Xenia has been an animal lover for as long as they can remember. Growing up in a family that took in all the lost and forgotten animals in the neighborhood, they naturally became a rescuer before they even knew what that meant. Before organized rescues were a thing, their family simply took in every unwanted dog and cat that came their way—like Freeway, a scrappy pup found dodging cars on the 101. Their home was always full of animals—dogs, cats, snakes, birds, and even a tarantula named Chumley. After-school adventures often included trips to the SPCA when it was still at Coyote Point, fueling their lifelong passion for animal welfare, eventually leading to the first volunteer position in their early 20's. 

For over a decade, Xenia has been deeply involved in animal rescue, fostering, and training. They got their start at Rocket Dog Rescue, and owe so much to the organization for giving them their first experience in the rescue world 10 years ago. Since then, they’ve worked with multiple rescues, including Dynamic Duo, Grateful Dog, Copper’s Dream, and Tiger’s Heart, fostering and rehabilitating over 100+ dogs.

As an LGBTQ2S+ and Latin person, Xenia believes that supporting underserved communities is deeply connected to their work with animals—because access to compassion, healing, and education should be available to all, whether human or canine. They bring that same energy of love, patience, and understanding to every animal they work with—and they’re all about helping dogs thrive while making sure their people feel supported too.