Board of Directors

Dina Brigish has dedicated her life to the care, advocacy, and protection of animals. Her work is rooted in decades of experience, passion, and deep compassion. Her journey began in college, where she founded Syracuse University for Animal Rights and embraced a lifelong commitment to veganism and animal justice.

Before her full time transition to animal rescue and advocacy, Dina rose to the top ranks of New York’s fashion industry as a successful executive. But her heart called her in a different direction. She left the corporate world to attend the Natural Gourmet Institute, training as a professional vegan chef and honing her skills at the world renowned Millennium Restaurant in San Francisco.

In the early 2000s, Dina founded The White Pig Bed & Breakfast, now recognized as the oldest all vegan B&B in the United States. At the same time, she launched The White Pig Animal Sanctuary, turning her home into a haven for rescued pigs, sheep, horses, goats, and more. She has also taught vegan cooking classes to cancer patients at the University of Virginia, at local community colleges, and to the general public, spreading the healing power of plant based food and compassionate living.

Dina’s deep knowledge of animals, particularly horses, comes from a lifetime of hands-on experience. Raised on a horse farm, she was one of the top junior equestrians in the Northeast of the US, competing in elite events such as the AHSA (USEF) Medal, ASPCA Maclay, and Junior Hunters and Jumpers. Today, that expertise translates into top level sanctuary care, especially for equine and large farm animals.

As Executive Director and Head Caregiver, Dina lives and works on the sanctuary grounds, overseeing every rescue, every recovery, and every healing journey. Her vision and leadership have made The White Pig not just a sanctuary, but a forever home built on love, respect, and second chances.

Cynthia Callaghan has dedicated her adult life to caring for both children and animals. She became a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in 1998 and has built a diverse career spanning pediatric neuro-oncology, Head Start health administration, and other areas of pediatric healthcare.

Her commitment to animals extends into her volunteer life, where she has been actively involved in Greyhound rescue since 2006. She and her husband, Andy, became vegetarians in the early 2000s after reading an article about the connection between environmentalism and food choices. Their journey toward a deeper understanding of animal rights eventually led them to The White Pig Bed & Breakfast, after discovering it through an article in Vegetarian Times.

They celebrated their first wedding anniversary at The White Pig in 2004 and have returned many times over the years. During that time, they rescued eight Greyhounds, all of whom had the opportunity to visit The White Pig Animal Sanctuary.

Photography is one of her favorite hobbies, and photographing the sanctuary and its animal residents brings her tremendous joy. She is honored to support The White Pig Animal Sanctuary and looks forward to helping advance its mission of compassion, lifelong care, and advocacy for animals.

Alexandra is an animal rights and sustainability activist as well as a dedicated member of the Charlottesville community. She strives to make positive social and environmental change through her daily life and work with nonprofits.

Currently, Alexandra is the Marketing and Administrative Assistant for Bennett's Village. She also serves as the Executive Committee Vice Chair & Board Member of the Piedmont Group of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club and is a Communications Volunteer for Twice Is Nice. In her free time, Alexandra enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and dog, reading, crafting, and practicing yoga.

Bio and photo coming soon.