About Us

Founded by Vivian Goldbloom in 2013, Emerald City Pet Rescue exists to rescue abused, neglected and homeless animals. We pull predominantly from high-kill shelters around the country and place them into loving forever homes. Sometimes these animals come from abroad and sometimes from right around the corner. Emerald City Pet Rescue is run by dedicated staff and volunteers who give their time and resources to house, train, rehabilitate, transport and care for these animals.

Emerald City Pet Rescue is committed to the following goals: rescuing stray animals from high kill animal shelters who are scheduled to be euthanized. Emerald City Pet Rescue saves the animals who have been in the shelters the longest and will die unless rescued, either due to much needed medical treatment or overpopulation. We operate a no-kill facility where rescued pets can be safely sheltered without the threat of euthanization until we find the right adoptive family for each pet.

We pride ourselves on providing the best medical care possible for our rescued animals and rehabilitating hard-to-adopt animals to help them increase their chances to find loving homes. All of our rescues are spayed or neutered, and we strongly endorse the importance of spaying and neutering pets in order to drastically reduce the number of unwanted animals on the street. Our rescues are also given inoculations, microchips, and anything else they need to get back to being healthy and happy. The microchips ensure the best possible chance to locate a pet in the event that they are ever lost, and registration of their microchip is a requirement in our contract.

Emerald City Pet Rescue takes particular care in placing our animals - pure and mixed breed alike. Our screening process includes meet and greets, reference checks, and a visit to the potential owner’s home to ensure the home and family are compatible with the pet’s needs and our requirements.

We firmly believe that compatibility in personality, activity level, and skill set are crucial and necessary aspects of the adoption process. These steps help us ensure that we are giving each pet and potential adopter the best chance at a harmonious, loving, and fulfilling forever home. We allow for multiple inquiries for a particular pet in order to ensure we place them in the perfect home. We carefully consider each potential adopter in the order in which they have contacted us, but there are occasions where we will recommend an alternate match for a potential adopter based on the criteria mentioned above.

We require potential adopters to sign a detailed contract outlining our animal care requirements. The contract is to ensure that our animals will always be protected and properly cared for. Emerald City Pet Rescue has a lifetime policy of always taking our animals back, no matter what the circumstance.

All of our staff and volunteers here at Emerald City Pet Rescue are committed and dedicated to raising funds, fostering and caring for our animals, and participating in adoption events. We do everything we can to ensure that loving homes are found for these amazing pets. Above all else, our core value: Love can save lives.

We ask potential adopters to sign a detailed six page contract obliging them to give the animal a loving home. Emerald City Pet Rescue has a lifetime policy of always taking our animals back, no matter what the circumstance.

Veterinary Technician

Molly has worked with Emerald City Pet Rescue very closely through one of our vetting partners. Molly was an asset even before becoming an employee herself, and now is our go-to girl for Medical and Technical knowledge regarding our relations with vets we work with. She joined our team just before the grand opening of our facility in SODO and performs above and beyond in-house proficiency in relation to ensuring the proper care and attention goes to our animals.

Kennel Supervisor

Erica Joining Emerald City Pet Rescue in late 2013, Erica has stepped up to become a force to be reckoned with as supervisor for the kennel support team.

Erica is able to deal with her team professionally and respectfully, winning over everyone she meets with her undying enthusiasm and effectiveness. Never one to quit when the going is tough, Erica tackles every day problems and plans for the future ensuring our animals continue an upward path towards developing healthier and happier lives.

Lead Reception

Vanessa began her first day in spring during a breeder acquisition of 25 Yorkies. Joining Emerald City Pet Rescue early 2014, Vanessa has quickly made waves when it comes to professionalism! Leading the reception team into new endeavors while strengthening our core beliefs and being the first in line when communicating with possible Adopters and Patrons looking for help.

Accounting & Auditing Specialist

Anna a magician with numbers, and a monster with efficiency! Able to tackle full stacks of receipts in a single swoop. Anna is a returning transplant to the Seattle area and a loving part of our team. Just don't get her started on Min-Pins!

Reception Support Squad

Chandra + Mimi + Emily

Standing first in line when greeting and communicating with possible adopters, patrons, & leads.. Our Reception staff facilitates many of the transport, and communication between vets, owners, and possible adopters. Chandra, Mimi, and Emily go above and beyond presenting and matching personalities of possible adopters with our animals, as well as maintaining point contact for the rescue.

Kennel Support Squad

Leads: Amber + Jessica

Natalie+ Justin + Lucy + Bethany + Rose + Michelle

The kennel staff are the predominant figures in the daily lives of our rescues. Following the phisolophies and standards set by our trainer Erin, ensuring consistency and monitoring habits as they arise. Kennel Staff are always working diligently, whether they're giving medication or mainting standards to prevent spread of germs or infection.

Retail Support Squad

Hector + Velia + Kelsey + Justin

Strengthening our newest endevaour in providing quality accessories and diets for our adopters and others in the area that enjoy feeding their pets the best! Retail staff currently train for product knowledge and personally utilize many of the items we carry, and can vouch for their effectiveness. We also try to keep in mind that all animals have different tastes and often entirely different diets, so we try to cater to what's best for your animal!

