Our Staff
Hannah Armstrong
Canine Sanctuary Caregiver
Best Things in Life: video games, anything and everything cute
Could Easily Live Without: frogs, corn
Karen Aseltine
Sanctuary Feline Wellness Specialist
Best Things in Life: bicycles, scented candles, gummy bears, warm summer nights
Could Easily Live Without: snow days, paper cuts, family members who complain about my cooking.
Edie Bonneville
Helpline Manager
Best things in life: Family, big smiles, nature and all its miracles, books, a good belly laugh and the unconditional love of animals
Could easily live without: TV, bills, traffic jams and lima beans
Lucas Brozyna
Canine Team Assistant Manager - Behavior Cottages
Best things in life: spending time outdoors, bike rides, and disc golf
Could easily live without: bad drivers, cold weather, and poor grammar
Shainna Burgess
Sanctuary Feline Caregiver
Best things in life: all things animal, winter wonderlands, Harry Potter, vegan junk food, witchy stuff, hiking, Schitt's Creek and Queer Eye!
Could easily life without: the end of the peanut butter jar, bullies, when you think you have more snooze time on your alarm but don't, non animal lovers, and anyone who "wants to speak to a manager"
Michelle Christensen
Sanctuary Feline Caregiver
Best things in life: Family, all animals and nature, Fall and Winter, chocolate
Could easily live without: Hot and humid weather, spiders, mosquitos, fireworks
Deb Fox
Sanctuary Canine Caregiver
Caroline Gaetano
Veterinary Program Manager
Best Things in Life: Fresh mountain air, hiking with dogs, my vacuum cleaner, and chocolate.
Could Easily Live Without: Glitter, bananas, and snakes.
Sara Geriak
Sanctuary Feline Caregiver
Best Things in Life: My dog Sam, Autumn, books, music, and strawberries.
Could Easily Live Without: Spiders and tuition expenses.
Mark Heinrich
Chief Financial Officer
Best things in life: Family and friends at Lake Sunapee, NH. Anything outside. Any sporting event: anywhere – anytime!
Could easily live without: Commercials and taxes.
Paul Johnson
Office Manager
Best Things in Life: Classical music, craft beer, and cartoons.
Could Easily Live Without: Sports
Marie Joyner
Canine Behavior Manager
Best Things in Life: In the woods with the dogs, The Maine Cabin, and Hound Hugs.
Could Easily Live Without: Social Media
Katelyn Kauffman
Sanctuary Canine Caregiver
Best Things in Life: Wind in my hair with the sun in face and bare feet in the grass, the trust and love of all furry creatures especially my fur baby, selfless people, live music, peaceful mornings, traveling and learning other cultures
Could Easily Live Without: Bad attitudes, Stubbing your toe, alarm clocks, being hangry, filing my nails, smelly sponges
Briana Keating
Sanctuary Feline Caregiver
Best Things in Life: fries, autumn, concerts, stephen king, ben & jerry's, and road trips.
Could Easily Live Without: bugs, football, needles, chocolate, country music, and traffic.
Caitlin Kelly
Adoption and Helpline Program Assistant
Best Things in Life: the amazing flora and fauna of this earth! Being by a body of water, and any form of cooked potato
Could Easily Live Without: a little less anxiety would be nice, confusing highways, meanness
Tom King
Sanctuary Facilities Caretaker aka Mr. Fix It
Susan B. Linker
Chief Executive Officer
Best Things in Life: Soft cat fur, Summer, and Home.
Could Easily Live Without: Country Music
Krystal Makowski
Canine Wellness Specialist &
Assistant Team Manager – Volunteer Cottages
Best Things in Life: All things sparkly, Photography, Mac and Cheese, and shopping.
Could Easily Live Without: Hitting my funny bone -the irony is too much.
Beth Merow
Community Cat Program Coordinator
Best Things in Life: Pets, all things nature and wildlife, repurposing stuff into other neater stuff, nerding out on popular science books, and true crime podcasts.
Could Easily Live Without: Poison ivy, sunburn, and mayonnaise.
Stephanie Montemerlo
Executive Director of Programs
Best Things in Life: Family, home, pasta, reading, traveling, and animals of course!
Could Easily Live Without: Cold weather, driving
Deanna Nickels
Canine College Program Manager
Best Things in Life: hot fudge sundaes, teaching dogs new tricks, sunshine, gardening, family, and friends.
Could Easily Live Without: snakes, cold weather, and bad coffee.
Jill Nugent
Canine Team Manager - Volunteer Cottages
Best Things in Life: Bicycle rides, dogs, fall, winter, and Christmas!
