The Story of Us:

Advocates 4 Animals Rescue, Inc, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, cage-free, all-volunteer rescue organization located in Greene County, OH.  Advocates 4 Animals Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc. began when founders Amy Beatty and Stacey Ritz decided to dedicate their lives to enhancing the welfare of companion animals. As time progressed, A4A witnessed the tragedies of the American Shelter system in their dealings with special needs pets. Despite being given a clean bill of health outside of their disability, these pets were often the first selected to be killed as a way to prevent "overcrowding" in shelters. Blind animals, deaf animals, and those who had been emotionally traumatized were seen as throw away pets and were rarely given a chance at life. This spurred the founders of A4A to try to transform both the publics and shelter systems perception of special needs pets. Through education, quality nutrition, and high quality vet care, A4A dedicated their time and energy to help this segment of the pet population. A4A believes “every life matters” regardless of differences or disabilities. Being witness to a blind cat climb an 8-foot tall cat climber or being able to scale a set of steps to find his feline best friend is nothing less than awe-inspiring. The same amazement has been found when we rescued a dog who had suffered twelve years of abuse and forced breeding in horrific conditions, then tossed away into a high-kill shelter where she sat in that back of her dark kennel, huddled in corner of her own feces and urine, too scared to move. After being rescued by A4A and being placed in a loving, volunteer foster home- just one month later, the same dog couldn't wait to jump on the bed and snuggle up next to you and she is always so excited when you come home from work- so much so that she scrunches her nose and wags her tail rapidly. A4A Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc. gives opportunities and chances to those companion animals who do not have options- many times, we are their last and only hope.

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Executive Director and Co-Founder, Stacey Ritz, M.Ed.



Stacey Ritz  is the Executive Director and co-founder of Advocates 4 Animals Rescue, Inc.  She has held this position since the organizations start in 2003.  Her job is overall management of A4A Rescue's operations, strategic planning, event planning, and everything in between!

Stacey graduated from Talawanda High School in 1998, from Ball State University in 2003 with a B.S. in Business Marketing, and from Antioch McGregor University in 2010 with a Master's in ECE  (M.Ed.).  Stacey competed in cross country, indoor and outdoor track throughout her undergraduate studies at BSU and become an NCAA Division I All-American Cross Country athlete, placing 17th in the country, in 2001.  She has continued to run/race long distances, including several marathons. Stacey and her friend, Amy Beatty, started Advocates 4 Animals Rescue in 2003 after years of volunteering with local shelters and rescues.  Stacey has also worked in veterinary offices to gain additional knowledge and experience in medically caring for the animals.  Stacey owns/operates Greene County Professional Pet Sitters (a bonded and insured Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Service) and is a professional and licensed educator. In addition, Stacey is a member of She Writes - the premier writers association for women writers and a Professional Member of the CWA (Cat Writers Association) and a Professional Member of the DWAA (Dog Writers Association of America). Be sure to look for Stacey's feature article in Dog Living Magazine this Fall (2011)!

Stacey had been rescuing/rehabilitating animals her entire life.  'I believe that the world can be a better place for all living beings through kindness and compassion towards animals and I can think of no better way to live my life than to work on behalf of the animals and their well-being.  I truly believe that every single individual can make a difference if they choose to do so.  With 3-4 million healthy pets being killed in American shelters annually, unlimited numbers of severely abused/neglected pets, countless loving pets who have been tossed on the side of the road due to a lack of commitment/care by their former caretakers, and ridiculously high numbers of pets being used for cruel and painful experiments on a daily basis - there is an extraordinary need for animal rescue, rehabilitation (both physical and emotional), and for loving adopters.  There is also a high need for education in regards to spay/neuter, properly caring/socializing/exercising your pets, making a commitment to your pets for the duration of their natural life-span, and for teaching and nurturing kindness and compassion towards animals - and towards all living beings. Every life truly matters and every life is worth saving, no matter how gloomy the current outlook.  I have seen it time and again while operating the rescue organization - with proper medical care/attention, good nutrition and most importantly lots of love, attention, care, time and patience, animals who have been through unimaginable pasts can make astounding recoveries on every level - physical, social, and emotional.  Like every living being, animals all wish to be loved and be provided with proper food and shelter.  I hope that we can all find it in our own hearts to share our love with others - to make their lives matter and to let them know that we care.  As Jane Goodall says, "Each day of life is a test.  Do we actually 'walk our talk'?  Do we practice what we preach?  Do we think about the footsteps we leave as we move through life?  And, above all, do we have the courage to stand up for what we believe in, even when others laugh at us? Or when they threaten us?  If we care, truly care, about the natural world and about the well-being of animals, then we must be prepared to face the challenges, both small and large, that come our way.  We must stand up for our beliefs, and above all, put them into practice.  We must not despair, but live with the hope for our future." (Goodall, The Ten Trusts)

