Our Board of Directors
Haley Huggins
President
Haley serves as the President of Rising Sun. With over 20 years of experience working and volunteering with animals, she has dedicated her life to advocating for shelter animals and helping them find safety, opportunity, and second chances. Born and raised in Shreveport, Haley is deeply connected to the community Rising Sun serves and is passionate about creating meaningful solutions to save lives and expand opportunities for at-risk animals through rescue, transport, and collaboration.
When she’s not working on behalf of Rising Sun, Haley can often be found adventuring with her dog Rebel, whom she adopted after rescuing his pregnant mother. Rebel has traveled across the country with her and is always up for camping, hiking, or kayaking by her side.
Jennifer Landry
Vice President
Jennifer serves as Vice President of Rising Sun and brings a deep passion for rescue and advocacy to the organization’s mission. Based in Arkansas, Jennifer was moved to get involved after recognizing the urgent need for support at local shelters in the Shreveport area. Over the past several years, she has played a vital role in coordinating transports, helping hundreds of dogs reach out-of-state rescue partners and a second chance at life.
Jennifer has personally adopted two dogs from CPAS, including Teddy, who came to her as a medical foster with a broken leg and quickly became a permanent part of her family. Known for her tireless work ethic and unwavering dedication, Jennifer has a special place in her heart for the overlooked dogs who simply need someone to believe in them.
Stacy Gray
Secretary
Stacy Gray serves as a Board Member with a deep and lifelong commitment to animal welfare. She has been rescuing animals since she was a teenager, but her true calling was solidified through an eye-opening experience working within a local shelter, where she witnessed firsthand the severity of pet overpopulation and the heartbreaking number of loving, adoptable dogs with nowhere to go. Having lived in Shreveport for 13 years, Stacy is deeply connected to the community and passionate about supporting local shelters by helping find placement for dogs in need. Her work is personal as well as purposeful—her beloved dog, Ace, adopted from CPAS in 2021, is a daily reminder of the life-changing impact of rescue. Stacy and her family cannot imagine their lives without him, and she remains dedicated to ensuring more families experience the same joy.
Brian Watkins
Treasurer
Born in Washington, D.C., Brian always had a soft spot for animals, rescuing strays and fostering pets from a young age. That compassion carried him through 20 years of military service, where he joined at 18, earned his pilot’s license, completed 15 combat deployments in the Middle East, and even rescued animals amid war-torn conditions. An injury in Iraq transitioned him to the mortgage industry, where he applies the same leadership and discipline every day. His commitment deepened after witnessing severe neglect of dogs in Northwest Louisiana, conditions that reminded him of the hardships he saw overseas. This underserved crisis fueled his decision to join the Rising Sun Animal Rescue board, where he's dedicated to helping provide care, rescue, and forever homes. When he's not advocating for animals, he enjoys aviation and target shooting.