Toby's Critter Cove rescue
About usSince 2020
Saving Animals & Finding Homes
Our History
Toby’s Critter Cove Rescue was established in 2020, the year that everything seemed to be falling apart. Our one glimmer of hope was starting a passionate program rescuing animals in Summit and surrounding counties. Our motto, no paw left behind, which we live and breathe, to ensure no animal in our care goes unloved or uncared for. Our goal is to educate not only our volunteers, but also the community about responsible animal care and ownership. In addition, offering varied levels of support to ensure the most positive home placement for all our critters.
the heart of our project
Meet Toby
Toby
Toby who is the heart of this new project “Toby’s Critter Cove Rescue” was a rescue himself born in 2004. The moment I brought Toby home I knew he was special. Realizing he had more human qualities than I’ve ever seen in a cat. I should’ve changed his name the first time I caught him in a chip bag with five chips in his mouth. You couldn’t open the chip bag without him begging, it is what he loved above all else. We quickly learned his ability to grasp the English language when my Aunt Wendy chose to leave her bear claws on the counter stating, all I care about is the icing only to wake up to Toby having eaten ONLY the icing off each one. How he got the container opened still remains a mystery, but he was definitely driven by his stomach. His tag on his collar said Insert treat here with an arrow pointing to his mouth. A very accurate depiction of his insatiable appetite. If you were upset or emotional for one reason or another it seemed like he always knew, and he would be by your side giving you head butts and kisses until you had no choice but to smile.
On February 22, 2019 I lost my heart…my Toby! Never have I been more shattered about losing an animal like I was with Toby.
This rescue will not only honor his memory, but if I can give you a peek into what pet ownership can be like, that complete unconditional love, that when cultivated can be unforgettable, then maybe neglect and abuse can one day be considered a thing of the past
About Us
Meet the Team
Tonya Micheli
President & Founder
Hello Everyone my name is Tonya. The idea for Toby’s Critter Cove was born in 2020. My desire to make a greater impact in our surrounding communities was my driving force that lead to our inception on 2/1/21 when we admitted our first cat. Since then we have grown exponentially now admitting both cats and dogs and often taking on some extreme medical cases which is unheard of in our early tenure. It is because of the strong dedication and hard work of all of the board members and fosters that this is even possible. I am extremely humbled to share that vision with my team and only hope to grow it more so that our impact can be greater. My one message to the community is PLEASE spay and neuter your animals. The impact on doing that for one animal is astronomical.
Mary Harrison
Marketing & Event Coordinator
A Note From our President…
I am excited to introduce you to Mary Harrison our Marketing & Event Coordinator here at Toby’s Critter Cove Rescue. She comes to us with many years of marketing experience in the human world where I had the pleasure of meeting and hiring her in a previous capacity. Mary is very sweet and kind to all she meets and is excited to share her wealth of information and ideas. Welcome aboard Mary.
Getting to Know Mary…
Mary Harrison is excited to join the team establishing Toby’s Critter Cove. Mary will be serving on the board as a Marketing & Event Coordinator. Mary loves to tell stories and share her excitement with everyone she meets. She is looking forward to letting everyone know about our mission and invite like-minded friends to join our cause. She has more than 20 years’ experience in sales and marketing and is looking forward to applying her professional expertise to her personal passion. Mary is mom to 2 cats Baby and Henry who are spoiled rotten.
Laura Gasner
Board Member
A Note From our President…
Laura joined Toby’s Critter Cove Rescue in 2021 as a dog foster and mentor to many fosters that know and love her. Laura is known for her passion for animals and always goes the extra mile for her fosters and potential adopters looking for a specific type or breed of dog. In 2022 she became a board member and has been a huge asset to the Toby’s team and helped shape it into the success it is today. Welcome aboard Laura.I’m Laura Ganser, and for the past 12 years, I’ve been deeply involved in animal rescue. While I prefer to stay behind the scenes, orchestrating the happy endings for our furry friends brings me immense joy. When I’m not visiting my two adult boys in North Carolina, I cherish the time I spend with my two dogs, Roxi (Roxannadanna)-a 14yr old Pit/Rhodesian-and Duck (Duckie)-a 4yr old Pitbull. As a registered nurse, I find great fulfillment in helping medically challenged animals on their journey to recovery and finding them loving forever homes.