Our Team

We believe in the power of attraction and the idea that good people gravitate toward energy and purpose. It truly takes a village, and ours is one-of-a-kind. Meet the team behind the dogs who make all the magic possible.

Board Members

Jenny Nordin

Founder / Executive Director

About Jenny

Jenny Nordin is a lifelong animal advocate with over a decade of experience in dog behavior, training, and rehabilitation. Her journey began in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, where she spent years volunteering before finding her calling in helping dogs. Since then, she has personally fostered and worked hands-on with more than 500 dogs, earning a reputation for her calm, confident approach to even the most challenging cases.

In 2017, Jenny founded Dog Gone Seattle, a foster-based rescue that has helped over 6,000 dogs find homes—but her deepest sense of reward comes from mentoring and supporting fosters through their own transformative experiences. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of community and connection, and loves watching people grow in confidence as they learn to advocate for dogs in their care.

Jenny holds a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Political Science from Duke University, and a Master’s in Communication from the University of Washington. Before launching her rescue full-time, she built a career in business development and marketing, which was certainly more lucrative but significantly less fulfilling.

She continues to invest in her own growth through seminars and programs from top trainers including Michael Ellis, The Collared Scholar, The Good Dog, and is a IACP Professional Member. Jenny lives in Bothell, WA, with her husband Jon, their three children (Ronan, Cora, and Calliope), two German Shepherd foster-fails (Mando and Kusse), Great Pyrenees Shadowfax, nine chickens, three rats, and a revolving cast of foster dogs who keep life interesting—and full of purpose.

Ashlyn Kauh

Assistant Director

About Ashlyn

Ashlyn brings over fifteen years of experience in the pet industry, with a professional background rooted in animal care, nutrition, and holistic wellness for companion animals. Her work has spanned collaboration with pet owners, veterinarians, and rescue organizations to develop individualized plans addressing everything from dietary sensitivities to chronic medical conditions—with a special focus on medically complex and special needs dogs.

A lifelong advocate for animal welfare, Ashlyn has been a vocal champion for misunderstood breeds, particularly those unfairly labeled as “dangerous.” Through education, advocacy, and her hands-on work with Dog Gone Seattle, she challenges public misconceptions and promotes thoughtful, informed dog ownership.

Ashlyn joined the board in 2019 and became the organization’s first full-time employee in 2020. She now serves as Director of Operations, spearheading programming at the new Community Center in Bothell. Before joining DGS full time, she served as Regional Manager for All The Best Pet Care, where she honed her leadership in pet nutrition and retail operations.

Committed to lifelong learning, Ashlyn continues to deepen her knowledge in canine behavior, training methodologies, and integrative care. She believes that empowered, educated dog owners are the key to long-term success—especially in rescue and rehabilitation cases.

Ashlyn has a soft spot for large working breeds, especially Dobermans, and shares her Snohomish home with her high school sweetheart, their two children, and a lively assortment of animals—including Calcifer, a Doberman; Hokie, a pitbull-chihuahua mix; two cats, two rats, a tenrec, a flock of chickens, and a rotating crew of insects and spiders. Her life is joyfully full of animals, nature, and the beautiful chaos of rescue life.

Justyna Kieko

Small Breed Director (Volunteer)

About Justyna

Justyna Kieko brings over a decade of experience in animal rescue and rehabilitation, with a special passion for helping small breed dogs thrive. She holds a B.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Washington and currently serves as the Small Breed Director at Dog Gone Seattle, where she supports fosters through training, behavior guidance, and personalized care plans to help each dog become their best self.

Justyna began working with rescue dogs in 2015 and met Jenny in 2016 while volunteering with another local organization. In 2017, she became a founding board member of Dog Gone Seattle and has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s foster-based model ever since. Prior to her work with dogs, she gained valuable experience in cat rescue, overseeing operations, animal care, and the rehabilitation of feral cats—work that strengthened her skills in managing complex animal behavior and rescue logistics.

Outside of rescue, Justyna runs a successful real estate business with Lake & Co. Real Estate in Seattle, where she lives with her husband and their beloved pets. Her ability to balance a thriving professional career with her commitment to animal welfare reflects her deep compassion, sharp organizational skills, and enduring dedication to the rescue community.

Jonathan Nordin

Treasurer (Volunteer)

About Jonathan

Jon Nordin brings a unique blend of leadership, discipline, and heart to the rescue. A Ranger-qualified Captain, Jon served nine years on active duty in the U.S. Army, including three combat tours with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Vanderbilt University and currently works in operations management and business development for Epoch Design, a manufacturer of K9 Kennel Boss dog crates and other innovative consumer products.

As Treasurer of Dog Gone Seattle, Jon volunteers his time to support the rescue’s mission behind the scenes, applying strategic insight and operational expertise to help it grow. He is also a passionate advocate for veterans with PTSD, and is actively developing a service dog program that pairs rescue dogs with service members—a mission deeply personal to him.

Jon’s own transition to civilian life was shaped by Rolex, a German Shepherd who became both a grounding companion and a key player in rehabilitating many foster dogs. Rolex’s impact lives on in Jon’s commitment to helping others find healing through canine companionship.

Jon lives in Bothell with his wife Jenny, their three young children, and two German Shepherds. In his free time, he enjoys coaching T-ball, birdwatching, and being a hands-on dad and community member.

