​JOIN US!

If you are interested in helping Adoption First please fill out a volunteer application. There are many different ways to help from administrative tasks to walking the dogs to helping transport. Contact us for more details. 

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

Volunteers

Andrea Whatley
​ Event Coordinator
I began volunteering in the spring of 2019. I loved Adoption First Animals Rescue’s ideals, values, and mission to rescue dogs so I became more involved. My husband is retired military and I’m a veteran so we love being in a community that supports the military. . This organization aligns with my goals and demonstrates their commitment to helping dogs - so I’m all in!

Bre Corbitt 
​ Foster Coordinator
I joined the Adoption First team in 2018 as a foster to give back and have playmates for my Dog Rubes. Since then I have learned so much and fostered more than 30 dogs! I am so happy I found them and can be there for new fosters as they start their journey helping Dogs that are in desperate need.

Sabryna Pugliese- Medical
 I started volunteering October of 2019 and I continue to go every Saturday. The people I volunteer with have become a second family to me and I am so thankful for each one of them! This rescue has changed my life and I am glad that I was told to volunteer or I would have never met some amazing people who care so much for animals like I do.

Brittany Berry
​Administration
I started volunteering back in August of 2018 after we adopted our fur baby Easton from Adoption First. I now spend my free time at the rescue playing with the pups and scheduling vet appointments when needed. ​

Dalton Berry
​Kennel Manager
I started volunteering back in August of 2018 after we adopted our dog Easton from Adoption First. I now spend my free time at the rescue playing with the pups and doing whatever we can to keep the kennel side running smoothly. 




​

Michele Pauls 
​Administration
I have been a volunteer and foster for Adoption First Animal Rescue since June 2019. This rescue is absolutely wonderful and I am so honored to be a part of the team! I love being able to give second chances to the scared, broken, and sick. Showing them what love, compassion, and kindness truly is and watching them transform into the dog they were meant to be. I am blessed to have found a group of people that are devoted to rescuing and saving lives! I have made so many amazing friends along the way. I look forward to the future of saving many more lives.

Krissi Mansholt
​ Administration
I joined Adoption First in September 2020. I have always been a HUGE animal lover and a big advocate for these sweet souls.  Since then we have fostered 5 more dogs. I love being a part of their successes and growth. I love watching them improve and become the dogs they are meant to be. I am so thankful to be apart of this wonderful organization.

Lannette Hanslip
​ Fundraising Team
I first heard about AFAR in 2014 and quickly started fostering! Saturdays at adoption events are the best, and I enjoy volunteering at them!  I have watched the rescue grow tremendously, helping thousands of dogs over the years find their loving, forever homes. Proud to be a part of the team.

Norah Wimer
​Administration
Our family started fostering with Adoption First July, 2020.  In the first ten months with Adoption First we've opened our home to over 20 dogs and puppies. My favorite part of fostering is bringing a dog who is timid home from the facility, and seeing them getting to be a "real dog" once they feel safe in our home.

Nicholas Bingham
​Administration
I started fostering and volunteering with Adoption First when I moved to my home in North Carolina July 2020. I have a strong love for dogs, especially the fluffy ones. I enjoy fostering the more difficult dogs that require a lot more attention or healing time because it allows me to create a bond with them and it feels even better when they find their forever home!

Courtney Whitaker
Administration
Rescue is by far the most rewarding experience I’ve been a part of, besides motherhood of course. Watching each dog learn to thrive, and dig deep to learn what family means is incredible. I have fostered puppies, special needs, seniors, and some less trusting puppers. Each one has left a huge paw print in my heart and home. They each teach me so much more than I could ever teach them. What’s even more incredible, is my daughter at 4 years old has developed a heart for rescue that beats as strong as the need for it. Rescue changes lives, big and small, in every shape and size. Every paw rescued... is a paw saved, and leads so much joy to a family who needed it at just the right time. Simply put, Rescue is a beautiful thing.

Sabrina Lapointe
​Administration
​I started fostering and volunteering with Adoption First in July of 2020, just two months after moving to North Carolina from my home, New England. I have been a lifelong animal advocate and have been a vegetarian for 21 years! (I’m 26). I am especially passionate about pitbulls and making a better name for the breed. Fostering and volunteering is such a privilege to me. I love seeing my fosters transform into the happy and healthy dog they were always meant to be! 

Cori Labounty
Medical Team 
I began volunteering with Adoption First in March of 2019. What started out as a way to fill time while my husband was stationed overseas and I was in nursing school has turned into permanent role in my life. I told myself (and my husband) I would only help out around the rescue and not foster. Well that flew out the window the very first day! I brought home a malnourished one year old hound and fell in love with fostering and showing the dogs what a good life is. I even "foster failed" 2 dogs when I already had 2 of my own. Late 2019 I transitioned to the medical team to help the rescue in other ways. I ensure that all the dogs are medically ready for adoption to their fur-ever home. I love my "job" and wouldn't have it any other way. The volunteers of Adoption First have become my second family.

David Amador
Hello there! I’m David, I’ve been volunteering and fostering since January 2021. Both of my dogs, Ace and Azalea were adopted from Adoption First. Dogs have always been a huge part of my life and Adoption First has made it possible to build my own family and help others build theirs. My favorite part of doing what I do is knowing that we are the second chance that most of these dogs deserve. Adopt, don’t shop. 

Simeone Frost
​Event Coordinator 
I volunteered at an animal rescue in DC for six years and felt a huge part of my life missing when I moved here. I searched around for the BEST dog rescue and was lucky to find AFAR. I’ve been volunteering since early 2019 and my husband Milo (also a volunteer) and I foster dogs as well. I love seeing a dog transform from being unsure and shy to having confidence and finding its own forever family. I love doing events because I gives me the chance to talk about the great work AFAR does! This work brings me so much joy and I’m grateful to AFAR to have the chance to do it. And yes both of our dogs are rescues!

