Meet The Team
We raise awareness and resources for homeless dogs and the heroes who fight for them.
Our Mission
We believe awareness brings change.
That's why we founded Who Will Let the Dogs Out. We travel to animal shelters and rescue organizations across the country to learn their stories, understand their challenges, and connect them with the resources and community support needed to save more lives. By shining a light on both the successes and the struggles, we're building a movement of informed advocates committed to transforming our nation's shelter system.
What We Stand For
Spay + Neuter Programs
We champion spay/neuter initiatives as the most effective solution to pet overpopulation. Through our InstaSnip program, we provide direct funding to help shelters address the root cause of overcrowding and reduce intake numbers.
Rural Shelter Solutions
Rural communities deserve humane, effective animal sheltering systems. We work to improve conditions in underserved areas by connecting them with resources, showcasing innovative regional partnerships, and advocating for better funding allocation.
Transparency + Accountability
We advocate for shelters to track and publicly report their statistics. Data-driven transparency creates accountability, enables informed community support, and drives meaningful change in animal welfare outcomes.
Breed-Inclusive Advocacy
We celebrate rescue organizations working with the hardest-to-place dogs, including pit bulls and other misunderstood breeds. Every adoptable dog deserves a chance regardless of breed, age, or size.
Supporting All Shelters
We support both public and private shelters, recognizing that each plays a vital role in the animal welfare ecosystem. We help bridge gaps between these organizations to maximize their collective impact.
Ending Inhumane Systems
We advocate for the elimination of outdated dog pound systems that prioritize warehousing over welfare. Communities can and should provide humane alternatives that serve both animals and taxpayers effectively.
Our Dedicated Team
Cara Achterberg
Cofounder,
Board President
Nancy Slattery
Cofounder,
Board Vice President
Karen Alden
Development Director, InstaGrant Coordinator, Board Member
Jennifer King
Board Member
Nicole Sandler
Grants Advisor,
Advisory Committee
Courtney Clayton
Advisory Committee,
Volunteer Coordinator
Cindy Ojczyk
Advisory Committee,
Stronger Together Coordinator
Karen Asp
Advisory Committee,
Communication Coordinator
Ian Achterberg
Founding Board Member At Large
How We Make A Difference
Shelter Visits
We hit the road and visit animal shelters and rescue organizations across America to see their operations firsthand. There's nothing quite like walking through a shelter, meeting the staff, and experiencing the daily realities they face to truly understand their challenges and celebrate their victories. These visits aren't just fact-finding missions. They're relationship-building trips that allow us to connect shelters with exactly what they need, whether that's funding, volunteers, or simply someone who will tell their story to a wider audience.
InstaGrant & InstaSnip Programs
Through our InstaGrant and InstaSnip programs, we cut through the red tape to get resources directly to shelters when they need them most. Whether it's funding for essential equipment like kennels and cooling systems, or money for spay and neuter surgeries that address pet overpopulation at its source, we've designed our programs to be fast, flexible, and focused on real impact. No lengthy applications, no endless waiting—just practical support that helps shelters save more lives right now.
Education
Education is a cornerstone of what we do. Our book, Who Will Let the Dogs Out: Stories and Solutions, offers practical, achievable strategies that any community can implement to transform their shelter system. We provide it free to shelters because we believe information shouldn't have a price tag when lives are at stake. For those who purchase the book, every dollar supports our mission and helps us reach even more organizations with resources and support.
Community Volunteers
We believe the key to lasting change is community engagement. That's why we're building a network of Shelter Liaisons: dedicated volunteers who maintain ongoing relationships with the shelters we visit, keeping us informed about their evolving needs and connecting them with local support. We also work to mobilize donors, sponsors, and volunteers who want to make a tangible difference. By bridging the gap between shelters and their communities, we create sustainable support systems that outlast any single grant or donation.
Success Stories
Nothing inspires change quite like seeing what's possible. We share success stories from shelters doing incredible work with limited resources, highlight innovative programs that are moving the needle on euthanasia rates, and celebrate the heroes who refuse to give up even in the toughest circumstances. Through our blog, documentary work, and social media presence, we amplify these voices and prove that transformation is possible when communities commit to doing better for their animals. These stories inform and inspire action and raise the bar for what animal welfare can look like in every community.
Stronger Together Events
Stronger Together Events are Free one-day regional gatherings hosted for shelter and rescue staff, volunteers, supporters, advocates, government officials, and anyone who wants to be part of solving the animal shelter crisis in their area. It’s a solution-focused day built for sharing ideas, making connections, and exploring smarter ways to collaborate and save more lives. The events create space for honest conversation and community-led problem solving, driven by the belief that lasting progress happens when local voices work side by side. The goal is simple: leave people feeling energized, connected, and ready to put ideas into action on the ground.
Join Us
In Making A Difference
Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, there's a way for everyone to help transform our nation's shelter system.