DENKAI ANIMAL SANCTUARY

Description: Denkai Animal Sanctuary (the “Sanctuary“), along with its founders, staff, and volunteers, will strive to reach the following goals:

1. To set up and maintain a sanctuary (no-kill shelter) to provide permanent shelter for farm animals, mustang horses, and other domesticated animals; to rescue unwanted, abandoned, and/or abused animals; to provide adoption network services; and to provide information on the care and treatment of animals.

2. To research, monitor, and document inhumane or abusive treatment of farm animals, mustang horses, and other domesticated animals throughout the United States and to seek reform when abuses are found.

3. To conduct educational programs and seminars for the general public regarding the prevention of animal abuse through newsletters, news releases, and media presentations.

4. To set up and maintain a self-sustainable living environment for people and animals through agricultural sources such as organic gardening, composting, and alternative energy sources.

5. To provide shelter, volunteer opportunities, and alternative living for at-risk youth.

Target demographics: Active adults between 18 and 70 years young nation-wide.

Youth Groups ages 6 -18 in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Direct beneficiaries per year: Denkai Animal Sanctuary is unique in that it aims to provide a combination of services for animals in need, at‐risk youth, and environmental awareness. This will be accomplished through hands on educational opportunities.

Someone who had 3 hours of volunteer time could: Socialize animals, update website information, create or distribute literature, clean kennels and cages, groom animals, walk dogs, pet and give love to horses or other livestock, clean pens, feed animals, work in our gardens, transport an animal from a shelter to the adoption facility or sanctuary, transport an animal to a foster or adoptive family, help with repairs or maintenance on structures and buildings or yards, take photos for petfinder and websites, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

Geographic areas served: Denkai has helped several regions of the US including CA and the victims of hurricanes in the coastal regions of the south.

Board Members and Affiliation: I. The Sanctuary was founded in May 2004 by Floss Blackburn and was established with four board members: Floss Blackburn, President; Darrin Hill, Vice President; Kimberley Vowell, Secretary; and Michelle Dieger, Treasurer. Both Ms. Vowell and Ms. Dieger have pursued other career avenues and have chosen to dedicate their time to those areas. The Sanctuary has since added Elizabeth Connell, Bob Grube, Connie Rochelle, Anne Little, and Louise Orr-Bell the Board which at this time consists of six members:
Ms. Floss Blackburn, President and Director. Ms. Blackburn brings skills in business management, marketing and bookkeeping along with 10 years of experience in basic veterinary care and homeopathic/herbal remedies. She has also worked over the past four years with many dog and horse trainers and behaviorists to gain handling and basic veterinary skills for all of the animals taken in by the Sanctuary.

Mr. Bob Grube, Vice President. Bob Grube is truly an animal lover, having had pets in his life since the age of two, he understands and appreciates the significant roles they play in our lives. Bob has adopted two special animals from Denkai; "Little Flossie Kneehigh" (a pigmy goat) and Rosie, a small chihuahua/Pomeranian cross dog. These two only add character to his menagerie of llamas, goats,chickens, a dog named Heidi and his cat Jack.

Bob is Right of Way Manager with the Colorado Department of Transportation and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from New Mexico State University.

Bob is in charge of all property acquisition for CDOT, oversees property management and reviews all legal documents for CDOT.

Ms. Elizabeth Connell, Secretary. Elizabeth Connell, pet owner and animal enthusiast since childhood, and a graduate of CSU in Animal Science 1974. Elizabeth enjoys living with Gizmo, the Wonder Dog, and four cats. Elizabeth can be found at marketing booths and fairs promoting the Sanctuary.

Connie Rochelle, Treasurer. Connie works in administration at CDOT and has just recently been added to our board of Directors.

Dr. Anne Little, DVM, Medical Director. Veterinarian with a masters degree in veterinary parasitology and diversified skills including seventeen years of small and large animal clinical practice, veterinary consulting, project management, and five years of experience in drug development/regulatory affairs.

Louise Orr-Bell, Director of Marketing. Louise has been a dedicated supporter and sponsor for Denkai over the past three years. She currently sponsors Denkai's mustang horse, Cutter.

Louise resides in Alexandria, VA, is a linguist and is currently running our marketing program out of the capitol!

Mr. Darrin Hill, Farrier. Mr. Hill brings eight years of professional horse training, farrier, and veterinary knowledge with him to the Sanctuary. He is also very skilled in mechanical and electrical work, welding, wells and truck driving. These skills are instrumental in the daily operations of the sanctuary, and his work has allowed us to keep costs at a minimum by donating his expertise and skills to the sanctuary.

Ms. Mary Charbonneau, Advisor. Ms. Charbonneau is a native of Washington State who also lived in Germany and Oklahoma prior to arriving in Colorado in 2005. She first joined Denkai as an animal sponsor, and was nominated to the Board of Directors in January 2006. She holds a B.A. in History from the University of Washington (1994) and a M.A. in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma (2003). The bulk of her professional experience has been with federal government agencies, both as a military officer and as a contract employee. She is also an experienced community volunteer. Mary's areas of expertise include research, program development, project coordination, sustainability, and community-based social marketing. At Denkai, Mary is focusing on strategic planning, organizational development, public relations, and expanding the recognition program. She enjoys the challenge of helping to build an organization whose purpose she describes as "inspiring and meaningful."