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Erika serves as President of Unforgettable Underdogs Dog Rescue (UU), leading the Board of Directors and overseeing all aspects of the organization's operations, including dog intake, foster placements, medical, rescue partnerships, and many more. She also coordinates the rescue's largest annual fundraiser, The Annual Golf Outing in June.
Erika's journey with UU began in 2016 as a volunteer. Shortly after, she and her husband Todd fostered a puppy named Blaze and quickly became foster failures when they adopted him. Over the years, their home has welcomed several other special-needs rescue dogs who permanently became part of their family.
Among them was Ruger, a Boxer/Pit Bull/Cattle Dog mix who battled allergies and numerous medical challenges throughout his life. He was behaviorally euthanized in March of 2026. Ruger left a lasting impact not only on Erika and Todd but on countless rescue supporters who followed his journey. Following his passing, Erika created a Facebook group dedicated to preserving his memory, the lessons he taught about resilience, and mostly how behavioral euthanasia isn't talked about. This group is linked here: Remembering Ruger: Loving Them Enough to let Them Go
Today, Erika shares her home with Blaze, a Treeing Walker Coonhound mix and her "heart dog" who struggles with severe separation anxiety. Mallory, a Boxer/Pit Bull mix, was labeled as aggressive before finding her way into their home, where she proved that understanding, structure, and patience can change a dog's future. Beau, an adventurous Houndsky who never turns down an opportunity to explore the outdoors. Through every foster, adoption, loss, and success, Erika remains committed to giving dogs the second chances they deserve.
One of her greatest passions is improving animal welfare in tribal communities, particularly in Keshena, WI. After confronting and challenging her own preconceived notions about reservation life, she became deeply involved in supporting animal wellness initiatives in the area. She helps organize volunteers for veterinary clinics and co-founded National Tribal Tails Wellness Day, a global awareness movement dedicated to highlighting the unique challenges and successes of animal welfare efforts in tribal communities.
Erika describes rescue work as one of the hardest and most rewarding things she has ever done. Erika and her Husband have fostered over 30+ dogs that required significant attention, medically or behaviorally. She believes everyone can make a difference, whether by fostering, volunteering, donating, advocating, or simply sharing a dog's story.
Her personal mottos reflect her belief in taking action, embracing life's adventures, and doing the hard things when they matter most. She encourages adopters to follow the 3-3-3 Rule, allowing newly adopted dogs the time and patience needed to decompress, adjust, and thrive in their new homes.
When she is not coordinating rescue efforts, Erika enjoys crafting, spending time at the beach, sight seeing (especially mountains), taking road trips with her mom, attending concerts with her husband, and making memories with family and friends.
Heidi serves as the Director of Fundraising and Events. Heidi is newer to Unforgettable Underdogs and is digging right in to help the organization and dogs however she can.
Heidi joined UU when a dog that needed a quiet place to recover from double TPLO surgery came across her Facebook and she felt her home was the perfect place for that dog - Twix. Heidi owned dogs all her life with the last pup passing in January 2025 opening the door to fostering. Helping one dog is not enough and Twix has paved the way for Heidi to look forward to helping more dogs.
When Heidi is not working or helping UU, she is a mom of 4 and grandma of 2. She loves concerts, being a passenger princess on her and her boyfriend’s Harley and playing cribbage when the weather doesn’t allow for riding.
Amber is Unforgettable Underdogs Dog Rescue’s (UU) Financial Support. Her job is to help with expense tracking & financial/administrative paperwork. She also assists in behavior guidance for any of our foster dogs.
Amber’s journey with UU started back in 2022 after following the page still deciding to foster or not. Erika was looking for a foster to place a coonhound mama, which I thought would be a good fit with the coonhound, Tess, she had at the time. This began a journey of passion for fostering dogs, growing relationships and eventually stepping into a role now assisting the UU leadership team.
