Our Team
The MexiMutt Project
Angela Adams
Founder and Director of BAPBR and The MexiMutt Project
Angela Adams is the founder and director of Born Again Pit Bull Rescue (BAPBR), established in 2007 and The MexiMutt Project established in 2019 - She started with a simple but powerful goal: to do whatever she could to help dogs in need. What began with rescuing one dog at a time has grown into a long-standing, relationship-driven organization dedicated to improving the lives of all dogs.
Before founding BAPBR, Angela spent two years volunteering full-time at a local animal shelter, gaining hands-on experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to rescue work. Over the past 19+ years, she has led thousands of successful adoptions, funded critical veterinary care, and expanded access to spay and neuter services.
Angela now splits her time between Oregon and Mexico, where she leads the MexiMutt Project, a street dog rescue initiative based in the Guadalajara area. There, she works directly on the front lines—coordinating medical care, managing fosters, and facilitating international adoptions to give dogs a second chance at life.
In addition to her volunteer work, Angela works as a Certified Nursing Assistant, reflecting her deep commitment to caring for both people and animals. Angela’s work is fueled by compassion, a deep commitment to creating meaningful change, and a steadfast belief that every animal deserves safety, dignity, and love.
Mayra Siordia
Sterilization Director of The MexiMutt Project
Mayra Siordia is the Sterilization Director of The MexiMutt Project, hailing from Chapala, Mexico. Throughout her life, she has devoted herself to serving her community, particularly in matters of animal welfare. Mayra is a well-known and highly regarded figure in her town, tirelessly working on the streets every day to make a positive impact. Her efforts have resulted in organizing the sterilization of more than 5,000 animals in the community over the years. Mayra's familiarity of all the dogs in her town enables to make meaningful change one day at a time.
Lisa Burton
Oregon Director of The MexiMutt Project
Lisa’s journey with MexiMutt began in 2019 when she opened her home to her first foster dog. What started as a single act of helping quickly grew into a deep commitment to rescue work and advocacy for dogs in need.
In 2022, Lisa traveled to Mexico to volunteer on the ground, where she witnessed firsthand the overwhelming number of stray and neglected dogs struggling to survive. The experience left a lasting impact, strengthening her dedication to being part of the solution and giving these animals a second chance at life.
Since then, Lisa has continued to support MexiMutt through fostering, advocacy, and hands-on involvement wherever needed. She is passionate about providing safe, loving environments for dogs as they transition from hardship to forever homes, and she remains committed to raising awareness about the realities facing street dogs in Mexico.
Through her work, Lisa hopes to inspire others to get involved, whether by fostering, adopting, or simply spreading the word—because every dog deserves safety, care, and a place to call home.
Born Again Pit Bull Rescue
Toshia Stenger
Oregon Director, Born Again Pit Bull Rescue
Toshia joined Born Again Pit Bull Rescue in 2012 as a medical foster, convalescing and rehabbing animals after surgeries & injuries. Toshia brings over 17 years of experience as a vet tech and in event development, fundraising, animal welfare advocacy and project management. Having grown up as an animal lover on a farm, Toshia was drawn to the bully breeds while living in the DC metro area and witnessing the fear-based discrimination in the public and media and breed specific legislation that led to discrimination against so many innocent animals. Toshia and her husband share their home with a Mastiff—Pit Bull mix named Maya.
Hannah Blumenfeld, CDBC, CPDT-KA
Trainer & Behavior Consultant, Born Again Pit Bull Rescue
Hannah's heart belongs to pit bulls. Lean little muscle machines with those huge heads, expressive faces, wiggly bodies, and all those darn emotions—she just can't get enough. Hannah spent 14 years with her feline soulmate before finally adopting an American Staffordshire Terrier named Lucy. Together, they launched into extensive training and canine sports. At Lucy's side, Hannah quickly found a true passion in dog training. She is obsessed with humane, force-free training as a means of communication and with integrating dog training into everyday life. When Hannah's not helping dogs and their humans, she's reading or writing about dogs and behavior. Top two books? Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon by Bronwen Dickey and The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell. Hannah runs her own training company, Pup Star Training, and also works as a trainer for Dog Adventures Northwest.