About Us
Cavalier Rescue of Florida is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) rescue, organized to benefit Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in need. For 24 years now, Cavalier Rescue of Florida, Inc. (CRF), has saved hundreds of Cavaliers, placing them in loving homes. Being all-volunteer allows us to utilize 91 cents of every dollar towards the medical care of the dogs. Our volunteers provide shelter, food and transportation for the pups at their own expense. It all makes CRF incredibly effective and nearly unmatched as a rescue organization.
Meet Our Team
Meet our incredible and passionate team members who help
Cavalier Rescue of Florida make a difference in the world of people and dogs.
Tracy Baker
Chief Pup Officer
Executive Director / President of the Board
Tracy started as a volunteer, fostering dozens of cavaliers over nine years, and is now Executive Director/President. She works hand-in-hand with our all-volunteer team covering Florida, who jump in at a moment’s notice to rescue Cavies, transport them to medical care, provide foster rehabilitation and most of all, ushering them to safety and love.
CRF has thrived under Tracy’s watchful eye. There are more thorough background checks; greater medical care and rehabilitation; more effective communication through social media, website, email campaigns; and, very earnest fundraising efforts.
Her greatest reward is seeing the transformation of our Cavaliers from intake to their fur-ever homes. Safe and welcomed with love, the pups grow into happier and healthier dogs. “Nothing is perfect, but we lovingly treat all the pups as if they are own, safety is key,” says Baker.
Charlene Gibson
Adoptions Placement Coordinator/ Vice President
Charlene and her husband, Jim, rescued their first Cavalier-mix, “Fergus Finn” from a high-kill shelter in Tampa, and her second Cavie, Clancy O’Doul was adopted from Cavalier Rescue of Florida. With CRF since 2015, Charlene started as a dedicated volunteer performing home visits, and ultimately Charlene was tasked as the Adoption Placement Coordinator (aka “dream maker”) overseeing all the pups finding their forever homes.
In 2018, Charlene was named Vice President of Cavalier Rescue of Florida, also retaining her role as Adoption Placement Coordinator.
She and her husband are paw-rents to Hannah Love, Fergus Finn, Sophia Loren and she is pictured here with Stella Annie Gibson, an adorable CRF alumni.
Linda Blumenhagen
Intake Coordinator / Secretary
Linda has been part of Cavalier Rescue of Florida for 15 years, beginning as a foster parent and now as the Intake Coordinator. Linda organizes the logistics for all pups arriving to Rescue from rehomed situations, breeders, hoarding, or otherwise; she is the first step in setting them on their way to happier and healthier futures. Linda has lovingly welcomed more than 30 rescue pups into her home and finds that her foster care is the most rewarding and fulfilling volunteer work.
Presently, Linda has a senior Tri-color, Black and Tan /English Toy Spaniel and newly adopted Black and Tan, Reba as part of her family. She also serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for CRF.
To surrender a Cavalier, contact our Intake Coordinator at
Eileen Campbell
Foster Coordinator / Treasurer
For over 25 years, Eileen has been volunteering as a foster to non-breed specific rescues pups for the local shelter. In 2007, she and her husband fell in love with the Cavalier breed and adopted their first Blenheim, beautiful Bella.
They discovered Cavalier Rescue of Florida in 2017 and jumped right in to help cavaliers in need and now volunteer as fosters, caring for and rehabilitating newly rescued cavaliers.
As Eileen's commitment grew over time, she was elevated to Foster Coordinator overseeing all foster families and programming, a very rewarding and heartfelt endeavor. In 2022, Eileen accepted the duties of handling CRF’s finances as Treasurer and became a Board Member.
She is pictured here with her first and forever Cavalier lovey, Bella.
Shelley Renaud
Placement Team / Board Member
Shelley fell in love with Cavaliers after the adoption of her first pup, Melody in 2009. Melody was an 11-year old puppy mill momma who had multiple litters of puppies before she was relinquished to Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue; that fateful surrender saved this pup’s life.
In 2013, Shelly learned about CRF and volunteered to foster newly rescued pups. Hailey was her first foster, a terrified puppy mill survivor, who thrived under Shelley’s care--Hailey was a foster failure! Now age ten, Hailey never leaves Shelley's side.
Shelley volunteers in a variety of roles for CRF: a dedicated foster and is part of the passionate Placement Team securing fur-ever homes for these sweet pups. She lives in Central Florida with her partner, Ann, and her rescue pups Hailey, Jagger, Kasey and Benji.
Christine DiRocco
Newsletter Editor / Communications
Christine’s passion is sharing the personalities, progress and pup-dates of these sweet cavaliers and their adventures. Since 2020, she has volunteered as the enthusiastic newsletter editor sharing all the stories and cavalier love in our entertaining quarterly newsletter. As a 20-year public relations and communications professional, Christine additionally handles our communication efforts and creative projects: social media, "Dog with a Blog," email campaigns, photography, website content and the annual calendar.
In 2018, Christine adopted her sweet Ivy, a former puppy mill momma and CRF alumna, saved with the My Ticket Home fund. In 2024, Cinnamon from the Bakers' Dozen rescue was adopted and together with their Blenheim-sibling Mia, they make regular guest appearances in the newsletter and more!
For newsletter ideas, social media posts and photo submissions, please email socialmedia@cavrescuefl.com. CRF will try to include your ideas and suggestions in our communications about your cutie-pie cavaliers. To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below.
"Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much"
- Helen Keller