Elli Frank set out on the Tin Can Kennel Tour last year to observe shelters and help dogs through Mr. Bones & Co, her nonprofit. During this process, she traveled across the country with her own pack of dogs, gaining a new understanding of what home means to her.

Rachel Herman founded PAWS NY non-profit in 2008 to help provide crucial everyday pet care services for free to New York City residents in need. The non-profit organization recognizes the importance for dogs to stay with their loving pet parents, keeping animals out of shelters, by supporting vulnerable pet parents with dog walking, veterinary care, and food so their clients stay happy together.

Lizz Whitacre is the Founder and CEO of Pawlytics, a cloud-based software for animal shelters and rescues who want to save more dogs. After pursuing different self-started companies and endeavors over the years within the industry, she is today running Pawlytics (a culmination of all her experience) with the aim of implementing an innovative and modern software system for the animal welfare industry in order to help have the most efficient process in place everywhere to find homes for every dog that needs one. It all started with inspiration from her first dog, Rex, who gave her the fuel for this mission.

As a Real Estate agent, Kelcey Otten had the great idea of bringing dogs up for adoption to her open listings (with her clients permission in advance, of course). Ever since she was young, Kelcey was exposed to the rescue and foster world through her mother and has now taken that torch and initiative on her own. She also has two rescues of her own, Stella and Rosie, and has fostered many others.

Devon Apodaca is the Executive Director at the Humane Society of Imperial County, trying to save one dog at a time in a rural California community along the US/Mexico border region. Being in an economically disadvantaged area along the Border Region has meant dealing with limited resources, overcoming language and cultural barriers, and managing the ever-increasing number of strays/medical emergencies of pets. Devon has been impacted by many dogs who have touched his life in profound ways enough for him to carry on regardless of the many obstacles, politics, and limitations he faces on a daily basis never losing hope of the end result.

Ellen Ballon Dante is the Founder and CEO of Deity Animal Rescue and is based in Los Angeles. After initially starting Deity as a jewelry line, she realized she could use the success that business was having to help raise money to rescue dogs. Already having worked as a volunteer in the rescue world, Ellen knew how much every dollar helps. Since then, the Deity Animal Rescue nonprofit has helped with hundreds of dogs.

Pete Paxton is an undercover investigator who has infiltrated over 700 puppy mills and rescued many dogs as a result. While dogs and other animals can’t always speak up for themselves, Pete tries to help them out and make sure they’re treated right. In his new book – Rescue Dogs: Where They Come From, Why They Act the Way They Do, and How to Love Them Well – he talks about the different terrific dogs he’s rescued and gives advice for anyone adopting or living with rescues.

At a time of professional crossroads, Mark Imhof decided to go to grooming school after realizing with his own rescue dog how much difference a cleaning had made. He started volunteering at shelters around New York City, grooming hundreds of dogs over time. Not only did it make a big difference on the dogs being rescued (those groomed would often instantly get adopted), but it also lifted the dogs spirits themselves and gave them confidence. After becoming known as “The Dog Guy” around the city, he ended up starting The Dog Guy Foundation, a non-profit organization where he now has a team of people where they all go do groomings at different places in New York City and help dogs get a fresh start.

Joey Teixeira has a family of dogs with his partner, one of those being popular social media star Mervin The Chihuahua. He is the Director of Philanthropy at the ASPCA and has worked with a variety of dog and animal companies over the years, gaining professional experience that has expanded his outlook on the dog-human relationship and the different ways we can all co-exist with our dogs.

Chrissy Beckles is the Founder and President of The Sato Project, which helps rescue abused and abandoned dogs from Puerto Rico. It all started when her husband was working there over a decade ago and she saw all the stray dogs. While most people would feel bad but not have the initiative to take action, Chrissy became more and more involved – especially after getting her own rescue, Boom Boom – and started The Sato Project.

Dorie Herman is well-known for her Instagram page "The Kardoggians" – a humorous dog pun on "The Kardashians." She's always found a companionship and connection to dogs, from when she was a child to now being an adult. What really changed her life, however, was her senior rescue named Chloe.

Susie Coston is the National Shelter Director at Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s largest and most effective farm animal rescue and protection organization. With more than two decades of experience working with farm animals, Susie is a leading authority on both their care and behavior and advocates for compassion for animals everywhere.