Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue was founded in 2010 by a group of passionate animal advocates who believed rescue could be done better. After volunteering with other organizations, we saw firsthand the challenges facing homeless animals and the foster families who cared for them. We envisioned a rescue built on compassion, collaboration, and a commitment to giving every animal the care and support they deserve. Founder Emma Shin grew up in a family that never turned away an animal in need. Inspired by her grandfather, who was known for taking in stray “pound dogs” and finding them loving homes, Emma developed a lifelong passion for animal welfare. Combined with her professional background in marketing and business development, she turned that passion into action by creating Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue.
Building Momentum
2010–2015
In just a few short years, Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue grew from a small foster-based rescue into an organization making a measurable impact.
New partnerships with PetSmart Charities and Petco Love helped expand our reach by providing funding, adoption support, and marketing that connected more rescue dogs with loving families.
In 2012, we launched Spay It Forward, a subsidized spay and neuter program that hosts clinics in New Mexico. By helping families access affordable veterinary care, the program addresses pet overpopulation at its source and reduces the number of unwanted litters entering already overcrowded shelters.
As more animals needed our help, we purchased our first rescue van, giving us the ability to transport even more dogs from municipal shelters to the safety of our Colorado foster network.
By the end of 2015, Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue had rescued more than 1,200 dogs—a milestone made possible by our dedicated foster families, volunteers, adopters, donors, and community partners.
Together, we were proving that one rescue that would make a lasting difference.
Expanding Our Reach
2016–2020
As Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue continued to grow, so did our mission. During this period, we expanded beyond dogs and began rescuing cats, giving even more homeless animals a second chance at life. To keep pace with the growing need, we added a second rescue van, increasing our capacity to transport animals from overcrowded municipal shelters to the safety of our Colorado foster network. In 2020, we also launched our VIP program, streamlining the adoption process for people who already have their heart set on one particular dog. That same year marked a major milestone: Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue had rescued more than 10,000 dogs and cats. What began as a small group of passionate volunteers had grown into one of Colorado’s leading foster-based rescues, thanks to the unwavering support of our foster families, volunteers, adopters, donors, and community partners. Every milestone represented thousands of lives changed, and thousands more opportunities to make a difference.
Reaching More Animals Than Ever
2021–Present
Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue continues to grow its impact through strategic partnerships and increased rescue capacity. By joining the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary network, we expanded our ability to work with even more municipal shelters across New Mexico, especially in rural communities where resources are limited and adoptable animals often have the greatest need. To support this growth, we added a cargo van to our rescue fleet, allowing us to transport even more dogs and cats safely to Colorado for veterinary care, foster homes, and ultimately, loving forever families. In 2025, Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue rescued a record 1,173 dogs and cats. In 2026, we’re on pace to surpass that milestone, continuing our commitment to saving more lives than ever before. Every animal rescued represents a life changed, and every adoption, foster home, volunteer, and donation makes that rescue possible. As we look to the future, our mission remains the same: to rescue more animals, strengthen our community, and ensure every dog and cat has the opportunity to find a loving home.
Next milestone
OUR HISTORY
Our History
Explore the milestones that shaped our organization.
1 2010
Origin story
2 2010–2015
Building Momentum
3 2016–2020
Expanding Our Reach
4 2021–Present
Reaching More Animals Than Ever
Origin story
2010
Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue was founded in 2010 by a group of passionate animal advocates who believed rescue could be done better. After volunteering with other organizations, we saw firsthand the challenges facing homeless animals and the foster families who cared for them. We envisioned a rescue built on compassion, collaboration, and a commitment to giving every animal the care and support they deserve. Founder Emma Shin grew up in a family that never turned away an animal in need. Inspired by her grandfather, who was known for taking in stray “pound dogs” and finding them loving homes, Emma developed a lifelong passion for animal welfare. Combined with her professional background in marketing and business development, she turned that passion into action by creating Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue.
Building Momentum
2010–2015
In just a few short years, Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue grew from a small foster-based rescue into an organization making a measurable impact.
New partnerships with PetSmart Charities and Petco Love helped expand our reach by providing funding, adoption support, and marketing that connected more rescue dogs with loving families.
In 2012, we launched Spay It Forward, a subsidized spay and neuter program that hosts clinics in New Mexico. By helping families access affordable veterinary care, the program addresses pet overpopulation at its source and reduces the number of unwanted litters entering already overcrowded shelters.
As more animals needed our help, we purchased our first rescue van, giving us the ability to transport even more dogs from municipal shelters to the safety of our Colorado foster network.
