Emilie Beard, founder and Vice-President of HOPE, has been an advocate for homeless animals since the 1950’s.  She has volunteered at the FWACC shelter for several years and realized the need for a low cost spay/neuter clinic and low cost vaccinations for many citizens of Fort Wayne during her time as an adoption counselor at the shelter.  Her particular interest is in the feline population which is overwhelmingly in need of help in our area.  She is currently managing the adoption of felines for HOPE through adoption events and the PetCo habitat in Fort Wayne.

  Madeleine Laird, HOPE for Animals founder and Clinic Executive Director, has been a Fort Wayne resident since 1998.  Prior to founding HOPE for Animals, Madeleine was an active volunteer at Fort Wayne animal Care and Control and served as President of Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control Commission.  Madeleine’s dream was to help make the city of Fort Wayne a pet friendly place that provides low cost health care, spay/neuter and vaccination programs for pet parents, as well as a safe haven for homeless and abused pets.  With the opening of the clinic, which provides low cost spay/neuter, part of her dream has come true.  Now she hopes to decrease euthanasia in Northeast Indiana by educating the public on the importance of spay and neuter.  Madeleine is married to Rob Laird and they share their home with their much loved husky mix, Cheyenne.

Lisa joined H.O.P.E.’s board in Fall 2011 and is employed as a Certified Public Accountant specializing in audits of non-profit entities & employee retirement plans. She is also active in Executive Women International.  She is a life-long animal lover and has raised cats, goats, rabbits, chinchillas, a llama and various rodents over the years.    Lisa lives with her husband, Jon, step-son, Logan, and her family’s much loved cat, Jack Frost, who was rescued as a kitten with frostbitten toes.  She learned of H.O.P.E through a co-worker and is excited to reduce unnecessary euthanasia in her community and promote pet adoption.

Lindsay is a practicing attorney in Fort Wayne, Indiana and the surrounding areas.  She is also a partner and founder of Franklin & Williams, P.C. in Fort Wayne.
She served as President of the Animal Law Society while in law school in Boston, where she helped campaign to ultimately end Greyhound racing in Massachusetts. She and her husband Cody R. Williams have rescue animals of their own and are dedicated to promoting animal welfare and fighting for animal rights.  Lindsay joined the H.O.P.E. board in 2011.

  Patt joined H.O.P.E.’s Board of Directors in May, 2010.  Her involvement in the organization began the previous summer, when she attended the “Art for Animals” fundraiser, hoping to find some local artwork to buy.  She and her husband, Wiley, came home without any paintings, but they didn’t come home empty-handed.  Four month old Eva, a black and white domestic shorthair kitten, and two month old Cosmo, a Ragdoll mix, joined the Kite Cat Clan, bringing the total feline population to a whopping seven!  

Patt brings many local contacts and supporters to the organization, primarily due to her many years of public service to the community.  She is a retired police officer, having served 31 years with the Allen County Police Department, retiring in 2006 at the rank of Captain.   She handled Public Information Officer duties during her tenure as well, and has maintained her local media contacts.  She continues her mission to serve Allen County area residents as the Senior Investigator and Deputy Coroner for the Allen County Coroner’s office for the past 5 ½ years. She served a four term on the Allen County Council from 2005 until 2009.   

An animal lover and pet owner for her entire life, Patt previously served on the Board of Directors for the Allen County SPCA.  She chairs the Board Development Committee for H.O.P.E. and has actively recruited to grow the Board.   She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Fort Wayne Central Branch YMCA and has been instrumental in assisting their fundraising efforts.

Born and raised in Fort Wayne, IN, the last of six children along with 5 Labrador’s and a rescued Beagle.

Saved numerous stray and lost dogs/ cats she encountered along her travels in and around Fort Wayne, along with raccoons, birds, and other creatures that happened on or around the Kratzert home.

Obtained degree in Early Childhood Development however decided to start a home cleaning business she has run for 15 plus years.  Feels the flexibility gives her time for her son Justin and husband Andy and gives her time and energy to give to a cause so much a part of her life for as long as she remembers.

Was introduced to H.O.P.E. by a client showing her a pamphlet she had run across about the organization and she contacted one of the original founders and knew she had found a place to fuel her passion for animals amongst others who felt as she did.

Morken’s primary purpose has been educating the masses who are unaware how H.O.P.E. is helping most by spaying and neutering the animals most likely to reproduce unwanted puppies and kittens that end up in shelters and ultimately euthanized.   She believes we fail as a public to prevent the overpopulation of dogs and cats and their offspring therefore leading shelters no other choice but to euthanize those that aren’t adopted, if we don’t continue to get the message of the importance of spaying and neutering in preventing euthanasia from becoming the end all for animals unable to find a home.

Ken Scheibenberger served Fort Wayne and Allen County for 20 years as an Allen Superior Court Judge.  His career on the bench began in 1991 when he was appointed by Governor Evan Bayh.

While serving his community, Scheibenberger helped found the drug court, as well as a program targeting high-risk probationers.

He became involved with H.O.P.E. for Animals when he joined the Board of Directors in 2011.  Ken felt the need to help H.O.P.E.'s mission when he realized how many animals were being euthanized unnecessarily.

Janet Westendorf recently retired from the Fort Wayne-Allen County Health Department after nearly 40 years of service.  

Mrs. Westndorf decided to join the H.O.P.E. for Animals team based on her love of all types of animals.  Janet saw an opportunity to do something for her community and to help make a difference for the animals.  Her experiences have encouraged her to take part in educating people in our community of the needs of companion animals.

Janet Westendorf recently adopted "Millie" from the Fort Wayne Pitbull Coalition and is enjoying sharing her home with a loving pitbull puppy.

 

 

Joseph M. Squadrito is the retired sheriff of Allen County Indiana.  Mr Squadrito served with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department for thirty three (33) years rising through the ranks before serving two (2) terms as sheriff. 

He is a graduate of the Charter Class of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, F.B.I., National Academy, United States Secret Service Academy, and the Southern Police Institute.  He is a Life Member of the International Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff’s Association, and a Senior Fellow of the Indiana Policy Review. 

Mr Squadrito is a veteran of the United States Air Force, Strategic Air Command, 320th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) and participated in the saturation bombardment of Southeast Asian Targets.

Mr Squadrito spent his summers and his high school years on his grandfather’s dairy farm in up-state New York.  It was during these years that he developed a fondness for animals.  Mr Squadrito and his wife Rita share their home with four (4) cats:  Tatter Tot, Miss Harmony, Joe E. Bear & Freddy the Free Loader.  In addition their adult children each have pets and enjoy them immensely.