Founder, Executive Director

Angel has loved helping animals since she was a toddler. She rescued her first cat when she was just a 1.5 years old , when she heard a kitten crying in her driveway and called to her mother to help the crying baby cat. From then on she sought to help every animal that crossed her path—at 6 years old, she started seeking out sick animals that were falling through the cracks at pet stores and bringing them home to nurse them back to health. At age 12, her beloved cat Harley was diagnosed with intestinal cancer after having a stroke and she did everything in her power to make his last few months as comfortable as possible. The night before he passed, she promised him that he would never be forgotten and that she would go on to rescue and rehabilitate other animals in his honor and thus Harley’s Animal Haven was born!

Rescuing and rehabbing animals has always been Angel’s number one passion and priority in life. She currently shares her home with her 3 dogs, 10 cats, 1 chicken, 2 lizards and 5 mice as well as the fosters she consistently welcomes into her home.  

Associate Director of Internal and External Relations

Summer has been surrounded by animals as long as she can remember, growing up with the adopted ideology that pets were family. When her “heart” cat, Sammy, was diagnosed with kidney disease at age 18, she was determined to understand the biological needs of cats, and soon realized felines were often underserved in the animal welfare space. In honor of Sammy, she has advocated for animals in a fierce, passionate form.

Summer’s journey with cat rescue began in 2023, when a stray pregnant cat showed up outside her door. This experience revealed not only the harsh realities of rescue, but also exposed how we all carry a personal responsibility to help animals in need.

Summer shares her home with her four cats, a frog, and the many foster kitties that come through her doors. She works with several rescue organizations within Connecticut and independently practices feline behavior and retention counseling for troubled pet owners.

Associate Director of Finance

Julie has been an animal lover and pet owner her whole life, and she is the reason why Harley had a shot at life to begin with. She took in Harley when he was just a kitten from a family who had a bunch of kittens on their property that were sadly being killed by wild animals. Upon arriving to this house, she noticed a small kitten who had only three paws, the homeowner tried to talk her out of the disabled kitten, but her heart could not be swayed. Little did she know that 4 years later, she would have a daughter and that tiny disabled kitten she had brought home would not only be her daughter's best friend but would also shape her entire life. Julie has spent the last 19 years of her life supporting and aiding Angel in all of her rescue mission such as helping her rehab sick animals, transporting animals to the vet and being a shoulder to lean on for Angel during especially hard rehab cases. Julie currently shares her home with her beautiful 15-year-old paraplegic Pekingese dog, Bella, and her handsome kitty, Axel.

Associate Director of Animal Advocacy

Janessa has had a passion for animals throughout her life. In high school, she was part of the Equine Large Animal Science program, which deepened her knowledge and care for animals. She now owns four cats, two ferrets, and a bunny. Alongside her love for animals, Janessa is dedicated to fitness and enjoys helping others reach their health and wellness goals.

Associate Director of Animal Welfare

Hi, my name is Ryan, and I’ve always had a deep love for animals. Growing up, I spent much of my time riding horses and later studied small animal veterinary science at Lyman Hall High School. Today, I share my home with two cats and two dogs, who inspire my ongoing passion for animal welfare and rescue. Alongside my work as a freelance makeup artist, I am pursuing a degree in Marketing at Southern Connecticut State University. My goal is to combine my learned skills with my lifelong dedication to animals to make a positive impact in their lives.