About Us

Our Mission

CAPE works to save the lives of animals who are older or who have special needs, and to educate and empower people to alleviate animal suffering in their daily lives.

A woman with long gray hair smiling and hugging a brown goat near a green outdoor area with trees.

In addition to our rescue work, CAPE is committed to educating the public about the interconnected issues facing animals and humans in our world today. Our educational programs emphasize that all animals deserve the right to a long, happy life free from suffering.

A woman with brown hair in a bun petting a donkey's nose in a grassy outdoor setting.
A young girl in overalls holding hands with an older man, while a woman holds a chicken, outdoors on a sunny day.

Through our education events, sanctuary tours, and the award-winning Animal Film Festival, CAPE has welcomed thousands of visitors from all over the world to learn about and fall in love with all animals. We continue to advocate for animals alongside other social justice movements, building a world in which all beings are free from suffering.

Our Story

CAPE’s story began in 1992, following the rescue of a big, slobbery dog named Huckleberry. This unruly, chaotic, spirited hound became the spark that inspired CAPE’s founders to create an organization rooted in compassion and committed to saving the lives of animals with special needs.

Since then, CAPE has rescued thousands of animals through its hands-on rescue efforts and award-winning education programs.

In 2025, CAPE transitioned to new leadership. You can read the announcement here.

Here are some notable accomplishments:

Close-up of a black and white cow peeking over a fence at sunset, with other cows in the background and the moon in the sky.

Speaking of Animals Radio and Television Show – CAPE hosted a weekly radio show, which expanded to a television show on the local Santa Cruz networks. Speaking of Animals was a platform dedicated to animal issues, providing insightful, engaging discussions about animal welfare and health.

Old Friends – CAPE filmed and produced an award-winning documentary showcasing the stories of rescued senior animals as they live out their golden years with their human companions.

Viva Los Perros – CAPE filmed and produced a second documentary film about the inspiring rescue stories of dogs in Mexico City by CAPE’s rescue partner, Compassion Without Borders.

Sanctuary – Established the CAPE Animal Sanctuary in Grass Valley, California, offering a permanent, loving home to animals with special needs.

Animal Film Festival – 2013-2018 CAPE created the Animal Film Festival, bringing together filmmakers and animal lovers to celebrate inspiring and educational films about animal issues.

Muttopia – CAPE partnered with Compassion Without Borders to create Muttopia, a shelter dedicated to rescuing and caring for dogs in Santa Rosa, CA.

Wildfire Animal Assistance Fund (WAAF) — Due to higher frequency of fires throughout the west coast, CAPE established the WAAF program to help save the lives of animals injured or displaced by wildfires or other natural disasters.

Nevada County Spay/Neuter Coalition (NCSN) — CAPE partnered with local animal rescue groups in Nevada County to form the NCSN, which helps fund low-cost spay-neuter services to Nevada County residents. NCSN has had major success and has impacted countless animals and families in the community through low-cost spay-neuter surgeries.

Today – CAPE continues to provide daily care and medical support to a diverse group of rescued animals, including chickens, pigs, goats, dogs, cats, and burros, ensuring they live healthy, happy lives.

A cow and a donkey are separated by a wire fence in a grassy field, with trees in the background.

Meet the Team

  • Young woman holding a small black and white dog close to her face indoors.

    Zoe Novic

    Executive Director

    Zoe brings a wealth of leadership experience and passion for animal advocacy.

    After getting her BA in Anthropology from Brandeis University and serving 2 years in the Peace Corps in Indonesia, Zoe worked as the Bay Area Grassroots Director for The Humane League, a farm animal advocacy organization.

    She obtained her Master’s in Public Health from Yale, and most recently she worked with Greener by Default as the Healthcare Manager. Zoe’s background in public health, animal advocacy, and her commitment to CAPE’s mission will strengthen CAPE’s work and vision for the future.

  • An elderly woman with long gray hair, wearing a blue t-shirt, jeans, and jewelry, stands outdoors among trees. She is smiling and gently touching a donkey's head, which has large ears and a gray coat.

    JP Novic

    CO-FOUNDER

    In 1992, JP founded CAPE alongside a dedicated group of veterinarians, medical professionals, and animal protection volunteers. She served as Executive Director for 32 years.

