16 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 

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farms to gather ideas for our space and 
programming, but, most importantly, I 
met with representatives, religious groups, 
block clubs and residents to hear what they 
needed in the city of Detroit.
”
To renovate the existing Westcott 
Veterinary Hospital and sustain operations 
for the first year, DDR created a $2.3 
million campaign. Millman-Rinaldi says 
the new building will include more than 
60 kennels, spacious outdoor yards, puppy 
preschool and more. The new facility will 
be able to house 68 dogs, which is 40 more 
than its current location. The new shelter is 
slated to open in November.
Millman-Rinaldi says she has received a 
lot of support from the Jewish community 
over the years. She says her daughter’s 
preschool at Temple Shir Shalom in West 
Bloomfield has held fundraisers and so 
has Adat Shalom in Farmington Hills. 
Countless mitzvah projects also have 
been done through Temple Israel in West 
Bloomfield.
 “This is something that is truly built by 
the community, for the community and it 
takes community engagement to keep it 
going,
” she said.

SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIPS
Deborah Charfoos, M.D., with Michigan 
Women’s Health in Farmington Hills is one 
of the many donors who continue to help 
support Detroit Dog Rescue. While their 
relationship first started through doctor 
visits, now Charfoos considers Millman-
Rinaldi a family friend. 
“Kristina is just an amazing person who 
always wants to take people under her wing 
and help, and our family just got closer to 

her,
” Charfoos said.
Throughout the years, Charfoos became 
involved with DDR, and it became a family 
affair.
“I introduced one of my sons to 
Kristina,
” Charfoos said. “He had recently 
finished his undergrad and wasn’t sure what 
he was going to do next at the time.
”
Charfoos’s son, Dustin Banooni, began 
working with DDR and was there for the 
next two years. 
“When I first started at DDR, I was 
completely unaware of the monumental 
impact it would have on my life. Initially, 
I was aimless, disorganized and generally 

Kristina Millman-Rinaldi waits for 
bolt cutters to rescue a pair of 
skinny dogs chained in an aban-
doned home in Detroit.

Dustin 
Banooni while 
working at 
DDR

Melanie Page and her dog George

The Charfoos Family

OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER

