The WildKind Hearts Behind the Rescue
Meet the dedicated souls who work tirelessly to ensure every animal finds their forever family.
Allisa Jones
Director & Co-Founder
My love for animals started pretty much as soon as I could walk.
I’ve always had a natural instinct to care for and nurture anything that needed a little extra help. Growing up, bringing home lost, injured or stray animals was a pretty regular occurrence — much to my mom’s hesitation. At one point, that even included finding an injured field mouse and deciding that, naturally, it needed to come home with me. Maybe not the most practical rescue mission, but apparently the signs of what was to come were there pretty early.
That passion never went away.
After spending years volunteering in animal rescue, I knew how much I loved being part of giving animals a second chance. Eventually, that love, experience and probably a little bit of craziness turned into WildKind Rescue Society.
Today, animals are still a huge part of my life. At home, I have four dogs and a cat who are absolutely my world, along with my two beautiful daughters and a very patient partner who somehow continues to put up with all of my animal-related antics.
When it comes to rescue, I have an especially big soft spot for the ones who need a little extra understanding — the scared ones, the misunderstood ones and the ones who simply need someone willing to believe in them.
WildKind is truly an extension of something I’ve carried with me my entire life: if there’s an animal that needs help and there’s something I can do about it, I’m probably going to try.
Rachel Plante
Coming soon
Melissa Waldner
Director, Social Media & Support
Melissa's journey with WildKind began during a transitional chapter of her life. With her three children growing up and her husband working out of town, she sought a meaningful way to fill her time and give back.
Her path started when she decided to foster a dog—a choice that introduced her to the organization’s founder, Allisa. A deep friendship blossomed quickly, and it wasn't long before Melissa became an essential part of the rescue's heart.
In her current role, she oversees social media and community outreach, handling the vital storytelling and behind-the-scenes efforts that connect our mission with the world. Drawing on her professional background as a nurse, Melissa infuses rescue work with the same nurturing care and dedication she has given to patients throughout her career.
What began as a single foster placement evolved into a life-long passion and a leadership role. She may have come for one dog, but she stayed for the entire WildKind family.