Helen has been an animal lover her entire life. From her cat Blondie sleeping in her crib from the age of 8 months, to collecting toads and befriending the yard wildlife, she was known by neighborhood kids as Snow White as they watched her communicate with bunnies, chipmunks, squirrels, and birds. Even today she looks over the urban bunnies in their building yard, ensuring their safety and frequent carrot treats.

She began her journey with dog foster and rescue over 20 years ago when she lived in Richmond, Virginia. Initially volunteering with a non-profit focused on cancer cures for dogs, she segued into fostering with a rescue. From pittie puppies to many poodles (having grown up with them), her home was always full. One of her first fosters wound up being a repeated adoption fail, always returning home and prancing in joy with her brother, as she chose Helen to be her mom. Now a 20-year-old poodle, she's still with Helen, proving that cats aren't the only ones with nine lives.

Throughout her life, she's been a pet mama to cats, dogs, guinea pigs, mice, ferrets, hamsters, fish, and iguanas. Helen even cohabitates peacefully with the spiders in her home. Currently a dog mom to four, she's merely the servant of the house. Aged between 4 and 20 years old, she's at their 24/7 beck and call.

Helen found MCP four years ago after having to say goodbye to a dog she'd brought back and adopted from Mexico. Discovering how intuitive and special these Latin dogs are, she insisted on another one. Enter Millie, who is a HUGE flirt with all the dogs in the neighborhood, giving kisses away as if they were candy, and the biggest lap baby and cuddler around! About a year later, Helen saw a post for a doxie and couldn't resist his magical, deformed paws and offered to foster him. He proved to be a special dude who eventually found his perfect forever mom! Within weeks, another dog was in need from a group brought up from Honduras, and Helen gave in. Originally [mis]named Granny, this sweet young lady became Abby and quickly bonded with Millie, and Helen couldn't bear to break them up! The two Latina MCP alumnae are now spoiled rotten and literally get tucked in every night under their Bluey blankets at bedtime.

Seeing how MCP handles rescues, gives their literal ALL, and doesn't believe in euthanasia being the answer for a dog with a disability or illness won Helen over. The lives of the dogs that have been saved—who would have otherwise been dead with many other groups—make being part of the Rebel Pack and Board more fulfilling than she could have imagined. After two decades in animal rescue, MCP truly stands out as one of the best, and she wouldn't settle for less.