About Us

History of PetConnect Rescue

PetConnect Rescue was founded in 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and has evolved into a vibrant animal rescue organization. Our mission is to save the lives of abandoned dogs and cats and place them in loving and permanent homes. Each day, we respond to desperate email and phone pleas to rescue dogs and cats imminently slated for euthanasia. We pull these animals into rescue from over-extended shelters between Maryland and Georgia. PetConnect Rescue is a non-breed-specific organization, and we are committed to stepping forward whenever we can and wherever there is the greatest need. We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Read State Nonprofit Disclosures Here.

PetConnect Rescue arranges and pays for medical services ranging from routine treatments, such as vaccinations and blood tests, to treating serious medical conditions such as broken bones. All PetConnect Rescue animals are spayed or neutered at an appropriate age to help decrease the terrible problem of pet overpopulation. Adopters of puppies and kittens are required to have the animals altered at the appropriate age as well.

The rescues that come into our care are primarily placed in foster homes, although some are boarded with reputable kennels or at vet practices. Our foster volunteers provide loving care and socialization for these animals while they await their forever homes. Thanks to donation drives, we are able to pass on supplies to our foster families such as crates, food, collars, toys, bedding etc. Watch a video about us below.

PetConnect Mission Statement

PetConnect Rescue is an animal welfare organization dedicated to saving dogs and cats at high risk of euthanasia. Our compassionate volunteers and staff find loving homes for all the animals that come into our care and provide ongoing support throughout the adoption process and beyond. ​We are committed to ensuring a highly positive rescue experience for our adopters and to raising awareness of the plight of abandoned animals through community education.

PetConnect Rescue, Inc. Disclaimer:

Our organization’s legal name is PetConnect Rescue, Inc. We are not affiliated with any other organization with the same or similar name anywhere in the U.S. or around the world, including a Pet Connect Rescue operating out of Joplin, MO.  To read our full disclaimer statement, please visit our page here.

Board Members

Lizette Chanock
Founder & Member

Lizette Chanock
Founder & Member

Lizette is the founder of PetConnect Rescue and has served on the board of directors since its inception in 2005. Lizette has been a compassionate supporter of animal protection her whole life. She graduated from Princeton University, a school that she selected because they would allow her first, beloved, rescue dog on campus. Lizette has four grown children who all share her love of animals. She lives in Potomac, Maryland, with her husband, Stephen, and their cherished four-legged family members, including three beautiful cats, four rambunctious dogs and a horse.

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Carrie Frey
President

Carrie Frey
President

Carrie’s compassion for animals and dedication to animal advocacy was apparent from day one. Her mother volunteered at their local SPCA and in addition to helping care for their own beloved rescues, she grew up learning about ways to help stray dogs, feral cats, and injured wildlife. Carrie even integrated her love of animals into her career, serving on the Marketing team at Animal Planet from 2002-2006. She has been a long-time admirer of PetConnect Rescue’s work and has both adopted from and volunteered with the organization over the years, joining the Board of Directors in October of 2018. Carrie lives in Potomac with her husband, Marc, their three beautiful human children, and their three sweet furry children.

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Katherine Berger
Vice President

Katherine Berger
Vice President

For Katherine it all started at age 6 her first stray cat MaMeow to her current menagerie three chihuahua foster fails, one Boykin and eight horses.  The intervening years have contained multiples of horses, dogs and cats with segues into working with Dr. Jane Goodall and the chimps of Gombe, to the National Zoo’s Conservation Research Center in Front Royal Virginia, to a variety of art museum boards, and other non-profit and foundation activities. Katherine became aware of PetConnect Rescue’s incredible work in 2016 and was finally hooked in 2017 when she started fostering.  She joined the board in 2020 and is excited to bring her strategic planning and marketing expertise to bear as non-profits seek to navigate the world’s new normal.

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Cricket MacDonald
Secretary

Cricket MacDonald
Secretary

Cricket has had all sorts of rescue animals over the years, but adopted PetConnect mom-dog Snow White (now Chloe) in 2018 and started fostering puppies the next summer!

