Marissa Ionno
Founder of The TAILS Network on Facebook
Rutgers University
Biology major
She has helped save more than 50 adorable dogs from being euthanized.
GLAMOUR: Last summer you created The TAILS Network to share photos of animals in need of homes via Facebook. What’s the network’s main goal?
MI: The TAILS Network aims to find homes for animals who literally have days or hours left to live. It also works to keep them out of shelters. The point is to give animals a chance before it’s too late.
GLAMOUR: What’s the specific idea behind posting pictures of the animals?
MI: By taking a photo of an animal in need and sharing it on the Facebook page, the right person can see it and say “That’s the pet for me.” We’ve now helped play a part in the rehoming of 56 dogs.
GLAMOUR: Is TAILS exclusively for dogs and cats?
MI: So far all the animals we’ve saved have been dogs. But if it’s an animal that needs a home, I’ll share. I’ve shared horses. And pigs!
GLAMOUR: Did you grow up in a house full of pets?
MI: I surprisingly didn’t get my first dog until I was 11. But I’ve always loved animals and started getting really involved into animal rights in my early teens. Now I have two dogs, a Maltese-Bichon mix named Nicco and a Pit bull named Carmela. I don’t think I could possibly love them more if they were my own kids.
GLAMOUR: Did your dogs inspire you to start The TAILS Network?
MI: My pittie girl was abused as a puppy. She’s six years old, and even after years of love and reassurance, she’s still frightened from things in her past. Realizing that thousands of dogs like Carmela and Nicco are euthanized every day because of neglectful and irresponsible owners was what made me want to do something.
GLAMOUR: And then came TAILS?
MI: First I started volunteering at a local animal shelter and fell in love with so many of the dogs. There was one in particular who I went to visit every single day for over a month until she got adopted. One day when I was leaving the shelter, I found myself so frustrated that these amazing animals were wasting years of their lives in a cage. Their years are so limited as it is, and that’s when it hit me: Social media can reach millions of people, so why not make an attempt to network some of these animals?
GLAMOUR: Did you explore some of the other “animal networking” sites out there? What makes TAILS unique?
MI: I’d already “liked” several cross-posting pages on Facebook and would look daily at the tons of dogs and cats needing urgent placement. But I never felt there was a personal touch to any of the pages. If I asked a question, I’d never get a response. I knew there were people that had to feel like me who wanted to help cross-post photos and network animals and get feedback.
GLAMOUR: How much time do you find yourself spending on Facebook? Is there such a thing as too many cute puppy photos?
MI: There is never such a thing as too many cute puppy photos! It’s not just puppies, though. The seniors can be just as beautiful. As for the time, each day is different, but I’ve definitely developed a system for how to go about answering questions, emails, and inboxes efficiently. I’d say I’m networking animals on Facebook a couple hours a day.
GLAMOUR: Let’s talk about what keeps you busy when you’re not focusing on your organization (which has more than 6,250 Facebook “likes”) or your GPA (which is nearly perfect).
MI: I’m pre-med, hoping to go straight to med school after graduation next spring, so I put a lot of time into school. But when I find free time, I love to do volunteer work with animals and hang out with family and friends. And my 21-year-old girly side loves to shop.
GLAMOUR: Are you as into shopping for your pups as you are for yourself?
MI: Don’t even get me started. I swear they have a bigger wardrobe than I do!
GLAMOUR: And how do you see your love of animals playing into your future?
MI: These days I still volunteer at an animal shelter and help with dog transport and fostering on the weekends when I’m free. Eventually I do want to be a doctor, but animals will definitely be involved. My dream is to have my own rescue and to make it absolutely incredible. It’ll be a place for animals to heal and learn love before they can find their forever homes.