PA State Rep Jacklyn Rusnock on Rescue, Adoption & Being a Voice for PA Animals
Published On: 2/16/2026
Last Updated On: 2/16/2026
By Callie, Seymour, Yebba, Mama, and our Hooman Ashley!
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Jacklyn Rusnock smiling beside her adopted dog during a walk in the neighborhood
We’ve interviewed rescues.
We’ve interviewed veterinarians.
We’ve interviewed café owners, fosters, advocates, volunteers.
But this one felt different.
Because this time, we weren’t just talking to someone in animal welfare.
We were talking to a State Representative in Pennsylvania.
And not just any State Representative — someone we’ve known since childhood. Same community. Same roots.
Life took us in different directions, but somehow we found ourselves reconnecting — and the conversation turned not to campaigns or headlines, but to breeder pups, bonded kittens, and broken legs healed in living rooms.
That says something.
Because when you strip away titles, politics, and public platforms — what people choose in their own homes tells you who they really are.
And what she chose?
Were the animals no one else picked first.
Memphis: The Dog Who Changed Everything
The first story she told wasn’t about legislation.
It was about Memphis.
A brindle pit bull adopted from the Animal Rescue League of Berks County in August 2021.
She had lost her Dalmatian, Aspen, and her Doberman mix, Cali, during Covid in 2020. The house had been quiet. Heavy.
“I always said IF I ever had more dogs, I would adopt older dogs from a shelter. Everyone always wants the cute little puppy. I get that. I had had plenty of puppies in my lifetime. I wanted to give an older rescue a chance at a good life.”
Memphis had come in with her sister.
Her sister was adopted first.
“That broke my heart.” said Jacklyn…
But what broke it even more?
“Memphis had been a mama to who knows how many litters, she was a breeder pup. That broke my heart too. She had never seen the light of day.” said Jacklyn.
She hated grass. Especially wet grass.
It took time to housetrain her. Time to adjust. Time to feel safe.
And that’s where Jett enters the picture.
Jett: The Unexpected Fit
Memphis and Jett sun bathing with dog mom Jacklyn Rusnock
Jett was adopted in January 2022. A six-month-old black Pit/Lab mix. A puppy.
And she had sworn she wasn’t doing puppies again.
But Memphis needed a companion. The ARL thought it might help.
They tried other adult dogs. It didn’t work.
“She either didn’t like them, or they didn’t like her.”
So they tried something counterintuitive.
“Since she was a mama, maybe a puppy would work. Against my better judgement, the puppy came home with us!”
It worked.
“It was a good fit! Jett helped Memphis understand potty training, and Memphis was a good mama to the young pup. They are inseparable.”
Second chances don’t just heal one life.
They ripple.
Milton: The Dog Who Was Meant To Be
State Rep Jacklyn Rusnock with adopted dog Milton at the ARL
Milton wasn’t planned.
He was adopted in April 2025. A Jack Russell Terrier mix.
Jacklyn states, “I believe the universe works in mysterious ways!”
She wasn’t looking to expand her pack. She has a busy schedule. But her parents are older, still living at home, and had lost their beloved miniature schnauzer Riley in March 2021.
“That was devastating for my parents.”
One Friday night she checked the ARL website.
“There was Milton!”
The next morning she went to meet him.
“This scared little pup bonded with and imprinted himself on me immediately! We had no choice; Milton was meant to come home with us!”
Now he brings joy not only to her home — but to her parents, who “LOVE when he comes to visit them.”
Rescue doesn’t just save animals.
It fills spaces grief leaves behind.
Hazel, Finn & Milo: The Strays Who Stayed
Jacklyn Rusnock cuddling her adopted calico cat indoors, capturing the quiet bond between a rescue cat and her human
The cats didn’t come from listings.
They were found.
Hazel, a calico/tortoiseshell domestic cat, was discovered in October 2020 in Morgantown, West Virginia. Her daughter McKenna found her in a window well.
“So tiny she could fit in the palm of her hand and barely had teeth.”
The vet couldn’t believe she survived the cold October nights.
But she did.
