About

Who We Are

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PAWS4Thought Animal Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all-breed animal rescue organization. Most of what we do is rescue dogs from shelters when they at risk of being euthanized, as well as abandoned, abused, and stray dogs in both the U.S. and Tijuana/Rosarito areas.

PAWS4Thought is committed to reducing the number of dogs who are at risk of being euthanized or are left hurt and/or abandoned each and every day.  Our primary goal is to rescue and rehabilitate these dogs in loving foster homes until they are adopted into their permanent “fur-ever” homes. We also focus on educating the public by providing information on rescue procedures, and we conduct low cost and free spay/neuter events to those who need these services. 

PAWS4Thought is a 100% non-profit volunteer organization that could not survive without the loving dedication and support of volunteers, foster families and sponsors who dedicate their time, homes and contributions to help save and support those without a voice.

What We Do

We rescue and rehabilitate abandoned and abused dogs, provide vaccines and medical treatment, and assist in the placement of these dogs into loving homes.

All of our dogs are housed within our veterinary clinic and cared for until they are either placed with a loving foster family or a “fur-ever” home. We pride ourselves in finding the perfect match for both dog and human.

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Mission

At PAWS4Thought, we are committed to rescuing, rehabbing and caring for abused, abandoned and neglected animals in both the U.S. and Mexico by providing medical care, fostering services and adoption placement in responsible homes. We are willing to assist with certain costs, such as providing spay/neuter clinics to those in low-income neighborhoods.

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Passion

At the heart of animal rescue is a network of people who share a passion for saving and protecting creatures who end up in unfortunate circumstances for one reason or another. The process is not for the faint of heart. And for some, animal rescue is their life’s passion. We at PAWS4Thought juggle jobs, families and caring for our own pets, so that we may save the lives of others. Our resources, time and money are invested in an effort to end the suffering of the many animals that cross our path.

Thank you to our Corporate Supporters

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Cooper’s Fund, a Donor Advised Fund at the San Francisco Foundation

Stats for 2020

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INTAKE: 530

ADOPTED: 456

TRANSFERRED: 4

DIED IN CARE: 45

ROLLED OVER FROM 2019: 52

Our Team

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Board of Directors / Team Members

PAWS4Thought team members come from many different backgrounds in ethnicity, financial stability and style. But the one thing we all have in common is our love for animals. Together, we work tirelessly to change the lives of the abused, abandoned and neglected so that each and every animal has the chance for a loving home.

Negar Mirgoli

Co-Founder & Chair
negar@paws4thoughtrescue.com

Negar

Co-Founder / President

negar@paws4thoughtrescue.com

Negar was born in Tehran, Iran, in the 1970s. After the fall of the Shah in 1979, her family emigrated to California. Growing up in Orange County California, and then attending college in Northern California makes Negar feel that she “gets” what it means to be a part of “The Golden State.” She finally settled in sunny San Diego.

Negar has been in the real estate field selling homes since 1997. Her choice of a career is perfect for her personality, as she likes helping people realize their dreams.
Believing in giving back, Negar has been active in community service since her high school days, when she started volunteering at age 16 at UCI Medical Center, then by the age of 19 she was volunteering at the Orange County Courthouse. In 2004, Negar also started volunteering at Meals On Wheels (delivering meals for the last 15 years), and finally, about five years ago she started the animal rescue group, Paws4thought.

“Rescuing animals is my way of thanking the universe and paying it forward.” Negar is fluent in Farsi and English. She has also studied French, German and Spanish. According to Negar, “Although I am not fluent in these three languages, I can get by.”

Her motto as she enters her fifth is, “It is none of my business what other people think of me.” And with that thought, she allows herself to be free from many of society’s perceived restraints.
“Traveling, hiking, walking, reading, music, the opera, theater, paddle boarding, roller skating, ice skating, ziplining, yoga, and skydiving have all helped me stay happy and strong. I’m really looking forward to the next decades of my life!”