She lives in Bluemont, VA with her husband David and takes care of Cannon Hill Farm with its current eight retired horses, one alpaca, two barn cats and four rescue dogs. Those numbers increase when daughters Charlotte and Lilly come home with their PetConnect dogs! When not on the farm, Cricket and David can be found on the field hockey sidelines cheering on youngest daughter Grace playing at Washington and Lee or cheering Charlotte’s team in Vermont where she is the head coach at Castleton.

After time serving on school boards and travel team and sports boards, Cricket is thrilled to spend time helping dogs and cats find their forever homes.

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France Bognon
Member
Liz Purcell
Member

Liz Purcell
Member

Liz joined the Board in 2006 and formerly served as treasurer. Liz brings many years of corporate marketing and budgeting experience to the organization, as well as a love of animals. She was part of the original website development team and managed the site until 2010, when she took on the bookkeeping responsibilities for the next 4 years. Rosie, pictured with Liz, is a PetConnect Rescue gal and the best therapy dog ever!

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Carole Dell
Member

Carole Dell
Member

Carole is a writer and photographer. She is a graduate of American University and Columbia School of Journalism. For 20 years, she bred German shepherds and Egyptian Arabian horses. She gave it up to rescue instead. During her efforts in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, Carole teamed with PetConnect Rescue to find homes for the lost pets that she brought back. She has been a board member since 2006.

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Wendy Grubbs
Member

Wendy Grubbs
Member

Wendy adopted her first dog, Lulu, from the SPCA while she was in kindergarten. Lulu lived until Wendy was a sophomore in college, and from the moment Lulu became a family member, it was Wendy’s dream to help all the Lulus out there waiting for homes. Also, with four PCR dogs, board membership is mandatory!  She joined the Board in September 2016.  Wendy wants to focus on highlighting the joy of adopting senior dogs.

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Nina Price
Member

Nina Price
Member

Nina began volunteering at Petconnect Rescue after her family adopted their first dog Zoe ten years ago.  Her family, which includes husband Tim and her three children, Palma, Cece and Evan have enjoyed volunteering at adoption events, transporting animals and spreading the word of rescue. They became “foster failures” when Lucas joined their pack six years ago. Recently Nina has helped coordinate virtual adoption events, assists with administrative tasks and collects supplies for local shelters from her community.  She has enjoyed meeting wonderful people and following the happily forever after stories of dogs and cats they have helped.

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Board Members Emeritus

Lyn Rales

Lyn Rales

Lyn is a life-long animal lover. She got involved in rescue with a vision to create a safe haven for dogs transitioning from shelters to adoptive families when foster families are not an option as well as a place for educational events and volunteers. Thus, Muddy Paws Farm was born. She also has a soft spot for older and hard-to-place dogs with disabilities.  She fostered and successfully placed a number of blind and deaf dogs.  Lyn has two grown children, each with rescue dogs of their own. Lyn joined the Board in 2009.

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Ginny Faucette

Ginny Faucette

Ginny is a devoted mother of four children, three dogs, and long-time Potomac, Maryland resident. Ginny has always had a life-long love of animals. After rescuing her labradoodle, Bruno, from the streets of Northeast Washington D.C., Ginny wanted to find ways to help other animals in need. When she met her neighbor, Lizette Chanock, and heard about the impressive work of PetConnect Rescue, she knew that she could help further the organization’s mission.  Ginny has served on the Board since October of 2015.

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Diane Wood

In Loving Memory Of

MJ Jaffee, Former Board Member

Staff

Barbara Hutcherson
Executive Director

Barbara Hutcherson
Executive Director

Barbara Hutcherson, our Executive Director since 2023, brings nearly two decades of invaluable experience in animal welfare. With a deep appreciation for the human-animal bond and a passion for the transformative potential of volunteers, her background includes teaching, leading the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation, and pivotal roles at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter and the Humane Rescue Alliance. Through these experiences, Barbara gained profound insights into sheltering and rescue operations and cultivated a leadership style characterized by calm confidence, compassion, and unending curiosity.

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