About Us
Friends of Megan operates from the grounds of Casa Raab in the community of San Pablo Etla, just outside of Oaxaca City. The property’s more than 40 acres offers plenty of space for a range of rescues, including dogs, cats, horses, burros, birds, and other animals. Long dog walks are taken every morning, and rescued animals are able to socialize and intermingle on-site with people, dogs, cats, burros, horses, and birds. Dedicated puppy kennels, areas for supervised play, elevated cat feeding areas, and varied terrain make for animal heaven. A generous pasture accommodates the larger rescue animals, such as horses and burros.
Rebecca Raab is the founder, executive director, and sole staff member of Friends of Megan Animal Rescue. She accomplishes the mission of the organization without pay, motivated purely by her love and concern for animals.
Dr. Luciano Carrasco, a sympathetic local veterinarian (known at Casa Raab simply as “Luciano”) works closely with Rebecca and FOMAR. Luciano performs the bulk of his services on site, but frequently visits homes in the local or wider area at Rebecca’s request, particularly where she has encountered a sick, neglected, or abused animal. He has been instrumental in finding good homes for many of FOMAR’s rescues, and works with dogs, cats, birds, and farmyard animals. He makes long distance adoptions easy by preparing the necessary international health certificates for pups headed abroad.
The Board of Directors
Judith Anderson, a retired attorney, is now self-employed artist living in Harrisonburg, VA, who often paints at Casa Raab. Judith is the President of Friends of Megan. She and her husband Tom have spent several months at Casa Raab every year since 2010. Zia, their very alert terrier, came home with them as a tiny pup in 2011. Zander went home with Judy and Tom in 2012.
Tom Poe, retired public relations executive, is Treasurer and Second-in-Command Pooper Scooper. As well as keeping our finances on track, Tom is always elbows-deep helping on the ground when he is at Casa Raab. He made his first rescue in 2010 and hasn’t stopped since.
Linda Boyd, Secretary, has been the wife of retired veterinarian and board member David Boyd for almost 50 years, and she has an uncanny way with animals. On their stays at Casa Raab over the years, she has been intimately involved with Rebecca’s rescue efforts, and continues to be a strong supporter. A strong and prolific writer, she is retired from an impressive career in marketing in the higher education field.
Alie Walker is fortunate enough to be part of the Raab family, married to Tony and Rebecca’s nephew Zack. She has a vested interest in the Casa Raab community and splits her time between it and Bellingham, WA. Inspired by Rebecca’s work, Alie joined the FOMAR board in 2024 to help spread awareness and raise funds for this wonderful work and amazing animals.
Dr. David Boyd and his wife first visited Casa Raab in 2007. David helped Rebecca with a sick horse on his first visit. As a retired vet, he has provided invaluable help and advice over the years, and has continued to provide care for animals whenever he’s in town. He has seen firsthand the selfless love Rebecca has for all the animals under her care. He is proud to be a member of the board of Friends of Megan.
Melinda Hanson is an RN who retired to Oaxaca with her husband Gene in 2014. Melinda—a friend and neighbor of Rebecca’s and regular dog-walker at Casa Raab—was elected to the Board in 2017. Every day, Melinda sees firsthand what it takes to rescue an animal, and uses the daily dog walk to become acquainted with these animals and to love and care for them. Carlos, Gene and Melinda’s cat, and Luke, their dog, are regular fixtures in the broader FOMAR family. Rebecca is a continual source of inspiration and Melinda is excited to be working with her.
Volunteers
Volunteers like Joanne Moeschl and other neighbors and friends who share Rebecca’s love of animals frequently assist. Even Casa Raab’s guests often enjoy pitching in. Like any organization, FOMAR’s strength is its people. While Rebecca is undoubtedly our linchpin, everyone who volunteers to help our important mission becomes a valuable member of the team.
“I feel so fortunate to have experienced the incredible efforts that Rebecca and the team of volunteers perform daily to bring health, hope and love to the many dogs that are rescued by Friends of Megan…”
– Craig Stevens
How We Got Started
Friends of Megan Animal Rescue was founded in 2014 to support the work that Rebecca Raab has been doing since the early 2000’s, helping animals in need. The plight of Oaxaca’s less fortunate animals was largely ignored at the time Rebecca moved from Washington State to Mexico with her husband, Anthony, and German Shepherd, Megan. Rebecca soon started adopting street dogs and cats to give them a real chance, and her reputation as a rescuer grew. Now she is the go-to community resource in her town of San Pablo Etla for nurturing, socializing and finding good homes for abandoned or sick animals—dogs, cats, even burros and horses.
Although friends who share her love for animals helped out with donations, they could not keep up with the growing expenses. Friends of Megan Animal Rescue was founded to encourage additional donations by making those donations fully tax-deductible. These donations will be used to save more sick and injured pets.