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Erika, the President of Unforgettable Underdogs Dog Rescue (UU), leads the organization's Board of Directors and oversees all operations, including dog intake, fostering, and partnerships with shelters. She also manages fundraising and events, with the annual golf outing being the most significant one.
Erika's involvement with UU began in 2016 as a volunteer and then she and her husband, Todd, fostered a puppy named Blaze, who they eventually adopted. Over the years, Erika and her husband have foster-failed four UU dogs, each with their own unique needs: Blaze, a Treeing Walker Coonhound mix with severe separation anxiety; Mallory, a Boxer/Pitbull mix who was labeled as aggressive; Ruger, a Boxer/Pitbull/Cattle dog mix with allergies and other medical issues; and Beau, a Houndsky who loves the outdoors.
She is especially passionate about improving animal welfare in Keshena, a cause she became dedicated to after confronting her own negative preconceived notions about reservation life. She organizes volunteers for clinics and co-founded "National Tribal Tails Wellness Day," a global awareness movement. Erika describes dog rescue as difficult but incredibly rewarding and encourages people to get involved, whether with big or small contributions.
Erika's personal mottos reflect her commitment to action and a bit of wildness, and she urges potential adopters to follow the 3 3 3 rule to give dogs time to decompress. When she's not working on dog rescue, she enjoys crafting, relaxing at the beach, taking road trips with her mom, attending concerts with her husband, and spending time with friends.
Nic, a member of the Unforgettable Underdogs (UU) Board of Directors, serves as the Admin Assist for operations. In this role, He handles adoption events, volunteer recruitment, and daily tasks for the organization.
His involvement with UU began after he adopted Shrek, a dog with behavioral issues, and then began volunteering. His previous dog, Bailey, a Boxer, left a permanent mark on his heart. He is most passionate about rehabilitating behaviorally aggressive dogs and wishes more people understood the amount of work it takes to run a rescue organization.
Having grown up in a high-risk neighborhood, he found stability and purpose through his bond with dogs. he lives by the motto "Keep moving forward." For those considering fostering or adopting, his advice is to "be ready to play fetch," acknowledging that the process can be challenging but ultimately rewarding. When not involved in rescue work, he works in IT repair.
Ruby, a member of the Board of Directors, oversees medical care for the dogs and manages community outreach for Unforgettable Underdogs (UU). Her journey with UU began in December 2023 when she started fostering and ended up adopting her dog, Juno.
Ruby's passion for animal welfare stems from her background as an indigenous person who grew up in an underserved community where access to pet care was limited due to a lack of education and financial resources. This personal experience is what initially drew her to UU's mission.
She finds it frustrating when people say they couldn't foster because they'd keep all the dogs, believing that the thousands of heartbreaks from letting go are worth it for each dog to find a good home. Ruby lives by the motto, "I'm making a difference," and she encourages anyone considering fostering or adopting to "just try it" and "make the leap." In addition to her rescue work, Ruby also works full-time and enjoys playing volleyball and hiking with her dog.
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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