By the end of 2015, Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue had rescued more than 1,200 dogs—a milestone made possible by our dedicated foster families, volunteers, adopters, donors, and community partners.
Together, we were proving that one rescue that would make a lasting difference.
Expanding Our Reach
2016–2020
As Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue continued to grow, so did our mission. During this period, we expanded beyond dogs and began rescuing cats, giving even more homeless animals a second chance at life. To keep pace with the growing need, we added a second rescue van, increasing our capacity to transport animals from overcrowded municipal shelters to the safety of our Colorado foster network. In 2020, we also launched our VIP program, streamlining the adoption process for people who already have their heart set on one particular dog. That same year marked a major milestone: Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue had rescued more than 10,000 dogs and cats. What began as a small group of passionate volunteers had grown into one of Colorado’s leading foster-based rescues, thanks to the unwavering support of our foster families, volunteers, adopters, donors, and community partners. Every milestone represented thousands of lives changed, and thousands more opportunities to make a difference.
Reaching More Animals Than Ever
2021–Present
Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue continues to grow its impact through strategic partnerships and increased rescue capacity. By joining the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary network, we expanded our ability to work with even more municipal shelters across New Mexico, especially in rural communities where resources are limited and adoptable animals often have the greatest need. To support this growth, we added a cargo van to our rescue fleet, allowing us to transport even more dogs and cats safely to Colorado for veterinary care, foster homes, and ultimately, loving forever families. In 2025, Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue rescued a record 1,173 dogs and cats. In 2026, we’re on pace to surpass that milestone, continuing our commitment to saving more lives than ever before. Every animal rescued represents a life changed, and every adoption, foster home, volunteer, and donation makes that rescue possible. As we look to the future, our mission remains the same: to rescue more animals, strengthen our community, and ensure every dog and cat has the opportunity to find a loving home.
What makes Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue different
Foster, adopt, volunteer, or give. Every path supports dogs and cats as they move from uncertainty into safe, loving homes.
Fostering first
Animals in foster homes settle faster, show their true personalities sooner, and skip the stress of shelter life — so we can match them with the right family, not just any family.
Community powered
Every rescue we do runs on fosters, volunteers, and donors working together — and along the way, that shared purpose has built a real community of people who show up for each other, not just the animals.
Giving back at the source
We don't just pull animals out — we invest in the communities they come from, funding spay/neuter and vaccination clinics and keeping shelter partners stocked with food and supplies, so fewer animals end up needing rescue in the first place.
No deadlines on love
Every animal in our care stays with us until they find their family — however long that takes, whatever their age, breed, or story, there's no clock running out on them here.
Meet the team
Meet the dedicated people who help give dogs and cats a second chance through foster care, adoption, and compassionate support.
Director
Emma Shin
Role: Executive Director
Dog years: 16 rescue yrs / 112 dog yrs
Emma Shin created RMPR due to her experiences as a child. Her family loved all animals, and would help any in need animal they met. Her Grandfather in particular had a soft heart for the “ pound dogs “ he would meet. “When I was young he was always taking in a stray and trying to rehome them" Her family’s love of animals coupled by her less than ideal experience at another Colorado rescue inspired Emma to " Do More". Knowing that others felt the same and that more could be done for the homeless animals she met RMPR was created August 2010. In October 2012 the Spay it Forward, subsidized owned animal Spay Neuter program was born. Ms Shin has over twelve years of successful National Sales Experience in advertising, marketing, sales and product services sales. It is this experience coupled with her passionate love of all things living that fuels the work she does. Emma feels blessed to be a part of a great team of hardworking animal rescuers. She is honored to have a helping hand in saving the animals of RMPR and helping them to reach their forever homes.
Director
Tom Kennedy
Role: Co-Founder, Photographer
Dog years: 16 rescue yrs / 112 dog yrs
There are several favorite things about being involved with RMPR for Tom... first, coming home from a hectic, stressful day running his custom homebuilding company, laying on the floor and being swarmed by a litter of puppies... "Nothing else matters when you are covered in puppies." Second, watching Emma and the other huge-hearted volunteers come together, doing whatever it takes to save these lives. Tom also gets to enjoy one of his passions... photography... shooting the glamour shots of all the dogs that come in, hoping a nice picture might lead to a visit for that particular dog that helps find a forever home. And finally, seeing the happy families, completed by the addition of the dog or puppy that without the hard work of these volunteers, had no chance at a happy life. Tom is proud to be part of an amazing group of people that works day after day, and comes together week after week to do something bigger than themselves... and has fun doing it.