Amber’s had a big heart for animals her whole life. Many of her close associates still think she’ll fail with every foster dog. Surprisingly she only has with one UU dog, Ms. Nova. She has fostered for 4 other dogs, with the last still in my care. Every dog is a new adventure that Amber takes head on, giving each a new chance in life. Each dog teaches her something new and leaves a lasting touch on her life.
One dog who left a permanent paw print on my heart is was not a UU dog, but a rescue of a different kind. Her old dog Red, a lab/hound mix that is the specific reason she takes on behavior cases. He was rescued from a puppy mill as a pup, but misunderstood and left to his own devices as he grew. Amber had took him in and spent years fighting the stigmas and public opinion. Instead learning and trying new things to make him a fairly respectable pup he grew to be.
He is the reason Amber learned to take a look at things from a dog’s point of view. Understanding that your dog mirrors you, making self reflection always a part of training too. Consider the breed’s nature, and listen to the small things each dog tells us. But most of all, to enjoy this exact moment, forget the past and you’ll live a much happier life.
People often wonder why Amber bothers with some of these dogs. She wonders why they want to do so many other things. Dogs remind us to be patient but also to soak in the moments. To slow down in this busy world, but also not just sit still.
When Amber is not entertaining dogs, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, painting classes with her sister, getting out to shoot clays with her boyfriend, Aaron, or getting out exploring nature.
Hi, I’m Heather, Operations Support/Microchip Manager of Unforgettable Underdogs Dog Rescue (UU). My job is to related to dog intake including documentation and files and microchip management. I also assist in other areas as needed such as our Annual Golf Outing and events. My journey with UU started back in February of 2025 as the Microchip Manager. I wanted to assist in rescue, but knew I was unable to foster and wanted to still make a difference in the lives of animals. I knew my goal in rescue was to be able to become part of the board. Which I have done and has been so rewarding!
In my spare time, I’m spending time with my friends or my husband and his son and our two dogs and cat. I have foster failed twice. I rescued my dog Texx (American Pitbull Terrier) back in 2019, but I was planning to adopt a dog at that time anyway. I wanted to try fostering and fostered Vonn (depending on who you ask he is a Husky Pitbull or Dutch German Shepherd Pitbull since he was 8 weeks old. I saw how stubborn and difficult he was at training and what he needed so many potty breaks etc. He was originally going to be adopted by someone I knew but he developed car sickness and I ended up adopting him in 2021. I also have a cat named Sassy who I have had since 2014.
Nicole J has been a long time supporter and fundraiser of Unforgettable Underdogs. After years of attending several fundraising events she joined the Board fulfilling the role of Secretary in 2026. Nicole is an animal lover who is passionate about helping animals, especially those in need. With Nicole’s extensive background in Investment Operations, she keeps our rescue running seamlessly behind the scenes. With a sharp eye for details and a deep passion for animal welfare, she manages the meeting minutes, maintains meticulous records, organizes paperwork and effectively communicates with others on the team to keep the operations on track to help more dogs move into their forever homes. Nicole and her husband Ken have two dogs. Shadow, a ten year old Yorkshire terrier and Bubba a 5 year old shih tzu bichon. Bubba and Shadow can vouch for all the fun they have at the UU events including the Peeps and Pups Dog Egg Hunt, the Howl O’Ween Dog Trick or Treating and Photos with Santa. When Shadow realized some of the eggs were filled with freeze dried treats, it was her mission to sniff those out and only collect the eggs with her favorite delicious snacks. In addition to supporting other local shelters and rescues and spending time with Bubba and Shadow, Nicole and Ken love to travel to places where they can view wildlife and appreciate nature by going hiking and snorkeling. Most recently, they visited Canada to see grizzly bears as well as orca and humpback whales. To stay active, Nicole enjoys running, attending spin class and kickboxing and she ends each day walking her pups.
You can do something big, or you can do something small. But whatever you do, is better than nothing at all!
You can do something big, or you can do something small. But whatever you do, is better than nothing at all!
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