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About Divine Feline |
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The Mobile Surgical Unit affectionately known as "The Beast" |
Our Story Susanna Russo and Erica Rambus met during their first year of veterinary medical school at Colorado State University in 1992. As each continued her quest to improve the well being of animals, they eventually decided to join their efforts on the issue of feral cat overpopulation. In 2003 with a donated RV renovated to serve as a MobileAnimal Surgical Hospital, Divine Feline came into being. On a long-awaited day in April 2003, we drove to the feral colony and with the help of Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance, trapped, vaccinated, and spayed/neutered 10 feral cats. The cats were transported from their colony to a donated location in Denver where they were fed and cared for overnight before being released back to their colony. Today Divine Feline is the only organization in the Denver metro area solely dedicated to spay/neuter of feral cats at their colonies. Trap, neuter, return (TNR) is the most effective, humane program for the reduction of feral cat populations and spay/neuter prevents the perpetuation of future generations of feral cats (In the absence of the TNR humane method, many cats continue to be trapped and killed). With the generous support of our volunteers and donors, we can spay and neuter over 100 cats a month. |
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Our Board of Directors |
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Andrea Furness is the Assistant Director of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (CHUN), and the Capitol Hill People’s Fair . CHUN is one of Denver’s oldest neighborhood organizations and promotes neighborhood involvement to address issues related to development, zoning and licensing, public safety and historic preservation . In its 39th year, the People’s Fair is one of the largest ongoing Arts & Crafts and Entertainment festivals in the country and draws over 250,000 people each year. |
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Andrea joined the CHUN team in November 2005, and assists in managing staff and the organization, as well as producing and promoting the People’s Fair, and overseeing fundraising and community events for CHUN and the Tears-McFarlane House. She also manages all of the public relations and marketing for the People’s Fair and CHUN. Before joining Chun, Andrea worked eight years in sports public relations, first for the Colorado Rapids Soccer Team , and then for the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club . During this time, she assisted in producing several major fundraisers and community events. A Denver native, Andrea earned two Bachelor's degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder , one in Journalism/News Editorial with an emphasis in Public Relations , and one in Communications with a Minor in Political Science . Andrea is very excited to join the Board of Directors of Divine Feline. She serves as Committee Chair for the Marketing/PR/Media committee as well as the Fundraising/Development committee. Her family includes a cat named Sydney and a dog named Bella who loves attending Divine Feline meetings. |
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Paula LaPrise has worked in the commercial banking industry for over 20 years in various lending and credit underwriting positions. She joined Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. in 1997 and is currently a Vice President and analyst with the Wells Fargo Private Bank in Denver CO . Before entering the banking profession, Paula served as a Staff Assistant for Senator Byron Dorgan in Washington , D.C Paula's love for cats began as a child growing up on a farm in North Dakota where there were many cats, both tame and feral. |
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Today, she and her husband, Kevin, are guardians for Sam and Sheba, two beautiful feral cats. In addition to being a Divine Feline Board Member, she is a member of The Cherry Creek Chorale and a volunteer for the “Meals on Wheels” program sponsored by Volunteers of America. Paula holds a B.S. in University Studies/Business from North Dakota State University .
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Mark Reinhardt has been writing and lecturing on vegetarianism and animal rights issues for more than 20 years. As a businessman and attorney he has served in senior management for a number of high-tech companies, maintained a successful corporate law practice, and served on the boards of various nonprofit and for-profit corporations.
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He is currently the chairman of the board of Rocky Mountain Animal Defense, an organization founded in 1994 to help eliminate the human-imposed suffering of animals in the Rocky Mountain region . Mark's popular column, On or Off the Mark , has been published by the Vegetarian Society for more than two decades, and has been reprinted online and in numerous U.S. and international publications. His book, The Perfectly Contented Meat-Eater's Guide to Vegetarianism , was published by Continuum in 1998. Mark holds degrees in engineering and law from Duke, Harvard, and the University of Chicago . |
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Dr. Susanna Russo graduated from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences in 1996. During the ensuing years, she moved back to Denver and traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico with her friend and classmate, Dr. Erica Rambus, where they and other veterinarians in the Yucatan Animal Rescue Foundation performed free spay/neuter on local dogs and cats. |
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Dr. Russo’s love of cats, both small and large led her to Kenya and Tanzania where she realized her dream of watching wild cats in their natural environment. After returning from Africa, Dr. Russo traveled with a group of American veterinarians to China and met with local veterinarians to exchange ideas on current practices of disease prevention. |
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In 2000 she began focusing on the needs of feral cats with the enthusiastic support of Dr. Rambus. The end result of three years of brainstorming and collaboration was the development of Divine Feline. Dr. Russo pursued another dream of moving to San Francisco in 2003. Once there she became involved with two Bay area feral cat spay neuter programs in addition to continuing her work with Divine Feline serving as President of the Board of Directors.
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Dwight Smith has served on numerous committees for different organizations over the years and currently serves, on the Board of Directors for the Cats’ Meow Foundation. He recently finished up a term as a member of the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Choral Society where he chaired the Governance Committee. He enjoys reading, writing, skiing, tennis and playing and singing many styles of music. These activities keep him busy in addition to keeping up with the cats "who always seem to be one step ahead" of him. |
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Our Medical Director |
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Dr. Erica Rambus is a 1996 graduate of Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She practiced for 7 years at Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital, a nonprofit hospital for indigent clients and their pets, in Denver, Colorado. In 2003 Dr. Rambus left Harrison to collaborate with her friend and classmate, Dr. Susanna Russo, in helping Colorado's feral cats by creating Divine Feline.
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Dr. Rambus also runs a house call practice, Vagabond Vet, which now consists mainly of in-home euthanasia for her clients' beloved, dying pets. She also continues to provide spay and neuter services on a relief basis for Harrison and The Denver Dumb Friend's League. Erica's hobbies include running 1/2 marathons with her sister, vegan cooking, reading, organic gardening, and cross-country skiing. She shares her home, and heart, with a number of 4-legged animals, one of whom is a paraplegic orange tabby named Iggy |
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Home | |||
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We value your support for this project as the organization relies heavily on donations to cover operating costs. To make a donation click on the button below. |
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To schedule a mobile visit to your area, please call: 303 648-1245
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For information on how you can get involved! | |||
Resources
| Please Call | Dr. Erica Rambus at 303.777.1723 | |
| Or send donations to: |
Dr. Erica Rambus Make checks payable to "Divine Feline" |