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WHO WE ARE
Friends of Guilford County Animal Shelter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to provide enrichment and other resources for animals housed at the Guilford County Animal Resource Center. We seek to serve in a capacity that advocates for the animals in efforts that best serve to improve the quality of life for the animals while they are housed at the shelter.
Our team is run by current and former employees, volunteers, and lifetime advocates of the animal shelter. We are run independently of Guilford County Animal Resource Center.
We rely on donations from people like you to help provide enrichment for the animals in the shelters care.
How can I help?
We rely on donations, which are all tax deductible. Monetary donations can be sent via card, Venmo, PayPal, or CashApp, which you can find here.
We work to enhance the enrichment of the animals in our care either through weekly kong treats, play yard toys and high value treats. You can securely send us a donation via Amazon! Check out our Amazon shopping lists here.
Interested in volunteering? We would love to have you join us. Check out opportunities here.
OUR TEAM
Committed to the Cause
REGINA GARDNER
President
Regina Gardner is the Marketing Communications Manager with Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation. She worked with Guilford County Animal Services for 2 years as their Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator. Regina is an active volunteer with Feral Cat Assistance Program, serves as Guilford County District Leader for the Humane Society of the US and a founding member of Guilford College Reaching Out for Animal Rights (ROAR). She has 2 rescued dogs, one from GCAS and 5 cats.
MARTHA MOORE
Vice President
Martha Moore formerly worked at Guilford County Animal Shelter as an Animal Care Technician and now works as a certified professional dog trainer at the ASPCA's Behavioral Rehabilitation Center. She is a Transport Coordinator and Group Leader for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. She also takes in older dogs from GCAS and provides love and care during their final months as a hospice foster. Martha graduated from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor's Degree in Health Science and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Nonprofit Management at Johns Hopkins University.
DENA MABE
Secretary
Dena Mabe works in Marketing for BGSF, a workforce solutions company. She has volunteered with GCAS since 2019, and especially loves helping with the vaccine clinics and adoption fairs. Snuggling with dogs is her favorite thing in the world, other than seeing them get adopted into loving homes. She has an 8-year-old son who shares her love for animals. Dena is also the proud parent of a GCAS-alum, "Gizmo," who was a #fosterfail.
DAN YASAKI
Community Representitive
Dan Yasaki has been with GCAS since January 2019. In his free time, he is a professor of mathematics at UNCG. He has two wonderful kids, three terrible dogs, and a loving wife that makes sure everyone is safe and happy.
RENEE HOOKS
Treasurer
Renee Hooks is the former Controller for Natuzzi America. In addition to the Controller functions she also handled the Showroom Inventory and HR functions. She was with Natuzzi for 17 years before she had to resign due to cancer and MS. Renee has been a volunteer at the Guilford County Animal Shelter since 2017. She currently is in charge of the MOW’s Senior Pet Food Distribution Program which began in May 2020. The program currently has 42 seniors on the program. The animals include 46 dogs, 20 cats, 31 feral cats and 2 parakeets. She has 4 rescue dogs and 1 rescue cat. Renee enjoys reading and spending time with her first grandchild.
ELAINE NOLAN
Community Representative
Elaine Nolan is a current shelter employee and has been working there since 2018 as the Animal Behavior and Enrichment Manager. She has been working with animals for the past 16 years starting her career as a marine mammal trainer. In 2015 she came to North Carolina to work at the NC zoo as an elephant keeper. She then transitioned her career to become an Animal Control Officer from 2016-2018 which led to finding her job at Guilford County Animal Shelter. She has her CPDT-KA training accreditation and practices positive reinforcement training methods. She has 2 dog kids and 2 human ones plus a cat. In her spare time she loves to travel and to binge watch Netflix series.
GAIL WILLIAMS
Community Representative
Gail Williams is a retired English teacher with Guilford County Schools who began volunteering at the shelter in 2019. She is a member of the Guilford County Animal Shelter Advisory Board and enjoys fostering kittens for Juliet's House Animal Rescue. She also has six rescue/shelter dogs and two shelter cats of her own that she adores.
ANNA DANCY
Community Representative
Anna Dancy is a retired freelance graphic designer working primarily with VF Corporation and Unifi. Prior to this, she worked as a Marketing Manager for Wrangler and Riders Brands, Coordinator of interior retail shops and installation for Marithé and François Girbaud, Art Director for Kayser-Roth and Visual Merchandising/Advertising Manager for a retail store chain. Her advocacy for the animal shelter was instigated by having to surrender her own dog due to unforeseen circumstances many years ago. She started volunteering a year and a half ago at GCAS and is committed to assisting the shelter in any way possible. She and her husband have two dogs, one a rescue.
ALLISON DUNMORE
Community Representative
Allison Dunmore is a dog trainer and behavior consultant and a retired high school and middle school exceptional children’s teacher. She has been a volunteer at the Guilford County Animal Shelter since 2011. Allison has been teaching with Guilford County Pet Responsibility Program since 2013. She has a 14-year-old rescue cat and a 10-year-old rescue dog from GCAS. The only thing she likes better than animals is spending time with her amazing grandchildren.
ASHLEY TILLERY
Community Representative