My family did not have pets when I was growing up. (Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard the “but who’s going to pick up its poop at 6 in the morning??” spiel from your parents as you desperately beg them for a puppy). I knew that dogs and cats existed, I knew they were cute and (sometimes) cuddly, but I also knew they were a lot of work. And in my college years and early 20’s, I wasn’t about that high-maintenance, wake-up-early, spend-your-money-on-vet-visits-and-dog-food dog mom life, until…

My first journey in rescue began when I was just kid bringing home strays to my parents' dismay. I realized the urgent, dire need for rescue when I began with trap and release program with the feral cat population in New Orleans. Spaying and neutering a dozen cats can prevent hundreds of starving kittens from entering the world. I found homes for many and watched them thrive.

My name is Mat Glassman and I’m a veterinary surgeon that worked at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C. for 12 years. I’m currently taking some time away from the operating room to build a company to help pet-parents take care of their pets better at home, Dr. Cuddles. Dr.

My journey into rescue started when I was young. My brother and I wanted a dog, and my mom told us we were going to rescue. As a seven-year old, I didn’t really know what that meant. However, when my brother and I went with her to the animal shelter and met Patch, we immediately wanted to take him home. To be honest, we probably would have felt that way about any dog. But Patch was available and Patch was good with kids.

As is the case for so many in this passion-driven field, my love for all things animal and rescue began at a very early age; from caterpillars found outside to a box of abandoned kittens, I wanted to save them all. Although we were a dog-loving family, my dad would often have to tell me “no more heartbeats” when I begged to keep a kitten, lizard, or fish (true story: I once found a goldfish swimming in the flooded gutter during a bad storm and “rescued” it).