Who is Harley?
Harley was the animal that influenced our founder, Angel, to pursue animal rescue and rehabilitation. Growing up, Harley was Angel’s best friend, and was by her side for the majority of her formative years. When Harley suffered a stroke at the age of 15 leading to his diagnosis of cancer, Angel was determined to make Harley as comfortable as possible for however long he had left; it was the least she could do after all that Harley had done for her. Harley defied the odds and lived another 6 months, before his body had finally had enough. In his final moments, Angel promised Harley she would honor his legacy by rescuing and rehabilitating animals in need. Less than a decade later, Harley’s Animal Haven was born.
Meet the Team
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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.
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Associate Director
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.
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Associate Director
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.
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Associate Director
John has always had a love for animals, but his favorite part of rescue is being out in the field helping animals in need. Whether it's responding to a call, assisting on a rescue mission, or lending a hand wherever he's needed, he's always ready to jump in and help.
At home, John is a proud pet dad to his dog, Yogi, and his cat, Charlotte, who remind him every day why this work matters. He believes every animal deserves a chance and enjoys being part of the team that helps make those second chances possible.
When he's not out on a rescue, John enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hiking, as well as making memories with his family and his animals. His dedication, compassion, and willingness to help wherever he's needed make him an invaluable part of Harley's Animal Haven.