Equine Care Assistants

Amy + Anna

Amy & Anna are our newest members to the team! Working very closely with Julie and our horses.

Retail Development & IT Manager

Lou carefully researches for quality animal care products, and as a result Lou is a wealth of knowledge and chooses products for our retail very carefully. Additionally, Lou leads retail and pushes his team to learn the most they can about the products carried. As a result our retail store has grown to where customers can feel confident they are getting quality information and products. Lou also solos the IT department, ensuring all servers are protected and good to go. Fixing any issues that arises and allows us to work diligently with out interruption .

Office Manager

Suzanne works tirelessly to ensure Emerald City Pet Rescue is run at the highest of standards, she plays an integral role in ensuring impeccable care for our animals. Her passion and high expectations keep the Emerald City Pet Rescue staff motivated to do the best job possible & providing a consistently happy and nurturing environment for our animals.

Founder + President

Vivian has devoted most of her life to rescuing and rehabilitating homeless and neglected animals. In 2013 she embarked on a new mission through the non-profit Emerald City Pet Rescue , hoping to expand and benefit as many animals as possible. Vivian lives and breathes her work and it is easy to see her unbreakable spirit with every day.

Rescue Coordinator + California (South-West Division)

Magda Alves-Beale is currently based out of San Diego but is known to go to the ends of the earth for her animals. She's energetic and passionate about the cause and her traits can be seen in the urgency with which she carries herself. While she does many good things in California we hope to see her up the coast soon!

Foster in Sacramento

Myla Ofima Sumabat is our foster in Sacramento, CA. Myla has been working with Vivian since before Emerald City Pet Rescues Inception. Currently she is fostering for Emerald City and also helps facilitate the rescuing of dogs from Yuba City, CA.

Cat & Dog Behavioral Specialist + Resident Trainer

Erin has trained in medical and technical knowledge pertaining to animals, and follows the philosophy of DR. Sophia Yin. Erin spearheads our Park walks, providing a beautiful and bright environment for our pets to socialize and play! As our facilitator for bigger breeds or animals with aggression issues, Erin is our primary resource for developing a better temperment, maintaining positive reinforcement and consistent guidelines.

Resident Equine Coordinator & Specialist

Julie uses her vast equine knowledge & pristine intuition to provide compassionate and quality care for our rescue horses. She uses her skills to calm nervous or untrained horses, coaxing them into trusting and loved animals that are ready to succeed! Julie works relentlessly to continue Emerald City Pet Rescues mission in rescuing horses from dire situations.

Events + Marketing Coordinator + Graphic Media/Design + Webmaster

Brandon is constantly working on ways to showcase Emerald City Pet Rescue to visitors and volunteers. With Inventiveness and Pizazz he organizes events that are exciting, fun, and informative. More importantly, his events are an effective way to introduce our animals to potential adopters and have gone far to rally support for our mission. Brandon utilizes his kindness and knowledge to teach volunteers how they can best help Emerald City Pet Rescue and is transitioning.

Volunteer Coordinator

Kelley is new to our Seattle team. Kelly will be now be handling the volunteers and orientations, that will allow the program to grow.

Transport Initiator & Home Check Facilitator

Morgan began as a kennel attendant in the summer of 2014. Expanding her role and reliability while lending her amazing artistic talent. Morgan handles delicate transport of animals from and within the Seattle area as well as supervising and facilitating home checks and movements for the animals when needed. Morgan is incredibly resilient and flexible, moving to suit the ever changing needs as Emerald City Pet Rescue expands it's activities and coverage.

Rocky Montgomery began working as one of our transporters as of last year [2014] and has proven to be a valuable asset in rescuing animals from shelters in the L.A. and San Diego area. Rocky transports the animals from the shelter directly to our affiliated vet hospitals and when the animal is ready to fly he also picks them up and take them to the airport. Rocky also on some occasions has been known to drive all the way to Seattle to bring in an animal, that for whatever reason cannot fly. (e.g. Smushy-faced animals, and/or animals too young to fly)

Board Vice President + Social Media

Rescue Coordinator (East Coast)

Gayle Steiner has been helping saving cats and dogs before working with Vivian and has been working with her long before the inception of Emerald City Pet Rescue. Working tirelessly as an incredible asset first on the west coast and then as liaison for the east coast and social media world, Gayle has proven herself as one of the most consistent supporters helping Emerald City Pet Rescue achieve its goals .

Board Secretary + Rescue Coordinator + Rescue Affiliate

Dixie Mahaffie also founded and runs Blind Dog Rescue and Tiny Dog Haven, starting right along side Emerald City Pet Rescue, teaming up from the creation of both rescues for a common goal. Dixie often works diligently into the night, spending most of her time helping blind children and dogs alike.

Founder + Board President

Board Treasurer + Rescue Coordinator + Wisconsin (Mid-West Division)

Mickey Bloss has been working with Vivian long before the inception of Emerald City Pet Rescue. Mickey has been instrumental in helping Emerald City Pet Rescue achieve its goals. Additionally, Mickey heads the entire Wisconsin branch which operates as the Seattle facility using its own network to pull from high-kill shelters and work with local affiliates. Mickey is one of our bestfosters, lending her skills as a representative for the entire mid-west region.