Hazel “was and still is a wonderful companion.”
Then came Finn and Milo.
A grey and orange tabby pair found under a neighbor’s shed in Muhlenberg. Their mother never returned.
A social media post went up.
Her daughter saw it.
“She fell in love with the brothers, could not bare the idea of separating them, and came home with TWO new companions for Hazel!”
The First Adoption That Set the Tone
We asked if there was a moment that shaped her decision to adopt rather than shop.
There was.
Her sister had seen a dog at the Humane Society with a broken leg. She was nervous about adopting a dog with medical complications.
At the time, Jacklyn had experience nursing a dog back from a broken pelvis.
While visiting the rescue, she knew.
“I knew I needed to take her out of there.”
Her sister didn’t need that challenge for her first dog.
So Cali came home with Jacklyn. That first adoption didn’t just bring a dog home — it shaped how she would see rescue for the rest of her life.
“It felt good to give Cali the chance she deserved to live a good life after having had a hard start. I figured Cali would only be the beginning… she was. I love these animals with my whole heart. They are my family members. They are the epitome of unconditional love. They have shown me what a second chance can really do for someone or something”
When we asked what guides her approach to rescue and adoption, her answer was clear.
Compassion for the vulnerable.
A belief that second chances matter — especially for senior pets, bully breeds, and bonded pairs who are often overlooked.
And a commitment to education.
She believes rescue isn’t just about saving one animal — it’s about preventing future harm. About knowing that even if you can’t save every animal, you can still make a difference.
That mindset shows up in her home. And in her work.
That says more than any campaign slogan ever could.
Because second chances don’t just transform animals.
They change how we see vulnerability.
They shape how we lead.
Why “Adopt, Don’t Shop” Matters
When asked why the message is so important to her, she didn’t soften the reality.
“We have too many puppy mills in this area. We also have too many people that breed dogs because they see it as an easy way to make money. The mama pups are seen as money making mechanisms and are not usually treated very well. This practice is cruel, inhumane, and unnecessary especially when there are so many amazing dogs waiting to be adopted in shelters and rescues”
Using a Legislative Platform for the Voiceless
“As a State Rep I can be a voice for the animals that do not have one.”
She sees her platform as educational.
“I have the platform available to help educate the public about the horrific conditions of puppy mills and give people information they can use to make informed decisions.”
Jacklyn and her colleagues introduced several meaningful pieces of legislation for animals in 2025, including:
• HB222 – addressing animal cruelty related to ear cropping (Rep. Mary Isaacson)
• HB1716 – proposing a ban on cat declawing (Rep. Liz Hanbidge / Rep. Steve Malagari)
• HB879 – the Animal Welfare Cooperation Act (Rep. Mary Isaacson)
Alongside legislation promoting responsible animal care education, adoption, and microchipping.
Specifics matter. Policy matters. And she understands that both shape real lives.
“I believe these various and important pieces of legislation will help strengthen the bond between humans and animals through greater awareness and compassion.”
Jacklyn encourages residents to stay informed at palegis.us and contact their legislators about proposed animal welfare legislation.
A Shared Responsibility
“I believe animal welfare is a shared responsibility between individuals, shelters, vets and policymakers.”
Not just rescues.
Not just legislators.
All of us.
When asked what she would say to someone feeling unsure about adoption, she offered practical guidance.
“The ARL has a foster program. That may be a great place to start.”
Fostering allows families to learn, adjust, and see if a pet is the right fit without immediate long-term pressure.
She also recommends researching the type of animal someone is considering.
“Make sure they would be a good fit for their lifestyle.”
Rescue isn’t impulsive. It’s intentional.
And if you want to support her mission?
“Adopt, don’t shop when looking for a furry addition to your family. Be the voice of the voiceless.”
In a world where headlines move fast and outrage moves faster, it matters when someone in leadership chooses compassion in their own home first. Rescue isn’t just a talking point here — it’s lived. And whether you’re fostering, adopting, volunteering, or simply paying attention to legislation that protects animals, the invitation is the same:
Show up. Because second chances don’t happen by accident. They happen because someone decides they matter.
