About Us

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Paw Print Rescue of Oregon is led by Mara Schmidt, our Founder and CEO, alongside her wife Brittany Ronco, who provides essential support and hands-on care in every step of the rescue process. Together, they bring compassion, dedication, and deep commitment to the animals and community we serve.

PPRO is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers and an amazing network of foster families who make our work possible. They open their homes, hearts, and time to help dogs heal, grow, and prepare for their forever families. Their compassion and teamwork are the backbone of our rescue. Together, we are a community of people who believe deeply in second chances — working side by side to give every dog the safety and love they deserve!

Paw Print Rescue of Oregon may be a newer rescue, but our roots run deep in compassion, experience, and commitment. Our team came together after years of fostering, volunteering, and supporting animal welfare efforts across the region — all driven by the same belief that every animal, deserves safety and a chance to thrive.

We were founded to fill a growing need in our community: a rescue that would not look away when things got hard. Whether a dog comes from a shelter, a surrender situation, or an urgent rescue call, we do everything we can to make room. We do not turn dogs away based on age, breed, medical condition, or past — because every dog has a story worth continuing.

While we are small, we are strong, resourceful, and dedicated. Each animal in our care receives individualized attention, medical support, enrichment, and thoughtful placement. Our size allows us to move with purpose and heart — meeting dogs where they are, one at a time.

Our history may be just beginning, but the impact is already real: lives changed, families grown, and countless paws now resting in safe, loved homes. And we’re just getting started! 🐾💛

Founded from a passion for compassion, Paw Print Rescue of Oregon is a volunteer-driven, community-based, non-profit animal rescue serving Central Oregon and beyond. We partner with shelters, families in crisis, and rural communities to ensure that animals who might otherwise be forgotten are given the chance they deserve.

We provide safe temporary care, medical support, foster placement, and adoption services for dogs and other animals in need. Our goal is not only to find loving homes for the animals in our care, but to support people and families in the process — recognizing that rescue is as much about community as it is about pets.

We focus on building trust, understanding each animal as an individual, and matching them thoughtfully with adopters who align with their needs. Our rescue model prioritizes emotional well-being, stability, enrichment, basic training, and positive handling — helping animals heal and grow at their own pace.

We believe rescue is a shared effort. Whether you're fostering, adopting, volunteering, donating, or even just sharing our stories, you’re part of something meaningful. Together, we can make lasting change — not just for the animals we save, but for the families and communities who welcome them!

Every animal we help represents a life changed — a life that might not have had another chance. By supporting PPRO, you are offering safety, hope, and love where it’s needed most.