Meet the Team
FounderChrissy Durkin
Chrissy Durkin brings seasoned nonprofit leadership, strategic vision, and a lifelong commitment to animal welfare and conservation. She has helped lead and shape the strategic vision of several mission-driven organizations focused on environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and community impact.
Alongside her professional work, Chrissy has volunteered in animal rescue for most of her life. After moving to Dale, Texas, she began informally picking up and fostering dogs in need, which quickly grew into a grassroots community effort. Over the past five years, she has gained extensive hands-on rescue experience—coordinating fosters, managing veterinary care, supporting adoptions, and building a network of volunteers and supporters dedicated to helping vulnerable animals.
Chrissy combines practical, on-the-ground rescue work with strong organizational leadership, bringing together community members, partners, and resources to expand the impact of local rescue efforts and create sustainable support systems for animals in need.
FounderDave Carapetyan
Dave Carapetyan, known in the rally community as “Texas Dave,” brings proven entrepreneurial and operational expertise from founding and growing Rally Ready Driving School — a 140-acre rally and driving experience campus near Austin that serves corporate partners, motorsport enthusiasts, and event communities. Under his leadership, Rally Ready has become a hub for experiential events, advanced driver training, and community engagement, demonstrating Dave’s ability to scale complex operations and build resilient volunteer-centric communities. Beyond business, Dave has applied his passion for coordination and logistics to rescue work, personally participating in rehabilitating and rehoming more than 150 stray dogs through grassroots rescue efforts.
Board MemberBarbara Suroz
Barbara Suroz is building the operational leadership behind the organization’s life-saving work. A former Google Program Manager, she brings over a decade of dog rescue experience and has personally saved and placed more than 452 dogs into permanent homes.
Barbara will oversee daily operations, manages foster and volunteer networks, and coordinate with shelters, veterinarians, transport partners, and adopters to ensure every dog receives consistent, compassionate care from intake through adoption. Her leadership will turn volunteer dedication into meaningful, measurable impact—saving lives through structure, accountability, and care.
Board MemberKatie Compton
Katie Compton is a mental health therapist specializing in children and family well-being whose commitment to healing extends to animal rescue. After moving to Dale, she witnessed the challenges facing abandoned and mistreated dogs in rural communities and partnered with neighbors to help create solutions. Over the years, she has provided care and temporary refuge to dozens of dogs, serving as a critical bridge to safety and loving homes. Inspired by the community built through rescue work, Katie is deeply committed to helping vulnerable animals rediscover trust, dignity, and belonging.