We are so thankful for our wonderful volunteers and Happily Furever After Rescue would not be able to operate without their support and dedication to helping animals in need. Each month we will feature a volunteer who has helped make an impact within our organization. Read to learn more and check back monthly to see who we feature next:

JANUARY VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: CAROL MARTIN & CENTRAL BARK

We are thrilled to recognize Carol Martin, owner of Central Bark Danbury, as our Volunteer of the Month to kick off 2026!

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In December 2025, Carol invited Happily Furever After Rescue to the open house of her beautiful new Central Bark facility, located at 55 Kenosia Avenue in Danbury. Central Bark, part of a national franchise, offers enrichment dog daycare highlighting small group play balanced with rest periods, overnight boarding, grooming, and pet merchandise, with training classes planned for the near future. From the moment you step inside, it is clear this space was thoughtfully created with dogs and their well-being as the top priority.

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Carol’s love for dogs is at the heart of everything she does. That passion led her to open Central Bark Danbury in June of 2025, and it also inspired her to take an even bigger step. After our involvement in Central Bark’s Open House event on December 6th, Carol personally reached out and asked to partner with Happily Furever After Rescue so she and her team could help a dog in need. It was something she had always wanted to do, and she was excited to finally foster for the first time...and we were just as thrilled! 

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That partnership led to Tripp, a gorgeous one-year-old pitbull mix, becoming Central Bark Danbury’s very first foster dog. Carol and her entire team have embraced him into their program. As Carol shares, “The entire team at Central Bark Danbury is caring for Tripp as one of our own every single day, and watching his growth has been incredibly rewarding for all of us.” In just five weeks, Tripp has learned basic manners, how to receive love from humans, and how to play appropriately with other dogs. Carol beautifully describes the experience as “all of us raising him to be his best self for his furever family.”

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Carol also shared how grateful she is for the partnership, expressing how thrilled she is to work with Jaclyn at Happily Furever After Rescue and how thankful she is for the guidance and support as a first-time foster parent.

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Tripp is Central Bark Danbury’s first foster dog, and Carol and her team are eager to continue this journey. We are incredibly thankful to Carol Martin and the Central Bark Danbury team for reaching out, opening their hearts, and choosing to partner with us to make a meaningful difference in a dog’s life. Their compassion, initiative, and commitment truly embody what rescue is all about. ​

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FEBRUARY VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: LOUISE & GARY TEODOSIO

This month, we’re excited to recognize Louise Teodosio and her husband, Gary, whose compassion and dedication to rescue work have already made a meaningful impact at Happily Furever After Rescue.

Although Louise has been part of the HFAR family for just one month, her rescue journey began two years ago. She was first introduced to rescue work through her friend Lisa Lieb, who also happens to be a foster of ours, and quickly discovered how fulfilling it was to help animals in need. A lifelong animal lover who has shared her life with many cats and dogs, Louise knew she wanted to stay connected to animals in a hands-on way. “I really wanted to continue my relationship with animals, especially those in need,” she shared.

Since 2024, Louise and Gary have fostered four adult cats and six kittens. One of the most impactful experiences was caring for a litter of five kittens who had lost their mama. Stepping in to provide around-the-clock care and socialization was both challenging and incredibly gratifying. “It was so rewarding to be their replacement mama to provide the care and socialization needed for a successful adoption,” Louise said. All five kittens went on to find their furever homes and are now thriving.

When asked what she loves most about volunteering, Louise summed it up simply and beautifully: “Enriching my heart!” Rescue work has also given her a renewed perspective on the difference one person can make. “HFAR has reminded me of the impact I can have on an animal’s life,” she reflected.

Some of her favorite moments are the quiet, affectionate ones. “I love the snuggles and gentle kisses I get with my foster cats. It is so fulfilling!” Those small connections are what make fostering so special.

For anyone thinking about volunteering or fostering, Louise has heartfelt advice: “Please help save a dog or cats life! In return, your life becomes a whole lot more interesting! You get companionship, a chance to provide an animal with a loving home, and get to grow your heart!”

Recently retired, Louise has found fostering to be a meaningful way to give back while helping cats in need, with Gary’s support every step of the way. Even in just her first month with HFAR, it’s clear that Louise, and Gary, are already making a lasting difference.

