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About Us Columbus Dog Connection is a 501c3, limited admission dog and cat rescue organization, formed in 1998. Mission Statement The mission of the Columbus Dog Connection is to improve the lives of cats and dogs in Ohio by focusing on:
2008 2009 2010 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Mid-Year 2023 2024 Mid-Year |
A Video Overview of What We Have Accomplished
Awards Media Video Library Our office 2761 Johnstown Rd Columbus OH 43219 614-471-9000 If you would like to receive our annual newsletter via land mail, send your land mail address to: [email protected] |
Our Board
Carol Folkerth,
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Carol is a CDC adopter and longtime supporter. Carol was the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus until recently when she retired. Carol and her husband have two rescued pooches from Kind Hands for Paws.
Carol is our current Board President. |
Linda Diroll,
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Linda is a volunteer, foster parent, and supporter of the Columbus Dog Connection. Her love of animals stemmed from growing up on a farm in northern Indiana and helping care for the livestock and family pets. Currently, Linda has 3 dogs, adopted in 2016 from Sophia's Grace Foundation, a rescue in which she also volunteers as an application processor. She also has a cat that appeared as a stray on her doorstep.
Linda previously worked for the Ohio Department of Corrections as an IT manager, retiring in 2020 with 31 years of service. Since retirement, Linda has happily filled her time with various volunteer opportunities at the CDC, the Mid Ohio Food Bank, and the Bed Brigade. |
Missy Gorman |
Missy was born in Columbus and has lived in Westerville since 1986. She graduated from OSU and worked as a perfusionist for 9 years, then worked in IT for 32 years at OSU. Missy retired in 2022. Missy has two kids, Katie 29 and Billy 28.
Missy first found out about Columbus Dog Connection in 2020 when she adopted two kittens, Sol and Luna. She then proceeded to foster a kitten Stella who was a foster fail. CDC helped with trapping a feral kitten Nova, which Missy socialized and ended up keeping. Missy helps out with cat transport and the cat care in the office as needed in addition to being a great foster mom. In her spare time she enjoys working in the yard, playing Bocce and socializing with family and friends. |
Dr. Devon Horne |
Dr. Horne is the proprietor of Clintonville Animal Hospital. Dr. Horne has helped CDC by performing surgeries and tending to our foster cats/dogs either at our office or at her practice. Prior to Clintonville Animal Hospital, Dr. Horne worked at several private practices. Dr. Horne and her husband (also a veterinarian) have an English Mastiff and a rescued French bulldog.
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Dr. Kristy Clay |
Dr Clay is a graduate of The Ohio State University. She has donated to and adopted a pooch from Columbus Dog Connection. Dr Clay helps our efforts by volunteering at our vaccine clinic as well as seeing many of our foster dogs. Dr Clay has been with Gahanna Animal Hospital since 1996. She is an expert small animal pocket pet Vet. Dr Clay also serves on the City Parks/Rec Dog Advisory Board.
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Theresa Lapworth |
Theresa became a CDC foster mom and adopter in 2023 and loved the experience. She has been with Nationwide Financial in Retirement Plans for 29 years. An avid cat lover, she is looking forward to retiring in a few years so she can devote more time to volunteering at CDC. She is a graduate of the Ohio State University with a degree in Criminology. She lives in Italian Village with her husband and 4 cats.
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Our Staff
Mirna Bowman,
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Mirna is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Columbus Dog Connection where she has served since 1998. Mirna was born in Guatemala and came to the United States when she was 5 years old. She grew up in Washington DC and is fluent in Spanish. Mirna is a graduate from The American University in Washington, DC with a BSBA in Accounting and Finance (1982) and is a Certified Public Accountant (1986). Her work experience includes Auditor with Grant Thornton International in Washington, DC; Assistant Controller with Environ in Arlington, Virginia; and Controller at The Jewish Center in Columbus, Ohio. She shares her home with three dogs and four cats. During her free time, she enjoys gardening and traveling.
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Katrina Johnson, RVT
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Katrina is the Assistant Director of Columbus Dog Connection. Katrina coordinates the scheduling of our travel clinics with The Andy and is also our foster dog coordinator. Katrina graduated in 2006 from Columbus State Community College and is a Licensed Registered Vet Tech. Her previous work experience includes Assistant Director of PetNursing at Banfield Pet Hospital of Polaris Parkway and Barn Manager at Circle P Sanctuary, a non-profit horse rescue in Marengo, Ohio.
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Jen Kulina-Lanese,
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Jennifer is a life long animal lover. She proudly served the animals of Franklin County as a Humane Officer for 8 1/2 years. She then moved on to do large scale animal rescue across the nation with HSUS. Jennifer was selected as one of Central Ohio's 20 Outstanding Women in 2016 for her work in animal welfare and advocacy. Knowing that spaying and neutering is a key step to help end pet overpopulation and neglect, Jennifer enjoys her role in caring for animals before and after their surgery.
