Stephanie Arrington, FOunder & president of the board

As the proud owner of our namesake, Petey, Stephanie started her journey into animal welfare with a deep desire to help animals in need. After completing her master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy from the University of Maryland, College Park, Stephanie decided that the first thing she was going to do post-college was to adopt a dog, and that’s when she found Petey.

Since then, Stephanie has volunteered, been employed by, and helped to start several other rescue groups before deciding to embark on her own journey. Stephanie never backs away from a difficult case and has fostered over 200 animals, many of whom had intensive behavioral or medical needs. With all of the knowledge learned by our furends in the rescue and animal sheltering community, Stephanie aims to create an adopter, foster, and volunteer experience that is free from judgment and personalized to fit your needs.

Stephanie currently works full time as a Supervisor for a local DC non-profit and puts the customer experience at the forefront of everything she does.

In her spare time, you can find Stephanie spending time with her husband, two daughters and two dogs. She often has a few foster pups running around as well!

Arielle Wait, FOUNDER & VP of the board

Arielle has been involved in the animal welfare community for over 18 years. She began her rescue journey when she adopted her first dog, Tucker. She started fostering 6 months later... and was hooked! After several years of volunteering and fostering, she adopted her second dog, Missy, a sato from Puerto Rico, and decided it was time to get even more involved.

Missy was the catalyst for Arielle to follow her dream of a career in animal welfare. Arielle resigned from her role as a Defense Contractor and took a part-time job with a rescue, which turned into a full-time job. Arielle brings experience from not only the rescue world, but brick and mortar animal sheltering where she worked predominantly with neonatal kittens, puppies, and pregnant animals. 

Arielle brings experience from both the rescue and the shelter world to Petey and Furends, and believes that finding the perfect fit for your family can change lives—yours… and the animal that you saved! 

Arielle's current family consists of Missy (a 14-year-old sato), Gus Gus (a 9-year-old chihuahua mix), Bulldozer (a 4- year-old chihuahua, poodle mix- a Petey alum!) and her human daughter, Olive, and her husband, Eric. 

Elaine Spero, Board Director

Elaine Spero is a Board Director, bringing both heart and hands‑on leadership to the organization’s mission of saving dogs and supporting thoughtful, lasting adoptions.

Elaine has spent her career leading complex initiatives and building programs that create meaningful, sustainable impact. She brings this experience to Petey and Furends through strategic thinking, community engagement, and a strong focus on people, process, and purpose.

As a longtime rescue volunteer, Elaine is deeply involved in interviewing adopters and matching dogs with families, ensuring each placement is rooted in care, transparency, and long‑term success. She is passionate about creating adoption experiences that support both the dog and the family every step of the way.

As a member of the Board, Elaine is committed to helping Petey and Furends grow responsibly, strengthen operations, and continue making a difference for dogs in need, while always keeping compassion at the center of the work.

Outside of her board service, Elaine enjoys spending time with her family and two rescue dogs, celebrating adoption milestones, and encouraging others to get involved through fostering, volunteering, or advocacy.

Debra Rios, Board Director

Debra Rios is a Board Member with a big heart, and an even bigger soft spot for scared chihuahuas and silver-muzzled seniors who just need a chance. Her journey into rescue began in 2013 when she and her husband welcomed Chip into their lives as a puppy. From there, they rescued their first senior pup, Sully, and the rest was history! What started as one rescue quickly grew into a full-blown life mission: giving older dogs the loving, comfortable retirement they deserve, a true "forever couch" for those who've waited the longest.

In her professional life, Deb is a research scientist dedicated to developing health interventions and writing grants for communities in need. It was only a matter of time before those skills found their way into her role at Petey and Furends, where she puts her grant-writing talents to work securing critical resources for animals in the DMV area.

When she's not championing the sleepy senior snoozing in the back kennel or making the case for "just one more foster," Deb is home with her husband, her two resident senior dogs, and whatever lucky pup is currently borrowing the guest bed. 

Caitlin Martinez, SECRETARY OF THE BOARD

Caitlin Martinez has been secretary of the board since Petey and Furends’ inception and also volunteers behind the scenes with spay/neuter and training follow-up.

Caitlin’s work in the animal rescue world began more than a decade ago, when she served first as a dog handler at events, then as an adoption coordinator, then as an event coordinator, and then as the business manager of a rescue organization. Along the way, she adopted her soul dog, a beagle who filled her life with immeasurable joy and unconditional love until the ripe old age of 18.

An animal lover from birth, Caitlin also adopted a pair of baby mice from the shelter and currently sponsors a goat at a local farm animal sanctuary.