Favorite Quote: "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.  Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking.  Don't let the noise of others opinions drown out your own inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.  They somehow already know what you truly want to become.  Everything else is secondary." - unknown

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CFO and Co-Founder, Amy Beatty



Amy Beatty is CFO and co-founder of Advocates 4 Animals Rescue, Inc.  Her job is financial planning/management, organizing emergency response efforts and a willingness to do anything she can to help A4A's efforts in rescue/rehabilitation!

Amy graduated from beavercreek High School in 1996 and Ball State University in 2001 with a B.S. in psychology.  Amy has competed in long distance racing from the age of 8 years old!  Amy competed in cross country, indoor and outdoor track for Morehead State University (1996-2000) and for Ball State in 2000-2001, setting countless records in distance events ranging from the mile to the 10k.  Amy continues to compete in triathlons, duathlons, trail races, and road races, including numerous marathons.  Amy works for Cincinnati Financial Corporation.  Amy, along with her friend Stacey Ritz, spent years volunteering for shelters and rescues and dreamed of one day starting her own rescue organization.  In 2003, that dream became a reality.

When asked about the challenges they have faced when starting the rescue organization, Amy commented, "I believe our lives begin to end the day we become silent about what matters.  With 97% of felines being killed in American shelters, and only 20% of shelter cats/dogs being adopted, it is obvious that help is needed.  Spreading the word of crucial issues such as the importance of spay/neuter, making a true commitment to your pets for their natural life-span and teaching kindness to all - are lessons that will truly change lives.  We can change lives every single day, if we choose to do so.  There are unlimited ways to help the animals that need us the most.  Some people say..."But you can't help them all, why bother?".  To that I say - but we can help many, many pets!  It matters to every one we can help.  When you see an animal who is injured/ill - both physically and emotionally - and you see them enter the rescue, receive top-notch veterinary care, excellent nutrition and superior emotional/social
rehabilitation, and lots of one-on-one attention - to see the transformation is awe inspiring every time.  The resilience of animals will never cease to amaze me.  I have loved animals my entire life and as I aged and learned more facts and statistics regarding animal abuse, kill rates in shelters,etc., I vowed that I would not remain silent.  I vowed to make a true difference in the lives of the animals who need us the most."

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Volunteer - Easter Bunny & Santa Photos Coordinator, Melissa McFarland, M.S., PCC-S, LICDC



Melissa is our volunteer Easter Bunny & Santa Photos Coordinator.  Melissa does a great job at organizing our annual photo fundraisers, our holiday gift wrapping fundraiser at Barnes & Nobles and many other fun events! Melissa began volunteering for A4A Rescue in 2008 and is always eager to help coordinate and promote our numerous fundraising efforts.

Melissa graduated from Beavercreek High School in 1996.  She holds both her BA and Masters Degree from Wright State University. Melissa's BA is in Physcology and her Masters is in Mental Health and Counseling. Melissa is the Program Coordinator at Green Leaf Therapeutic Community Center in Xenia.  She shares her home with a menagerie of rescues pets- including 4 dogs, 5 cats and 4 outdoor felines. Melissa is a lifelong advocate of the importance of spay/neuter.

