Meet the Founders
Barb Varela, Co-Founder
From a young age, Barb dreamed of becoming a veterinarian — but life’s practical turns led her down another path. Even while balancing a demanding career, her heart never strayed from animals in need. She spent countless nights bottle-feeding newborn kittens and comforting fragile puppies who had no one else.
Over time, Barb’s quiet passion became an undeniable calling. She saw firsthand how decisions in shelter systems were often driven by budgets rather than the best interests of the animals already in their care. Determined to make a difference, she began funding medical treatments and daily supplies out of her own pocket — because doing what’s right was never a question.
Her defining moment came when one of her foster animals needed emergency medical care. Refusing to let him be another casualty of the system, Barb made him officially hers. That single act of love became the spark that ignited Tiny Life Rescue.
Today, Barb’s mission is unwavering: to build a place where compassion always leads, where every tiny life is valued, and where no one is ever told that a life isn’t worth saving. Once an animal enters Tiny Life Rescue’s care, they receive every ounce of love, attention, and medical support they need to truly thrive.
Joe Fiorilli, Co-Founder
Joe has always shared an unshakable connection with animals — a quiet empathy that makes seeing them suffer unbearable. Years ago, he met Barb while fostering a dog named Xena, a survivor whose parents had been murdered and whose home had been set on fire. Xena was terrified and aggressive, lashing out at anyone who tried to help her.
Through patience, understanding, and time, Joe managed to do what no one else could — he completely turned Xena around. The once-unreachable dog not only healed but went on to be adopted by the very man she had once tried to bite. That experience became a defining moment
and a clear reminder of what compassion, consistency, and faith in an animal’s potential can achieve.
Although Joe doesn’t work on the hands-on rescue side, that experience solidified his belief that real change requires both heart and structure. He and Barb joined forces to create Tiny Life Rescue, combining her hands-on compassion with his dedication to building a sustainable, well managed foundation behind the scenes. Together, they formed a partnership built on trust, integrity, and a shared purpose — to give the smallest and most vulnerable animals a real chance at life.
When he’s not managing the business side of the rescue, Joe is known for naming every pigeon he sees on the street Mighty Mike Tyson and every backyard fox Redd or Samantha. He is a simple creature.