Board of Directors
Thank you to our AMEOWZING board members
• Wendi Partusch- President/Chair
• Shannon R Basner-Vice-Chair/Treasurer/Director
• Linda Lewis-Secretary/Director
• Nancy Podgorski-Director
Wendi Partusch
Originally from Denver, Colorado I have spent the past 39 years living in Alaska. I have helped raise two awesome humans and several awesome furry critters over the years. Sadly, I recently had to say good-bye to my 15 year old Shih tzu/Bichon mix, Mr. Wrigley, and recently lost my sweet rescue dog, Tigger. I enjoy hiking, biking and golf in the Alaska summer and escaping the cold as much as possible in the Alaska winter. I was fortunate to become involved with Mojo’s Hope about 5 years ago and have enjoyed volunteering for the organization and getting to know all the amazing animals in the House of Mojo. I strongly believe in the mission of Mojo’s Hope and am very proud and honored to be a part of the Mojo family.
Wrigley: Rest in Love
Nancy Podgorski
Nancy Podgorski taught at a high school language arts at a private school near Portland, Oregon.She and her husband Ed and their two Alaskan Huskies moved to Oregon in 2020 after residing briefly in Wyoming. Nancy spent fourteen years in Alaska teaching high school language arts. They are back in Alaska and loving it again. It was there that she became involved with Mojo’s Hope, an animal rescue that continues to be near and dear to her heart.
Linda Lewis
Linda Lewis has been an integral part of Mojo's Hope for a very long time. Linda first met Shannon when she began walking their pup Miller (Rest in Love). She saw the positive impact and compassionate heart Shannon had and decided to become involved. Linda's love of animals is deep and has she helped foster several Mojo's Hope cats who had unique needs.
Shannon R. Basner
Shannon R. Basner was born and raised in New York and moved to Alaska in 2003. A special education teacher for over 30 years, with a specialty in behavioral disorders, she has also been involved in animal welfare her entire life. Special needs has always been her passion and focus. She marvels at the PURRception of life that special needs animals and people share, and at their ability to PURRsevere through challenges. Each one shows the warrior within.
Mojo's Hope
Shannon has helped form several non-profit organizations over the years, with Mojo's Hope as her primary focus. Mojo's Hope is her rescue for animals with special needs, and Shannon serves as its primary caregiver and foster home, caring for a wide range of special needs animals in her own home.
The mission of Mojo's Hope is to provide a safe, healthy and compassionate environment, along with humane, quality care, for companion animals with special needs. "Special needs" covers many areas, including behavioral, emotional, physical and medical, and each animal's needs are treated individually. Where possible, Mojo's Hope supports rehabilitation so animals can go to their FURever homes and live happily and successfully. Those with lifetime medical needs, or who are in their final stage of life, receive the care they need to be comfortable, loved and at peace.
Cat Behavior and Pet Loss Support
Shannon is passionate about the welfare of cats and is always learning new ways to help them. That drive led her to become an Associate Certified Cat Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She is also a certified Pet Loss and Bereavement Counselor through the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement. She offers both services to her local community and to anyone worldwide who reaches out. She continues to specialize in socializing cats, especially the shy and fearful.
Volunteer Work
Shannon previously volunteered with The Alaska Humane Society's Adopt-a-Cat Shelter, where her tenure ended in October 2026. Her roles there included serving on the Board, photographing the cats in her unique style, administering medication, training volunteers to work safely with all the cats, and crafting PURRfect bios to help cats connect with PURRfect homes.
Paw-Prints, Howls and Purrs
Shannon owns a PURRtography business, Paw-Prints, Howls and Purrs, which focuses on photographing cats. Capturing PURRfect moments of these PURRecious fur angels is a magical part of her life. It is uniquely special when a cat lets her look deep into their eyes and share their souls through photos. Working with various animal welfare organizations lets her photograph animals in many different settings. Cats are her primary focus, though she also works with dogs. The cats she advoCATes for are in rescue or rehoused in shelters, looking for their PURRever homes, in a PURRever foster situation, or in an end-of-life PAWspice program.
Why Cats?
Across more than 30 years in animal welfare, Shannon saw a unique need to raise awareness of the beauty of our feline friends. Cats are special creatures who need strong advoCATes to help eduCATe others and show how special they are. Mojo's Hope was formed as one small way to advoCATe for all animals with special needs in Alaska. What Shannon didn't anticipate was the impact it would have on the cat community, or how HarPURR would help shape it further. Over time, HarPURR's reach grew worldwide, and the other cats featured on the platforms gained recognition for their exceptional beauty and their individualized, uniquely written backgrounds.
Angel HarPURR Kitty Warrior
The HarPURR Kitty Warrior platform shares HarPURR's mission of positivity and of helping both people and animals. HarPURR has his own social media platforms, where he spreads that mission and insPURRires people with his PURRls of wisdom.
Angel HarPURR, a feisty tornado of love, helped PURRopel the platform's impact with his can-do CATtitude, powerful mission, resilience, courage and determination. He continues to help others in PURRfound ways, showing that even through death, his impact transcends time and space. Shannon knew his time was finite, so she cherished each moment and pamPURRed him every day. He is loved beyond measure, purrever.
For more information:
Mojo's Hope
Website: http://www.mojoshope.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mojoshope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MojosHope
HarPURR Kitty Warrior
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harpurr_kitty_warrior/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harpurrkittywarrior
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@harpurrkittywarrior812
Website: https://www.harpurrkittywarrior.org/
Behavior and Pet Loss & Bereavement Support
IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants): https://iaabc.org/
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement: https://www.aplb.org/