OUR FAMILY
It takes a community of dedicated people to make Arthur's Acres what it is. Here at AAAS, our team volunteers their time to take care and run the sanctuary. ​Without their generous support, Arthur's Acres would not be where it is today. Thank you!
Todd Friedman
Founder
Todd didn't make the connection immediately. Already a vegetarian for four years, he understood there was no difference between the dogs by his side and the animals we put on our plate. However, it wasn't until he volunteered at an animal sanctuary in 2013, when he had a first hand experience with farmed animals that Todd understood the importance of becoming vegan.
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This realization led Todd to an animal care role in 2014. In that time, he learned what really matters: the animals, their care, and their happiness. While working at the sanctuary, he learned how to work with staff, volunteers, the public, and other sanctuary organizations to do the very best for both animals in his care and the others out there still in danger. Most importantly, he learned the joy and heartbreak of opening his heart to animals in need, thus finding his true passion in life.
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With the help of friends and family, Todd founded Arthur's Acres Animal Sanctuary in Summer of 2018.
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Brett Rabideau Development Director
Brett is our Development Director who does a lot more than her title.
Brett brings over 3 decades of business administration and project management experience to Arthur's Acres Animal Sanctuary.
You will see her assisting on nearly all of the lives, answering questions and adding enhanced content on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook simultaneously.
When Brett is not keeping vendors on their toes, or brainstorming with Todd and Bek, she solves problems and works on administrative tasks such as bookkeeping, project management, creating and maintaining spreadsheets, budgets, donor relations, and grant writing.
Bek Calo
Creative Director
Bek is a creative force at the sanctuary. She produces countless videos and short films, takes photographs, creates graphics and print materials such as our calendar, writes our newsletter, and designs merchandise! You may find her organizing the store, building shelves, or brainstorming something entirely new!
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When not working on creative endeavors, you might find her whipping up a new recipe in the kitchen for the "Compassionate Cooking" video series, or taking a moment to cuddle with Lyle the farm dog, feeding baby Harlene Rita, or giving skritches to Wilbur the pig.
Christina John
Animal Care Director
Christina is our Animal Care Director here at Arthur's Acres. She went vegan after going on a tour at Farm Sanctuary in California. Since then, Christina has volunteered at several local animal sanctuaries. When she first started volunteering at Arthur's Acres, she instantly became a vital member of the sanctuary family - so much so that Todd couldn't get rid of her! She moved from her home in Long Island, NY and now lives here at the sanctuary!
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Christina takes exceptionally good care of our animal residents and is extremely knowledgeable about treating chickens and pigs! When she isn't caring for our residents, she is spending time with her dog, Bentley.
Susie Pietsch
Board President
Susie is a longtime weekly volunteer and our Board President here at Arthur's Acres. She brings a unique flare and strong work ethic to the sanctuary. Susie is organized and focused when completing various tasks around the property. She often works behind the scenes managing the Arthur's Acres Village Mercantile, fulfilling merchandise orders, assembling new Patreon and sponsorship packets, sending cards, and booking tours. She is also one of our bee house and birdhouse artists!
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Susie lives in Syracuse, NY, and when she's not volunteering on weekends at AAAS, she is either teaching French, mountain biking, or taking care of her 11 cats and 2 dogs.
Rebecca Bose
Board of Directors
Harboring a great love for all animals since she was a child, Rebecca has been working for them most of her life. Rebecca is the Curator of the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem NY for over 24 years. She holds a masters degree in zoology, is a veterinary technician and a certified Magnawave PEMF practitioner.
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Rebecca is a hands on volunteer who is equally comfortable cleaning out a barn or behind the lens of the camera, taking photographs for the sancutary. She works with area vendors to arrange in-kind donations for the sanctuary. She also performs Magnawave PEMF therapy on several sanctuary animals on a weekly basis..
Having a Kunekune pig of her own, she has a special place in her heart for pigs. She is honored to help make a difference in the lives of the sanctuary's beautiful residents.
Jill Alibrandi
Board of Directors
Jill is a weekly volunteer and one of our Board members. She loves assisting with anything at the Sanctuary from cleaning the barns to helping with tours.
She has been an animal and environmental activist for many years and has her MS in Environmental Education.
Jill’s passion for all non-humans has inspired her passion for travel. She also volunteers with International Conservation organizations in India and Kenya that focus on saving wild animals and wild spaces.
Todd Defio
Full Time Volunteer
Todd is affectionately known as "TD" or "Todd 2" so that we are certain we are referring to the same Todd when we say "Todd"!
TD is a full-time volunteer at Arthur's Acres and has been living on site since the Spring of 2020. He first came to AAAS as a periodic volunteer and has since become an integral part of daily operations at the sanctuary.
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While he has retired his weather career, TD is famous for his past meteorological interest and colorful weather reports. You can find TD doing anything from cleaning the chicken coop or the little pig's hallway to assisting on various construction projects around the sanctuary.
Paul Spampanato
Board of Directors
Paul holds a Ph.D from St. John's University, focusing on animal studies in Literature. Inspired by his passion for animals and his vegan lifestyle, he hopes to spread the vegan message through his literary background.
Born and raised in New York, Paul became an animal activist in 2017 when he began volunteering at animal sanctuaries. Volunteering opened his world to so many amazing people that both inspired him and gave him hope that there is a brighter future for farm animals.
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Driven by his love for all animals, Paul helps keep our data in tip top shape!
Katherine Keefe
Board of Directors
Katherine became a vegetarian when she was 14 after seeing and truly feeling for the first time the suffering of a creature raised and slaughtered for food. Throughout her life, she has always tried to help animals as an advocate and most often as a hands on caregiver.
When she began volunteering at a farm sanctuary, she took the natural step to veganism as the only way to not support cruelty in any manner. She continued that journey as an animal rights activist, as a caregiver, in hands-on rescue work, and as Shelter Director at two farm animal sanctuaries.
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"I will use whatever strength I possess to help Arthur’s Acres offer sanctuary to animals in need and end the exploitation of animals everywhere."
Nikki Stella
Board of Directors
Nikki Stella, became inspired by Todd and all of the animals of Arthur’s Acres when she witnessed the incredible transformation of Penny Lane, from a starving pig – both physically and emotionally, to the healthy, happy and sassy star she is today.
Nikki, an experienced business executive, is excited to bring her business know-how to Arthur's Acres animal sanctuary's board.
Beyond her corporate achievements, Nikki's dedication to educating others about compassionate choices shines bright. Her role on the board promises to combine her business acumen with her passion for animal welfare, furthering the sanctuary's mission to educate and inspire for a more compassionate world.
Grace Rosano
Past Board of Directors
Grace is a regular volunteer and a former Board member. She has as much of a passion for the animals as she has for getting work done around the sanctuary. You rarely find Grace taking a break from cleaning or organizing something somewhere, but when a pig nearby is doing something cute, she will certainly stop for some cuddles!
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Grace starred in our first compassionate cooking series, Cooking with Grace. She absolutely loves to cook and often prepares delicious meals for the Arthur's Acres crew when she comes to volunteer!
