OUR TEAM
The Visionaries Behind the Advocacy
Our leadership and crew are dedicated professionals committed to systemic animal welfare improvements in North Carolina. We blend strategic education with public policy advocacy to ensure every companion animal is protected by strong, humane laws and collaborative community solutions.
The Team Behind the Mission
Joanne Elliott-Fromm
Director
Jo is the founder of the NC Animal Advocacy Project (NCAAP) and a dedicated animal welfare advocate with a particular passion for protecting North Carolina’s most vulnerable animals. She has been fostering neonatal puppies since 2020, providing around-the-clock care to orphaned and medically fragile puppies during their most critical first weeks of life.
Her hands-on rescue experience has given her a firsthand view of the challenges facing shelters, rescues, and the communities working to save animals across North Carolina. That experience helped inspire her commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and creating meaningful, lasting change for animals statewide.
When she isn’t working on behalf of animals, Jo is usually surrounded by plenty of them at home—she shares her life with five dogs of her own.
Linden Cartner
secretary
Linden Cartner grew up on a farm, where a lifelong love of animals inspired a deep commitment to protecting and helping those in need. For the past five years, Linden has worked in animal rescue, gaining firsthand experience with the challenges facing animals, shelters, rescuers, and communities.
Linden is passionate about strengthening animal welfare through meaningful policy and legislative change, advocating for laws that reflect the evolving needs of the animal rescue community. Through board service, Linden hopes to bring hands-on rescue experience, compassion, and a strong commitment to creating a better future for animals.
Cara Bridges
Treasurer
Cara Bridges serves as Treasurer of the NC Animal Advocacy Project, bringing more than a decade of experience in public service, with a background in budgeting and finance, policy, and operations. She has been involved in animal rescue in Wake County since 2016 as a foster and volunteer, and is passionate about making North Carolina a better place for companion animals and their families. Cara lives in Raleigh with her family and two rescue pups, Izzy and Rigsby.
Kira Kroboth
Communications director
Kira Kroboth comes to NCAAP with more than 20 years of experience in digital strategy, project management, and community advocacy. As Founder of Krobe Interactive + Marketing, she leads web production, technical execution, and strategic communications for regional brands and non-profits. Long committed to grassroots movement-building, Kira has spent years organizing local campaigns for public school safety and disability rights. After jumping into fostering rescue dogs three years ago, her work quickly bloomed—leading her to volunteer as a neonatal foster and communications lead for Blazin’ Trails Bottle Babies. As Communications Director for The NC Animal Advocacy Project, Kira brings together her technical background, strategic storytelling, and grassroots organizing experience to help improve companion animal outcomes across North Carolina. She lives in Raleigh with her husband, Rusty, their three sons, and resident dog, Lucy Jane.
Jessica Anderson
Legal director
Born and raised in North Carolina, Jessica is an attorney licensed in North Carolina and serves as the Legal Director, where she advocates for stronger protections and better outcomes for animals. Her passion for animal advocacy extends beyond her legal work—she has been fostering dogs since 2023 and is a proud dog mom to Maeve and Sammy. She is honored to combine her legal experience and lifelong love of animals in support of NC Animal Advocacy Project's mission.
As we continue to grow and build our platform, please reach out with any questions you have:
email us at: ncanimaladvocacyproject.admin@gmail.com
Join our mission to protect every pet in North Carolina. Your support drives systemic change and humane policy improvements statewide.