Debra Maxey is a native of Virginia where she was an outspoken advocate for ten years for children with disabilities. She ran a nonprofit organization that was instrumental in starting support groups nationwide. She lobbied legislators and authored newsletters and books on disabilities. You can say she was always rooting for “the underdog”!
When her precious and loyal companion of thirteen years passed away on Mother’s Day in 2008, Debra’s heart was broken. The dog was always by her side from the time she drove across country to Colorado to the time she went through breast cancer. Her veterinarian suggested she start a puppy rescue to fill the hole in her heart.
Debra visited puppy rescue events in the area, took photos, and talked to several puppy rescue organizers. She did due diligence on how to start a puppy rescue, wrote a procedural manual and got started. The first rescue puppy that PupSavers.org received, she adopted for her own.
Her son coined the name “PupSavers.” After all, that’s Debra's goal: to save puppies from euthanasia. Debra grew up in Virginia owning dogs from pounds. She knows the love and companionship a dog gives. She’s found a worthwhile cause to be involved in and to apply her passion, expertise, organizational and advocacy skills to the effort of saving puppies from kill shelters. In addition to PupSavers.org, Debra facilitates a journal writing group for cancer survivors.