Executive Director
Bob Baker
Bob Baker has been active in animal welfare for over three decades and is a nationally recognized authority on animal cruelty. His work on investigations, legislative initiatives, and his advocacy efforts on behalf of animals have all been widely acclaimed. Bob brings extensive experience to the Alliance, having worked for both national and local humane organizations during his career. Recently with the ASPCA, he played a key role in efforts to combat the cruelties of puppy mills and to effect the passage of precedent setting legislation in Pennsylvania regulating large-scale commercial dog breeding operations.
His investigations into animal fighting ventures led to the arrests of more than 1,000 individuals. He also spearheaded an extensive investigation into the commercial dog breeding industry, inspecting more than 1,000 puppy mills during the past thirty years. These efforts generated a tremendous amount of national publicity, the closing of numerous puppy mills, probes by the federal government's General Accounting Office and the Office of Inspector General, and the closing of the nation's largest pet store chain, "Docktors Pet Center."
Bob not only fought to expose cruelty but lobbied to enact laws to prevent such abuse in the future. He initiated and worked on local, state, and federal legislation to improve the welfare of animals. His efforts led to the successful passage of legislation in forty-two states, through direct lobbying activity as well as grassroots lobbying efforts, including the passage of stricter animal abuse laws for horse racing, dog racing, dog fighting, cockfighting, puppy mills, and pet stores. He also worked on regulatory initiatives and increased enforcement efforts by federal and state government agencies.
Bob conceived and aided in the production of several national news exposés on animal abuse including televised pieces on "60 Minutes," "20/20" and "Dateline." He has been a tireless spokesperson over the years on a host of animal issues. He is a respected author and his book, "The Misuse of Drugs in Horse Racing" resulted in major reforms in the horse racing industry.
Deputy Executive Director
Eric Crinnian
Eric Crinnian has been a lifelong advocate for animals and has used his skills as an attorney to aggressively fight for animals and their owners. For the past twelve years, Eric has run a private litigation practice handling primarily civil rights and public interest cases including employment discrimination, open records, municipal animal issues, and federal civil rights lawsuits against police and municipalities who have unlawfully killed citizens’ dogs. He obtained a record civil rights settlement in a case where a Missouri police officer shot and killed a deaf and blind Shih Tzu; prevailed at trial and obtained a then-record settlement against the University of Missouri in an open records lawsuit involving dogs in MU research labs; has successfully defended numerous clients in municipal cases involving animals; and has argued twice before the Federal Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on animal issues.
Eric’s love of animals was instilled in him by his parents, who rescued numerous stray and abandoned dogs and cats throughout their lives. That passion stuck with him: over the years, Eric and his wife have fostered or adopted dozens of dogs and directly helped hundreds more. During law school, he was a member of the UMKC Animal Law Society, collected signatures for Proposition B in 2010 (“The Puppy Mill Bill”), and worked and volunteered at a large Kansas City rescue while his wife started and ran the rescue’s community outreach program, which directly helped the city’s most vulnerable animals. In 2014, Eric helped found and served as the board president for another Kansas City-based rescue and community outreach program (which his wife also coordinated), which is still serving the metro to this day.
Eric has a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from Missouri Southern State University and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. He lives in Kansas City with his wife, who is a business owner, and his daughter.
Executive Assistant
Mary Kate Wright
Mary Kate Wright is a recent graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she earned her B.F.A. in Advertising and Branding. A Saint Louis native, Mary Kate returns home with a lifelong passion for animal welfare, a value instilled in her early on through her family’s decision to adopt a rescue dog.
She is proud to join our team and continue advocating for animals, inspired daily by her two rescue dogs, Apollo and Iris.
Marketing and Social Media Coordinator
Amanda Manera
Dr. Amanda Manera is a Doctor of Physical Therapy by training, but her career took a different turn when she realized her real passion was working with and advocating for animals. Additionally, with a background in helping small businesses and nonprofits grow their online presence, Amanda now gets to bring those skills to her work with The Alliance. She is excited to use her experience to help make a difference for animals of all kinds.
Amanda is a longtime rescue supporter and foster, having fostered dogs and cats through rescues based in both St. Louis and Springfield. She also uses her photography skills to help adoptable dogs get noticed, volunteering her time to photograph dogs waiting for their adoptive families. In her free time, Amanda can usually be found traveling, browsing a thrift store, or catching up on reality TV.