About Us

Dedicated to helping the 4 to 6 million homeless animals that are killed each year, Pinups for Pups was established in 2005. An independent association of animal rescuers, Pinup models, and photographers, managed by and for its members, the mission of Pinups for Pups is to promote responsible pet ownership and to advance the practice of both animal rescue and spaying & neutering to control animal populations.

Founder and President, Sondra Joy explains, “Our mission is to educate people about responsible pet ownership through our events and example. We will work hard to raise money and awareness for Animal rescue groups, to help them so that they can continue to rescue unwanted and abandoned animals, provide them with medical care, rehabilitation and foster homes until caring adoptive homes can be found.”

Pinups for Pups is a “For-Profit” philanthropy, with our profits going directly to our non-profit 501c3 animal rescue partners. Unlike most charities, this one will be for-profit, allowing it to fund other like minded companies, form partnerships with venture capitalists and even lobby Congress. Also, unlike most other charities, Pinups for Pups will also pay taxes. Pinups for Pups CEO Jake Shannon says, “this novel structure, the same one currently used by the philanthropy giant Google.org, liberates us from the constraints of the 501(c)(3) section of the Internal Revenue Service code that dictates how we spend. There are definitely trades offs, such as having to pay taxes, but in the long run we feel this is the best model for generating funds for dogs that really need our help.”

About Our President

Sondra Joy has owned and operated successful family entertainment ventures since the precocious age of 19 and now consults family entertainment businesses across the United States, as well as in South America, and Canada. She is a lifelong animal advocate, an accomplished entrepreneur, an experienced model, a loving wife and soon, a mother.

Sondra grew up surrounded with animals and is the proud parent of four rescued pets; the eldest Sockie is a feisty Lhaso Apso that strikes an uncanny resemblance to Mr. T; Juanito, her beloved Chihuahua, was rescued sick, hungry, and scared off of the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles; Lulu Jane is a young pit bull used as evidence by the LA County Court in an animal cruelty case and was found emaciated and close to death; and last but not least is Carmella, a big fat happy rabbit saved from a shelter on her very last day. After spending nearly $25,000 of her personal income and countless hours helping rescued and fostered animals in 2005 alone, Sondra leveraged her entrepreneurial and advocacy skills to organize Pinups for Pups, to help make even more of a difference in the lives of our otherwise forsaken homeless animal population.

About Our CEO