Humans
IT TAKES A MAJOR, ANIMAL-LOVING VILLAGE
CTPR has an army of humans who volunteer their time, energy, talents, and kind hearts. These are just a few.
directors *
directors *
Hello! I’m Dan and I started CTPR as a way to help pigs and pig parents who needed help and to share information that seemed so difficult to find online. I never imagined so many people would care so much about an animal that is so often overlooked and misunderstood. I’m proud of the community of people that have become CTPR and being a part of the greater improvement in pig’s lives and treatment everywhere. Everyone cares about dogs and cats and birds, it’s really special to be able to open peoples eyes and hearts to this incredibly loving, intelligent, complex animal. Pigs are people too!
I am a construction manager in Austin and my days are plenty busy, but I spend my weekends working on and maintaining the parts and pieces that keep the rescue moving. I try to stay ahead of the problems and challenges we have by working on ways to make the lives of the pigs and humans that care for them better and easier. It’s a lot of work but whenever I have time, I take advantage of the best stress relief around: laying down and being surrounded with my pig friends!
Follow Dan: @presentprogressive
Dan illescas, founder
Hey! I'm Tracey, and I'm one of the Directors of CTPR. I've been a part of CTPR since my heart broke from a photo of Dan holding a pig from the 2016 Bastrop cruelty seizure named Dolores (my grandmother's name) as she took her last breaths. Since then, my life has been indescribably been changed by pigs. I manage the development, fundraising, and voice of CTPR. I love representing the unique personalities of our residents, as well as the ethos and dreams of CTPR on our social media. I create and manage the execution of our events, design our merchandise & website, and help manage our Animal Care Team programs. On site, I help with routine chores, special needs, project days, and vet runs. I also had the unique experience of living on site at the Enchanted Pig for the first 10 months…living a life very connected with the earth and disconnected from electricity and most creature comforts!
I'm a CT native, Boston University grad, and work full time as a freelance graphic designer & illustrator. I have a pup named Lola and love adventures with her appreciating Austin's avant-garde & creative spirit. I am a proud vegan and grateful for the compassion it's taught me to extend to all living beings. I love seeing the pure joy in someone's eyes when they meet a pig for the first time, shattering every expectation and preconception they had. I am honored to be a part of a movement working to disrupt the paradigm for animal lives. In the quiet moments with the pigs, they help me recenter and destress. In that way, and so many more, they have given me much more than I'll ever be able to do for them.
Follow Tracey: @traceystabile & stabilecreative.com
Tracey Stabile
Hey, I'm Jill! I help manage build days and special projects around the rescue to build infrastructure (such as food and water troughs) and help with maintenance and repairs around the property. I also help support the general care of the pigs, in particular feeding and ensuring they have access to fresh water. Recently, I have taken on the role of transporting the CTPR cats to their annual wellness exams and keeping them up to date on their medications.
I have always loved animals and have volunteered with shelter cats and dogs in the past. After going vegan, I wanted to help animals that tend to be overlooked and underappreciated. Pigs are intelligent and caring animals that do not deserve the cruel fate they have been handed by humans.
Outside of the rescue, I’m an environmental consultant, focused on helping regulated entities obtain air permits and comply with federal and state air regulations.
I didn’t know a whole lot about pigs prior to volunteering at CTPR. The knowledge I have gained from the people and pigs at CTPR has helped me become an advocate for pigs when I talk to friends, family, and coworkers. Finding a community of like-minded individuals is a definite bonus!
JILL PARKES
leadership team *
leadership team *
Hi! I’m Rachelle and I’ve been volunteering with CTPR for over 3 years. My partner and I found CTPR shortly after moving to Austin and went to a vegan event (looking for our tribe in a new city) which just so happened to be a fundraising event for CTPR! That’s where I met my first pig and was absolutely in love! My partner decided that for his birthday present he wanted a tour of the CTPR property, and we’ve been volunteering ever since! I truly love spending my time here with the pigs, getting to know their unique personalities, quirks, and favorite scratch spots. They are such intelligent, emotional, and loving beings and I truly hope that everyone gets the opportunity to see them as they are and for who they are. Pigs are people too and truly some of the best people I know! Well, them and my CTPR family, who I love as well!
