Animal Alliance of New Jersey

The Rescue Staff:

Mary & John Rudder
   Happy Tails Grooming Spa
   Official Animal Alliance Groomers
   Foster Guardian

Mary holds an associates degree from Endicott College in Boston. Her corporate career included 3 years with Dunn & Bradstreet and 15 years with AT&T. Her favorite corporate position was managing executive appeals and government agency affairs for the office of the president of AT&T, where she gained invaluable experience in working with a wide range of customer issues.

In early 1994, Mary decided to leave AT&T and pursue a career related to her love of animals. Mary graduated from the Nash Academy of Animal Arts in Lexington, Kentucky in the fall of 1994. While building her own facility at her home, Mary apprenticed at Mcfee's Tailored Pets in Flemington. She opened the doors of Happy Tails Grooming Spa on April 19, 1995.

John holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he also pursued his MBA. He has also completed the Young Managers' Program at the University of Virginia. John has had more than 25 years experience in marketing, sales, logistics and technology alliances. He was with AT&T for 21 years.

Most recently, as director of new market development for AT&T Labs, John focused on moving AT&T’s technologies and intellectual property from the research lab to the marketplace through licensing or investing the technology into third-party companies. John left AT&T in 2001 to join Comprehensive Marketing Inc. as CIO. After 3 years he realized that small corporations and large corporations have far too much in common. Mary’s business was growing and she needed help, so he decided to leave corporate world altogether and join Mary in Happy Tails Grooming Spa.

Together they have six rescued animals:

a jet-black cat named Hocus;
a Corgi/Pomeranian mix named Suzy;
a Maltese named Daniel (whom Annie rescued while on vacation in Pasadena, CA!) and
three Chihuahuas: Penelope, Bambi and Conga, who are all Animal Alliance rescues.

Penelope

"Penelope was rescued weighing 1.1 lbs and was full-grown. She went into hypoglycemic shock two times and we thought we had lost her. After several weeks of being fed every two hours around the clock she was back in good health. She is now bulked up to a whole 3 pounds and is shown here modeling her custom made cowgirl outfit."

Bambi

"Bambi was rescued with four badly-malformed legs. Unfortunately, her original owners did not get proper vet care and it is too late to correct the problem. However, she is being treated homeopathically and is getting stronger and stronger. She weighs 2.8 pounds and is shown here wearing her custom-made poodle skirt."

Conga

"Conga was born without front legs, although she does have a little stump that she uses quite a bit. She walks or hops on her rear legs and has very strong legs! Conga is a wonderful example of making the most of what God has given you. She is shown here wearing her custom-made "formal gown."

The Rudder Gang

Photo courtesy of:
Wendy Mellinger-Zweifel Photographic Artistry LLC
www.wendymellinger.com

"Here, the three Chihuahuas and their big sister Suzy are sporting their custom-made winter coats."

"All three Chihuahuas represent Animal Alliance at local street fairs where they have a little 'kissing booth'. They work very hard to raise donations to help their other Animal Alliance friends."

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