEN (SHE/HER)
Windsor, CO - Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, hinono’eino’ biito’owu’, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa lands
Vanessa's background is primarily in animal welfare spaces working in shelters and veterinary clinics that promote accessibility in their communities. Following the loss of her beloved first dog, Vanessa dedicated her career to pets and their people both as an honor to her former companion and to uplift her own wellbeing through such meaningful work.
Vanessa is a certified Peer Support Specialist through CalMSHA, a second cohort alum of the Emerging Leaders Program through CalAnimals and is returning to school to complete a Bachelor's Degree in Leadership Studies through CalPoly Humboldt.
Outside of her career, Vanessa enjoys playing ice hockey and gardening. She and her husband, Lucas, are guardians to three cats and two dogs, all rescues from her close work with shelters. She enjoys walks with her dogs in their new neighborhood in Northern Colorado and is looking forward to settling into her new state as a life-long Californian.
Elizabeth’s cat — Mr. Cat, the one-eyed deviant
Elizabeth’s dog — the late Tootsie
ELIZABETH ANDERSON (SHE/HER)
Seattle, WA - Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot lands
Elizabeth has dedicated her professional life to social impact, and My Dog Is My Home is what she credits with giving her the push in her career to do so. She is proud to return to the team after working with a number of nonprofits and social enterprises to utilize her passion for service and expanding equity and access to resources. She understands housing is a human right, as is family, and companion animals are valid and valued family members. Her furry family members include Mr. Cat, the one-eyed deviant who chose her by breaking into her home through a window, and the late Tootsie, whom Elizabeth was lucky enough to live with for thirteen years and love eternally.
Maya’s dog — Scout and cat — Midnight
MAYA GOTTFRIED SCHMIDT (SHE/HER)
Hudson Valley, NY - Mohican, Munsee Lenape, and Schaghticoke lands
Maya has worked both as a communications professional and freelance writer for over two decades. She spent six years working with the international animal welfare nonprofit Animals Asia, first as US Communications Manager and then as Global Senior PR Manager. Most recently, she spent two years serving as Marketing Director for the Dutchess County SPCA in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Maya’s writing has been published by outlets including Oprah Daily, STAT, Los Angeles Magazine, and Lilith Magazine. She has also authored three children’s books, including one celebrating dogs, titled Good Dog.
Maya lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband and their four rescued companion animals: Scout (dog), Alyssa (dog), Oberon (cat), and Midnight (cat).
Board of Directors
Ann's cat — Sula
ANN ENGLISH (SHE/HER)
Los Angeles, CA - Tongva lands
Ann believes strongly in the impact of storytelling for personal transformation and community change. She has been developing and leading innovative programs for over two decades in the Los Angeles Homeless Services Sector for many of the largest providers of Supportive Housing. In her current role, at the Corporation for Supportive Housing, she designed and manages the Speak Up! Initiative which empowers individuals impacted by homelessness to challenge a dominant narrative that misrepresents and stigmatizes their experiences. Speak Up! supports participants to shift this narrative by telling their own stories of housing and its fundamental connection to their capacity to thrive. Ann regularly provides technical assistance related to ethical engagement with individuals impacted by homelessness, fostering collaborative partnerships between those ‘receiving’ and those ‘ providing’ services, and dismantling oppressive power dynamics which hinder necessary connection and healing.
A lifelong animal lover, Ann heard heartbreaking stories from countless unhoused community members who were faced with the unreasonable choice to give up their companion animals in order to access housing and shelter. In 2008, while working as the Hollywood Area Director for PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) and in partnership with PAWS LA, she opened the first companion animal program within an interim housing facility. PATH Hollywood’s PetCo Place was the first formally sanctioned companion animal program within a homeless shelter in Los Angeles.
Ann is honored to be a founding Board Member of My Dog Is My Home and served as the Board Chair for its first four years.
Ann lives in Los Angeles, on the unceded ancestral lands of the Tongva/Chumash peoples, with her best friend – a 20-year-old cat named Rudy and his little sister, the precious Sula.
Dorit’s cats — Little Vagabond and Whiskers
DORIT DOWLER-GUERRERO, MPA (SHE/HER)
Los Angeles, CA - Tongva lands
Dorit and her husband Al are the Directors of Lilly’s Place, Affordable and Workforce Housing. In addition to her community work with My Dog is My Home, she is a co-founder, board member and chair of Participant Services with SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition and on the Board of the United Neighborhoods, Neighborhood Council in the Mid-City section of Los Angeles. Dorit has worked in social services for more than 30 years. Most of that time has been with organizations who assist unhoused individuals and families. Dorit has been very fortunate; she has never had to choose between a place to live and having her beloved animal companions. It is her life’s goal to make sure that others have the same right to housing with their animal family members.