I’m a MI native, though I grew up in Northern California, but honestly, I’m a nomad at heart. I’ve traveled Europe, the UK, New Zealand, and have traveled to and lived all over the US. By day I’m a Software Release Program Manager and have had the luxury of working remotely for over 10 years. I’m super grateful that the company I work for now, UKG, offers me the flexibility to balance between my volunteer life and my work life. I’m also truly grateful that my partner of 6 years and I share a passion for veganism, animals (especially the pigs), and our two fur babies Bean and Chulo, who are our rescue dogs and children.
Come volunteer at CTPR! It’ll change your life!
Follow Rachelle: @cheekyvegan_rachelle
Rachelle Caruso
Hi, I’m Laura, and I do a little bit of everything at the Enchanted Pig Forest. From wellness, to dinner—setting up temporary neighborhoods, winterizing cabins, helping to get folks to the vet, leading volunteer workdays, curating SNOUT ART shows—I do whatever needs doing. I also handle a good portion of our community outreach and off-site event coordination.
I’ve worked with animals since high school. I’ve volunteered with with cats, dogs, mobile and low cost spay/neuter clinics, animal triage centers after Hurricane Katrina, and I even assisted in the care of over 300 exotic birds after authorities seized them from a hoarder. During college, I interned for an international animal organization. I met my first pigs during that internship, one of whom was Priscilla, a potbelly piglet, who came to us through animal control after a police raid in a downtown DC apartment. Priscilla was terrified of people, but after patience and kindness, she eventually began taking pieces of sweet potato from my hand.
I came to CTPR during the pandemic, as a way to be with animals and people in a safe, outdoors way. I was in love the moment I stepped on site. Pigs are so smart and hilarious. They very much have a unique sense of humor that I haven’t seen in other animals. They are fiercely loyal to their families (birth and chosen) and always have each other’s backs. My heart breaks thinking of the cavalier cruelty imposed on thousands of pigs daily, but just as the animals who call it home, I too seek repose in the Enchanted Pig Forest, a place that provides love, compassion and sanctuary.
When I’m not at the Enchanted Pig Forest, I work as an intellectual property paralegal, and I enjoy music, drawing and spending time with my dogs and cats.
Follow Laura: @lilypadthai
LAURA ECHOLS
Essi ramanen
Hi! My name is Essi and I am part of the Animal Care Team at CTPR. My roles at the rescue include being a part of the morning wellness and dinner teams, developing and bettering the animal care program and training other team members, overseeing medical needs and knowing all our 200+ residents by name and helping others with identifying the pigs. I joined the rescue team in July 2021 as a live-in animal caretaker which meant I had to jump straight in the deep end and I got the chance to learn a lot in a relatively short time. Joining the CTPR family has really changed my life for the better. Every day I get to learn so much and I’ve gained an amazing family of pigs and humans. My favourite thing about being a part of CTPR is getting to know the animals and humans as individuals and seeing them flourish. The place itself is just pure magic. There’s always someone there to make you smile no matter what.
Pigs share the spot for my favourite animals with whales and dolphins. I have a degree in Marine Biology and my dream was (and still is) to work in the field with whales. However, life took me smack in the middle of Texas and steered me to pigs. I love all the little noises they make, their complex behaviours and those snooters! I have been vegan since 2018 and vegetarian ever since I was 12. I just couldn’t understand why anyone would want to eat cows, pigs, chickens, fish or anyone else. Once social media opened my eyes to the dairy industry I knew it was time to ditch the last bit of animal products in my diet and I’ve never looked back.
I love the outdoors. Sailing, kayaking and hiking are some of my favourite hobbies. I’m also a bit of a plant nerd and have a soft spot for gardening. I also enjoy bird watching and seeing other animals in the wild.
Follow Essi: @espanderas