    During her leadership, JP rescued thousands of animals from overcrowded shelters, abuse, and neglect. She created award-winning humane education programs, including the Speaking of Animals radio and TV shows, and the Animal Film Festival. JP’s vision for a kinder world is evident not only through CAPE’s work but also in the compassionate culture she fostered within the organization and community.

    JP continues to care for animals at the sanctuary and serves on CAPE’s Board of Directors.

  • Person hugging a brown calf outdoors with green grass in the background.

    Lori Perry

    CREATIVE DIRECTOR

    Lori joined CAPE in 2013 after participating in CAPE’s elephant ride protests at the Nevada County Fair. Starting as a part-time admin, she quickly took on animal care responsibilities, became an Assisted Living foster home for multiple CAPE dogs, and helped start manage CAPE’s WAAF program! Lori is grateful for the joy her job brings, saying, “Being part of CAPE is life-changing, where gratitude and compassion are felt every day, for both people and animals.”

  • Young woman smiling with a large llama or alpaca close to her face, outdoors at dusk.

    Renee Alger

    LEAD ANIMAL CARE

    The only thing Renee has ever wanted to do was help our fellow humans and animals, though they didn’t know exactly how. They began by working at assisted living facilities, pet shops, and dog kennels. After a life-changing shift during COVID, they took a leap and moved from Sacramento to Grass Valley.

    When Renee found CAPE’s job listing, it felt like a gift—an opportunity to be closer to their dream of caring for animals. Things fell into place, and now, as the on-site Lead Animal Caregiver at CAPE, Renee has built strong bonds with the animals and staff, proving that dreams really do come true.

  • A woman standing on a lush green field, smiling, with a donkey beside her. The woman is dressed in black clothes, wearing boots, a cap, and glasses. The background includes trees and a partly cloudy blue sky.

    Julie Wang

    ANIMAL CARE

    Julie is a Nevada County native, though she spent over 20 years in Southern California, where she gained two ex-husbands and two perfect children. Now an advocate for mental health and compassion for animals and children, she has a sanctuary in Penn Valley with ten goats, three cats, one dog, and an elderly chicken named Penny, with much love and thanks to her partner in crime, Nathan. In 2023, Julie decided to volunteer for CAPE. Instead, she was offered a job! Julie says that working with others who hold animals in high esteem has been amazing! She is “way down deep in her DNA grateful.”

  • Cathy Townsend

    FOSTER CARE & ADOPTION MANAGER

    Cathy connected with CAPE in 2001 when she adopted her CAPE dog, Elsie. It was Elsie’s care that inspired Cathy to begin fostering for CAPE and in due time she became the Foster Care and Adoption Manager! Cathy also volunteers and fosters for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, where she’s been involved for 14 years.

    Grateful for the experiences, Cathy says, "I am often thanked for what I do, but it's me who is thankful! I have learned so much from every single soul that has come through my door. The compassion and dedication from everyone at CAPE has inspired me and I am so proud and honored to be a part of this wonderful organization."

  • Nancy Eaton

    OUTREACH COORDINATOR

    In the early 90s, Nancy helped produce CAPE’s Speaking of Animals show, an educational cable TV show that aired over 100 episodes and won multiple awards. She also co-wrote music for CAPE's shows, including the theme songs for Viva Los Perros! and Animal Eyes.

    Nancy volunteered at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, writing the “Dear Tabby” newsletter column, and spent 12 years rescuing and fostering with the Bay Area Poodle Rescue and CAPE. She also managed the Santa Cruz SPCA for seven years. Now, as CAPE’s Outreach Coordinator, Nancy continues to foster special-needs dogs. In her free time, she writes music, poetry, and short stories, and enjoys serenading her fur-BFFs on guitar, piano, or flute.

  • Small black and white dog wearing a red, black, and white plaid jacket running on a forest path.

    Mack

    CAPE OFFICE MANAGER

    Mack spends his time as Office Manager sleeping, cuddling, and taste-testing CAPE treats. He was recently quoted in a New York Times interview stating that his work philosophy is “walk hard, nap hard.”

    He is a very helpful Office Manager and he hopes to be promoted soon.

Board of Directors

  • Jessye Kass, MBA

    Jessye has always loved animals and is a proud parent to two rescue dogs and two cats. In April 2025, she visited CAPE and stayed with a dying burro through her final hours, even helping LIFT her back to standing. She fell in love with CAPE that weekend and is delighted to bring her leadership background to support this special organization. A former nonprofit Executive Director with an MBA and 15+ years in the sector, Jessye is the Founder of Riverwalker Talent, a recruiting and HR firm for mission-driven organizations. She now serves as Co-President of the Board.