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MARCH VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: NICOLA "NIKKI" IMPROTA

When it comes to dedication, heart, and boots-on-the-ground rescue work, Nicola “Nikki” Improta is truly one of a kind. Since 2021, Nikki has trapped, rescued, assisted with, and saved 300+ cats and kittens — and counting.

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Her journey into rescue began when an injured stray showed up in her downtown Bethel backyard. “He became just one of many local cats in need I would end up helping,” she shares. What started with one cat quickly became a calling. Today, Nikki rescues homeless cats from abandonment and displacement, whether they’re feral or friendly, helping them access vet care, medical support, and ultimately placement into loving homes or rescues.


She’s proud to say she has placed more cats into homes or rescue than she has re-released — though she remains a passionate advocate for TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return). “I love helping feral and semi-feral cats. I love doing TNR and I love taming semi-ferals when possible. Some of my sweetest cats were once feral and scared. It takes time and patience — and I’m good at that.”

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Nikki connected with Happily Furever After Rescue after reaching out to collaborate on helping local cats and through her friendship with fellow rescuer and HFAR foster, Cassandra. Since then, she’s been part of transport efforts — even stepping in during urgent medical situations, including Elphaba’s emergency surgery day. She recalls, “Driving Elphaba to her much-needed vet appointment and emergency intake that day” as one of her top HFAR memories.

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Beyond individual rescues, Nikki took on one of her biggest undertakings: saving the entire Walmart colony — a months-long mission that required feeding nightly in frigid winter weather, trail cameras, trapping, securing rescue placement, and navigating medical emergencies. “It was a whole operation to save and remove a colony of 30 cats living where it was unsafe...it was just me and my one friend, Mary.” Her determination and persistence quite literally changed the lives of dozens of cats in our local area.

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Volunteering, she says, has filled her life with purpose. “Volunteering and doing cat rescue fills my heart up like nothing else. Helping these animals, saving them from suffering in the elements — all the adventure and adrenaline that comes with it.” She admits it’s exhausting work, but adds without hesitation: “I would do anything for these animals.”

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Nikki loves connecting with fellow animal lovers in the community and believes wholeheartedly in the power of coming together to make change. Her message to anyone considering volunteering or fostering is simple and passionate: “Please volunteer and/or foster for your local rescues!! The animals need us — all of us.”



Outside of rescue, Nikki’s world is still wonderfully animal-centered. She works as a dog walker, pet sitter, and veterinary assistant — “my whole life is animals 24/7.” When she’s not saving cats, you can find her tending to her pollinator garden, paddle boarding on the Long Island Sound, enjoying time at home with her cats and her 11-year-old three-legged rescue dog, Rhubarb — a red Australian cattle dog with as much spirit as his mom. A proud homebody, Nikki runs on coffee, sweet treats, and an enormous heart for animals.​​​​

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APRIL VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: LAUREN MUCCI

For nearly two decades, Lauren Mucci has been quietly changing the lives of cats in her community — one frightened kitten, one feral colony, and one family at a time.

An animal lover her whole life, her rescue journey officially began 18 years ago when she became a cat socializer at a local rescue. Lauren spent hours working with shy and shutdown cats, helping them build confidence and trust. From there, she started fostering, which opened the door to even deeper involvement. She eventually became an adoption counselor and then a team lead, helping match cats with the right families and supporting new volunteers.

While fostering, she found herself especially drawn to the “spicy” kittens — those who needed patience, structure, and a little creative problem-solving. Working with them naturally led her to become more involved with community cats and TNR, which eventually grew into the TNR DBA, Project Eartip, and the guiding phrase H.O.P.E. — Help Operate Project Eartip.

Lauren first learned about H.E.L.P. for Pets (Humane and Ethical Lives, Please) through a fellow trapper. Founded in 1990, the organization flourished for many years, but over the last 15 years, membership dwindled until only three dedicated women remained, operating with nothing but a corded phone, an answering machine with a tape, and a checkbook. They planned to use remaining donated funds to help locals get their cats spayed/neutered or TNR’d, and then dissolve the organization. When Lauren heard this, she knew she couldn’t let such an important resource disappear and offered to take it over. In December 2024, she officially stepped in, working to grow the organization, modernize operations, and continue supporting the community and the cats who depend on it.

In addition to H.E.L.P. for Pets, Lauren recently stepped in with Happily Furever After Rescue to help with a large medical case, administering medications and nursing nearly 20 cats back to health. We are so grateful for the support she provided to our organization during a critical time in need.

