Newsmakers 2014: Rochelle Steffen, animal rescue advocate and video journalist at KFVS12

Rochelle Steffen is an animal rescue advocate who operates the "Mac the pitbull" Facebook page. Her Facebook campaign has raised thousands of dollars which she donates to animal shelters and rescues. Steffen's inspiration for all her hard work is Mac, her rescued pit bull.

"Mac ... is my inspiration, my muse and my heart," she says. "I was already involved in volunteering, fostering, rescue and animal advocacy, but getting entrusted with [Mac[']s] care pushed my drive to another level. He gave me something to use my artistic talents for and something to focus my energy on."

Steffen says the most satisfying part about her work for rescue animals is donating money.

"When we give away money, it feels amazing; it is a euphoria like nothing else," says Steffen. "We gave the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri $2,800 worth of treats, toys and blankets for the shelter dogs [for] Christmas 2013."

The donations came from a national Facebook campaign that Steffen got Mac involved in, where he got to be an "Elf" and they could solicit donations for a cause of their choice.

"Since [Mac] came from the local shelter, we easily decided to help them," says Steffen. "It was impressive to see [the] donations literally fill the lobby at the shelter. People from all across the world donated [to this] cause."

Her greatest accomplishment with the animal rescue project so far has been raising and distributing more than $14,000, according to Steffen.

"In [2013, our first year], Mac and I gave away over $14,000 just by selling his 'I am pit bull strong' printed items, [selling] my artwork and networking donations through his Facebook page all over the world," she says. "We give away 100 percent of what we raise to other dogs and shelters/rescues in need and are very proud to be a part of the solution."

In addition to running the "Mac the pitbull" page, Steffen volunteers at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri and runs the local Facebook page "SEMO Lost Pet."

Steffen is a video journalist at KFVS12 in Cape Girardeau.

--Lori Trepasso