Barb Steele is Rocket’s owner and biggest fan.”I first saw Rocket on the 10 o’clock news when he was found starving in a back yard. He was skeletal. That day I had had the sad experience of euthanizing my 10 year old Lab who had an inoperable tumor. Amazingly, I also had to euthanize my 14 year old Golden Retriever the day before. I was feeling so low,  but seeing those big brown eyes on TV gave me new hope and inspiration. I decided to adopt Rocket and bring him the happiness and care he deserved. Of course, the real outcome was that his strong and loving spirit rescued ME..and so we began our journey.  When Rocket and I met children in the park they were very curious about him and great conversations followed. That was my inspiration to teach kids using their own natural curiosity and love of animals.” She found that children between the ages of 7 to 10 seemed to be particularly open to the message of helping homeless animals and learning to be great pet caregivers, so she developed Rockets Rangers to reach as many as possible .

Barb has been on the Board of Directors of PACC911 for 6 years serving as director of  field operations for part of that time . She is the lead member for Paws Around the Fountain annual adoption event in Fountain Hills. She has a background in retail, interior design, theater and photography.