Our Story
Wiley's Wish was inspired by a dog who became much more than a companion—Wiley was a guiding light during life’s darkest moments. Found alone and abandoned in the desert, frightened and without hope, Wiley was rescued and brought to safety by a team that saw her worth. That second chance changed everything—not just for her, but for the people she inspired.
Wiley’s journey laid the foundation for our mission and values, rooted in the four pillars of our work: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Train, and Place.
We rescue dogs from California’s overcrowded, high-kill shelters—those who are abandoned, sick, neglected, or abused. We rehabilitate them with medical care and emotional support.
Through our innovative prison resident/rescue dog training initiative, Paws of Hope, we train both people and pups, creating pathways to healing and purpose. Finally, we place these dogs into loving forever homes, giving them the life and love they deserve. Though Wiley has passed, her spirit lives on in every life we touch.
Meet the Team
Angel Kleiner, Founder
Angel Kleiner, Founder, President
A long standing animal advocate, Angel has over 15 years of experience in animal welfare in a variety of capacities. Whether rescuing, networking, training, working in a number of shelters, transporting, boarding or advocating for animal health and wellness (spay and neuter programs), her experience is expansive and respected. Angel founded Wiley's Wish in honor of her childhood dog, Wiley. Angel's mission to rescue, rehabilitate, train and place has already saved the lives of over 1,000 dogs and professionally trained and AKC/CGC certified over 350. Each an every dog has been placed into their loving, forever homes.
Sam Brinegar, Lead Trainer
Samantha Brinegar, AKC Certified Lead Trainer and Behaviorist
With over 15 years of animal welfare and training experience, Samantha is the creator and program director of the Wiley's Wish prison resident/rescue dog training initiative, Paws of Hope, now in three CA prisons. Samantha oversees all three prison programs, Stripes and Paws, Second Chance Canine Program and Unleashed Rescue Academy. Samantha implemented the proprietary training program in 2021, in tandem with a reputable University, making it possible for prison residents to earn various certifications pertaining to canine ownership, care as well as their A.S. degree in Canine Studies and Behavior. Samantha is a Veteran, having served the United States in the Army for over 15 years.
Vona Darnell, Trainer
Vona Darnell, AKC Certified Trainer & Behaviorist
A lifelong dog lover, Vona has raised dogs all her life. Her passion for canines blossomed into an expansive ten year career working in the veterinary field as a Veterinary Technician. Her commitment to canine health and wellness expanded beyond the vet clinic - inspiring a move to grooming and eventually, to professionally train. In her training capacity, she accrued experience working for a protection dog company. With over 30 years of experience working with dogs, Vona was a perfect fit to run the Paws of Hope Second Chance Canine Program.
Lorie W., Digital Marketing
Lorie, Digital Marketing Admin
Lorie, a professional social worker with a big heart for animals, has developed and used her digital marketing skills to help Wiley’s Wish Dog rescue. With her strong communication skills and understanding of social systems, Lorie brings a unique perspective to digital marketing. When she’s not spreading kindness in her community, she’s busy creating paw-some content. Using strategic messaging, Lorie helps raise awareness about the rescue’s mission, attract potential adopters, and secure donations.
Kaersten Cooper, PR, Marketing
KC, Ambassador, PR
With over 10 years of animal welfare experience and a lifetime of animal advocacy, KC joined the experienced Wiley's team in 2022. As the Sonoma County base for Wiley's, KC is responsible for shepherding the foster and volunteer community, making known the Wiley's organization by way of outreach, marketing, advertising, all while hands-on fostering. She currently volunteers for her local animal shelter. She's been an active member of other animal rescue nonprofits, and networking groups in the county. She specializes in medical/behavioral fosters - having had experience rehabbing severe cruelty and hoarding, abuse, PTSD, neglect cases.
Lynne, Wiley's Volunteer
Lynne, Volunteer
Lynne, a life-long animal welfare advocate and dog mom plays an integral role on the Wiley's Wish team, helping to nurture foster relationships and spread awareness about the rescue's mission and goals to rescue, rehabilitate, train and place.
Sarah, Wiley's Volunteer
Sarah, Volunteer
Sarah, a long-time animal rescue supporter brings to the Wiley's team a zest for networking, event management and outreach. Her advocacy of the Paws of Hope prison resident/rescue dog training initiative is integral as she garners interest from both adopters and key partners.
Our Promise
We know that when you choose to work with a rescue, you have many options. We thank you for choosing to work with us. Our commitment to our adopters, fosters, volunteers, handlers, trainers and dogs is centered around compassion, responsibility, and accountability. We are steadfast in our promises because we want to earn your trust as reputable, trustworthy and transparent animal rescue.
- We promise to provide immediate and excellent medical care for every dog rescued by our team;
- We promise to always have funds for the most basic checkup to the most complicated surgery. We will not pull a dog unless funds are accessible or if we can confidently raise funds in short order;
- We promise to deworm and perform all necessary blood, fecal and urine tests on every dog and treat any condition that arises from such tests;
- We promise to bring every dog up to date on all vaccines and Rabies;
- We promise to spay and neuter EVERY rescue;
- We promise to microchip every dog so they are accounted for and managed under our rescue until an adopter takes ownership;
- We promise to NEVER pull dogs over our rescue's capacity. (Our team, our foster network or our training program);
- We promise to NEVER board a dog unless it is for necessary medical reasons only (medical boarding). If, in an emergency, boarding is required, it will NOT exceed one week. We do not believe that "rescue" is pulling and placing a dog into boarding without a plan in place or an end in sight. If this means we rescue less dogs, so be it. We don't rescue for optics;
- We promise to NEVER leave a mother dog behind. Never will we pull puppies without the mother. We vow to pull and place both into loving, forever homes;
- We promise to always have backup plans for every dog rescued. We will always be prepared for foster changes, a dog to come back post trial or with unforeseen circumstances;
- We promise to cultivate relationships with fellow trustworthy partners, transporters, networkers, veterinarians, specialists, outside trainers, rescues, etc.;
- We promise to be transparent. Whether it be with our dogs, our operations, our training, our particular stance on an issue, we commit to being open and honest about who we are and how we run things;
- We promise to train with the highest standards (AKC) so our dogs go on to become canine good citizens, certified in good behavior and fluent in many commands and skills;
- We promise to vet our fosters and adopters fully. We commit to finding stable, loving, experienced, responsible and dedicated homes so that our dogs acclimate and settle in seamlessly.
Our commitment to you, to your new dog, is that we will be by your side every step of the way. We will provide you with all documentation, history, training techniques so that you and your dog are setup for success. We want to see you and your dog thrive, so we promise to forever be there for you.