Amy Dezember Co-Director, Adoption Program
Amy is one of the co-directors at Rural Dog Rescue. She started her RDR journey in January 2019 when she adopted her dog, Biscuit.
Savanna Mitchell Co-Director, Foster Program
Savanna is one of the co-directors at Rural Dog Rescue. She started out as a foster with RDR back in 2016 and since then has filled several roles over the years, as well as adopting two dogs — Ruby and Gruner.
Marisa Creta Foster Coordinator
Marisa is the foster coordinator at Rural Dog Rescue. She grew up fostering dogs in New York and joined RDR in 2021 shortly after moving to the DMV. Marisa fostered regularly before foster failing with Roxy in 2023.
Peter Tzeng Adoption Event Coordinator
Peter is the adoption event coordinator. He started volunteering with Rural Dog Rescue in 2019 after stumbling across one of their events on his way home from lunch.
October Volunteer Coordinator
October is the volunteer coordinator, focusing on connecting volunteers with the appropriate team members based on their interests and the organization's needs. She's been volunteering with RDR since 2019.
Kevin Knoth Marketing Coordinator
Kevin is the marketing coordinator at Rural Dog Rescue. His first experience with RDR came in July 2022 when he adopted his rescue pup, Bella, and joined our team a year later.
Hadley Chase Fundraising Coordinator
Hadley is the fundraising coordinator at Rural Dog Rescue and joined our team after adopting her second dog, Duncan.
Bryan Hanlon Applications Coordinator
Bryan is the applications coordinator at Rural Dog Rescue. He started volunteering with RDR in 2017 in various roles before becoming the home visit coordinator in 2021, and then the applications coordinator in 2023.
Bethany Gracer Profiles Coordinator
Bethany is the profiles coordinator for Rural Dog Rescue. She began fostering in early 2022 shortly after moving to D.C. from Connecticut, and has fostered 10 RDR pups (pictured: foster #3, Fred!).
Kim Hawkins Board Chair, Executive Director and Founder
Kim founded Rural Dog Rescue in 2011 as a small 1-3 person operation and has expanded rapidly over the past 13 years. She owns five foster-failed RDR dogs, a horse, a cat, five Sebastopol geese, chickens, call ducks, and rabbits.
Leo Lex Supply Coordinator
Leo is the supply coordinator for Rural Dog Rescue. He monitors our equipment and food, while also working with people who want to make in-kind donations. He and his husband, Ryan, adopted Annabelle from RDR after fostering her for a week.