Jeff’s cats — Mojo and Birdie
JEFFERY DUPÉE (HE/HIM)
Havertown, PA - Lenapehoking lands
Jeff served as a senior advisor at the NYC Mayor's Office under Mayor Bill de Blasio. He managed a diverse policy portfolio during his tenure, which included animal rights, street homelessness response, COVID policy enforcement, and other first-of-its-kind initiatives. He has a long history as a rock n roll musician and is the proud parent of two little humans. His toothless cat, Mojo, is credited with keeping him sane during the pandemic.
Carol’s rabbits — Peanut Butter and Jelly
CAROL M. SAINTHILAIRE, MS (SHE/HER) - BOARD CHAIR
Jersey City, NJ - Munsee Lenape lands
Carol M. Sainthilaire is the Chief Executive Officer of Community Enterprises Corporation, a New Jersey nonprofit organization that manages supportive housing for very low- and extremely low-income adults with disabilities. Carol is a homeless policy advocate, with over a decade of experience working on low income housing and homelessness issues. Throughout her career, Carol has initiated three Frequent Users Systems Engagement (FUSE) pilot programs in Hudson County, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; and Chattanooga, TN. These pilot programs serve vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness who are in need of supportive housing and are frequent users of public systems, especially the local jail and behavioral health services. Carol earned a master’s degree in Urban Policy Analysis from the New School and a bachelor's degree from Boston University. She is also the mom of 1 bunny, 2 senior dogs, and 6 cats. In her spare time she rescues, fosters, and TNRs animals in need.
Gary Poon and a puppy from the Houston Humane Society
GARY POON (HE/HIM) - TREASURER
Houston, TX - Coahuiltecan, Karankawa, Sana, and Ishak lands
Gary Poon is President and CEO of the Houston Humane Society. Gary's personal mission at HHS is to end animal cruelty, overpopulation, and grow and improve the organization's programs such as humane education, community outreach, adoptions and maintain a high-quality low-cost animal wellness clinic for the public. With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gary quickly responded to the financial impacts felt upon the community of pet owners in Houston, TX and started a free pet food program called the Pet Pantry. Since mid-March 2020, the Pet Pantry has given over 220,000 lbs of pet food to pet owners in need in Houston, TX and surrounding areas, keeping thousands of pets with their owners and out of shelters.
Heidi & Gatsby (the blind & deaf great dane!)
HEIDI MARSTON (SHE/HER)
Phoenix, Arizona - O’odham Jewed, Akimel O’odham, and Hohokam lands
Heidi Marston is the Director of Pet Placement Initiatives at PetSmart Charities. In this role, she leads the team charged with managing a grant portfolio across the US and Canada dedicated to helping pets find loving homes. This includes supporting the work of shelter and rescue partners across North America. Prior to joining the PetSmart Charities team, Heidi served as CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), a Joint Powers Authority for the City and County of Los Angeles, working alongside a staff of 600+ to combat homelessness in Los Angeles, the epicenter of the staggering crisis. She logged more than a decade working for the federal government, where she held varied roles including Special Assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Director of Community Engagement and Reintegration at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System.
Heidi is a long-time foster pet parent, shelter volunteer and advocate in the animal welfare space. She brings an unwavering commitment to social, racial, and economic justice, challenging herself and others to move past generalizations and address entrenched disparities that present barriers to success. Heidi was born and raised in Minnesota and has called Washington D.C. and Los Angeles home prior to moving to Phoenix, Arizona where she lives with her Partner and their two blocky-headed rescue dogs.
Julie trying to get her Shelties to pose
JULIE GOULD (SHE/HER)
Falls Church, Virginia – Piscataway lands
Julie grew up with dogs and photography around the world with her US Navy family. After a career in housing and community development finance, she started Bright Eyes Photos, a growing pet and their families’ photography business serving the metro Washington, DC region. She is pursuing her twin passions of dogs and photography. Her style is based on a documentary, journalistic viewpoint.
On assignment for the Petco Foundation, her images of Molly, a 3-legged pit bull rescued by an Amtrak police officer who adopted her, were the centerpiece of Petco’s “Be a Lifesaver” national campaign in the summer of 2017. She is a volunteer at a local animal shelter, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, as well as other non-profit animal rescue and training groups like Homeward Trails, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue and Vets Moving Forward.
