Governance & Transparency
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Our mission at Mikaela’s Mutt Motel is to rescue stray, neglected, and unwanted dogs. We foster our rescues providing love, care, and training until they are prepared for adoption into the families they deserve.
Mikaela Lambert
President, Chair, Founder
Mikaela Lambert is the founder and President of Mikaela’s Mutt Motel. She’s had a passion for animals since she was a child. Mikaela’s childhood dogs, Lucky and Buddy, were monumental parts of her life growing up. When she moved to Dayton, OH, she adopted the Original Mutt, Ace, and started a journey everyone in her family knew was inevitable. She joined the United States Army in 2015 and served selflessly for nearly 8 years before medically retiring. During that time, she fostered over 100 dogs for other rescues in different cities across the country. Mikaela also earned her Associate’s Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from from The George Washington University. Shortly before retiring from the Army, she decided it was time to start her own rescue. Mikaela officially opened The Mutt Motel on May 1st, 2022 and hasn’t looked back. Mikaela’s passion for dogs and fierce military discipline give her the natural ability to lead Mikaela’s Mutt Motel to success.
Brad Lambert
Vice President, Co-Chair, Treasurer
Brad Lambert is the Vice President and Treasurer at Mikaela’s Mutt Motel. His love for animals began with his childhood dog, P-Nut, and has only grown since then. Brad holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Assurance and Minor in Mobile Development from Capella University and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Information Technology from Virginia Tech. His knack for numbers and order make him a fantastic guide post for Mikaela’s Mutt Motel’s information management, finances, and compliance. Brad guides Mikaela’s Mutt Motel in many areas including fiduciary responsibilities, regulatory filings and compliance, technological innovation, and records management.
Sarah Hill
Director of Veterinary Health & Safety
Dr. Sarah Hill is the Director of Veterinary Health & Safety at Mikaela’s Mutt Motel. Dr. Hill holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture and a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology from Austin Peay State University. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Dr. Hill’s knowledge and experience is rivaled by few, and her passion for our mission is unmatched. She demonstrates her committment at every turn offering best-practices and sound advice to ensure dogs at Mikaela’s Mutt Motel receive top-notch care and live in a safe and healthy environment. The community should have no doubts about the health and safety of our Mutts with Dr. Hill at the helm guiding our standards for care.
Samantha Knight
Director of Mission Integration
Samantha Knight is a lover of all animals. She’s been known to care for dogs, cats, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, and even bees. Samantha’s passion for humane treatment of all animals enables her to guide Mikaela’s Mutt Motel and ensure every action we take is Mission-centric. The insight she provides improves existing procedures and generates new (and better) procedures. Additionally, Samantha’s nationwide network has allowed us to confidently place several of our Mutts into loving, fur-ever homes with complete faith in her judgement because she literally wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Chasity Lindsey
Director of Training
Chasity’s passion for dog training is unmatched. She is an American Kennel Club Master Obedience Trainer and Behaviorist, an Animal Behavior College Service Dog Trainer, and a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. Additionally, she is a retired Marine. Her dedication and work-ethic mean every Mutt at the Motel gets the best training possible. Chasity uses science-backed, positive reinforcement training to reward and encourage good behavior rather than punishing undesirable behavior. Chasity’s strong principles guide our training decisions and ensure our Mutts’ comfort and well-being are always top-of-mind.
Bev Frey
Director of Adoptions
Bev Frey is the Director of Adoptions at Mikaela’s Mutt Motel. Bev has many years of experience as an Adoption Coordinator for a large Rescue in the D.C. Metro Area. Bev was responsible for hundreds of adoptions per year. Bev’s dedication and knowledge aid Mikaela’s Mutt Motel in ensuring our Adoption Process is sound, our Adopters are properly screened, and our Mutts are placed into the best home for them to succeed. Bev is critical to our operation to minimize misplacements/returns and reduce the stress our Mutts endure after being rescued.
Tamara Pierre
Secretary
Tamara Pierre is the Secretary at Mikaela’s Mutt Motel. Tamara has decades of experience in accounting, bookkeeping, and administration. Her meticulous attention to detail guides Mikaela’s Mutt Motel administratively and allows the rest of our leadership to focus on their respective duties. We feel it necessary to note that Mikaela’s Mutt Motel may not exist if not for Tamara. She nurtured and supported Mikaela’s love for animals from childhood all the way through the day you’re reading this. From small puppies to huge thoroughbreds, Mikaela’s passion for animals was fueled by Tamara. With Tamara on board, there is no doubt Mikaela’s Mutt Motel will succeed (and have very detailed notes about it)!
As we are a growing rescue, we operate with what is known as a “working Board.” Our Board Members are also our Officers (and our entire team). As we grow and obtain the ability to support a larger team and management, this page will be updated.
Mikaela Lambert
Chief Executive Officer
Brad Lambert
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer
Chasity Lindsey
Chief Training Officer
Bev Frey
Chief Adoptions Officer
Amanda Burton
Chief Grants Officer
Service
Serving abandoned, stray, and unwanted dogs is our primary objective. Service to these Mutts will be guided by the following Values.
Authenticity
We work to save Mutts typically cast away by shelters, rescues, and owners and eradicate the sources of these Mutts. We will never disguise our Mission, our methods, or our practices.
Value-Centric
Our Values will guide every action we take.
Ethical Action
We will act ethically, in every regard, from the way we care for Mutts to the way we manage Mikaela’s Mutt Motel. Our Code of Ethics will guide the activities of Mikaela’s Mutt Motel and supporters will know that we abide by the Code.
Compassion
We will exercise compassion with every Mutt we encounter. Compassion manifests in many ways, and we will take actions that deliver the most compassion to the Mutt in every situation.
Access
All Mutts will have access to Rescue. We will not discriminate based on breed, temperament, age, medical state, or any other factor.
No-Kill
We will not euthanize any Mutt for any reason other than compassionate euthanasia deemed necessary by our Veterinary staff.
Integrity
We will act with integrity in the management of Mikaela’s Mutt Motel. Donor funds will be utilized effectively to further the Mission.
Nimble
We will be nimble, adapting quickly to the changing needs of our Mutts and updated sector standards.
Excellence
We will achieve nothing less than excellence rescuing Mutts. We represent a turning point for these Mutts from a life without hope to a 5-Paw Experience. That experience will be excellent from beginning to end.
Solidarity
We will display solidarity with these Mutts. Not only are we on this Mission with our supporters, we are on this Mission with every unwanted Mutt still in the fight for a better life.