MEET THE HUMANS

Danielle is the Co-Founder of Blackberry Creek Farm Animal Sanctuary in Colfax, CA and the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LEAP (Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet), an alternative to traditional youth agriculture programs like 4H and FFA with a focus on compassion, sustainability and the connection between human rights, animal rights, and climate change.  With a teaching credential, MA in Education, ten years of experience as a public school teacher, and nine years of experience running a farm sanctuary, she is uniquely positioned to ensure LEAP’s success as a robust, nationwide program and is continually inspired by the animals in her care at the sanctuary. She is also a ghostwriter and the author of several children’s books about animals.

Joshua Hanosh runs Dedicated Designs which is a leading Sacramento, CA branding, web development and marketing agency that is helping numerous companies grow and prosper. Josh co-founded Blackberry Creek with Danielle Hanosh in 2014 and actively helped run the sanctuary until 2018 when he started his agency. He is still very much involved in advocating for nonhuman animals through his continued work with LEAP and Blackberry Creek. He is a vegan athlete and won back-to-back ultra distance races in 2022 and 2023.

Corinne is a Swiss-American dual citizen and spent the first 35 years of her life in Switzerland. After graduating from the International College of Tourism in Zurich and several years of professional life in the private sector, she completed an education as a dog and horse trainer. In 2010 Corinne emigrated with her family to the USA, and after some years in NJ and NY they moved to California. She now lives in Folsom with her husband, Guido, their daughter, Siri, a dog, cat, and three chickens. During her time in NY, Corinne took care of neglected horses and adopted one special guy named Hugo (unfortunately he passed away of colic before the move to CA). Shortly after her immigration to the USA, she started her own online portal, www.dog-ibox.com, which specializes in scientifically based, positive reinforcement based animal training for professional dog and pet trainers. Animal welfare and animal rights have always been important to Corinne, and as a result the whole family has chosen a vegan lifestyle. With the beginning of her volunteer work at Blackberry Creek, she feels a long-held wish has been fulfilled.

After 25 years in healthcare, Diana retired to devote her time to animal rescue. She and her husband, Glenn, moved to Auburn and opened their home to abused, disabled, and unwanted animals. But, Diana’s involvement in animal rescue actually started as a small child, saving tadpoles from mud holes and bottle feeding orphaned opossums. So it was no surprise when she announced, at a young age, that she was done eating animals! Diana is grateful to her mother, the daughter of a cattle rancher, who supported her decision, and allowed her to follow her heart and become the person she is today.

Diana cherishes the time she spends with her grandson, Arlo, and also enjoys working on her newest passion, visual art. In 2011, she founded Ark Aid Imaging, using her love of photography to share a message of kindness and respect for all beings. She works, pro bono, photographing animals for local and national sanctuaries, to help raise funds for rescue and rehabilitation. In 2016, she donated art to Blackberry Creek Farm Animal Sanctuary and knew, instantly, that the collaboration was meant to be! She subsequently joined Danielle Hanosh to create their first children’s book, "What Are Llamas For?" This book is extra special to Diana because it includes, not only some of her own animals but her grandson as Arlo, the angel! She looks forward to the production of many more books in the future. 

Courtney grew up in Ohio and Pennsylvania, where she worked as a horse trainer and riding instructor before moving to California for law school. She served as a professor at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento for 14 years, teaching courses including Animal Law, where she also focused her research and writing. Today she works for a company that facilitates more financially attainable access to legal education and success on the bar exam. 

Courtney became a vegetarian at eight years old after visiting a stockyard, and she became vegan in 2013 after researching the health benefits of a vegan diet when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. As she learned more about the ethical and environmental sides of the equation, she and her husband extended their veganism to all other areas of their lives, from clothing to cosmetics to medicine and even to the car they drive. She recognizes her privilege in being able to make these choices, and she hopes to help others learn about and gain access to similar options. 

If she has a spare moment, Courtney enjoys visiting and volunteering at animal shelters and sanctuaries, running, kayaking, singing, and reading—preferably outside so she can ask to pet any dogs who happen to walk by. She is thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to join the board at Blackberry Creek and to further their mission to Love One Another.

Stacey Thomas recently graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine. There she focused on shelter and sanctuary medicine for both large and small animals, as well as large scale disaster emergency response. She has an extensive background in wilderness medicine as a backcountry SAR EMT and is excited to combine both human and animal medicine to serve as many as possible, especially her friends at Blackberry Creek!

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Blackberry Creek met Stacey back in 2016 when she rescued Blossom (see more about Blossom's story here). Stacey read her textbooks aloud to Blossom, and shared sandwiches with Blossom on her lunch breaks.

Rachael lives in Sacramento with her partner, Eric, and their rescue pitbull mix, Beasley. Rachael has a background in psychology and higher education instruction. In 2018, Rachael and Eric both adopted a vegan lifestyle after coming to the realization that supporting animal agriculture was really no different than supporting the dog meat industry, which horrified them. Going vegan is one of the greatest decisions that she has made in her life. She is passionate about rescuing and working with those beings that are overlooked, which led her to seek out an opportunity to spend time with farmed animals living in sanctuary. Rachael has been a weekly volunteer at Blackberry Creek since 2021. Spending time with the animals has not only been healing, but truly life changing. Rachael is thrilled and honored to be on the board so that she can continue to support the special beings that call Blackberry Creek home.

Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Eric now lives in Sacramento with his partner, Rachael, and dog, Beasley. Eric co-founded an online marketing company in 2012, which he continues to run, but his true passion lies in caring for and advocating for all animals. Eric and Rachael embraced a vegan lifestyle in 2018 and actively support vegan products in various markets. In addition to his passion for rescuing senior dogs, Eric consistently seeks out ways to help animals, especially those in the most vulnerable situations.

Since 2021, Eric has been volunteering weekly at Blackberry Creek Animal Sanctuary, where he developed a deep affection for the 80+ animals in their care. Now on the Board of Directors, he feels very grateful and fortunate to continue supporting them.

Siri has been volunteering at Blackberry Creek 1-2 times a week since she was 9 years old. She is an ethical vegan for the animals, and a champion for social justice for humans. Her mom, Corinne sits on our board and their whole family is a shining example of kindness, compassion, hard work, and generosity.

Born high up in the Swiss mountains in a tiny village with cows in equal number to the villagers, Guido takes care of loose screws, broken gates, squeaky doors, dripping faucets and any other upkeep. He’s happy to share his secretly developed cow whispering techniques with anyone – you just have to bring bananas.