Favorite Quote: "Life is life's greatest gift. Guard the life of another creature as you would your own because it is your own. On life's scale of values, the smallest is no less precious to the creature who owns it than the largest..." -Llyod Biggle Jr.

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Volunteer - Canine Acceptance Team



Lady and Daisy are the Advocates 4 Animals, Inc. volunteer Canine Acceptance Team.  The duo represent the various sizes, ages, and energy levels of canines.  The share a love of cats, of other dogs, and of humans.  Our rescue canines and have been volunteering with A4A Rescue for many years.  These t do an amazing job at greeting/meeting new foster felines and canines in our adoption program, and letting us know which adoptable felines do well with canines. 

The trios favorite quote:  "Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend..."  (quote by Cory Ford)

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Volunteer Chair-Purrson, Ruby


Ruby is A4A's Rescue volunteer Chair-Purrson.  She is a permanent resident at Advocates 4 Animals Rescue, Inc. as Ruby was rescued with countless others from a hoarding situation. Boxes and other items were piled to the ceiling, there wasn't a pathway to walk through the interior of the home, there were countless pets inside the home - some alive, some dead - and none were spayed/neutered.  Ruby had given birth to countless numbers of litters and she was in rough shape.  Once rescued, Ruby was spayed, vaccinated and tested for FIV/Felv. Ruby was treated multiple times to rid her of the lice, worms, and fleas that covered her emaciated body.  During one of her routine health checks, ruby was diagnosed with mega-colon. Ruby lives a happy, healthy, and fun/social life in her forever home at A4A.  She loves to carry her cat toys around in her mouth, meow, and them run to you and drop the toy at your feet. She is truly thankful for each day.  Ruby loves everyone - people, cats, and dogs too.  She is a wonderful chair-purrson for A4A Rescue.  She assists us with choosing cat toys, cat climbers, nutritious foods/snacks for the foster pets, and reminding A4A Rescue on a daily basis, that every life saved does matter and does make a difference.

Ruby's favorite quote:  "Cats are smarter than dogs.  You can't get eight cats to pull a sled though the snow." (quote by Jeff Valdez)

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Volunteer Chair-Purrson (Senior Division), Ginger


Ginger is A4A Rescue's volunteer Chair-Purrson (Senior Division).  Ginger is a permanent resident at Advocates 4 Animals Rescue, Inc., as Ginger was rescued with nearly 40 other abused/abandoned felines at an apartment complex sitting right next to a busy highway.  Ginger was severely underweight, she had lost all of her teeth, was not spayed and one of her front legs had been badly broken. Her front leg is permanently bent inward and is not used while walking.  However different her leg may look, it does not cause her any pain and Ginger does not let it hold her back in any way.  Ginger was terrified of human hands when first rescued - as reported by a senior apartment complex tenant - she had been badly abused by teens in the area - she had been shot at, kicked, chased, and worse.  Ginger received top-notch veterinary care, superior nutrition, and lots of social/emotional rehabilitation upon entering A4A Rescue.  After just a few months, Ginger started to trust the A4A volunteers and began assisting us in numerous ways.  Ginger is a great lap-warmer at our A4A Rescue Board Meetings, and she is a wonderful proof-reader of our countless emails, grant writings, and of the A4A Rescue quarterly newsletter.  Ginger is proud to represent A4A rescue's senior feline division!

Ginger's Favorite Quote:  "Cats are independent, by which I mean smart." (quote by Dave Berry)
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Thank you to our many volunteer foster homes for providing unlimited love, care, and attention to the rescue pets at Advocates 4 Animals Rescue, Inc.  We could not continue our efforts without your support.  Our wonderful foster homes allow us to rescue, rehabilitate and adopt thousands of rescue pets into loving, forever homes to call their very own.