Meet The A.E.R.O Rehabbers
Olivia LoBalbo
Prince William Co
Olivia grew up with animals her entire life. Olivia became an apprentice under Janette Wright and got her rehabilitator license in 2017. So far, her favorite animals to work with have been turtles and bats. She is currently focusing on educating our new care providers, apprentices, and rehabilitators.
Olivia currently lives in Gainesville with her husband Anthony, two kids Ari and Ciro, two dogs Chunk and Nina, and two cats Chewie, and Patrick. Her long term goal is to create an understanding of nature, and how we as humans are part of it, what we can do to better coexist and help better support our earth. When she finally does that, she plans to retire near the beach where she can work with the sea turtles and drink wine all day.
Deb Drain
Fairfax Co
Deb is a Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources rehabilitator licensed to care for small mammals, fawns, rabies vector species and reptiles. She especially loves working with squirrels of any age, caring for them until ready for release on her property. Deb has been interested in wildlife her whole life but got involved in rehabilitation after moving back to the area. She lives with her family in McLean not far from Great Falls Park and was inspired by all of the animals living close by to apprentice with Olivia and learn how to take care of Virginia’s orphaned and injured wildlife.
Annie Palermo
Fairfax
Annie is a licensed Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources rehabilitator caring for small mammals, fawns, and foxes. She is an animal lover raised with horses, dogs, cats, and rabbits. Since becoming a rehabilitator, she has been blessed to rehabilitate squirrels, cottontail bunnies, fawns, raccoons, and foxes.
Annie and her husband live on 5 acres in Centreville on property which adjoins Bull Run Regional Parkland.
Tessa Schwartz
Fredricksburg
Tessa is a Cat 2 rehabber in Fredricksburg working with many species of wildlife in addition to all her hard work as a Licensed Veterinary Technician.
Tanya Finch
Loudoun
Tanya is a Cat 2 rehabbers and our leader of Tanya’s Turtle Project! Tanya started Tanya’s Turtle Project (TTP) in March of 2021 to raise awareness and actively rescue/save box turtles that get trapped within the black plastic silt fencing in construction sites. TTP has connected with Van Metre Homes, W.A.Hazel, and S.W. Rodgers companies to remind them to keep an eye out for turtles. Through a common purpose of saving these and other wildlife, A.E.R.O. and Tanya connected through Facebook to help each other with parallel goals. Tanya received her wildlife rehabilitator permit earlier this year and looks forward to hands-on learning. In April of 2022, Tanya graduated from the Virginia Master Naturalist program and is the chair of the Outreach Committee & its Speakers Bureau for VMN’s Banshee Reeks chapter. She loves cutting and removing non-native invasive plants, being in nature with her two boxers (dogs), and is enjoying the journey of first time horse ownership.
Jenny Groom
Fauquier
Jenny is a Cat II Rehabber based in Warrenton, VA. She has adored animals of all shapes and sizes since she came to be, and has always been the person her friends called when they encountered a stray animal. As the owner of Doodlebug Dog Walker, she learned about wildlife rehabilitation after finding a bat in one of her client’s homes and bringing it to Olivia. She immediately began her apprenticeship and has enjoyed every minute of her journey to becoming a rehabber, and looks forward to many more adventures in caring for our native Virginia wildlife. She also brings her 10 years of experience in fundraising for dog and cat rescues to the board and is dedicated to helping A.E.R.O achieve all their fundraising goals to continue to rehab wildlife and educate the public on conservation and co-existing.
Christian Schwartz
Fredricksburg
Christian is a Cat 2 rehabber in Fredricksburg. He has a wonderful background working with reptiles and well as a Schnauzer rescue. He has a special place in his heart for the baby squirrels.
Lori Brent
Arlington
Lori just finished her apprenticeship and is now a category II wildlife rehabilitator. Through volunteering at AWLA the opportunity arose to apprentice as a wildlife rehabilitator and she was thrilled with the chance to help a wider variety of animals. When she began she was enthusiastic and excited with the work and over the course of the two year apprenticeship the curiosity evolved into a passion to help wildlife.
Her experience thus far is with orphaned baby squirrels and her goal is to expand her skill set to include flying squirrels, bats and other small mammals.
