As the founder of Rescue Pink, I’ve been volunteering and partnering with Pinellas County Animal Services since 2009. Over the years, I’ve also supported other local shelters—including the Humane Society of Pinellas and Friends of Strays—through fostering, fundraising, and media outreach. Rescue Pink’s mission is to reduce euthanasia and pet homelessness by promoting and funding spay/neuter progra
ms. We've sponsored high-volume events in collaboration with respected veterinary clinics, fixing up to 50 animals in a single day. Since our founding, Rescue Pink has helped over 1,900 dogs and cats through spay/neuter, medical care, fostering, and rehoming. We were proud to be featured on Bay News 9’s Everyday Heroes:
👉 Watch the segment https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2020/07/13/everyday-hero--dedicating-her-life-to-rescue--well-being-of-animals
In 2024, I launched a low-cost spay/neuter program in partnership with Harmony Vet Care and Operation Snip. Rescue Pink covers most of the cost, making these essential services accessible to pet owners in need. With an average litter size of eight, that’s nearly 5,000 unwanted animals prevented—plus many more when you account for future generations. This is a one-of-a-kind program in Tampa Bay, and the need has never been greater. Shelters are full, and animals are still being euthanized. We’re actively seeking sponsors to keep this vital program going. I’m also committed to driving legislative change. I founded the Animal Justice Task Force to address the widespread lack of accountability in animal cruelty cases. We monitor prosecutions, advocate for the full enforcement of existing laws, and track how elected officials vote on animal welfare. Our goal is to empower the public to support candidates who truly protect animals. Fox News recently featured the Task Force:
👉 Watch the broadcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1EnQTf-xN0
Over the years, I’ve worked on several key ordinance changes in Pinellas County:
2014: Initiated the successful update to the anti-tethering ordinance with Moe Freaney (then Director of Animal Services) and Renee Rivard (League of Humane Voters).
2017: Partnered with Director Doug Brightwell to strengthen breeder regulations, requiring registration, inspections, and reporting of pet sales—along with banning the sale of animals at flea markets and public spaces.
2018: Helped pass a retail sales ban on dogs and cats from puppy mills in Dunedin, in partnership with Commissioner Moe Freaney.
2025: Initiated an ordinance language update on animal cruelty definitions and began working with community leaders to upgrade standards for retail pet stores. I was honored to receive the Animal Hero of the Year Award from Florida Voices for Animals in 2025, and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for logging over 4,000 volunteer hours with Pinellas County Animal Services. My work there included fostering, walking dogs, and launching and managing their page for six years. Rescue Pink is 100% donation-based. Your support means everything to us and helps ensure we can continue our mission of prevention, protection, and progress—for the animals and for our community. Elizabeth Olson
Founder, Rescue Pink & Animal Justice Task Force