Martin Loyd

Secretary

Martin

Secretary

Martin has been flying for nearly 40 years in both the military and airlines. He is a flight instructor, pilot examiner, author and volunteer for the Chula Vista Police Department. Acting as the Board Secretary, he is a long-time dog-lover, who currently looks after four of the dogs who live in his home.

Beth Gray

Board Member

Beth

Board Member

Beth’s background is in healthcare, dentistry to be more specific. She has been with the dental hygiene program at Southwestern College since 2004 and has worked the gamut from tutoring, test proctoring, clinic facilities coordinating, adjunct instructor and now full-time in the dental hygiene program. She grew up as a “military brat” and moved 18 times before she graduated from college with a Bachelors in Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University in 1987. In addition, she received a Masters in Adult Education from Capella University in 2011.

Teaching and learning are two things that bring her joy. She has her private pilot’s license which is how she met her husband, and they have two adult children. She reports being a “crazy dog person” and has a passion for animal rescue. She enjoys weightlifting and functional fitness in her free time and holds a Level 1 Trainer certificate for CrossFit.

Karen Epler

Board Member

Karen

Board Member

Karen’s love for animals started at an early age and grew through many visits to the San Diego Zoo and various pets over the years. Taking advantage of every opportunity to be involved with animals meant volunteering with a local vet and taking vet prep classes during high school. Attending the Moorpark College program for Exotic Animal Training and Management and then working as a zookeeper at the Dallas Zoo were special times in her life. But a love for education and animals and passing that on took her into teaching middle school science. Today, it is the ability to give back by helping to rescue dogs that really inspires her.

Soma

Social media director and fundraiser for the Iranian sterilization campaigns

Soma

Social media director and fundraiser for the Iranian sterilization campaigns

“I am a highly experienced television director with a solid foundation in television production and media studies, boasting over a decade of immersive industry involvement. My professional journey has been profoundly enriched by my unwavering passion for animals, a fire ignited by the heartwarming adoption of my own beloved dog, a once-ailing street dog from Iran, and my dear cat, a fellow survivor of the London streets. These transformative encounters have not only shaped my personal life but have also become the driving force behind my unwavering commitment to animal rescue.

My dedication to the welfare of animals has led me to forge a powerful alliance with ‘Paws4Thought Animal Rescue,’ an organization deeply aligned with my values. Here, I actively contribute my expertise in media to save and enhance the lives of animals in need. Leveraging my skills, I tirelessly work to raise awareness and instigate positive change through compelling storytelling and media campaigns. My goal is to shine a spotlight on the plight of these remarkable creatures, ensuring they receive the love, care, and protection they so rightfully deserve.”

Maryam

Director of Operations for Iranian Sterilization Campaigns

Maryam

Director of Operations for Iranian Sterilization Campaigns

Maryam hails from Tehran and embarked on a journey to Austria in pursuit of a better life at a young age. Her life remained relatively tranquil until a pivotal moment in 2010 when she welcomed Fidel, a small pug puppy, into her home as her daughter’s companion. Little did she know that this furry addition would utterly transform her world, forging a profound bond with these loyal creatures.

As time went by, Maryam became acutely aware of the harsh conditions faced by dogs in her homeland, Iran. She felt compelled to make a difference and was chosen for a significant mission: to alleviate the plight of these dogs. For the past 13 years, she has dedicated herself to this cause, working tirelessly to improve the lives of animals in Iran. Her overarching objective is to eradicate the need for dogs in Iran to endure life on the streets while simultaneously addressing the nationwide issue of stray dog populations.

Maryam navigates the challenges of her mission with a unique approach – humor and the art of storytelling. She employs laughter as a coping mechanism, bringing light to her life and those she touches along the way, all while making a meaningful impact on the welfare of animals in Iran.

Veterinary Services

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The experienced, compassionate and dedicated teams who operate our veterinary clinics in Baja California make it possible to save the countless lives of abused and abandoned dogs who would otherwise die on the streets.