A huge part of Lauren’s mission is community education — teaching people about the importance of spay/neuter, vaccination, and the truth that feral cats are community cats that belong to all of us and deserve care and love.

Over the 18 years of rescue work, she has helped thousands of cats — from neonatal kittens and pregnant queens to ferals, seniors, and special-needs cats, including FIV and FeLV positive cats. Some were trapped for TNR, some rehabilitated and adopted, and others received medical care, emergency support, or safe placement. Each one mattered and shaped the rescuer she is today.

What she loves most about volunteering is the transformation. “The moment a spicy kitten finally decides to trust, when hissing softens into purring and they begin seeking out pets and play, feels like magic,” Lauren shares. She also treasures the life-saving side of rescue, from sick neonates with feral moms to feral cats learning to trust humans. Beyond the cats, she loves the community that forms around rescue work — a mix of compassion, grit, humor, and shared purpose.

Lauren explains, “volunteering has grounded me…teaching me patience, resilience, and the ability to stay calm and solution-focused even when overwhelmed.” Eighteen years in rescue have shaped her worldview, making her more compassionate, adaptable, and determined to keep showing up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Some of her favorite memories are the “full-circle” moments when a cat who came in terrified, injured, or shut down ends up thriving in a loving home. But the memories that hit the deepest are those where a life was saved that could easily have been lost, like sick neonates who pull through, feral moms who learn to trust, or spicy kittens who blossom into affectionate companions.​​​​

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To anyone considering volunteering or fostering, Lauren emphasizes that every role is crucial. “Whether fostering, transporting, trapping, fundraising, educating, or simply sharing posts, you become part of a network that saves lives,” she says. Taking the leap to get involved can have a profound impact, just by showing up with compassion and a willingness to help.

Outside of rescue, Lauren enjoys travel and adventure, exploring new places, hiking, biking, swimming, and spending time outdoors. She’s happiest near the water, especially at the beach, and also appreciates quieter moments like knitting and listening to audiobooks, podcasts, and music. Being active, outside, and finding small pockets of calm help balance the intensity of rescue work.

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MAY VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: NICOLE PRICE

This month, we are so excited to recognize Nicole Prince for her compassion, dedication, and the incredible impact she has made through fostering with Happily Furever After Rescue.  

Nicole first got involved in fostering when a close friend needed help caring for foster kittens while away on a trip. What started as lending a helping hand quickly became a passion for both Nicole and her daughter. Three years later, they’ve fostered 17 cats together and recently joined the HFAR family. “What I've noticed and love about HFAR is the incredible support from Jaclyn and her entire volunteer community. From the transport team to the emergency placement homes, everyone involved is compassionate, dedicated, and always willing to help.”

For Nicole, fostering has become more than just helping animals — it’s been a meaningful bonding experience with her daughter and a way to give back together. Watching her daughter gain confidence through caring for foster cats and speaking with adopters has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey. “It has been amazing to watch her grow through the experience and choose to foster again and again.”

One of Nicole’s favorite moments as a foster is adoption day — seeing the excitement and joy when families meet their new companion and knowing that a cat has found its furever home. “Watching these animals get adopted brings me a sense of accomplishment and peace.”

Outside of rescue, Nicole stays busy as a mom, works in digital marketing, volunteers with her church, and enjoys face painting, reading, spending time outdoors, and making memories with family and friends.

To anyone considering fostering, Nicole has simple but powerful advice: “If you love animals and have a safe space, fill out a foster application. Helping a frightened animal gain a sense of security, trust, and confidence is an incredibly fulfilling experience.”

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JUNE VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: CHEYENNE ORSI​

This month, we're excited to shine the spotlight on one of our incredible cat volunteers, Cheyenne Orsi! Cheyenne joined Happily Furever After Rescue in February of 2026 after a chance encounter changed everything.

When she found a pregnant stray cat and HFAR immediately stepped in to help the mom and her newborn kittens, she knew she wanted to do her part in making a difference. Since then, Cheyenne has fostered 15 cats and kittens, providing them with the love, safety, and care they need before finding their furever homes.  

What keeps her motivated? The happy endings. "The part I love the most is the satisfaction when a cat or kittens get adopted and you can rest easy knowing that they're going to be safe from here on out," says Cheyenne. "Every cat that is spayed/neutered and adopted is making an impact on this kitty overpopulation crisis we are facing."