Bethany Martin 
I have been a foster with Adoption First since January 2020. It is such an amazing feeling being able to give dogs a safe and loving home until they find their fur-ever family. Being able to see your foster grow and gain confidence is a great experience. I have enjoyed every minute of being part of AFAR!

Sarah Simpson
Instagram Manager 
AWAITING BIO 



​







​









​
​

Amanda Rowe
I’ve been fostering with Adoption First since 2017 and my favorite thing about it is being able to meet lots of new dogs, bring them into our home and show them the good life while helping them transition to a home of their own. My dogs, my husband and I all enjoy it. Fostering isn’t always easy, but with fosters we are one step closer to saving more dogs. We’ve also made incredible friends along the way.

Jackie Sickle
Administration
AWAITING BIO 











​














​​​

Denise Coates
I love being a foster mom and helping at the rescue. I feel like I’m giving back to a community that has given so much to me. My emotional support dog has helped me to recover 85% from a stroke; now I get to help those dogs who don’t have a voice! Adopt!

Jaime Duncan
Hi! I’m Jaime. My husband, Wally, and I fell in love with hounds when we moved to North Carolina. Their story, quirkiness, and sweetness had us hooked. We speak for those who can’t and we get to help transform these babies into awesome family dogs. Hounds are underrated....don’t knock it till you try it. You’ll fall in love 100% of the time.

Karen Kain
Hey y’all! I’m Karen, I’d heard about Adoption First through my siblings and ever since they left, our home was missing something. I’ve never considered myself a dog person but after seeing the look on these dogs faces when they meet their forever family, I know what we do for them is an amazing thing not everyone gets a chance to do and I am glad to be a part of that.

Lindsay Barber
I've been fostering since 2020 and volunteering since 2019. I started fostering consistently in 2020 when my husband deployed to Afghanistan and I needed something positive to get me through it. Over that period of time, I've fostered 33 dogs and puppies. My husband is home now and we enjoy helping dogs together. I am really proud that my husband, my three rescue dogs, and I have created a home that helps dogs feel safe until they find their forever home.

Macey Andrews
My husband Brendan and I have been fostering with Adoption First since Feb 2020! Brendan and I and our 2 dogs, Sammy & Juni (an AF Alumni) love having furry friends stay in our home! My favorite thing about fostering is showing these dogs that life doesn’t have to be hard. They can be as lazy or as energetic as they want, and get spoiled along the way. We love opening our home to dogs of all kinds and can’t wait to continue fostering for many years to come!

Danielle Lowery
I started fostering/volunteering with Adoption First in November 2020. Dogs have always been a big part of my life and I have 3 rescue dogs of my own. I love knowing that we are giving these dogs a second chance at life and helping them find their forever families! When I’m at the rescue spending time with the dogs, my toddler is always by my side. One of my favorite things about volunteering is knowing that my son is learning how to respect and care for animals.

Patty Bauer
There is no greater love than that which we receive from animals. Their pure souls are free from the complications humans create for themselves. Besides foster, transport and events for Adoption First, I volunteer my time at a bird, horse, cat and pig rescue. My life is crazy busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. The joy they give me is selfishly what keeps me going in these crazy times.

Kimberly Burd
I’ve had the pleasure of fostering over 30 pups and it is the most rewarding experience. They have all just blossomed right before my eyes. I’m also an avid jewelry maker and love to share my craft with the rescue.

David Hekman
I have been volunteering/fostering for Adoption First since October 2014 and I have a beard... :)

Board Members

​Staci Ventura

​Staci is the founder of Adoption First Animal Rescue and the current President. She was raised in California and has lived in North Carolina for the last few years. She has a passion for dogs and wants to help the community, educate the public, and lower euthanasia rates in public shelters. 

Heidi McLaughlin

Heidi joined the Adoption First team after being a customer. She adopted her dog from Adoption First in 2014 and has taken a more active role in the organization. She currently is the Vice President and wants to share her experience with others.

Sabrina Adams

Sabrina started with Adoption First in 2016 and strived to make Adoption First more active in the community.  She is the Grant Writer and Event Coordinator. With her help the rescue has secured many grants and hosted community events. 

Dakota Fultz

I’ve been with Adoption First since may of 2017. I started fostering, because I wanted to make a difference. I love that I can pull a dog from the shelter, all curled in a ball terrified of life, & watch their personalities grow and become trusting ❤️ It’s amazing watching the happiness & smiles from everyone around, truly dedicated to saving dogs. I have since moved to my home state of Kentucky and am starting a second location of Adoption First Animal Rescue.

Breanna Perry

My journey with adoption first started when we adopted "Sun" now Khaleesi December 3rd of 2016. My dog of 13 years passed away on our move across country on June 8th 2016 so  I had been looking to fill the giant hole he left.  She was the perfect fit and while fiesty she loved playing with dogs.  I saw a post on the Facebook page asking for temporary fosters in March of 2017 and decided to take in my first foster. I LOVED it! It spiraled after that!  I asked Staci what I could do to be more involved and started doing all the vetting around September 2017. It continues to spiral as I seem to get deeper and deeper daily but I can say I have truly found my passion.  I have worked with animals all my life and this is the most rewarding "job" I've ever had!

Val Burrola

I have been a foster with Adoption First since 2014. Caring for these incredible souls makes everything worth it. Some days are heartbreaking but watching a scared dog become confident and free from previous pain is the best thing anyone could experience. I love being part of this rescue family.

Catalina Kesler

​Volunteers in Action