Tasha Baker, Animal Care Associate
NCAL has been part of Tasha’s life since she was about 7 years old, when she began to volunteer by walking dogs. She has also worked at NCAL previously from 2012 to 2015 as a Shelter Associate and then the Feline Supervisor. Tasha has always had a passion for helping animals and has also worked at an emergency vet office and a doggy daycare as well! She currently has one cat, Pippin, and one senior dog, Rosa, both of whom were adopted from NCAL! She has a soft spot for giant breed dogs and senior animals.
Carlee Brion, Operations Director
Carlee Brion began working for NCAL in 2012 after graduating college in New Hampshire and moving to Vermont. Carlee has spent a few years caring for dogs and cats as a Shelter Associate, caring for customers and animals alike as NCAL’s Customer Service Manager, and was promoted to Pet Adoption Center Manager in May of 2017. Carlee now acts as the Interim Executive Director. Growing up, Carlee always had animals living in her home. She currently has two rescue pups and two cats. Carlee loves living in Vermont and exploring all that it has to offer. Carlee and her dogs, Winnie and Roscoe, enjoy hiking and running in the warmer months (although Winnie is secretly is a couch potato at heart).
Jamie Dutil, Animal Health Manager
Jamie has been working with animals in a professional capacity for nearly a decade, ever since graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in Animal Science. While working in a veterinary clinic, she realized her passion for helping to combat pet homelessness through the nonprofit sector, and went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Walden University and a certification in humane education. She carries a wide diversity of experience in the animal welfare field, including private practice veterinary clinics, high-volume/high-quality spay/neuter clinics, other animal shelters and humane societies, and volunteering as a first responder for the Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team. She also spent two and a half years living in deep South Texas, fundraising and working to implement life-saving programs in a severely under-served city with an overwhelming pet overpopulation crisis.
Meagan Ferris, Animal Care Coordinator
Animals have always been a big part of Meagan’s life, and she has considered each one of her adopted pets as family. Prior to joining NCAL in November 2016, Meagan’s worked at an SPCA veterinary clinic in Orlando, Florida, and before that at a daycare and boarding facility where she enjoyed interacting with the animals. When she is not busy with the animals, Meagan enjoys photography, painting, kickboxing, hiking, and taking part in any long outdoor adventures with her daughter, Ryker, and Labrador retriever, Endo.
Lusana Masrur, Communications & Outreach Manager
Lusana’s earliest memories include farm animals, cats, dogs, rabbits and a crane, all of whom helped her become an animal lover. After college, she worked as the E-Coordinator for the SPCA of Erie County, in Buffalo, New York. She was also the Communication Coordinator for Obhoyaronno -Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation and continues to be invested in her home country’s animal welfare movement. In addition, she has worked in youth development in Buffalo, NY and in disaster management and climate change mitigation in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Work and education have also taken her to Malaysia, Singapore, the UAE, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Thailand, but she now calls Vermont her home. Lusana’s love for animals also inspires her to follow a plant-based lifestyle. She hopes to contribute to NCAL’s diverse pool of talents with her non-profit, education and communication background.
Jess McLeon, Animal Care & Adoptions Associate
Jess began working at NCAL in 2012. As a Shelter Associate, Jess helps care for the daily needs of both dogs and cats. From a very young age, she has had a love for animals and has always hoped to find a career that would allow her to work with them. At NCAL, she enjoys caring for the dogs and cats and playing a part in their second chance at life. Jess also serves as NCAL’s staff photographer, capturing the beauty in every animal and helping market each one which improves their chances at finding forever homes.
Alexandra Pelkowski, Pet Adoptions Center Manager
Alex has over ten years of experience in the field of animal welfare, and has worked in multiple aspects of the field including a veterinary hospital, animal shelters as well as in wildlife rehabilitation. Originally from Long Island, Alex spent many childhood winters up here in Vermont and ultimately went to college at the University of Vermont. In her spare time Alex enjoys hiking, kayaking and overall exploring with her rescue dogs Louis and Rye.
Emily Peterson, Animal Care Associate
Emily has had animals her whole life, from dogs and cats, to lizards, birds and fishes! She studies at the Northern Vermont University in Johnson and is majoring in the Wellness and Alternative Medicine Program. She has worked with an animal shelter in the past and wanted to continue in the field when she moved back here. Emily is also very interested in exploring how to apply her learning from wellness and alternative medicine to the world of animals.
Lindsay Turiello, Office Manager
Lindsay had lived in many different states throughout her childhood, but relocated back to Texas where she was born in 1998. She moved to Vermont in November 2012 after meeting her husband. Lindsay has been an animal lover ever since she can remember and has always had pets growing up. Fostering and caring for injured or abandoned animals was a big part of her life since she was a child. She has mothered cats, dogs, snakes, bunnies and turtles since she was young, and is now the proud mother of her big family of children. Since she has been here, Lindsay has embraced the Vermont way of life and loves to go snowboarding, dirt-biking and camping, among others, and spending time with her family of course!
Come find your next best friend!
To date, North Country Animal League has taken in, cared for, and found homes for over 11,000 homeless animals. Connecting humans with animals is what we do best - whether it be through adoptions, education and outreach, or volunteer opportunities. We created this video to show you what you can expect when you come to NCAL to find your next best friend!