For Cheyenne, fostering is about more than providing temporary shelter—it's about changing lives. "To be able to take kittens and cats out of situations that aren't good for them and change their life for the better has been more rewarding than anything."

One of her most memorable rescue moments happened just before a major winter storm. She brought in a stray cat from the streets of Waterbury, only to discover the next day that the cat was pregnant and giving birth. "To know that those kittens were safe and warm and wouldn't have to live on the streets the way their mom did remains one of my favorite memories from my time with HFAR,” shares Cheyenne.

When asked what she'd tell someone considering volunteering or fostering, her answer is simple: "Please do it! You won't regret it. The impact that can be made is worth every second."

Outside of rescue, Cheyenne stays active and busy. A former college volleyball player, she still plays regularly and coaches a girls' 16U volleyball team. She also enjoys hiking, gardening, spending time outdoors, and of course, hanging out with her own cats.

Cheyenne's dedication, compassion, and willingness to step up for cats in need have already changed so many lives. We're incredibly grateful to have her as part of the HFAR family. Thank you, Cheyenne, for everything you do for our rescue and the animals and community that we serve!  

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JULY VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: JESSICA SANTOS​

This month, we're excited to recognize Jessica Santos as our Volunteer of the Month! Since joining the Happily Furever After Rescue family in April 2026, Jessica has already made an incredible impact on the lives of our foster cats and kittens.

Jessica began fostering because she wanted to make a real difference. As she puts it, "It gives the cats and kittens a safe and loving place to stay while they wait for a furever home." She believes every animal deserves to feel safe, comfortable, and loved during a difficult chapter of their lives, and she's dedicated to helping them become healthier, happier, and ready for adoption.

In just a few short months, Jessica has fostered seven cats and kittens, and every one of them has left a lasting impression. "Each paw has touched my heart," she says.

When asked what she loves most about volunteering, Jessica shared, "I love volunteering with HFAR because I find it extremely rewarding. It reminds me that even small contributions can make a big difference in an animal's life."

One of Jessica's most memorable foster experiences was caring for a kitten with Swimmer Syndrome. Through patience, dedication, and daily exercises, she watched the tiny kitten gain strength and confidence. "Being able to help her with her physical therapy and watch her get stronger every day was so rewarding," Jessica recalls. "She was definitely one of my favorite memories and it amazing to see just how far she has come since being adopted."

For anyone thinking about volunteering or fostering, Jessica has one simple piece of advice: "DO IT!" She knows it can seem like a big commitment, but believes the rewards far outweigh the challenges. "Even if you can only give a few hours of your time or foster for a short period, you can make a real. Seeing an animal become more confident, healthy, and eventually find a loving home is an amazing feeling."

Outside of rescue, Jessica enjoys spending time with her chickens, tackling puzzles, hiking, running, taking spontaneous trips, reading, watching a good show, and making memories with family and friends. Her outlook on life says it all: "Time is going to pass anyway, so you have to find what you love and make the most of it."

Jessica, thank you for opening your heart and home to animals in need. Your compassion, dedication, and willingness to help some of our most vulnerable cats have already changed so many lives. We are so grateful to have you as part of the HFAR family.

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AUGUST VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: ALLISON GODUTI​​

This month, we're thrilled to recognize Allison Goduti as our Volunteer of the Month!​ Although Allison is new to fostering with Happily Furever After Rescue, she's certainly not new to saving lives.​ Over the course of her fostering journey, she has welcomed more than 50 dogs into her home, giving each one the love, safety, and confidence they needed before finding their furever families.​ 

After fostering with another organization for more than four years, Allison found her way to HFAR through recommendations from others in the animal welfare community.​ One of ​her favorite parts of fostering is witnessing the moment a scared or uncertain dog finally begins to relax.​ "My favorite part about fostering is when they start to do 'normal dog things' because they feel safe enough to be themselves.​ Seeing that change over time is truly incredible."

What makes HFAR feel like home to Allison is the shared philosophy that every foster animal deserves to be treated like family.​ "The values are the same as my own. HFAR understands how valuable fostering is for an animal's well-being. I always made my fosters a go-home bag with their food, treats, toys, and a matching collar, leash, and harness. Jaclyn ​also makes each foster a go-home bag with all the same things. It makes such a difference when you feel aligned with a rescue like that."

She's also ​t​hankful for the opportunity to continue doing what she loves most.​ "I'm so grateful to HFAR that I can continue to foster dogs, which has been tremendously rewarding."​ Although she's just getting started with HFAR, Allison is excited for what's ahead.

