Who we are -
a message from our founder
His name was Toby, and he was never “just a dog”.
When that little tri-colored guy entered our lives we had a few small dogs already. We are animal people, always have been, so it wasn’t unusual for us to add another furry friend to the pack.
The unusual part would come later, years down the road, when we would realize just how much one dog can weave his way into your whole world. All of our dogs were “the best”, but Toby was special. Many people will tell you among the animals they’ve owned there is always one heart dog. One that bonds tighter and faster than all the others. One that gets special treatment because he just fits into your world more completely.
One whose absence leaves a bigger hole than anything on four paws has a right to.
Brian and I were in the midst of the largest move of our married life, changing jobs, leaving friends, and turning everything on its ear. It was 2019, and we were shifting from comfortable full time jobs in the suburbs to slightly terrifying new adventures on a small farm in the woods. Things were really coming together and we could just start to see what our future looked like.
Then one sunny July day, it all got very blurry.
Through a flood of tears we were forced to say good-bye to our furry friend. An unexpected health complication had pulled Toby out of our lives far faster than we’d ever imagined. The days that followed were bleak and difficult to navigate. We still had a plan, but this was a big bump in the road that left our small family lacking a little of our original sense of purpose.
As luck would have it, I had just opened a large bag of dog food the week prior. Not wanting it to go to waste, it was suggested I could donate it to the local animal shelter. I taped it up and headed across town. As I placed it in the back seat I whispered a line that, looking back, sounded a little inadequate: “We’re going to go help some dogs, little buddy”.
I had never had a reason to visit the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center, and what I found there added more pain to an already raw heart. So. Many. Dogs. The kennels were bursting with unwanted, stray, and senior dogs. They clamoured at the bars as I walked by with my meager offering: Toby’s final unfinished bag of kibble. Their eyes begged for so much more than the little bit of nourishment I brought through the doors. They longed for companionship, stability, security, and purpose.
I wasn’t in a position to offer any of them any of those things, but right there in that noisy corridor filled with hope and desperation I felt my heart make a much bigger promise:
“Someday, Toby, we will help with more than food. Even if we only save one dog, it will be worth it.”
Soon after moving to our new farm, Brian came up with the name that would honor Toby’s legacy and keep him part of our future. Under the Toby Way Farm banner, we have built our homestead dreams, including our current pack of six dogs of various breeds and purposes. Each one has a unique personality, they all bring something special to the farm, and we’ve worked hard to form a solid bond with each of our furry pack members.
Now it’s time to fulfill that unspoken promise made by a grieving heart a few years ago. I knew I didn’t want to start up just another rescue. Our mission needed a specific direction, an intended goal, a certain group of dogs on which to focus our efforts. I wasn’t sure what that looked like until I was blessed with the opportunity to work as a dog trainer with a local organization. Under that guidance, I learned much about dog psychology, pack dynamics, common behavior concerns, and why “just love them more” doesn’t work when it comes to troubled canines.
I am proud and humbled to present the embodiment of my #saveonedog promise. Toby’s Pack is built on a foundation of understanding, stability, hard work, and friendship. It is the accumulation of the best part of every person involved. We operate solely on generous donations and on the backs (and in the hearts) of our volunteers. We are truly an organization of passion and compassion, grit and gratitude, fortitude and faith.
If you are interested in joining our pack I won’t promise it will be easy. I won’t pretend it will be glamorous. I won’t guarantee there will be glory.
I do believe it will be worth it.
Toby was worth it.
~Becky
Board of Directors
Becky Frame - Founder/Board Chair
After a couple of decades as a logistics professional, Becky now manages a small homestead in Fresno on the property where she was raised. Toby Way Farm is home to various livestock all with the purpose of supplying family and neighbors in the community with wholesome farm-made products. Becky hopes the small agricultural operation will be part of a movement of local sustainable food sources within the community. Guarding the whole operation is their own diverse canine pack consisting of three livestock guarding dogs and three active house pups — each a beloved member of the TWF team.
Brian Frame - Board Member
Brian Frame became a resident of Coshocton County in 2019, when he and Becky moved back to her childhood homestead in Fresno. He is an avid woodworker, lover of animals, and the biggest supporter of our founder’s dreams and plans. He enjoys exploring their rural property with their Golden Retriever Charlie and unwinds in the evenings playing catch with his “little buddy” Tucker Bear — dogs have become a huge part of his life. Having decades of experience in various management positions gives Brian a strong business-based skillset to bring to Toby’s Pack.
Kathie Wagner - Board Member/Finance Manager
A lifelong Coshocton County resident, Kathie Wagner is a banker by profession and an animal advocate by heart. With a banking career spanning more than four decades, she brings valuable financial insight to the Toby’s Pack Board of Directors. Outside of work, Kathie’s passion for animals — especially horses and dogs—guides much of her life. Rescuing a high-flight-risk Mini Aussie ignited her commitment to training dogs with special needs and deepened her belief that animals are always communicating. Kathie is dedicated to helping dogs and families succeed through patience, understanding, and thoughtful training.
Sheila Graves - Board Member/Dog Coordinator
Sheila Graves brings a lifelong love of animals and decades of nonprofit service to the Toby’s Pack Board of Directors. She is passionate about connecting dogs in need with loving homes, advocating for solid training, and supporting long-term success for dogs and their families. Sheila lives with her husband, Scott, on their cattle farm in Northwest Coshocton County, where they raise livestock and care for a variety of animals. A longtime 4-H advisor and former hospice worker, Sheila believes deeply in hard work, community, and the power of second chances — for both people and animals.
Amber Lonsinger - Board Member
Amber’s Bio
Become a volunteer!
We cannot do the work we do without a solid dedicated group of volunteers. You can help! Apply today to become a volunteer with Toby’s Pack. You’ll help with fundraising, fostering, public relations, data management - there are so many ways your talents can help us #saveonedog!