About

About

MaeDay Rescue was founded by Natalie Garcia in 2010 and became a non-profit 501c3 in 2013. MaeDay saves dogs and cats from Los Angeles shelters, the streets, and we also take in owner surrenders. We are solely based in Los Angeles and are not affiliated with any other organizations.

We are 100% foster based which means no more shelters for our rescues. All MaeDay animals are housed in their Foster's homes until the perfect forever homes are found. All medical expenses, spay and neuter costs, and supplies are covered by MaeDay while the animals wait to be adopted. 

Education and pet care is a priority. MaeDay also holds annual spay/neuter clinics in Mexico and offers local animal services to impoverished communities. 

Natalie has a soft spot for senior dogs and her favorite breed is a classic mutt! 
video courtesy of Dot 429

Meet The MaeDay Board of Directors

Natalie Garcia

Founder and President

Natalie Garcia founded MaeDay Rescue in 2010 after her beloved dog, Maggie Mae was killed in a car accident. At the time Natalie was building her career as a TV host and on air talent. But after the accident, she dedicated all of her time to fostering - to honor the memory of Maggie Mae.


Natalie also started our sister store, MaeDay Outpost, located on the edge of Silverlake, with her wife Maria. Natalie currently has 3 dogs, one very mischievous cat, and a constant flow of fosters. 

Emily Bronkesh-Buchbinder

Chairman

Emily started volunteering with MaeDay in 2017 and has since fostered dozens of dogs, several of whom felt like "the one that got away." Despite a preference for non-shedding dogs, Emily finally found a soulmate in Alfie, who sheds a lot, and she has convinced several of her close friends to adopt MaeDay cats and dogs as well. Now her couch is covered in wiry white hairs, her social circle is filled with MaeDay alumni, and her days are spent in zoom meetings where her coworkers are used to the sound of dogs barking in the background. 

In addition to serving as chairman on the MaeDay board, Emily is a senior director at Emerson Collective, a social change organization. 

Tara Martino

Vice President

After the tragic & sudden passing of her previous rescue dog in 2017, Tara vowed to get more actively involved in rescue to honor her beloved pup Manny. Since she had been admiring the work that Maeday did, she began to help with fundraising & fostering to heal her heart. She has now fostered over 30 dogs and currently serves as the Vice President of Maeday. Tara is very involved in the day-to-day operations of the rescue including medical care/vet appointments, adoptions, and liaising with various shelters to help more dogs in need. 


Even though she’s had some challenging cases, she adores fostering and thinks it is such a beautiful & rewarding experience. Gatsby (2018) and Parker (2020 - @parkerthestreetdog) are two of her favorite foster transformation stories - she saw them change so much & loved being a meaningful part of their journeys. When she’s not helping dogs, Tara works full-time in the entertainment industry and loves traveling with her dog Hamilton (who you may recognize as a long-time Maeday foster bro - He’s perfectly patient and loves fostering just as much as his mom!).


Dianne Meyer

Treasurer

 As a child, Dianne Meyer first became aware of the need for animal advocacy after seeing the treatment of the dogs, sheep, goats, and chickens at her grandparents farm in Australia. Witnessing the conditions the animals endured led to a lifelong compassion and love for all living beings and a commitment to veganism. When she moved to Los Angeles in the early 2000s she was dismayed by the conditions and overcrowding at the city’s animal shelters. As she navigated rescuing and adopting a dog she came across Maeday Rescue, and was inspired by the enthusiasm, hard work and integrity of founder Natalie Garcia as well as the all-woman board of directors who focus on individual care and concern for each animal in finding them their best home. Starting out as a volunteer foster, going on to become a board member and now she is pleased to be able to call herself the Treasurer. 

Melody Margarit

Secretary

Melody grew up in Los Angeles and was raised with foster dogs. She has always felt a very special connection to animals and has spent most of adulthood as a vegetarian (now vegan) with no turning back. She has two rescue dogs of her own (Sampson & Scout) that are her world and bring her an immense amount of joy every single day.


In January of 2024, she found herself advocating for a litter of German Shepherd puppies that had been left outside for weeks in the cold and with MaeDay’s help, she was able to bring them into her home to give them somewhere safe to stay. 6 weeks later, all 4 puppies found their forever homes and Melody found herself fully in love with MaeDay Rescue, their team of strong women, and their mission to help animals. Since then, she has fostered over a dozen dogs and has happily joined the MaeDay board to continue her efforts in helping as many dogs and cats as possible.


In addition to animal advocacy, Melody has worked in the music industry for the last 20 years and feels fortunate to live in a city where she can surround herself with music, dogs, and amazing vegan food.

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