Operations
Staff
Sean Damon
Role: Operations, Cat Guru
Dog years: 3 rescue yrs / 21 dog yrs
Sean is a dedicated RMPR team member and middle school math teacher. For the past 8 years, Sean and his partner Rich have been volunteering with Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue, where Sean became a staff member in July 2023. Their home is filled with love from two dogs, Ziggy and Stella, and four cats, Sunny, Ozzy, Winter, and Phoebe. Sean’s teaching career spans 13 years, inspiring countless students to find joy in math. With a bachelor's and master's degree in math education, he is now pursuing an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, showcasing his commitment to growth and leadership. At the rescue, Sean processes dog adoptions and coordinates cat placements and adoptions, knowing that each effort saves lives. The hardships animals endure in shelters deeply motivate him to continue making a difference. Sean finds joy in witnessing the happiness of new adopters. His work transforms the lives of animals and brings joy to families, making him an important part of the team.
Event
Staff
Cheryl Cheney
Role: Volunteer Coordinator
Dog years: 16 rescue yrs / 112 dog yrs
Whether in my day job as a Contract Administrator for a Heavy Highway Contractor or in my passion as a volunteer for Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue, I see my responsibility as working through problems to achieve solutions. In my work here with the rescue this generally means organizing and implementing infrastructure, so events run as smoothly as possible.
Staff
Event
Bonnie Birge
Role: Event & Field Operations
Dog years: 4 rescue yrs / 28 dog yrs
Hello I'm Bonnie. In my career I am a Mechanical Engineer and one of the part time staff at RMPR. I help with a little bit of everything at the rescue. At the adoption events, I help fosters find and get the pups into the kennels, VIP visits, process adoptions and help fosters and volunteers at the events. At the transfers, I help get the new pups off the truck and get them into the travel crates, fit the older pups with a harness and help the fosters get the pups into their cars.
I enjoy fostering pups and kitties because I know that if I can bring in at least one or two pups into my house, I just open that space in the shelter for another animal. Being able to help these animals out of the shelter and into a loving home is very rewarding. These pups and kitties still have a lot of love to give to a family and I get to enjoy their love and help bring out that love until they find their forever family.
Staff
Al Ramirez
Role: Transport, Media and Operations Manager
Dog years: 10 rescue yrs / 70 dog yrs
Al Ramirez has spent nearly a decade saving and training dogs, personally helping thousands find their way to safety and a second chance. When he isn't behind the wheel of RMPR's rescue rig or cargo van, you'll find him volunteering at a local animal sanctuary, working with rescued pigs and chickens. With a big heart for animals, Al loves sharing his knowledge with new fosters, especially the importance of socialization and keeping their animals safe. Always willing to go the extra mile, Al is the kind of person who finds it nearly impossible to say "no" when an animal needs saving.
Board Member
Liz L.
Role: Board Member
Dog years: 16 rescue yrs / 112 dog yrs
I am a Colorado native
I graduated with an Associates from Front Range Community College and a Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering from University of Northern Colorado.
I worked as a science teacher for 10 years before starting my career with the Department of Health and Environment for 20 years. I retired a year ago to volunteer with RMPR full time. I started volunteering with them fifteen years ago.
Board Member
Russ Z.
Role: Board Member
Dog years: 12 rescue yrs / 84 dog yrs
Russ has been fostering dogs and puppies for 12 years.
He grew up up in the Midwest but came to Colorado and graduated from CU Boulder in 1994.
He was a home builder for 10 years and a structural engineer for 22 years.
Russ has twin daughters and a grandson and a granddaughter.
In addition to volunteering with RMPR, he also works with those with addiction and teaches Sunday School.
Board Member
Bob Long
Role: Board Member
Dog years: 12 rescue yrs / 84 dog yrs
Bob Long serves as Chairman of the Dance Board for Arthur Murray International Dance Schools and is a longtime business owner in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He brings extensive business experience, leadership, and a strong commitment to community service to the RMPR Board of Directors. A passionate animal welfare advocate, Bob has volunteered at RMPR spay/neuter clinics and assisted with lifesaving transports of dogs and cats from high-kill New Mexico shelters to foster homes in Colorado. His hands-on rescue experience, business expertise, and dedication to animal welfare make him a valued Board member committed to saving lives, promoting responsible pet ownership, and expanding access to affordable spay/neuter services.
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