Our Story

Matthew Albert, founder of Against All Oddz, began his advocacy in 2007 at the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, leading efforts against animal cruelty and dog fighting rings.

Transitioning to private practice, he continued fighting for animal rights, successfully litigating cases involving police shootings of dogs. Albert's legal victories significantly reduced such incidents in Buffalo and nationwide.

Committed to animal welfare, he volunteers for rescues and promotes veganism. Through Against All Oddz, Albert combines legal expertise with rescue efforts, aiming to enact laws against factory farming and puppy mills.

Christine Townsend, a Director at Against All Oddz since 2019, brings over 30 years of animal rescue experience.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Christine began by rescuing stray cats and fostering for local shelters. Her passion grew with her own pets—boxers like Bentley, Avery, Milo the Shih Tzu as well as her feline companions.

Today, Christine, a full-time Registered Nurse, balances her caregiving role with fostering and overseeing AAO operations. Alongside her daughter Cassandra, who shares her passion for animal rescue, Christine remains dedicated to expanding AAO's mission.

Eileen’s animal rescue journey began in New Orleans, LA in 2006. At that time, Eileen was doing volunteer work to clean up after Hurricane Katrina.

One day, she found an abandoned puppy in a house that she was working on and brought the puppy back to her camp that night. Eileen and the puppy, who she named NOLA, eventually made their way back north to Buffalo, NY and Eileen adopted the puppy to a very loving family.

Since that day, Eileen has continued her commitment to animal welfare by volunteering, fostering, and fundraising for various animal wellness organizations all over the world (such as Soi Dog in Phuket, Thailand, Kenya SPCA in Nairobi, Kenya, International Primate Rescue in Pretoria, South Africa, Kannan Animal Welfare in New Delhi, India, Kyrenia Animal Rescue in Arapköy, North Cyprus, and Operation Paws for Homes in Washington, DC… just to name a few.)

In addition to her work with animal welfare organizations, Eileen is a proud University at Buffalo alumna. She currently serves as President-elect for the University at Buffalo Alumni Association (UBAA) Board of Directors and chairs the Engagement Committee for the Board’s Executive Committee. Eileen has been on the UBAA Board of Directors since 2018.

For her day job, Eileen is a federal employee with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, DC. She is a Community Affairs Program Specialist and works on a program which offers financial education and resources to economically vulnerable communities. She has worked with the Bureau since 2014.

In her spare time, Eileen loves to travel, spend time at the AAO sanctuary, and eat delicious vegan food.

What I enjoy most about AAO is the active mindfulness and compassion I get to practice while working with animals that others may show hesitation towards. By caring for disadvantaged creatures, I feel greater connection to myself, to those around me and those I meet in passing. If we are to judge a dog simply for their breed or history, then how can we empathize with others of our own kind?

Animals, especially the ones here at AAO, remind us of our humanity and the unconditional love that resides in all our hearts despite what life may hurdle us with. To care, to love, and to honor those we may not understand innately is to create a better world for all who follow after – human and animal alike.

Hi, I’m Kim, the volunteer coordinator. I was first introduced to AAO when a lady called me to help her with her German Shepherd, Forest.

I found Matt, the Director of AAO on Facebook. He found a trainer for Forest and the lady was able to keep him, keeping her from having to surrender him. He most definitely would have been euthanized.

After that I found out that Matt was having the first orientation at the Darien Center location. That was in 2020. I've been here since then. I was rescuing one dog at a time because of a dog that was euthanized at another facility that was a "NO Kill" shelter. She didn't do anything to deserve that. I promised myself that her death would not be in vain and I would do everything I could to make sure that didn't happen again.

People failed her and she had no voice. I am at AAO because I want to be that voice.

Hello, I’m Jordin! I have always had a love for animals and wanted to help them in whatever way I could. I started researching different local shelters to volunteer at when I found Against All Odds.

What I loved about AAO was that it was a sanctuary not a shelter and that they were quite literally saving lives and giving them a second chance to live a good life. I quickly fell in love with the dogs and how everyone working and volunteering there wanted to give these dogs the best second chance they could have.

I’m at AAO in hopes to give these dogs the life they should have gotten before they were almost euthanized.

Hi my name is Sarah and I've been volunteering at AAO for almost 4 years now!

When I discovered this sanctuary, I knew I needed to be a part of this wonderful community of people and dogs! I am blessed to work here and love everyone who belongs to AAO!

Hi, I’m Lorenne! I am a huge dog-lover with a passion for animal rights activism. AAO’s mission really resonated with my desire to take action since they are the only rescue in WNY that does legal advocacy work.

I feel that this component of our work is crucial to helping animals since they are unable to speak for themselves. The importance of this function is evident at the sanctuary where we are able to physically see how our representation of animals ensnared in the courts can be the difference between life or death.

Through AAO’s legal team I am hoping that we can add greater protections within the law for animals, as well as expand their status within the legal system, in addition to also creating harsher penalties for animal abuse and neglect.