About the founder Debby

Early Years

I was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia and started rescuing animals when I was just 3 years old. My first rescues were butterflies. I would cry when my mother could not fix their broken wings. As I grew older, I began rescuing baby birds that had fallen from nests during storms, then later puppies and kittens.

When my family moved to Arizona, my passion for helping animals only grew stronger. As a child, I would place rescued puppies and kittens into a wagon and walk door to door searching for loving homes. I charged a small $5 adoption fee because I wanted to make sure the animals went to families who truly cared.

A Lifelong Calling

At 12 years old, I began working while continuing school and rescuing animals whenever I could. By 16, I was employed at a department store and had learned enough about animal care and adoption to work with shelters to help place rescued pets into homes.

Life brought many changes over the years. I became a mother of three, later moved to Nebraska, opened a restaurant with my mother, and eventually returned to college at age 35 to study architecture. I later worked for major architectural firms in both Nebraska and Arizona. Even during my professional career, I continued volunteering and rescuing animals whenever possible.

After being diagnosed with a brain tumor and undergoing two open-brain surgeries, I was unable to return to architecture. I moved back to Nebraska, but my dedication to rescuing animals never stopped.

During a road trip, I visited Mountain View and eventually purchased 10 acres of land there. I began volunteering for a local shelter until it closed, leaving many animals with nowhere to turn.

Rosco’s Story

In 2011, I rescued several Boston Terriers from a breeder situation. One of them was a little Boston Terrier named Rosco. While all the others were adopted, Rosco suffered from a severe colon blockage and remained incontinent after surgery, making adoption impossible. Rosco became part of my family and inspired the creation of Rosco P Coal Train’s Community Outreach. His story became the foundation of our rescue mission.

Building the Rescue

What began with spay and neuter efforts soon grew into full rescue operations. Seeing starving dogs wandering the roads in groups broke my heart. With very little money but a great deal of determination, we continued helping every animal we could.

Our Promise

Since receiving our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2015, we have rescued more than 17,000 animals as of May 15, 2026 — primarily dogs and cats, but also birds, pigs, goats, and chickens.

Contact Donate

Our rescue is built on the dedication of compassionate staff members and volunteers who have given their time, energy, and hearts throughout the years.

We gratefully accept drop-off donations at both locations. Please contact us in advance so we can coordinate your donation and personally thank you for your support.

In Fairfield Bay, you may be greeted by our dedicated staff members, Nikk and Drake. We are deeply grateful for all they do for the animals and the community, and they are always ready to receive your donations or welcome volunteer support with appreciation and kindness.

RPCT Humane Society | Rosco is a registered nonprofit charity organization. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

We are always grateful to welcome kind-hearted individuals who want to make a difference. Whether you can volunteer at our facilities, assist at events, help with animal care, or simply lend a hand where needed, there is always a place for caring people in our rescue family.