Who We Are
The Principles Behind the Purring
At Rugby’s Refuge, we believe every cat deserves a chance at a healthy, comfortable life—even the spicy ferals, neighborhood goblins, and “definitely not my cat” porch visitors. Through spay/neuter, TNR, and compassionate veterinary care, we’re working to reduce overpopulation and improve life for cats and the humans who love (and are occasionally terrorized by) them.
Whether a cat comes from a cozy couch, a back alley, or someone’s shed “just for the winter,” every feline patient at Rugby’s Refuge receives the same kindness, respect, and quality care. Because in our book, every cat matters—even the grumpy ones who try to bite us for helping.
Our Founders – Where the Mission Began (and the Cat Hair Never Ends)
Meghan “Dr. Meg” Welch, DVM
Co-Founder/Board President/Medical Director
Dr. Meg has spent her entire life obsessing over cats—and fortunately turned that obsession into a career. With more than 50,000 feline spay/neuter surgeries under her belt, years of running a feline-exclusive veterinary hospital, and extensive TNR experience, she combines serious surgical skill with a soft spot for every scruffy, spicy, and lovable cat she meets. She currently shares her home with four cats, who remain unimpressed by her résumé.
Amber Mace
Co-Founder/Board Vice President/Technical Director
Amber brings 15+ years of feline-focused veterinary, behavioral, and rescue experience to Rugby’s Refuge, along with a talent for keeping both surgery days and chaotic cat situations running smoothly. A passionate TNR advocate and feline fixer-of-all-things, she believes patience, knowledge, and snacks can solve almost anything. When she’s not helping cats, she’s probably talking about cats, thinking about cats, or covered in cat hair.
Rugby
He Found ME – Inspiration and Professional Curmudgeon
Rugby was the kind of cat who could steal your heart while simultaneously judging your life choices. Equal parts adorable, grumpy, and deeply opinionated, he inspired the mission behind Rugby’s Refuge through his resilience, personality, and uncanny ability to demand love entirely on his own terms. Though he preferred life with a healthy dose of attitude, Rugby reminded everyone around him that every cat—especially the overlooked, complicated, and “furry little chaos goblins”—deserves compassion, safety, and care. He remains the heart of Rugby’s Refuge and the unofficial supervisor of all operations, preferably from a warm blanket on a soft couch across the Rainbow Bridge.
Veterinary Staff – Professional cat wranglers. Occasional can openers:
Jess Exley
Veterinary Assistant
Jess brings a lifetime of hands-on animal experience to Rugby’s Refuge, along with a veterinary background and a pretty impressive résumé of animal-related interests. Through her work as a veterinary assistant and with her rescue, Endless Dreams Animals, she has cared for everything from livestock and rabbits to reptiles and birds, while helping animals and people connect through educational programs and community outreach. She’s also studied animal care, behavior, dog training, ASL, and small-business management—because apparently choosing just one area of interest was never going to happen. She currently shares her home with two cats, two dogs, and enough animal-related chaos to keep life interesting—and somehow seems to thrive in the middle of it all.
Office Staff – Masters of Scheduling, Snacks, and Controlled Chaos:
Heather Miller
Office Manager
Heather brings nearly 16 years of veterinary front-office experience to Rugby’s Refuge, along with a lifetime of experience wrangling people, paperwork, and a healthy amount of organizational gymnastics. After years of dealing with clients, coworkers, and whatever variety of chaos walks through the door, she’s ready to put those skills to work helping cats get the care they deserve. At home, she has a dog and nine chickens, and she’d love to add a cat to the family—but the dog has made it very clear that this is not currently a team decision.
Board Members – Making Important Decisions Under Feline Supervision:
Cyndi Mussina
Board Member
Cyndi has spent decades helping cats and the people who care about them. As longtime Treasurer of Lycoming Animal Protection Society (LAPS), she’s been balancing nonprofit finances almost as long as she’s been trapping, fostering, bottle-feeding, and finding second chances for cats of every age and personality. She currently shares her home with thirteen cats of her own, five adult foster cats, and eleven foster kittens—which means if you’re looking for Cyndi, start by checking under the nearest pile of cats.
Betsy Thompson
Board Member
Betsy has spent more than 40 years opening her home—and her heart—to rescue cats, and she’s still looking after the neighborhood ferals whenever they decide they need her. After 31 years as an educator and years serving on nonprofit boards, she brings patience, organization, and the kind of calm that comes in handy when cats, humans, and nonprofit life all decide to be complicated at the same time. She now shares her home with her rescue dog, but the local ferals still consider her part of the payroll. Fortunately, Dr. Meg accepts payment in Cheetos.
Gwen Uber
Board Member
Gwen has been helping cats for so long that she’s pretty much done every volunteer job there is. Over the years at Lycoming Animal Protection Society, she’s served as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, President, foster, transporter, fundraiser, adoption volunteer, and organizer of regional mobile spay/neuter clinics—usually while saying “Sure, I can help with that.” She has a special place in her heart for senior, medically fragile, and “needs-a-little-extra-love” cats. She shares her home with several cats, two Dobermans, and a rabbit—and we’re pretty sure “Other Duties As Assigned” has been following Gwen around for the last 30 years.