We can make sure that no dog becomes another heartbreaking statistic – we need only step up
to the plate and never back down.
Meet the Team.
Allie Bradshaw
Founder & President
Since she was a child, Allie has had a passion for animal welfare. Whether it was befriending the neighborhood strays, or convincing her parents “we’ll just look at the adoptable dogs”, Allie has always found a way to make animals a large part of her life.
After spending years volunteering for local rescues and shelters, she decided to follow her dream, dedicate more time and energy to the cause, and founded A Friend of Jack Rescue.
Allie lives in Denver, CO with her four rescued soulmates, Jack, Olive, Gunner and Charlie.
Jack Bradshaw // 3.13.2011 - 9.19.2023
The 14th Foster
Meet Jack. Part German Shepherd, part Rottweiler, part human. Jack was Allie’s fourteenth foster puppy while she was attending CU Boulder, and became a Bradshaw shortly thereafter.
Jack was found as a stray, riddled with mange, ticks and fleas, left for dead in a ditch in Kansas. Because of a local rescue here in Colorado, he was given a second chance at life and Allie met her furry soulmate.
Jack was a world class traveler, certified therapy dog, patient puppy-sitter, and the inspiration for the rescue. Jack passed away on September 19, 2023, but his legacy forever lives on through the work we do with A Friend of Jack. We love you, buddy.
Julia Rubinstein
Managing Director
Julia has always had a knack for care taking, whether it be for humans or animals, and turned it into a career!
As a NICU Nurse at Children’s Hospital in Denver, Julia is no stranger to taking care of tiny living beings, which makes her the perfect person for helping with the rescue’s medical needs. Additionally, Julia helps interview our potential adopters making sure each pup finds the perfect forever home.
Julia lives in Denver with her two rescue pups, Gray and Wally. If she’s not skiing or hiking, you can find her snuggling on the couch with her furry kiddos.
Sarah Smith
Managing Director
Sarah has always loved dogs and joined A Friend of Jack in 2021. She has always had a passion for helping animals and loves how rewarding helping pups find their forever homes is.
She and her husband Nick live in Denver with their rescue dog Poppy who loves fostering as much as they do.
When she’s not working for A Friend of Jack you can find Sarah in the mountains skiing or working on agility training with Poppy.
Allison Rifkin
Adoptions Counselor
Allison has had a passion for animal rescue since she was young. She started volunteering with the Denver Dumb Friends League as soon as she was legally allowed and brought home MANY rescue dogs to her parents during her tenure.
Throughout college, Allison fostered dogs for various rescues and then found her Golden rescue, Koura, at the Boulder Humane Society. Allison's dream is to live on a ton of land with at least 10 dogs.
Allison lives with her sister in Denver with her rescue Koura and her sister's rescue pup, Gus.
Stephanie Clarke
Adoptions Counselor
Stephanie has been a part of the FOJR family since the beginning! Stephanie has always loved dogs and other animals. Thankfully her family also shares the same passion in helping animals. The past few years her family has fostered over 50+ dogs.
Stephanie and her family enjoy living in Parker with their 4 dogs. One of which was adopted when they went to Antigua on vacation and flew home with them to join their family. They have also foster failed a FOJR alum, Nala.
Roxy Riely
Adoptions Counselor & Operations Manager
Roxy has had a passion for and worked with animals since she was in college, where she worked at a no-kill animal shelter in Texas for 3 years as an adoption counselor and volunteer coordinator. It was there that she truly learned the amazing world of animal rescue and how rewarding it can be! She also worked in veterinary clinics, dog kennels, dog groomers, and has pet sat friends dogs for as long as she can remember. Roxy first began fostering 10 years ago when she was working as an adoption counselor in Texas and has fostered and found homes for hundreds of dogs since!
Roxy has a cat named Betty Boop that she adopted after helping her welp her litter and after all of her kittens got adopted as well as a Cattle dog/Heeler mix named Shenzie that she rescued when she moved to Colorado in 2015.
Roxy lost her Golden two years ago to Cancer and went back into fostering with us and soon began helping us as an adoption counselor not long after! It is a running joke in her friend group that she is the "crazy go-to dog lady" and surrounds everything she does around dogs and friends. She loves to hike, camp, snowboard and foster (obviously) in her free time!
Tonya Laden
Adoptions Counselor
Tonya has a passion for all animals, but especially a soft spot for dogs. Growing up in an apartment in Southern California where no dogs were allowed, her mother allowed her to have hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and a few varieties of birds. Her extended family had dogs and she was smitten with each and every one.
After college, Tonya moved to Chicago for a pharmaceutical job and adopted 2 cats who were adored and shared her tiny studio apartment. Six years ago she adopted a miniature poodle named Tucker who is always by her side and also has a 4 year old rescue cat named Josie.
Tonya wanted to give back to the animal community and applied to be a foster parent for A Friend of Jack about 2 years ago. Since then she has fostered and assisted in adopting over 20 puppies and 3 kittens. She is so grateful to have been a part of the lives of those special animals.
Tonya is the co-founder of a CBD company, lives in Denver and the mother of 3 daughters who have inherited her love of all things furry. In her free time you can catch her at the yoga studio, playing tennis, cooking, and petting puppies.
Kiki Swanson
Adoptions Counselor & Foster Coordinator
Katie O’Brien
Foster Coordinator
Paige Hoholik
Foster Coordinator
Tessa Rubinstein
Foster Coordinator
Courtney Farris
Adoptions Counselor
Bailey Rowan
Adoptions Counselor & Social Media Manager
Hi! I am Bailey Rowan. I am originally from Mammoth Lakes California and officially moved to Denver in 2020.
I got involved with A Friend of Jack in 2021 when I discovered my true passion for fostering and finding forever homes for our sweet little babes! Nothing makes me more happy then bringing in a dog and loving them until they find their forever home.
When I’m not hanging with a pup, I love being outside and traveling as well as hanging out with friends and family.