Meet the NCCR Board Members
Joann and Gino
Joann Reagan - President and Director
Joann first got involved with rescue when she volunteered with a rescue in Fresno in 1989. She moved to Sacramento in 1997 and started volunteering with the Sacramento SPCA for around 12 years. She volunteered with another rescue group for 5 years before starting NorCal Cocker Rescue with a group of other cocker lovers in 2013. She moved to Placerville in 2008 and retired from a Federal Government position in 2010. In her free time, Joann enjoys gardening, crossword puzzles and spending time with her dogs.
Lisa Marie Dias - Vice President
Michaeline Veden - Secretary
Michaeline Veden was a founding member of NorCal Cocker Rescue in 2013. Dog mom to spaniel mix Cinco (10 years) and NorCal’s favorite puppy Bella (2.5 years), she and her husband David reside in the College Greens area of Sacramento. Now retired after 35+ years at Sac State where she ran a multi-service media production department, Michaeline stays busy sewing (tote bags, pillows, and quilts) and co-manages the NorCal Cocker On-line Store. Michaeline also serves as team leader for the NorCal Big Day of Giving Campaign, and prior to the COVID pandemic she could be found at NorCal outreach and fundraising events. Michaeline may be best known by the NorCal Cocker Rescue Community for her Dog Bingo calling skills at the 2019 Picnic.
Cinco & Bella
Janet Lee - Adoption/Foster Coordinator
Janet, Maggie & Shane
In 2012 Janet lost my first dog, a cocker spaniel named Malibu. She did not know how her world was going to exist without her precious boy. Janet was too sad to get another dog, but she also could not stand not having dogs in my life. She began contacting dog rescues and was soon put in touch with Joann Reagan, Director of NorCal CockerRescue. Janet was working and living in the Bay Area, at the time, and Joann welcomed her and she quickly learned the rescue ropes and began rescuing cocker spaniels and cocker mixes from the San Jose Shelter. Janet would foster them, get them to the Vet and groomer and many times pass them off to Jim Hill, one of our volunteers. Jim would transport the dogs to Placerville, where Joann would work on getting them adopted. After about four months, Janet met Jim at an adoption event in Livermore. He brought two of his foster dogs. It took about 15 minutes for her to fall in love with a precious, 3-year-old, buff colored little girl named Mollie and she adopted her!!! Janet continued to volunteer for the rescue, fell in love with the dogs, the people, Placerville and in 2017, she bought a home and moved to Placerville. The rest is history. Rescue is hard, but there is nothing that breaks your heart and puts it back together like watching the transformation of rescuing a needy,neglected dog, turn into a loving, grateful, precious, 4-legged, best friend. Janet is currently loving her two NCCR sanctuary dogs,
Suzanne S. Kozell - Volunteer Coordinator and
Community Outreach
Suzanne, Jax, Sammie & Oliver
After losing our beloved 14 1/2 year old cocker Katie in 2017 is when I became involved with NorCal Cocker Rescue. Our family had a big hole in our lives and Katie’s younger brother Oliver, became deeply depressed . We knew we wanted to adopt a rescue and sought out NorCal Cocker Rescue because of their excellent reputation. I became involved initially as a volunteer helping with adoption events and then increased my involvement with fostering, transport and home checks. As I spent more time with this amazing group I knew I had found my new calling and that I had made new friends for life. Never had I met a more dedicated and selfless group of hardworking individuals dedicated to helping with saving and making lives better for our dogs. I am proud of our rescue and the difference we make daily in their lives. Being the Volunteer Coordinator and Community Outreach volunteer is an honor and a privilege to follow Joann Reagan’s vision. I live in Folsom with my husband, 3 dogs and 2 cats. I became the classic foster failure to Sammie, an honorary cocker in 2018 and to Jax, a NorCal Cocker who we adopted in 2019. Spending time with my family and friends and being with my animals makes me very happy. Our animals bring us so much joy. My canine fur family travels with us and I enjoy walking, kayaking, snowshoeing, being in the mountains and outdoors in general. I also enjoy reading and traveling when I can these days. The perfect evening is cuddling up with my dogs while I read a good book. I can’t imagine my life without a cocker.
Kim, Pepe & Rory
Kim Calton - Social Media Coordinator
Kim joined as a volunteer with NCCR when a very special shelter dog named Maya was 24 hours away from being put down. She was Kim's very first foster and got her hooked on rescue. Over the next 6 years, Kim expanded her experiences with NCCR to include shelter checks, home checks, transport, dog training and vet visits. As a result of COVID 19, Kim now manages the rescues' Facebook Page, webpage and fundraising events. In her spare time, Kim enjoys long walks on the beach, traveling, skiing, photography and daily cuddles with her two rescue boys.
Patty, Brady, Lucy & Cody
Patty Unangst
Patty has always had a special place in her heart for cocker spaniels. When she learned of NorCal Cocker Rescue, she knew she wanted to be apart of the rescue. She joined the rescue and now serves as a Board Member. Patty has 3 beautiful spaniels that love to cuddle and spend their time being loved on by Patty.