MARK RULON

Executive Director & Founder

Mark is a retired Police Officer and a Medal of Valor recipient. After adopting his first Pit Bull "Lola" he realized how many Pit Bulls are in the shelters and how misunderstood and abused this breed is. This realization got him into the world of Pit Bull rescue. Mark and his wife Lizz own 5 gorgeous Pit Bulls. He has a strong passion for all animals but Pit Bulls pull on his heartstrings. The rescue was founded in 2018 and Mark didn't let one minute go to waste. Mark has rescued over 90 Abused and neglected Pit bulls and counting in just two years. He devotes his entire life to this rescue and has built an outstanding team that values him just as much.

LIZZ RULON

Associate Director, Board Member

Lizz is the wife of our founder, Mark Rulon. Lizz is a Registered Nurse & a successful business owner in the Conejo Valley. Lizz loves the breed and is a vital part of the success of this rescue. Mark & Lizz work tirelessly together to ensure our rescues seek the best medical help & care possible.

MATT RULON

Board Member

Matt grew up in Simi Valley and is the son of Mark and Lizz Rulon. After playing four years of collegiate football at Cal Poly, Matt moved to San Francisco where a pitbull brought him and his now-wife together. He now lives in Denver where he works in technology. Matt is a board member and helps with various parts of the rescue where needed--he loves supporting his parent's mission!

LISA KURIMSKI

Operations Manager

Lisa has a strong passion for all animals but most of all Pit Bulls. Lisa has been in the Sales & Marketing industry for over 13 years, owns a full-service Marketing & Web design company. She is also a Property Manager for a Timeshare/Resort in South Florida. Lisa oversees our rescues website, document preparation, and the creation of marketing content graphics for fundraisers during her downtime. She has 2 Pit bulls including our precious Lola the Happy Hippo.

TINA PETERSEN

Communications Manager

Tina handles our Social media Networking. She is a lover of all animals and fights everyday to spread the word about our rescue. She cares immensely for Pit Bulls. She is also a huge lover of Beagles.

JAQUELINE WILTSHIRE

Fundraiser Coordinator

Jaqueline was born in Portsmouth Hampshire UK and grew up surrounded by dogs. She got her first Pit bull in 1999 and has loved them ever since. She also loves baking and now she has been able to combine both passions. Other hobbies include needlepoint, making teddy bears and collecting antique bears.

DR. HEIDI TAYLOR

Senior Volunteer & Advisor

Doctor Heidi Michelle Taylor is a licensed clinical and depth psychologist and a supervised visitation monitor. She has a longstanding love of animals starting with horseback riding as a child. She is the author of a therapeutic book entitled “Tales of Awakening---Coming to Life Again After A Period of Emotional Deadness.” She adores dogs, particularly pit bulls, and has had several throughout her life, including now. She encourages adoption, rescue, spaying and neutering, fundraising, and fostering.

AMANDA MARTIN

Foster

Lives in Johnson City, Texas
Married to Joe Martin
Co-owner at Martin Bros Customs, a custom car shop, featured on the tv series Iron Resurrection on the MotorTrend channel.
Fell in love with pit bulls after Joe brought an abandoned female, Hazel, home. She needed work, but the love we received, in return, was 10 fold. Between Joe and me we have rescued over 50 dogs and fostered, re homed or adopted them. This breed is the most loving dog either of us have ever known. We are committed to using the platform we have on MotorTrend to show off how loyal, loving and beautiful these dogs are.

JO ANNA GREEN

Transportation Coordinator

Jo Anna Green is from Maine currently living in Richmond Texas. Graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a BS in Police Administration. Employed by the Houston Police Department 1991-present. Police Officer until 2008 then prompted to Sergeant 2008. Sergeant in Motorcycle Division from 2010-present. Volunteered at got Forgotten Pet Advocates from 2015-2020. Volunteer for Best Friends Animal Society 2018 to Present. Has transported dogs to Tennessee, Minnesota, Utah, California, Arizona, Missouri for several different rescues.

JENNY MORENA

Foster

Jenny has had large dogs all her life, but she adopted her first Pit bull mix in 2001. Jenny is a huge believer in positive reinforcement training and one of her dogs received his Canine Good Citizen Certification. She is also certified in Canine First Aid and CPR. Jenny has been actively involved in Pit bull and greyhound rescue since 2002.

REBECCA PEDERSEN 

Senior Volunteer

Rebecca is an avid animal lover and animal rights activist. She has been with us since we first started Southern California Pit Bull Rescue And has fostered 5 with us so far and many more to come. She is certified in pet CPR and works as a dog handler.

KRISTI ANDERSEN

Operations

Kristi is a Medical Sales Representative who loves all animals but developed an exceptional love for Pit Bulls after rescuing her first Pittie in 2014. She knew from that experience that she would forever be a voice for the voiceless and advocate for the Pit Bull breed.

JAMIE DAGG

Foster

Jamie lived in Simi Valley for 54 years. She has worked in the security field for 25 years. Jamie's passion is helping animals in need and helping our rescue find loving homes. She has also fostered for VCAS, combined total of 3 years successfully placing all animals she has fostered.

BABS KLEIMAN

Volunteer

Babs Kleiman has been married for almost 26 years & has 3 adult children. For most of her adult life, Babs has worked helping people with nursing & caregiving services at home, but her heart is with pit bulls.  She has a 13 yo American Staffordshire Terrier. Last year she had the opportunity to save a pit bull she found in the street in the street and eventually adopted him as her own. Nothing has given her greater pleasure than to see pit bulls in happy homes and not shelters.  

MELODI PRESTON

Foster

Growing on in So Cal, Melodi and her family are excited to join the SoCal Pit Bull team. Melodi and her husband have a 13 yr old daughter who loves animals and loves to play softball. Their family have raised a deaf Pit bull for the past 12 yrs. They loved the breed so much they decided to rescue 2 yr old Mila from the local shelter in 2019. They can't wait to be a part of the SoCal Pit Bull family.

ATHENA STAMAKINLEY

Foster

Athena is a screenwriter who has been passionate about animals since childhood, but it wasn’t until her experience working at an animal rescue that she fell in love with pit bulls. Their resilience and endless love inspired her to even feature pit bulls in one of her scripts! She is determined to showcase these amazing dogs on the big screen!

MIKE MCSWEEN

Photagrapher

Mike McSween is a local  portrait and landscape photographer. If you live in Ventura County, you've likely seen Mike out looking for good light, interesting people, and scenic views. His love of animals and passion for pet adoption led him to SCPR. Mike lives with his wife Danette and black Mini-Schnauzer, Jet.

BRIT JANDY

Foster

Brittany was born and raised in Brighton Michigan and moved to Texas in 2018 after completing her Bachelors Degree in Sociology. She specifically moved to Texas to join the Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Academy. After graduating as a Law Enforcement Officer she was Stationed in Pecos Texas from July 2018-March 2020 and now is stationed in Junction Texas. Brittany not only enjoys serving and protecting the public but has a large passion for animals. Brittany and her wife caitlyn have three dogs of their own but can never get enough. Brittany starting working for the Sam B Coffey Animal Shelter in Junction which increased her passion to help not only feed water and adopt out animals but now take on fostering!