John DeBacker

Early life and background Born in Seaford, Long Island, DeBacker has been involved in animal rescue since his early twenties, initially volunteering at shelters and rescue organizations. He later transitioned his passion into a full-time commitment to animal welfare. DeBacker does not accept payment for his rescue services, relying solely on donations to fund his efforts. He maintains a custom-built insulated shed for injured animals and operates a rescue van capable of holding multiple cages.

Some notable rescue efforts include: In September 2020, he rescued a possum from Sunrise Highway and a kitten from the Wantagh State Parkway during morning traffic, with police halting traffic for the latter. In October 2022, he assisted in the rescue of a kitten found from under the hood of a car. In February 2023, DeBacker rescued a possum that had gotten stuck on a metal beam in a house under construction. In December 2023, while visiting family in New Jersey, he rescued a feral cat named "Merry" that had had its head stuck in a jar for several days. The cat was later made available for adoption. In September 2024, DeBacker caught a cat that fell out of a tree in Hempstead, New York, with one hand. In April 2025, John rescued a Scottish Fold cat, a rare breed known for its distinctive folded ears. In April 2025, alongside state police, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), animal control and other volunteers, John helped rescue 30 cats near North Massapequa in Long Island. , a criminal investigation in underway regarding the incident. In June 2025, DeBacker played a crucial role in an 18-hour rescue operation to free a kitten, named "Piper," trapped in an underground pipe in Bay Shore, Long Island, collaborating with the Suffolk County Police Department and Bay Shore Fire Department. In October 2021, DeBacker started a change.org petition to add screens or netting to sewer drain to prevent cats or other animals from falling into them. As Vice President of LICKS, DeBacker is involved in the organization's Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) initiatives aimed at reducing the stray and feral cat population on Long Island.

LICKS opened in 2008 as a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. , LICKS has since spayed or neutered over 10,000 cats.

Book DeBacker also features in the 2025 book Whiskers in the Wild by Debra Blaine.