About Us

Mission
Voice For The Animals Foundation is devoted to creating respect and empathy for animals through education, rescue, legislation, and advocacy.
Voice for the Animals Foundation is a 501c3, non-profit charitable foundation.
Tax ID #95-475-4776

Voice For The Animals was founded by Melya Kaplan in 1999. Melya was inspired to start Voice For The Animals after seeing many homeless cats and dogs wandering the streets of Venice when she first moved to the community. She quickly realized there was a dire need for a new type of animal protection organization.

Melya Kaplan, Executive Director, with Jamba

“Nobody wants to be homeless- not a human, not an animal. Everybody deserves a home.” – Melya Kaplan

Hotline
Manager: Debbie Wood

Rescue & Adoptions
Director: Alexandra Barrett
Assistant: Samantha Wong

Helping Friends
Coordinator: Debbie Wood

Working Cats
Director: Melya Kaplan
Coordinator: Anne MacLeod

Abuse Prevention
Coordinator: Melya Kaplan

Humane Education
Coordinator: Alexandra Barrett

Zoo Watch
Coordinator: Melya Kaplan

Feral Colonies
Coordinator: Alexandra Barrett

VFTA in Greece
Coordinator: Melya Kaplan

Animal Films
Executive Producer: Melya Kaplan
Producer: Nancy Gershwin

Office Operations
Assistant to the Executive Director: Caitlin Dolan

Volunteers
Volunteer Coordinator: Samantha Wong
Head Volunteer: Kathryn Price

Board Of Trustees
Melya Kaplan, Founder and Executive Director
Evris Tsakirides, Founder and Trustee Emeritus
Paula Solomon, Philanthropist
Betty Denny Smith, Retired Director of Los Angeles County Animal Control Department

Honorary Board
Olympia Dukakis
Gary Fink
Paul Jolly
Maria and Wolfgang Petersen
Lily Tomlin
Mariana Tosca

Advisory Board
Steve Hasenberg, President
Nancy Gershwin
Linda Grey
Dr. Gary Kuehn
Dr. Lorin Lindner
Mike Mahler