Our Team
Anne LeBlanc
Anne LeBlanc is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and the founder of Orphan Annie’s Neonatal Kitten Rescue. With years of experience caring for the most fragile patients in the operating room, she brings that same precision, calm, and compassion to the tiniest of rescues—newborn kittens and puppies who often arrive critically ill or orphaned. Anne blends her medical expertise with a deep love for animals, creating a safe space where fragile lives are given the chance to heal and grow. Through her rescue, she not only provides specialized care but also inspires others to recognize the value of even the smallest and most vulnerable creatures.
Jill Calcote
Jill Calcote is a passionate advocate for animals and the natural world. She is deeply involved in rescue and rehabilitation work, specializing in giving vulnerable and orphaned wildlife and companion animals a second chance at life. Known for her creativity and dedication, Jill combines hands-on caregiving with community outreach, fundraising, and education to inspire others to join in her mission of compassion. When she’s not rescuing animals, Jill lends her talents to writing, storytelling, and building connections that bring people together in support of meaningful causes.
Ashley Backus
Ashley Backus is a devoted foster, specializing in caring for the tiniest and most vulnerable kittens. With years of fostering experience, she brings both expertise and heart to every litter, offering fragile neonates the patience, warmth, and dedicated care they need to survive. Ashley’s steady presence and deep love for animals make her an invaluable part of the rescue team, transforming critical beginnings into hopeful new chapters. Her commitment has given countless kittens not just a chance to live, but the opportunity to truly thrive.
Melissa Reyes
Melissa brings both heart and expertise to every kitten she cares for. A pediatric RN for more than 20 years, with experience in respiratory, surgical, and oncology specialties, she is uniquely skilled in supporting fragile neonates through their most critical stages. Before nursing, Melissa taught child development—knowledge she now applies to nurturing kittens and guiding their social growth.
Her love for cats runs deep, from offering end-of-life care to celebrating milestones like a “Catcinera” for her beloved Frida. Known for her humor, compassion, and lifelong devotion to felines (and for always having at least five lint rollers on hand), Melissa embodies the spirit of Orphan Annie’s: turning fragile beginnings into second chances
Rachelle Iden
Rachelle brings with her nearly 20 years of experience as a Respiratory Therapist specializing in trauma, ICU, and pediatric intensive care. Now an RT Manager for two hospital sites, she channels that same calm expertise into caring for the tiniest and most fragile kittens and puppies. Skilled in tube feeding, bottle babies, and providing round-the-clock neonatal care, Rachelle offers every life she touches a chance to grow stronger.
After moving from Colorado, she was deeply affected by the number of homeless animals in Texas and quickly became a passionate foster and rescuer. Over the years, she has cared for countless animals—from blind and deaf dogs to pregnant cats and orphaned neonates—each one treated with patience, skill, and love. For Rachelle, the true reward is seeing those once-vulnerable lives safe, loved, and thriving in their forever homes.