Gina Cooley

Behavior Consultant (Volunteer)

About Gina

Gina joined the Dog Gone Seattle board in 2023, bringing deep expertise in canine behavior and a passion for helping the most misunderstood dogs find success. As a Behavioral Consultant and case manager, she specializes in working with bully breeds and challenging behavior cases, supporting fosters and adopters through structured training and behavior modification strategies. A longtime member of the DGS behavior team, Gina has helped guide countless dogs to stability, including her own foster fail, Dusty—a once-feral cattle dog who had been bounced through six homes before thriving under her care.

Gina is a NePoPo® 3x Gold Graduate, having trained under Bart and Michael Bellon in a system designed to build motivation and develop high-level learning and engagement in dogs. She has also completed K9 Lifeline’s large-scale socialization program, gaining hands-on experience with reactive and aggressive dogs in structured group environments. Her approach is rooted in changing a dog’s state of mind—not just their behavior—through relationship, communication, and accountability. Her belief is simple but powerful: when owners are empowered to lead with clarity and confidence, real transformation happens.

In her work with Dog Gone Seattle, Gina continues to mentor fosters and adopters, helping dogs with difficult pasts build safe, meaningful lives. She lives in the Seattle area with her dogs Dora and Dusty and remains dedicated to helping “underdogs” succeed—one balanced relationship at a time.

Geeta Teredesai

Case Manager (Volunteer)

About Geeta

Geeta Teredesai joined the Dog Gone Seattle board in 2025, following years of dedicated volunteer service that began after adopting a cattle dog puppy in 2018. With a deep affection for herding breeds and a lifelong love of dogs, Geeta became a trusted case manager, helping place and support countless dogs through successful foster and adoptive homes. She is a steady presence at intake events and a reliable resource for fosters navigating the often complex world of dog behavior and rescue transitions.

Geeta lives in Seattle with her two DGS alum dogs, Auggie and Pearl, two cats, and a home that warmly welcomes visits from her adult children. Her background includes a remarkable range of roles that reflect her deep commitment to service and education: she worked as a criminal defense attorney, representing both juveniles and adults, including in child dependency cases. She has also been a doula, supporting women through birth with calm strength and compassion, and an educator, designing and teaching an innovative program for at-risk middle schoolers through Bellevue Public Schools.

In addition to her professional work, Geeta has held numerous volunteer leadership roles: she served as PTA president at both Bryant and Lowell Elementary Schools, supported the PTA at Lakeside School, and founded and ran the College Visits program at Ingraham High School, expanding it from 10 visiting colleges to over 120. Whether in the courtroom, classroom, or community, Geeta brings wisdom, empathy, and fierce advocacy to every role she takes on—including her newest chapter with Dog Gone Seattle.

Staff

Toni Crane

Puppy Director

About Toni

Toni Crane began her journey with Dog Gone Seattle as a foster, taking on Neo, a shut-down, misunderstood bully breed dog who needed patience and heart—and she had both. After successfully fostering many more pups, Toni ultimately foster-failed with Stevie, another soulful pit bull who quickly became family. Though she stepped away (temporarily) from fostering, her commitment to rescue only deepened.

Toni immersed herself in volunteer work, becoming an essential part of the team through event planning, including a lead role in organizing the annual Winterwoof Gala. Her passion and leadership soon led her to case managing and eventually to the development and launch of DGS’s puppy program—a critical initiative she now oversees as Puppy Director. In 2022, Toni made the leap to leave her career in the events industry to join Dog Gone Seattle full-time, bringing her organizational talent and heart for animals to the rescue in a big way.

Toni lives in Lynnwood with her husband, pit bulls Millie and Stevie (a DGS alum), her cat JJ (one of a handful of DGS cat rescues), and a gaggle of ducks. Her life is filled with muddy paws, wagging tails, and the joyful chaos of puppies—and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mariah Murray

Community Engagement

About Mariah

Mariah grew up in Bishop, California, where her love of animals took root. She now lives in Edmonds with her partner Sierra, and shares her home with Baylee the bossy Boston, Adora a Texas rescue, Bode the cat, a whole lot of plants, and a saltwater fish tank (for the vibes). A lifelong crafter, she’s happiest creating something with her hands.

Mariah worked at All The Best Pet Care for three years, where she met Ashlyn. As fate would have it, these days she manages organized chaos at the community center, and enjoys hosting events that bring people together. Within Dog Gone, she’s the person who jumps in wherever she’s needed—connecting fosters, meeting new dogs in care, coordinating transports, and anything else that keeps the magic moving.

Brogan Doherty

Case Manager Support

About Brogan

Brogan met Jenny over a decade ago in the corporate world, where she they both worked at a dog-friendly office filled with furry coworkers—including Brogan’s own big, opinionated Rottweiler, Lacey. She was a fan of the rescue from the beginning, first helping socialize the many foster dogs she met with Jenny and later signing up to foster herself—supporting dozens of foster dogs through many life changes, including marriage to Joseph (with Jon as the officiant!) and welcoming their daughter, Maeve.

Though Lacey has passed, they now have Stevie—a foster fail from Texas—and share their home with two cats and a rotating door of foster dogs in Granite Falls. Brogan joined Dog Gone Seattle in Spring 2025 managing medical care and records for dogs in foster care, to ensure every dog in rescue gets the care they need.