Meet our Board Members
Dave Norris -
President
This rescue has the best volunteers and a razor-sharp focus on our mission statement: no pug left behind. Some of the rescues we complete as a village are nearly unbelievable, yet we do it month after month.
I began volunteering with the Rescue in 2013, starting as an event photographer. Years later, after I took management of all online adoptable listings, I joined the board and became the Marketing Director. And I am now honored to be President. I have adopted four senior pugs from PRA, each of them having a huge, positive impact on my life. Our pugs, volunteers and donors are, simply put, wonderful.
Debbie Pruitt -
Vice President, Foster and Adoption Director
Debbie Pruitt joined the Board in May 2017. A native Texan with nearly 20 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry, she is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio). As a lifelong animal lover, she has owned many pets, including cats, dogs, rabbits, snakes and frogs. After bringing home her first two pugs in 2003 she quickly became a pug person and now can't imagine life without pugs. She became involved with Pug Rescue of Austin in July 2016 as a foster, after losing one of her beloved senior pugs. It didn't take long to 'foster fail' with her sweet boy, Nugget. Wanting to do more with PRA, she volunteered as an application screener and later began hosting adoption events in San Antonio. She currently serves as the foster and adoption director and loves helping to connect pugs and people. She adopted her lovely girl Velvet from PRA in March 2017 and is trying hard to resist adopting more pugs!
Bryan Wittman -
Director, Secretary, and Contract Coordinator
Bryan Wittman has been a member of the Board of Directors of Pug Rescue of Austin since September 2012 and also serves as its Secretary. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and Harvard Law School and has been a practicing attorney for more than 20 years. Bryan has volunteered with animal welfare organizations since 1994, often providing pro bono legal services, and has been involved with Pug Rescue of Austin since 2009. Bryan has three senior pug ladies, Salli (14), Anna (12) and Rosie (10).
Charleen Fox -
Volunteer Coordinator
Charleen joined the board in June 2018. A graduate of Syracuse University, she worked many years in elementary education. Upon becoming an empty nester, Charleen wanted to pursue a career in Human Resources and joined XPO as a Human Resource Generalist in 2022.
Originally a cat person from California, she moved to Austin in 2005 and met her pug soulmate in Annie! Four years ago she foster-failed with PRA alum Karlye. Charleen first began volunteering with her daughter at PRA adoption events in 2013. That led to a rewarding fostering experience and a larger role with the PRA as a Screening Coordinator. She moved into the role of Volunteer Coordinator in 2021 wanting to ensure that all new volunteers had an informative and warm welcome to joining the PRA family of amazing volunteers.
Helen Lynn -
Event Strategy & Logistics
Helen joined the board in 2019 as the Director of Event Strategy and Logistics. She holds a Master’s degree in Operations Management from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland and works as a manager in Supply Chain for a local semiconductor company.
Helen married into a pug family (her in-laws have rescued over a dozen pugs over their lifetimes). In 2011, she “liked” the rescue on Facebook as a way of exciting her husband about their move to Austin. She quickly became involved as foster, adopter, event volunteer, and finally event coordinator for the team. Her three dogs, Minnie (pictured), Franny, and Bruno are all PRA alumni and much loved members of the family.
She cannot imagine her life without her goofy, loving, puggy companions! Her aim is to spread the pug-love by connecting pugs and pug mixes in need with their future “forever” families.
Becky Gibson -
Digital Director
Becky joined the board in 2021 as Digital Director. After moving to Austin with her “fuzzy pug” Guinness in 2013, she quickly got connected with the pug groups knowing that pug people are some of the best people!
She started volunteering with the Austin Pug Club helping with Pugkin Fest before joining Pug Rescue and has since served as a transporter, volunteer and adoption events coordinator, foster and website manager.
Becky has loved having more than 10 pug foster babies over the years, and even “foster failed” in 2015 when a tiny pug named Tessa didn't waste any time making herself right at home.
Deanna Dahl -
Special Events & Fundraising
Deanna joined the board in January 2023. Deanna graduated from Texas A&M University College Station and earned a Master's degree at the University of Texas at Austin.
Deanna grew up on a ranch in rural Texas and always had big dogs. Deanna fell in love with pugs and their big personalities when she met her husband's pug and quickly realized that she'd always be owned by a pug.
Deanna started volunteering doing screening, home visits and running adoption events after adopting her first PRA dog in 2011 and expanded to fostering in 2012. Deanna and her husband have fostered around 100 dogs since then, many with medical or behavioral needs.
Deanna has served as the adoption/screening coordinator and has been the event lead or co-chair on numerous special events as well as coordinating the online auction fundraising events since 2022.