For anyone thinking about volunteering or fostering, Allison has some encouraging advice:​ "Don't worry about what the ideal circumstance is or make that a deterrent. Whether it's working outside the home or not being able to volunteer on the same day every week, so long as your heart is in the right place, that's enough."

When she's not caring for foster dogs, Allison enjoys cooking, exercising, reading, and puzzling. She shares her home with her husband and two beloved resident dogs—both former fosters who became permanent family members: Rosie, a 7-year-old Miniature Pinscher, and Mickey, a 2-year-old Boxer/Jack Russell Terrier mix.



Thank you, Allison, for opening your heart and home to so many deserving dogs. Your compassion, experience, and dedication are already making a difference, and we're so grateful to have you as part of the Happily Furever After Rescue family! 

SEPTEMBER VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: JILL MERRIFIELD​​

This month, we are so excited to recognize Jill Merrifield as our Volunteer of the Month! Jill has been part of the Happily Furever After Rescue family since 2022, when she helped launch our very first Bark in the Park: In Memory of Tyler fundraiser. Since then, she has played an integral role behind the scenes each year, helping plan, organize, and bring one of our biggest annual events to life.

Jill’s passion for animals has always been there, but her desire to make a difference is what ultimately drew her to rescue. “I've always loved animals, but I wanted a way to actually give back,” she shares. Hearing the heartbreaking stories of what so many animals endured before finding their way to rescue made a lasting impact on her. “I can't fix everything, but I can show up and contribute where I'm able to, and even the small stuff ends up making a real difference in their lives. That's really what keeps me doing this.”

Jill and our founder, Jaclyn, first crossed paths back in 2019 while they were both volunteering at DAWS. The two worked together on a fall festival and quickly discovered they made a great team. A few years later, when HFAR was preparing to launch its first Bark in the Park, Jaclyn reached out to Jill for help getting the event off the ground. Jill jumped right in — and she has been an important part of Bark in the Park every year since.

For Jill, one of the best parts of the event is seeing all that hard work come together and watching the community rally around a cause they care about. “There's something really rewarding about watching a community come together like that for a good cause, and knowing you had a small part in making it happen.” She especially enjoys working alongside the high school students who volunteer each year. “Seeing them show up, get involved, and put in the work is great, and it's nice knowing we're helping shape that sense of giving back in the next generation too.”

Of course, what attendees see on event day is only a fraction of what happens behind the scenes! Jill describes Bark in the Park as a day filled with plenty of running around and last-minute problem-solving. And there is one event task she has learned never to underestimate: balloon arches. “Dozens of small balloons, all blown up by hand, and they pop constantly. Takes way longer than you'd think,” she jokes. “You basically just learn to stay ready for anything.”

Amid all the craziness, Jill has created one Bark in the Park ritual of her own. Each year, no matter how busy she is, she finds a few minutes to sneak away to the cat room and visit the kittens. “With everything going on outside, it's this quiet little break where I can just sit with them for a few minutes,” she says. “It's become kind of a tradition for me at this point. No matter how busy the day gets, I always find a way to sneak in and see them.”

Through her involvement with HFAR, Jill has also seen firsthand just how much of a difference a small, dedicated rescue can make. “You don't need a massive operation or endless resources to change an animal's life,” she says. “Sometimes it just takes a dedicated group of people who genuinely care and are willing to put in the work.” Watching HFAR continue to help animals year after year has reinforced something important for her: “The size of the organization isn't what matters most, it's the heart behind it.”

That same sense of community is why Bark in the Park means so much to Jill. She believes events like it help shine a light on local organizations that might otherwise fly under the radar while turning awareness into tangible support through donations, adoptions, volunteerism, and goodwill. “For me, it really comes down to building connection, supporting the organizations behind the scenes, and giving people an easy way to feel invested in their community.”

When Jill isn’t volunteering, she loves spending time outdoors, especially hiking and kayaking. “There's something about being outdoors that just resets me,” she says. “It's really my way of recharging so I can keep showing up for everything else.”

Jill, thank you for showing up for HFAR and Bark in the Park: In Memory of Tyler year after year. From helping launch the very first event in 2022 to the countless hours of planning, problem-solving, and setting up, your dedication has helped Bark in the Park grow into the event it is today. We are incredibly grateful to have you as part of the HFAR family!