Meet Rebecca Baylies: Getting to Know Animal Place’s New Executive Director

A conversation about cows, courage, and a more compassionate future.

When we began the search for Animal Place’s next Executive Director, we weren’t simply looking for someone to lead an organization; we were looking for someone who shares our belief that every animal deserves compassion, respect, and the chance to live free from suffering.

After an extensive search, we’re delighted to welcome Rebecca Baylies to the Animal Place family. 

Rather than introducing Rebecca with a traditional biography, I thought it would be more fun to let you get to know the person behind the title. As you’ll discover, she’s thoughtful, curious, compassionate, and genuinely excited about Animal Place and its future.

Enjoy getting to know Rebecca with our interview!

Kim Sturla
Co-Founder and Board President

KS: Dogs, cats, chickens, or cows?

RB: Dogs – but cows are like really big dogs – so let’s call it a tie.

KS: Imagine that one of our rescued residents is your mentor during your first month at Animal Place. Who would you choose, and what do you think they’d teach you?

RB: Duncan the cow. He has impeccable time management skills. He always seems to know exactly where he wants to be, who he wants to spend time with, and when it’s time to head to the fence for snacks from visitors. Every time I see him, he looks like he’s right on schedule.

I’d imagine his lesson would be that it’s important to structure your day with purpose and always make time for a snack break.

KS: What’s a skill you have that people would never guess from looking at your résumé?

RB:  I make a good vegan mac and cheese – even non-vegans go back for seconds!

KS: What’s something that always makes you laugh, no matter how many times it happens?

RB: When my son laughs really hard. He loves to laugh. His joy is infectious, and we have a very similar sense of humor.  

KS: One word your friends would use to describe you?
RB: Authentic.

KS: What animal, other than a farmed animal, has taught you something about life?

RB: My beloved dog, Rico, passed away a few years ago. He was a grumpy Chihuahua, and I think a lot of people know exactly what I mean when I say that.

Rico lived by a code of non-negotiables. He was selective of his time and attention and honored a set of personal boundaries that he made very clear to others. Did he always choose the most appropriate way to communicate those boundaries? Not exactly. But he taught me that it’s okay to know my limits and advocate for myself when needed. Dogs can teach us how to be friendly, open, and adventurous, but they can also show us how to honor our limits. 

I should add that there were plenty of lessons Rico tried to teach me that I chose not to embrace, like never sharing food with a friend or growling at strangers.

KS: What are you happiest doing when no one expects you to be productive?

RB: Oh, I love watching smart and engaging TV shows. I just finished The Bear. I’m thinking of re-watching The West Wing soon, one of my favorites.

KS: Can you share a simple act of kindness you’ve received that has stayed with you over the years?

RB: Several years ago, I was having a difficult day and found myself walking down a busy sidewalk, very obviously crying. A kind stranger passing by stopped and said, “You should be kind and gentle with yourself today.” It was exactly what I needed to hear. I still think about those words often. We spend so much time extending kindness to others, but we don’t always offer ourselves the same grace. That simple moment has stayed with me as a reminder that we should all be kind and gentle with ourselves.

KS: If your life had a soundtrack, what song would be playing when you first arrived at Animal Place and why?

RB: “These Are Days” by 10,000 Maniacs. Because I knew this role was an incredible opportunity to create meaningful change on behalf of animals. I also knew what a privilege it would be to work alongside such dedicated, compassionate, and like-minded people. These are the days that will shape me in profound ways. To paraphrase the song, I plan to celebrate being part of the miracles.

KS: If the pigs, cows, chickens, goats, sheep, and turkeys held a staff meeting, which species do you think would run it?  

RB: Goats, but that would be a pretty chaotic meeting!

KS: Finish this sentence: “The world would be a kinder place if more people…”

RB: …believed that choosing compassion isn’t a sign of weakness, but of strength.

KS:  If you could have dinner with any historical advocate for justice or compassion, who would it be and why?

RB: J. Allen Boone. He wrote one of my favorite books, Kinship with All Life. I read it in high school, and it challenged me to think differently about every living being. He tells the
story of a fly named Freddie, whom he befriends by approaching him with gentle curiosity, respect, and humility. To his surprise, the skittish fly gradually softens, begins to trust him, and returns daily to spend time with him.

The book reminds us that love and respect are universal languages capable of bridging the gap between species. Taking his message to heart opened a secret world to me, one in which a remarkable understanding between humans and animals is possible. I would love the chance to thank him for his insights and hear more about his experiences.

KS:  What’s one belief you’ve changed your mind about over the years?

RB:  Milk – I always thought it was the cool choice, a harmless choice. I even had some of those infamous Milk Mustache ads on my wall in high school. I thought if the Backstreet Boys (my heroes at the time) believed drinking milk was the thing to do, it must be true.

It wasn’t until I had my son ten years ago that my beliefs about milk changed. I was experiencing a great deal of postpartum anxiety, rarely able to leave his side. One day, I remembered a video of a calf, just 24 hours old, being taken away from his distressed and horrified mother, never to be reunited. Holding my son while nursing him and imagining that same experience, I could barely breathe.

