About  Us

NOTE:  We are a foster-home based organization and do not have a shelter facility.

Animal Rescue of the Rockies is a 501(c)3 non profit Colorado corporation. Organized in 2003 by a group of friends who wanted to provide an alternative to shelter environments, A.R.R. has served this vision well. We’ve successfully provided foster homes and subsequent permanent homes to over 10,000 dogs and cats to date. We work with foster homes to give homeless pets the chance to socialize in a home environment. This gives them the advantage of transitioning to their new forever homes much more easily and quickly.

A.R.R. also works with other rescue groups in Colorado and surrounding states. We help with transport, fostering, and adoptions whenever we can. Foster homes are always needed, and pets are waiting in shelters daily for people like you to open your hearts and homes to save their lives.   We would love to have you join our lifesaving team.  If you’re interested in helping, please email us at:  admin@arrcolorado.org or fill out one of our foster or adoption applications today!

We depend on your support to continue saving as many lives as possible!  Please consider making a gift today or become a monthly Lifesavers League donor to help save lives!

Support ARR with a Donation
Board of Directors
Karen Martiny

Karen Martiny

President - Executive Director

Karen founded Animal Rescue of the Rockies in 2003 and is actively involved in the organization’s activities, also serving as Executive Director.  Prior to founding ARR,  she served as president of L.A.P.S. (League of Animals and People of the Summit) in Summit County, Colorado for two years.  She also volunteered at the Summit County Animal Shelter for several years, winning an award for Volunteer of the Year in 2002.  Karen has attended several workshops at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah – including “How to Start an Animal Sanctuary,” “Dog Behavior and Handling I & II,” and “Feline Literacy.”  Seeing a need for an alternative to municipal shelters, she helped organize ARR to provide foster homes and adoption services for homeless pets.  She was active in the R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program at Upper Blue Elementary in 2003 and 2004, helping children with reading difficulties learn to enjoy books by reading out loud to dogs.  Karen has over 30 years of experience in administration, marketing, business, and public relations.  She has attended several Best Friends National Conferences over the years, whenever her schedule allows.   Karen and her husband, Vic, share their home with 2 rescue dogs and 5 rescue cats.
Kelly Rushing

Kelly Rushing

Vice President - Secretary

Kelly is a fourth-grade literacy teacher.  She joined ARR in 2010 and helped with small dog fosters and adoptions for a year before taking over the entire Dog Division, overseeing all dog operations and volunteers.  She reviews all of the emails received from shelters and chooses the dogs that are in most need, sending out a weekly “Dogs in Need” list to our fosters.  Kelly also helps new volunteers and fosters become familiar with ARR’s policies and procedures.  She attended the Best Friends “How to Start an Animal Sanctuary” workshop in March 2011 and two No More Homeless Pets Conferences.  Kelly shares her home with three beloved rescued Dachsunds.
Kristin Parsons

Kristin Parsons

Board Member - NoCo Cat Coordinator

Kristin was introduced to ARR in 2013 through a friend who volunteers for ARR. Fostering kittens and cats is her passion, and she is a huge animal lover.  For over a dozen years, she has coordinated the adoptions of thousands of lucky cats and kittens through ARR.  She volunteers at a monthly TNR clinic, bringing kittens and abandoned former pet cats into ARR’s foster home system.  She shares her home with five cats, three dogs, and a cockatiel. She, her husband and three children live in Berthoud.  Kristin attended the Best Friends National Conference in 2014.