ROBIN PRESSNALL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: SMALL PAWS RESCUE INC.
BIOGRAPHY
Robin Pressnall is a singer, an author, and
Executive Director of Small Paws Rescue (SPR),
a charitable, Federal not-for-profit organization
whose mission is to "rescue and supply
any Bichon Frise or Bichon-mix, nationwide,
regardless of age or medical condition with
love, shelter, food, human companionship,
medical care, and spay/neuter services through
local veterinarians until permanent placement
is secured into a pre-screened loving home."
Robin was born in Oklahoma City and grew
up in Midwest City, Oklahoma. As an only
child who lacked the companionship of siblings,
Robin found joy in the many pets that graced
her life, whether they were finned, feathered,
or furry. Robin also found that she possessed
a God-given talent for music, and as a teenager
sang and played the piano in church functions
and local gatherings.
After attending Oklahoma City University,
Robin became a secondary school teacher and
later worked as a Realtor. At one time she
owned and operated a bed and breakfast called
“Robin’s Nest.”
Robin met Dale, her husband of twenty two
years while sitting in an airport in New
York City. They married and Robin moved to
Tulsa where they now reside with their five
dogs, all rescues. Dale is an environmental
engineer.
Over the years Robin's musical abilities
have produced three albums, all fund-raisers
for SPR: Someone to Watch Over Me (a collection
of favorite love songs), A Very Small Paws
Christmas, and It's a God Thing (a collection
of inspirational and patriotic songs).
Robin is also a published author with the
"Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul"
series.
Robin co-founded Small Paws Rescue (smallpawsrescue.org)
in September 1998. Currently supported by
over 6,000 people in 23 countries and 800
volunteers across America.
To date SPR has rescued, vetted, and re-homed
over 7000 Bichons. In 2001 SPR was featured
on the cable network Animal Planet, and re-runs
continued for years.
That episode told of Small Paws' commitment
to obtain medical service for even the most
critically ill of Bichons, an eight-week-old
puppy who required open-heart surgery. SPR
has facilitated the heart murmur repair surgeries
of 61 Bichons and Bichon Mixes, most done
at Texas A&M University School of Veterinary
Medicine.
In January 2002 SPR was chosen as Kathie
Lee Gifford's charity of the month.
Robin is often invited to speak at national
conferences to educate and inform the public
about responsible pet ownership, about the
importance of spaying or neutering pets,
about the inner rewards of being a rescue
volunteer.
In February 2006, Robin appeared on the NBC
Evening News with Brian Williams.
Animal Planet featured Small Paws Rescue
again, this time in an episode entitled "Dogs
101" which aired originally in the late
summer of 2008, and still airs today in re-runs.
Robin also speaks fervently and passionately
of her hope that the day will soon come when
there is no longer a market for puppies sold
in commercial pet shops. Then, and only then,
will the suffering endured by thousands of
companion animals in the puppy mills of America
cease.
To sum up Robin's work with Small Paws, she
believes that it isn't just about rescuing
the dogs. "Small Paws is really about
the people who adopt the dogs and about our
awesome God who loves the people," says
Robin. "I believe that God has called
me to get a message out to a hurting world
- that if God will take care of a homeless
little dog, a little dog with a life span
of only a few years, think how much more
God will take care of His human children
and their families. Through the power of
prayer, I know that when two or three of
us are gathered together, God is there also.
So when we step out in faith to help those
in need, God provides the ways and the means
to accomplish those purposes.
"Small Paws always has been and always
will be - a God-thing!"
918-638-5854 cell
pup3@aol.com e-mail
www.smallpawsrescue.org