Her focus with My Dog Is My Home is using photography and advocacy to document best practices of organizations that provide shelter and permanent housing for the ‘whole family’ of the unhoused and their pets.
When she is not working with animals, she walks and romps around with her own gaggle of Shelties. She enjoys hiking the National Parks around the U.S. and hikes around world with her hiking group Team Forza.
Emma, Allison’s dog.
ALLISON CARDONA (SHE/HER)
Los Angeles, CA - Tongva lands
Allison is the California State Director for UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program where she manages a $37.5 million grant fund for animal shelters. Previously, Allison was a Deputy Director for Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control and a Senior Program Director for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Allison received a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Affairs from Empire State College and certificates from USC Price School of Public Policy Executive Leadership Program and Southern Utah University’s Animal Services Executive Leadership Program. Allison serves on the Leadership Council for the Downtown Women’s Center and as a board member for HEART LA. She lives on Chumash, Kizh, and Tongva land with her partner, a beloved dog, and rotating foster kittens. The proud daughter of Colombian immigrants, Allison has advocated for racial equity and social justice throughout her career, supporting community-led programs and centering the voices of marginalized communities.
Geraldine’s “puppycats” — Stanley (L) and Makoa (R) D’Silva
Vickie’s cats — Nova and Murmur
Our Founder
VICKIE RAMIREZ (SHE/HER)
Seattle, WA - Suquamish, Tulalip and Muckelshoot lands
Vickie is Program Manager/Senior Research Coordinator of the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research (COHR). As a Medical Anthropologist, Vickie is always looking at ways to improve health access and outcomes to those communities often marginalized. Utilizing the One Health lens – which focuses on the intersection of human health, animal health and environmental health when looking to improve health outcomes
In addition to her research at COHR, Vickie also manages the One Health Clinic – a clinic that integrates human and veterinary care for our community members experiencing homelessness with pets. The One Health Clinic provides positive healthcare experiences during veterinary visits that human primary care can build off of to help pet owners access healthcare and housing. Vickie helps support and manage the One Health Clinic through outreach, evaluation and dissemination of key findings, as well as provides support for other organizations who would like to use a One Health lens in clinical care.
Vickie lives in Seattle with her husband, two daughters and her two cats, Nova and Murmur (aka Beauty and the Beast). She is honored to join the My Dog is My Home’s Board of Directors as it is only in collaboration with others can we achieve great things.
Christine's cat — Mao
GERALDINE D’SILVA (SHE/HER)
San Diego, CA - Kumeyaay lands
Geraldine D'Silva is an international leader in human and animal welfare, with over 15 years of experience focused on helping underserved communities and keeping people and their pets together. Known for identifying patterns and fostering strategic connections, she develops innovative solutions that drive meaningful impact.
As an independent Human & Animal Welfare Consultant, Geraldine’s key projects include serving as Maddie's National Director of Programs & Partnerships at Open Door Veterinary Collective, a mentor & strategic consultant for Project Street Vet, and a steering committee member for Maddie's Community Conversations. With an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and a BA in Sociology, her career spans leadership roles in research, advertising, and community programming across three continents.
Her achievements include launching one of the nation’s first pet food pantries as Executive Director of PAWS San Diego, creating the San Diego Humane Society’s inaugural Community Veterinary Program, and expanding access to care in underserved regions, including Baja California. Geraldine resides in San Diego with her daughter and their beloved “puppycats.”
CHRISTINE KIM, MSW (SHE/HER)
Queens, NY - Lenape and Canarsie lands
Christine is a macro social worker with a specialized interest in building programs and policies that recognize the power of the human-animal bond. During her time working in supportive housing, Christine became acutely aware of the barriers people experiencing homelessness with animal face when attempting to access shelter and housing services. Christine’s research and work with human-animal homeless families includes a publication in the pioneering book Animals in Social Work: Why and How They Matter (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), an exhibition for The Animal Museum called My Dog Is My Home and the founding of the non-profit organization by the same name. She served as the first director of the NYC Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare under Mayor Bill de Blasio, and she is the recipient of the ASPCA’s 2021 Public Service Humane Awards for her leadership at the NYC’s Mayor’s Office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Christine currently serves on the board of directors for Animal Care Centers of NYC and as the Employer Partnerships Advisor for New Women New Yorkers, a nonprofit organization that provides workforce development and community building services for immigrant women in New York City.