Nicole Bush, Co-President

Nicole is a co- founder of The Street Dog Project and is currently serving as Co-President of the group.   She has been involved in rescue for 10 years but didn’t realize her heart for shy street dogs until 2010.  Little did she know when she and Aaron adopted Lilly, a shy, scared Saint Bernard ,their lives would be forever changed.   Always having an interest in the medical field Nicole was able to combine her passions when she took over the medical department for Duck Team 6.  She served on the board of directors for Duck Team 6 as well and brings experience and compassion to TSDP. 

Nicole has found that working with shy dogs is one of the most rewarding experiences and is passionate that shy dogs be given an opportunity to blossom into loving members of a family.   “Seeing a dog that has no reason to trust a human slowly begin to accept us, it just changes you”.  Her love of street dogs has spread to family and friends too.  

Nicole lives with her husband Aaron and their rescue dogs, Lilly, Ellie and Shaggy.   When she is not doing rescue work she can be found mountain biking out on the trail, making her fellow board members very nervous.

Rekka Melby, Co-President

Rekka is a co-founder of The Street Dog Project and is currently serving as Co-President of the group.  Her early volunteering was with a local shelter, walking/socializing dogs but in 2010, she went on her first street dog rescue and was hooked when a momma dog led the volunteers to her puppies, hidden under the floorboards of an abandoned house. 

Rekka became an active volunteer with Take Me Home Pet Rescue and her passion for saving street dogs reached a whole new level in 2011, when a dog named Norah entered her life.  Someone circulated a plea for help with Norah's photo right before a rare ice storm struck Dallas.  Rekka and JP learned that Norah had lived in a drainage ditch along the interstate for four years (that's how long folks said they'd been feeding her).  They spent months trying to rescue the elusive Norah and were finally able to save her after finding her newborn puppies hidden in the bushes of a nearby church.  After hearing how long Norah had been on the streets, a lot of folks theorized she would be feral but within a few weeks, she quickly became Rekka's shadow and heart dog.  We hope Norah's story of survival helps inspire more people to give shy and elusive street dogs a chance at a better life.  There are few feelings better than being part of all the "firsts" when a shy dog starts coming around. 

In 2012, Rekka co-founded Duck Team 6, the first street dog rescue in Dallas.  She served in roles of Vice President from 2012-2014 and President in 2015.  She has helped with hundreds of captures over the years and enjoys sharing what she's learned with new volunteers and Good Samaritans so more people will be equipped to save the street dogs that cross their path. 

Sheli Steinert, Treasurer

Sheli is a co-founder of The Street Dog Project and is currently serving as Treasurer.  Sheli was previously heavily involved with Duck Team 6, she set up and ran the outreach program which served hundreds of dogs and their families. 

Ashley Long, Secretary/Partnerships Director

Ashley is a co-founding member who's efforts for TSDP are our capture team along with cultivating relationships with partner organizations to help expand our rescue reach. 
After a few years of fostering for local groups her "game changer" came in the form of a feral shepherd named Penny and her family the Save Me 7. Three years and many lessons later the last remaining Save Me 7 on the streets, Sadie, was caught, Ashley had become Capture Coordinator for Duck Team 6 and joined the foster fail club having made Penny a permanent member of the family.
When not chasing dogs you may find her applying the same methods of bribery in attempt to lure her collegiate son Mason home with the promise of a warm meal. Ashley's happy place is anywhere with good music, friends, family & of course fido too! Along with Penny she shares her heart and home with former street dogs Hal and PITA (fka Peter Pan)

Nicky Hanson, Placement Director

Nicky has always had a passion for all animals. It started at the young age of 5 when she would rescue all the worms in her parents driveway after a large rainfall so no one would run them over. Today, Nicky is a stay at home mom with 3 children and 3 rescue dogs and knew she wanted to do more than just "PTA!"  She is now the Placement Director with TSDP and the happiest when she gets to speak to all the wonderful potential adopters and fosters that want to give a former Street Dog a loving home.