The people of OESR are what make this organization so unique. There are many ways to help English Setters in need. Here are some of the setter loving folks who make this group so spectacular. Want to join Our Pack? We need volunteers – see our “How to Help” section for more details.
Denise – President/Intake Coordinator
Denise found her first Setter about 20 years ago, in horrific condition along a country roadside, and brought her home. Denise has opened her doors to incoming OESR dogs that needed immediate help, a shelter from the storm. She soon began screening applications, and found she had a knack for matching the right dog with the right people, Denise is now our Intake/Petfinder Coordinator, and is also on our Board of Directors. She enjoys cooking and good friends, and one day hopes to build her own tiny house.
Cathy – Vice – President/Foster Coordinator
There has not been a day of her life that Cathy has not had a dog. Growing up with several canines, her family welcomed their first English Setter mix (an oops litter of her brother in law’s) which sealed her love of the breed. One month after being married to her husband, Matt, a long long time ago in Ohio, they welcomed their first setter, Kelsi, to their family. Kelsi was an only child for 4 years before adding Toby. Ellie joined the family after Kelsi crossed the bridge. All were from hunting litters. Now, her home in Florida enjoys the ruckus created by Harvey, honorary ½ setter Dexter, and OESR adoptees Pluto in 2019 and Winston in 2020 as well as their humans, Lucas and Caitlyn. Having experienced setter adoption, Cathy saw the opportunity to help OESR and has also cherished the fostering experience.
Ashley – Application Coordinator
Ashley grew up with a setter in the family, and loved to go pheasant hunting with her dad. When Ashley got married, she and her husband rescued their first setter, Ruger, from a local shelter. As their family continues to grow, Ruger is best buds with his little humans. Ashley loves screening applicants and being a part of helping setters find their furever home. She also plans on fostering in the near future.
Kirk – Transport Coordinator
Kirk was first introduced to English Setters while he was the President of the Mayfield/Graves County Animal Shelter in Mayfield, KY. He and his wife, Mary Helen, fostered several English Setters that were left at the shelter. While timing was never right for them to adopt one of those fosters, they always knew they would eventually adopt one. They found OESR when the timing was right, and were fortunate to be matched with Wembley. Kirk joined the OESR team as a Transport Coordinator in early 2021, and is now our Lead Transport Coordinator and a Board Member. He and Wembley, along with the rest of the Taylor Pack, enjoy life in the Virginia mountains, just outside of Roanoke.
Amy – Foster Medical Coordinator
Amy has worked in the veterinary field for 15+ years, and has met various setters at work during that time. After falling in love with her rescued Cocker Spaniels and seeing some setters in action, she decided a setter would be a great addition to the family! Amy foster failed Leeloo, an English Pointer(oops!), from OESR in 2018 and started volunteering in 2019. She shares her home with her husband, Klyde the Great Dane, Anja and Cinder the Cocker Spaniels and Flutter the Cocker/Cavalier mix. In her free time, Amy enjoys running/working out, gardening and traveling.
Deanna – Treasurer
Tarheel born and Tarheel bred, I am a lifelong resident of North Carolina. Married for 32 years with two adult boys, one in the Navy and one in a graduate Physical Therapy program. I fell in love with setters when I would dogsit a neighbor’s setter as a young adult. I’ve always had a dog in the family, but they had been smaller until I got married. Our first married dog was a field setter, Mickey. She was such a kind, patient, loving dog with our boys when they were young. We decided setters were the right dog profile for us! Since Mickey, we have had an Irish Setter and now have an English Setter and a Lab mix. I had been following OESR for years, knowing that we would choose to rescue with our next dog (both current dogs are rescues). I became involved when a shelter post near me appeared to be a setter mix. I contacted OESR offering to help. That was just the beginning………
Nikki – Board Consultant
Nikki grew up with Australian Shepard’s, after loosing her lifelong friend, Dingo, of 17 years, she came upon a skinny, tick infested, scruffy dog, who someone thought resembled an English Setter. Nikki researched the breed and decided that this was the breed for her, and soon joined OESR. Come to find out, once Grayson was brought back to health, he wasn’t really a Setter at all, but a golden retriever mix. By then it was too late, as many Setters found refuge under Nikki’s protective wing. Nikki has been with “Our English Setter Rescue” since the beginning in 2009. She is our President, who leads us in the right direction, we are grateful that she is here. Nikki enjoys birding, baking, and getting the dogs out for playtime at the local dog park.
Kathy – Advisor to the Board
I began my journey with OESR in February of 2010 when I found a 2 year old male setter. When all efforts failed to find his owners, I reached out to OESR, and I became his foster. Buddy, aka Dylan, opened my eyes and heart to the rescue world of helping setters in need. I have fostered over 30 setters, five of which I adopted. Poppy, Booker, Sully, Daisy and Piper are thankful for Buddy. He changed all of our lives! Serving as Adoption Coordinator, screening applications, Heartworm Mentor, chairing the OESR booth at Wagfest for 7 years and as Advisor to the Board of Directors are the areas I have volunteered in. I am looking forward to helping with intake and helping organize the OESR Picnic, August 29, 2020. I am thankful to be a part of the OESR TEAM!
Michele – Foster Coordinator
Growing up on a dairy, farm Michele’s family had Beagles and Labs. Later on, once married she and Michael adopted their first English Setter Sydney 36+ years ago. At the time they had a Grade A goat dairy and Sydney’s job was to help with the newborn kids that had to come to the house. He would snuggle with them, and kept them warm and snug. Later in life, after having Pugs and Border Collies, they adopted another English Setter, Cooper, now age 12. Michele’s love for the breed only intensified. A couple of years ago Michele decided they needed another English Setter and reached out to OESR to adopt. While the perfect match took some time Michele began volunteering with the organization and finally in April of 2021 not one but two OESR dogs came to live in Vermont. Max and Patch joined the family and are loving the country life, snuggly, busy, independent and quite comical all at the same time. Volunteering helps Michele give back some of what her English Setters have given her by helping to rescue and be a part of finding their furever homes.