  • Ben Karlin

    Ben Karlin is a business and organizational leader with a passion for helping people, teams, and organizations thrive. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and General Manager at National Vision Administrators and is also the founder and CEO of Free Form Minds, where he works with businesses, nonprofits, and professional organizations on leadership development, strategic planning, culture, and organizational growth.

    Outside of work, Ben takes care of his own small flock of rescued chickens and herd of rescued dogs and cats at home. He has always had a deep love for animals. He has felt a special connection with them throughout his life and believes they have an incredible ability to teach us about compassion, trust, and living in the moment. He is thrilled to support CAPE and its mission to give animals the care, safety, and loving homes they deserve.

  • Lindsey Powell, MNM

    Lindsey Powell is a marketing and communications professional with a passion for using storytelling and creative strategy to connect people with causes that matter. She has a strong background in nonprofit marketing, communications, fundraising, and community engagement. She holds a master’s degree in Non-Profit Management from DePaul University and previously served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Indonesia, where she taught English and helped lead youth and teacher development programs.

    Lindsey has also dedicated her time to giving back to her community, serving on the Auxiliary Board of Off The Street Club and as its president from 2023–2024, and regularly devoting her time as a foster mom for rescue cats and kittens. Lindsey brings a genuine love of service, animal rescue, and making a difference to her work with CAPE.

  • Deepak Premkumar, PhD

    Deepak Premkumar is a Research Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, where he studies the intersection of criminal justice, health, and race. Using the tools of economics, his research examines questions and tradeoffs related to legal and health systems, and the effects of policies designed to address them. His work has explored police behavior and crime following high-profile police killings, California’s suspension of bail during COVID, and racial disparities in police interactions. His research has appeared in The Review of Economics and Statistics and the Santa Clara Law Review, as well as in media and policy discourse. He received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in 2020. 

  • Sarah Pace, JD

    Sarah Pace has always had a deep appreciation for animals. As a criminal justice attorney who represents the wrongfully convicted and helps them fight for their freedom from prison, it is Sarah’s belief that no human or animal should be put in a cage or stripped of their dignity and right to live free from harm. Sarah has been to CAPE on a few occasions, and in 2020, got the chance to celebrate her 29th birthday among the beautiful animal community of CAPE. It is one of her most cherished birthday memories. Sarah works as a Clinical Supervising Attorney at the Northern California Innocence Project at Santa Clara Law School, where she both litigates innocence cases and teaches the next generation of law students about wrongful convictions. She is excited by the opportunity to be a part of CAPE’s board and serve a different, but no less deserving group of marginalized creatures. 

  • An elderly man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a blue shirt and khaki pants, sitting on a dark-colored sofa, smiling and playing with a large brown and black dog. The dog is lying on its back, smiling, with its head on the man's lap and its paws up. The background shows a room with guitars and artwork.

    Josh Novic, MA, MD

    Josh Novic, M.A., M.D., is a founding member of CAPE.  He has been committed to animal rights since his college days. While a neurology resident, he testified in the California senate in support of a bill to exempt interested high school students from participating in animal dissections. As a member of the Stanford Medical Ethics Committee, he published a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine criticizing the committee's official report that attempted to justify the use of animals in medical experimentation. 

    ​He and JP Novic have a longstanding mutual interest in animal rights, and in fact their wedding vows specifically acknowledged this! Their greatest joy is that their daughter, Zoe, is committed to carrying on with this important work.

  • Laili Amighi

    Laili Amighi is an arts and culture professional currently working in New York City where she develops and produces a wide range of events for museums, including lectures, symposia, film screenings, artist talks, performances, tours, and courses. A seasoned project manager and event producer, Laili's work centers on creating dynamic, inclusive, and visitor-forward experiences that help forge meaning and connection. Laili participates in the budgeting and strategic visioning for both large and small scale projects, and her work has been highlighted in the New York Times.
    CAPE has profoundly changed Laili’s relationship to animals, people, and the planet, and it is an organization that she has long admired since her first visit over a decade ago. To be involved with a place that is values-driven, and to carry on JP's legacy of compassion, commitment, and optimism, is a true honor.