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Adelle Wills,
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Adelle graduated from Columbus State Community College in 2019. She managed a dog daycare and boarding facility for about 3 years until she joined CDC in early 2022. She currently shares her home with one dog and one cat but is hoping to expand her pack soon.
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Our Veterinarian
Dr. Kmietsch, DVM |
Dr. Kmietsch graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2023. She worked with the Union County Humane Society throughout high school, her undergraduate education at Otterbein University, and Veterinary School. Her passion for volunteering and working in shelter medicine extends into her personal life as well as she has three rescue cats at home. Dr. Kmietsch and her partner also have an English Setter, a horse, and a donkey. Dr. Kmietsch is also an associate with a private practice veterinary clinic.
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About Columbus Dog Connection and "The Andy"
For 13 yrs, we have been sprinting a marathon to save dogs/cats. We know the most effective way to help the most dogs & cats is prevention.
First, we obtained office space and now have taken delivery of our first mobile truck to do spay/neuter in rural areas of Ohio.
We need to continue to raise enough funds to cover the salary for a vet, a vet tech, an assistant & supplies. The more funds we raise, the more s/n surgeries we can do.
For sponsorship info, contact us at 471-9000 or [email protected]
We are incredibly excited to see our dream of doing high quality, high volume spay/neuter come to a reality. We have known for many years now,
our most efficient use of donations and endless blood, sweat and tears we (and all rescue people) put into saving homeless dogs and cats,
is to get more spay/neuter services to the areas that need it most. This mobile truck will travel to rural counties to perform s/n services. This truck will also afford us the opportunity to extend services to other rescues in order to help them serve even more homeless dogs/cats.
We could not have done this with out the generosity and support of many. Without the support of Joyce & Bill, simply, we would still
be writing for grants to make the truck a reality. We named the truck Andy after their beloved pooch Andy.
Our most heart felt thanks to Joyce and Bill for believing in our dream and caring so deeply about helping so many dogs and cats.
The best way we know how to thank them is to turn Ohio into a state that has no euthanasia for lack of space.
The Dream This project inspired by our love for all dogs/cats & the phenomenal rescue & shelter people in the trenches, who give so much of themselves to save every one of them.
We operate a mobile spay/neuter service, targeting areas with a high animal population. Overpopulation results from unplanned litters in low income communities.
We travel to rural communities as well as offer services at our office here in Columbus.
Support to this project goes directly to more spay/neuter surgeries of rural, low income residents.
Scheduling 614-471-9000 or [email protected]
Special thanks to:
First, we obtained office space and now have taken delivery of our first mobile truck to do spay/neuter in rural areas of Ohio.
We need to continue to raise enough funds to cover the salary for a vet, a vet tech, an assistant & supplies. The more funds we raise, the more s/n surgeries we can do.
For sponsorship info, contact us at 471-9000 or [email protected]
We are incredibly excited to see our dream of doing high quality, high volume spay/neuter come to a reality. We have known for many years now,
our most efficient use of donations and endless blood, sweat and tears we (and all rescue people) put into saving homeless dogs and cats,
is to get more spay/neuter services to the areas that need it most. This mobile truck will travel to rural counties to perform s/n services. This truck will also afford us the opportunity to extend services to other rescues in order to help them serve even more homeless dogs/cats.
We could not have done this with out the generosity and support of many. Without the support of Joyce & Bill, simply, we would still
be writing for grants to make the truck a reality. We named the truck Andy after their beloved pooch Andy.
Our most heart felt thanks to Joyce and Bill for believing in our dream and caring so deeply about helping so many dogs and cats.
The best way we know how to thank them is to turn Ohio into a state that has no euthanasia for lack of space.
The Dream This project inspired by our love for all dogs/cats & the phenomenal rescue & shelter people in the trenches, who give so much of themselves to save every one of them.
We operate a mobile spay/neuter service, targeting areas with a high animal population. Overpopulation results from unplanned litters in low income communities.
We travel to rural communities as well as offer services at our office here in Columbus.
Support to this project goes directly to more spay/neuter surgeries of rural, low income residents.
Scheduling 614-471-9000 or [email protected]
Special thanks to:
- Dr Gonzalez . Maria Shriver described Dr G perfectly with this quote, "People who are really good at their game are generous with their gifts". Thanks to Dr G for being so generous and caring about the big picture, which is addressing the overpopulation problem.
- Mike & Bob at Lizard Skinz, made our truck "ours" and we could not be more tickled with it.
- Laura Sauer, professional photographer who gave a day to shoot the dogs and cats on our truck. And thanks to her assistant, Lisa Barton.
- Kathleen at Paw Prints Photography for doing an impromptu photo shoot of our cats !