Could Easily Live Without: Humidity
Alyssa Oppelt
Sanctuary Canine Caregiver
Best Things in Life: wrapped up in warm blankets on a rainy day, sunsets & sunrises, puppy kisses and love
Could Easily Live Without: traffic jams, anxiety & stress, bills, & close minded people
Lindsey Pellino
Sanctuary Feline Team Assistant Manager
Best Things in Life: bike rides, hot sauce, lipstick, and reading on a hammock.
Could Easily Live Without: mosquitos, cold weather, and my own clumsiness.
Jon Phillips
Sanctuary Director
Best Things in Life: Watching TV on the couch with my wife and assorted furballs and all things musical.
Could Easily Live Without: Reality TV
Courtney Pugh
Sanctuary Canine Caregiver
Best Things in Life: Cats, Disney movies, summer, music, fashion, the beach and travel
Could Easily Live Without: spiders, traffic, getting older, winter, and pessimists
Josie Redding
Sanctuary Canine Caregiver
Best Things in Life: music, art, movies, animals, family and friends, the ocean
Could Easily Live Without: holes in socks, cold pizza, raw tomatoes
Courtney Schramm
Sanctuary Canine Caregiver
Best things in life: dogs, chocolate, vegan restaurants, tea, fuzzy socks, a fire in the fireplace, and Christmas music
Could easily live without: filling up my car with gas
Odera Smart
Sanctuary Canine Caregiver
Best things in life: animals, rugby, the gym, mortal kombat, traveling, art/history museums, family and friends, and summertime
Could easily live without: asparagus, bugs, being yelled at, Bartholomew the spider that lives in LS, traffic, and being hungry
Jennifer Strong
Sanctuary Canine Caregiver
Best Things in Life: Disney World, Halloween, The Drive-in Movies (yes they still exist!), Dogs (of course), Spending time with my husband and our fur kids, and Christmas movies!
Could Easily Live Without: Snakes and Spiders.
Kelsie Viel
Sanctuary Feline Caregiver
Best Things in Life: Spending time with my dogs, thunderstorms, sleeping in, traveling, movies, being at home, sunsets
Could Easily Live Without: Large crowds of people, pickles, spiders, heights
Montana Voisine
Sanctuary Canine Caregiver
Best Things in Life: All animals, nature, spending time with my fur babies, and Green Tea!
Could Easily Live Without: the cold, anxiety and college tuition
Alissia Vroom
Sanctuary Canine Behavior Assistant
Best Things in Life: Disney, Harry Potter, crafting, and being outdoors
Could Easily Live Without: Tuna fish, running, and cooking
Heather Wildman
Adoption Program & Social Media Manager
Best Things in Life: Mountain adventures, purple hair dye, Indian food, sunbathing with some furry friends, front row at a concert, and laughing until your stomach hurts
Could Easily Live Without: Stubbing your toe and the feeling of having something stuck in your teeth
Janice Wehner
Community Outreach Coordinator
Best Things in Life: Love of my family and pets, dark chocolate, purple, horses, dragonflies, movies, musicals, concerts, dancing, and uncontrollable laughter
Could Easily Live Without: Ticks, winter, wet socks, and reckless drivers.
Peyton Winter
Director of Canine Behavior Programs
Best Things in Life: Trees, Nice Views, Cool Rocks, Dogs, Stevie Nicks, and Iced Oat Milk Lattes
Could Easily Live Without: Traffic, Styrofoam, and Laundry
Leadership
It is our pleasure to welcome our Board of Directors. While this diverse group of individuals offers a myriad of skills and expertise, they share a common bond: a deep commitment to the mission of Our Companions Domestic Animal Sanctuary. We look forward to many accomplishments through the dedication of our new leadership.
Officers
Maria das Neves - Board Chair
Jennifer Coffey, Esq. - Secretary
Maneesh Shanbhag, CFA - Treasurer
Directors
Pat Foley - West Hartford, CT
Valerie Friedman - Washington Depot, CT
Frank Gaetano, CPA (Licensed in MA, CT, NY, and NJ) - Grafton, MA
Marie Joyner - Union, CT
Mitchell H. Linker - Bloomfield, CT
Susan B. Linker - Bloomfield, CT
George Trumbull - West Simsbury
Kim Zimmermann - Farmington, CT
Adam Zweifler, Esq. - West Hartford, CT
Advisory
Janet Bailey - Farmington, CT
Colleen Bridgeman - Willington, CT
Risa Davidson, M.S- West Hartford, CT
James Dolce, Willington, CT
Diana Garfield, Esq. – Acton, MA
Linda Hatten - Farmington, CT
Anne Llewellyn - Enfield, CT
Kerri Mansberg - Ashford, CT
Lauren Mascola, D.V.M. - West Hartford, CT
Joleen Nevers – Storrs, CT
Barbara Ruben - Middletown, CT
Chris Shivery - Avon, CT
Kathy Sullivan - Bloomfield, CT
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