Meet Our Staff

Administrative Staff

Chief Executive Officer – Denise Hayes

Denise Hayes is an experienced non-profit administrator with nearly a decade of experience with the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer.  She has extensive experience in leadership development, fundraising, budgeting, and oversight of daily operations.  She is a long-time foster parent and advocate for the RVSPCA, and brings event management and volunteer coordination experience as well. 
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Staff Veterinarian – Dr. Jennifer McFarling

Dr. Jennifer McFarling came to the RVSPCA from private practice in August, 2005. She graduated from VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003 and has found shelter medicine to be both thrilling and challenging. Dr. McFarling works tirelessly on behalf of the animals at the shelter, overseeing medical care, recommending treatment options for the behavioral issues most shelter animals face, and providing training in proper cleaning and sanitizing methods.
Dr. McFarling remarked, “working with all the animals is what I like best about my job. These very deserving animals seem so grateful for the attention they receive, both medically and socially. They maintain the best attitudes in spite of having experienced some very difficult situations/circumstances.”
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Director of Finance - Mary Carlin

Mary Carlin brings 24 years of experience as a Certified Public Accountant to the position of Director of Finance for the RVSPCA and its affiliates.  She was attracted to the position because of her love of animals and respect for the organization.  She hopes that her work at the facility will help to bring about a positive change in the lives of many homeless animals.  Mary is married, with three children and two dogs.  She enjoys an active lifestyle that includes hiking the parkway and traveling.  Email

 Behaviorist - Mary Marr  

Mary Marr is the Animal Behaviorist.  One of her main duties is to perform temperament testing on dogs and cats who are either being relinquished by their owners or being transferred to the RVSPCA from the municipal animal control facility. Mary also works with the potential adopter to make sure he is making the right choice of pet for his lifestyle.  Mary has a degree in Psychology from Randolph Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, VA.  The family has always had pets and her mother is a dog trainer, so Mary has grown up with animals and solving troubling behaviors her entire life.

She welcomes the chance to help solve any bad behaviors so that the pet is able to stay in the home rather than being given up.  She also works closely with the Regional Center for Animal Control & Protection to place as many pets as possible with rescue groups or in homes.  Email

Foster Coordinator - Angie Beheler

Angie Troup joined the staff after serving as a foster family for many cats and kittens, dogs and puppies.  She knows from personal experience how addictive fostering can be and what types of support are needed to make the experience successful for the families as well as the pets in their care.  Fostering saves lives and is often the only chance that infant or orphaned animals have to grow and thrive and become valued members of someone's household.  Angie and her teenage sons continue to foster and have become "foster failures" themselves.  She shares her home with two dogs, two cats and two guinea pigs.  Angie welcomes all questions concerning the foster process and how to become a member of our team of dedicated temporary caregivers.  She can be reached by email.

Volunteer Coordinator - Ruth Pierce

Ruth Pierce is the Volunteer Coordinator. A familiar face around the shelter, Ruth is a long-time volunteer and foster parent. Ruth has volunteered at most of the events and can bring a unique perspective to recruiting and motivating this most important part of our workforce. Ruth's calm nature, organizational skills and sense of humor will serve her well in this position.  Ruth is known around the shelter as the "small dog" person since she eagerly fosters even the most traumatized little dogs.  She works wonders with the little critters, bringing them out of their shells so that they are capable of becoming members of a family again.
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Director of Development - Nina M. Zanella

Nina Zanella brings 27 years of development experience to the RVSPCA.  Prior to coming to the RVSPCA, she worked with  the Girls Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council and Community School in Roanoke.  Originally from Rhode Island, Nina lives in Floyd County with her husband, Tom, 5 cats and 2 dogs.  Nina may hold the record for shortest amount of employment time before adopting a new pet.  She met Billy in her first week on the job and found that his personality fit in perfectly with her other pets.  He is now enjoying life to the fullest as a member of the Zanella family.
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Director of Marketing & Special Events – Kathy Perdue

Kathy Perdue oversees the organization’s fundraising activities including special events, and on-line giving, and maintains the website.  In addition, she is involved with the public relations activities of the RVSPCA, is editor of the Paw Street Journal, the quarterly RVSPCA newsletter, and the Paw Print, the bi-monthly e-newsletter.  Committed to seeing that all animals get the loving homes they deserve, Kathy is the proud pet-parent of four cats (2 RVSPCA alumni), and a lab-mix (RVSPCA adoptee.)  She is a regular foster parent and has provided a temporary home for over 200 cats, kittens, and adult canines needing respite from the shelter environment.
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Support Staff

Dr. Janice Annis is the part-time veterinarian.

April Hartz is a Licensed Veterinary Technician and is assistant to the staff veterinarians.

Jennifer Reed is the assistant to the veterinary staff.

Belinda Kujawinski is assistant to the Director of Finance & Human Resources

Mary Renwick is Assistant to the Development, Marketing & Special Events Departments. 

Christie Kang is the front desk clerk, facilitating adoptions.

Lori Mills is the Kennel Supervisor, watching over the day-to-day care of the animals.

Christina Baker, Shaun Craft, Beverly Davis, Jeanne Kane, Amanda Mason, Doris Minnix, Allyson Seeley are the Animal Attendants, responsible for the daily care and treatment of the animals at the shelter and at PetSmart.