Don’t Forget the Pets Welcomes New Workshop Co-Facilitator
August 5th, 2026
By Danielle Works, Community Engagement Manager –
Our Don’t Forget the Pets collaborative project is excited to welcome a new face to its in-person workshops! Gabbie Leister, Senior Program Manager at Greater Good Charities, has officially stepped into the role of co-facilitator for the workshop, Housing People and Pets in Crisis. As Greater Good Charities’ new representative, Gabbie will join Katie Campbell, RedRover President and CEO, in leading workshops that bring communities together to address the challenges of keeping people and their pets safe during times of crisis.
Gabbie succeeds Bryna Donnelly, who co-founded the Don’t Forget the Pets collaborative project and has played a vital role in its growth over the years. While Bryna will be stepping back from her direct involvement, her contributions have helped build a strong foundation for the project’s ongoing success.
To prepare for her new role, Gabbie attended workshops in Sylva, North Carolina; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Santa Rosa, California; and Madison, New Jersey, where she trained alongside Bryna and Katie. She officially co-facilitated her first workshop in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in July.
“I’m very excited to step into this role and to be able to present alongside Katie,” Gabbie shared. In charge of Human Service Shelter Renovations at Greater Good Charities, she leads initiatives that help safe spaces accommodate pets along with their families. With eight years of experience in animal welfare and shelter renovation, Gabbie has worked on projects spanning animal shelters and human service shelters nationwide. She holds a degree in Animal Science and brings a strong foundation in animal care, welfare, and behavior to her work.
Since joining the Don’t Forget the Pets team in 2024, Gabbie has become an important part of the collaborative effort to strengthen community partnerships. The Housing People and Pets in Crisis workshops bring together professionals from domestic violence services, homeless services, animal welfare organizations, and other community sectors. Together, participants explore the powerful connection between people and their pets while developing creative, collaborative solutions that help ensure families don’t have to choose between their own safety and the well-being of their beloved animals.