All that trauma and cruelty so that we can have a glass of milk? It affected me on a very visceral level. I haven’t consumed dairy since.

KS: If Animal Place could accomplish one extraordinary thing during your leadership, what would you hope it would be?

RB:  If I had to choose one extraordinary goal, it would be to see our Food for Thought program become the gold standard for animal welfare organizations nationwide. With
more than 620 organizations already participating, we’ve built meaningful momentum, but we’ve only begun to realize its potential.

I love this program because it encourages animal welfare organizations to serve only vegetarian or vegan meals at their events. What better way to put their values into action than by recognizing that all animals deserve the chance to live? Food for Thought draws a direct line between an organization’s mission and its everyday choices. It’s a simple yet powerful way to spark conversations, introduce people to delicious plant-based food, and demonstrate that our actions can reflect our values.

KS: How do you see that vision coming to life? 

RB: One exciting possibility is for Animal Place to evolve beyond grants and policy leader recognition by becoming the convener of organizations committed to promoting
vegetarian and vegan living. By bringing these groups together, we could share best practices, foster collaboration, and build a stronger community around the belief that our
values should be reflected in every aspect of our work.

Dreaming even bigger, I envision an annual Food for Thought Summit where participating organizations gather to exchange ideas, celebrate innovation, and inspire one another. Animal Place could provide practical resources, networking opportunities, and mentorship that make participation both meaningful and achievable.

Ultimately, I’d love to see Animal Place become the organization that helps other animal welfare groups succeed while celebrating every step, big or small, toward a more humane world for farmed and companion animals alike.

KS: Animal Place has always been about more than rescuing animals—it’s about changing hearts, minds, and ultimately behavior. How does that philosophy
resonate with you?

RB We’re living in a world where toughness is often rewarded more than compassion, but I believe the two can coexist. Compassion isn’t a weakness. It asks us to notice suffering, sit with discomfort, and sometimes change our own behavior because of what we’ve learned. That takes courage.

My journey from meat eater to vegetarian and eventually vegan began with a single spark after watching a presentation promoting vegetarianism. I learned from organizations like Animal Place, met rescued farmed animals, read books, and talked with like-minded friends. My journey to more compassionate living took many years, shaped by countless conversations, experiences, and rescued animals. I found my way one step at a time, and I want to help others find their own path. 

KS: It seems the animals themselves are some of your greatest teachers. 

RB: They really are. Every animal at Animal Place represents billions of others who never had the chance to find sanctuary. By helping these animals flourish and sharing their stories, we invite people to see them as individuals with personalities, relationships, and a desire to live, just like the dogs and cats they love at home.

Facts about industrial farming matter, but so do the stories of the animals who survived it. When someone leaves Animal Place seeing a pig as someone instead of something, choosing to eat fewer animal products, or simply thinking more deeply about their daily choices, that’s meaningful progress, and I celebrate it.

KS: What role do you hope you’ll play in creating a more compassionate world?

RB: My responsibility is to support Animal Place in reaching and inspiring people who may never have considered where their food comes from, people like me years ago. I want Animal Place to connect with them in classrooms, workplaces, community events, online, and here at the sanctuary. The more opportunities we create for authentic connection and profound experiences, the more compassion has a chance to grow. 

Courageous compassion is exactly what this world needs more of, and I’m honored to help cultivate it alongside our incredible staff and volunteers as we carry Animal Place’s mission into its next chapter.

KS: If you could leave every Animal Place supporter with one message, what would it be?

RB: I hope Animal Place reminds you that compassion isn’t reserved for extraordinary moments. It’s found in the everyday choices we make, how we treat one another, and where we choose to focus our time, energy, and resources. Your curiosity, kindness, and generosity make our world a kinder, brighter place.

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Rebecca Baylies is a nonprofit executive with more than 15 years of experience leading mission-driven organizations, building high-performing teams, and advancing programs that create meaningful community impact. Her career spans executive leadership, animal welfare, human services, fundraising, operations, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. 

Most recently, Rebecca served as Executive Director of the Providence Animal Rescue League in Rhode Island, where she led a team of more than 20 staff members and oversaw programs serving thousands of animals and pet owners each year. During her tenure, she expanded access to community support services, strengthened organizational infrastructure, and guided the organization through significant operational and strategic initiatives. 

Before her executive leadership role, Rebecca served as Director of Development and Communications at Cape Ann Animal Aid in Massachusetts, where she led fundraising campaigns, grant initiatives, donor engagement strategies, marketing efforts, and special events. Throughout her career, she has developed expertise in nonprofit management, board relations, community partnerships, volunteer engagement, communications, and organizational growth.

As a vegetarian for 20 years and a vegan for over a decade, Rebecca was inspired to join Animal Place because of its unique ability to combine direct care for farmed animals with education and advocacy that creates broader change. 

Rebecca holds a degree in Communications from Endicott College and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University.