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Pet Tails Rescue was founded by Maureen Cahill in March 2012. Our facility is located on Route 4 in Northwood, NH is utilized for quarantine, training and adoptions. The Rescue is completely operated and supported by a group of dedicated volunteers committed to the rescue and placement of homeless dogs and cats.

Pet Tails Rescue is an approved 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in NH, registered with the NH Charitable Trust, and an approved Rescue/Shelter registered with the NH Department of Agriculture.  Since our inception in March 2012 we have rescued and rehomed nearly 4,000 animals from high kill shelters that would never have had the opportunity for a wonderful life due to the severe overcrowding conditions in southern shelters.

We adopt dogs and cats primarily throughout New England. Most all of our animals have spent a considerable time with a loving foster family prior to adoption so we have a good idea of their temperament and personalities are able to do a “good match” with a prospective family.

We utilize Facebook, Adopt-A-Pet, partnerships with other organizations and businesses to advertise available pets.

PDF of our Board Of Directors

Maureen Cahill, President & Executive Director

Hailing from New York originally, but having been a New Englander since 1980, Maureen became the founding member of Pet Tails Rescue when she launched it in April of 2012.

Her rescue dog, Mattie, inspired her to follow her dream to help animals and retire from being in the Insurance Agency world, which she had dedicated over 30 years. From Whiskers, her first dog, through her current dog, Piper, Maureen has had so much love throughout her life for animals that it motivates her to continue rescue efforts.

Maureen and her wife Sandra have one child, eight cats, and one dog, all adopted with love. When not trying to unite families one adoption at a time, Maureen enjoys writing, art galleries, and the many antiquing opportunities her community provides.

Maureen is most proud of the community Pet Tails Rescue has established, rescuing well-over 5,000 animals thus far.

Aida Rule, Vice President

Adi Rule has a soft spot for senior cats and grumpy roosters. She has lived with an array of creatures throughout her life and has loved them all, and feels that rats are the most underrated companions.

The pandemic found her hatching chicks for the first time since she was a kid (all of whom are destined to live out the entirety of their natural lives) and introducing mason bees into her backyard who apparently did not enjoy their carefully crafted mason bee condo and flew off into the sunset.

When she’s not feeding birds or scooping litter, Adi writes books for young people, most recently Why Would I Lie? and Hearts of Ice (Scholastic).

Adi lives in Northwood with two cats, a blue and gold macaw, a personal trainer, and a small but mighty flock of chickens. Visit her online at www.adirule.com.

Mary Hamel, Executive Secretary

Mary Hamel grew up in Massachusetts moving to New Hampshire in 1980 and has remained ever since. Mary is retired and lives in Northwood with her husband Denis. In 2019 they said goodbye to their sweet Boxer/Boston Terrier, Abby, and several months later decided to adopt their first cat from Pet Tails Rescue, a wonderful kitty named Timmy Tonka. They adopted Timmy and the rest is history.

Mary offered to volunteer doing administrative work for PTR, as she was a secretary for over 40 years. Mary is also a horse lover. She and her mom owned a Morgan horse named Johnny for several years. They both took riding and jumping lessons, participated in school shows, and eventually bought Johnny, who was their school horse.

Mary has three children and two grandchildren. Mary enjoys country music, line dancing, the beach, traveling, and her latest is her love of kayaking.

Tiffany Tomaselli, Executive Treasurer

Tiffany has a great love for all animals. Her past volunteer experiences include walking dogs at a local shelter and spending six years as a puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. She successfully raised three puppies, all of which went on to become working guide dogs.

Her first dog, Kaplan, is retiring from guide work soon and will be coming back to spend his golden years with her.

Tiffany lives in New Hampshire with her two cats, Gatsby and Lola. She has had all kinds of pets from birds to a horse. She works full-time as a loan processor.

In her spare time Tiffany enjoys traveling, learning new things, partaking in various hobbies like learning fiddle and jet skiing on the lake, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets.

She and Sharon ride horses around the world together.

Jeanne Kelly, Member at Large

Preferring dogs to people her whole life, Jeanne grew up in northern Massachusetts and settled into southern New Hampshire.

Currently retired but showing no signs of slowing down, she frequently RVs to new destinations with her husband.

Jada was her last dog, a special lady from a local rescue who was a gentle, loving dog.

Jeanne enjoys riding on the back of their motorcycle, reading, gardening, and helping Pet Tails Rescue because it runs completely from the love the volunteers have for animals.