Dogs & Cats of Antigua could not exist without the hard work of many volunteers and our valued board members.
Joy Farrell
Joy Farrell
Joy is the founder of the group. She has been an entrepreneur and has a background in advertising sales and marketing. Over the past 5 years she has fostered hundreds of pups, but her real strengths lie in her vision and consistent commitment to improving animal welfare in Antigua
Nancy Hadeed
Nancy Hadeed
Nancy’s background is in management. She currently manages one of Antigua’s foremost attractions Zip Line Tours. Nancy takes on the animals with disabilities. She has nursed back to health the blind, deaf, and injured. She takes on the most hopeless of cases and usually wins.
Danielle Jacobsen
Danielle Jacobsen
After 20+ years criss-crossing continents producing profile-raising features on emerging economies published in international media, Danielle decided to settle in Antigua & Barbuda where she currently produces the Antigua & Barbuda The Citizen magazine. An avid dog lover and defender of all sentient beings, she quickly became part of DACOA’s rescue efforts across the island, including fostering dogs while waiting for their travel ticket to forever homes in the US or Canada. Danielle also dedicates part of her free time to developing the vision for the Sanctuary, including planting, fund raising and building dog houses. She feels proud to be part of such an amazing organisation.
Kristin Kenney
Kristin Kenney
Based in New York City, Kristin became involved with Dogs & Cats of Antigua after adopting her Antiguan dog, Nala. With a background in corporate social responsibility and nonprofit strategy, Kristin helps guide DACOA’s awareness and fundraising efforts, in addition to serving as a liaison for U.S.-based rescue organizations.
Julia Dixon
Julia Dixon
Sharon Gerson Panek
Sharon Gerson Panek
I began my first journey to Antigua in 2000 with friends and have been traveling to Antigua ever since. It was when Hurricaine Irma hit that I became involved with DCOA by starting a fundraiser in the states for the animals and headed to Antigua with much needed medical supplies, flea and tick products and food. i travel to Antigua approximately 3-4 times a year with a friend so we can bring the overflow of dogs back to the states and get them into wonderful homes. The team of DCOA are amazing and I have forged live long friendships. I have worked with animal for over 40 years, have a degree in Animal Science and Behavior, worked in the Veterinary field for 14 years, and own a Doggy Daycare/Boarding Facility.
Chris Kelly
Chris Kelly
A lover of animals, reptiles, insects and most any creature existing in nature. Chris adopted Tig from Animal Haven in New York, NY after she spent seven years in PAAWS on Antigua. Old familial ties to the island and a new family member hailing from this beautiful island brought him back for a visit and he is now looking to help the dog and cat population in any way he can. If you have any problems with the website, blame him.
Lindsey Malouin
Lindsey Malouin
Jo Sandeman Allen
Jo Sandeman Allen
Now living back in the UK, Jo spent over two years working with DACOA in its early years. Fostering many dogs and puppies in her time in Antigua she travelled back to the UK with two of our rescues, Beanie and Jack Jack. Jo now takes responsibility for the annual DACOA calendar which is printed in the UK.
Kate Venezia
Kate Venezia
Kate is an advisory board member and US Treasurer for Dogs and Cats of Antigua. A lover of animals, Kate became passionate about animal rescue after her first foster (and ultimate foster-fail), a 1 week-old tabby named Mighty Max (@tomandmightymax). After Mighty Max, she became a frequent foster mom and was introduced to DACOA by her sister-in-law and DACOA board member, Tracy Venezia. Kate started with the airport runs to JFK to transport Antiguan pups to rescue partners in NYC. In 2019, she took a trip to Antigua to meet the rest of the amazing DACOA team and be a travel buddy for a couple of pups. When she saw first-hand the urgent need to help the Antiguan animals, she had to help more! When Kate is not caring for a foster, she can be found in the outdoors, living it up in Brooklyn or working at her “real” job as a financial consultant.
