Saving Dobermankind Animal Rescue (SDAR), a Colorado 501(c)3 non-profit has announced a new Board of Directors. The new board includes Anthony Martinez, President; Emily Pischel, Vice President; Erin Fandal, Treasurer; Abby Tomkiewicz, Secretary; and Shawna McGregor, Marketing & Outreach. Saving Dobermankind pulls Doberman Pinschers, Doberman mixes and other breeds from high-kill shelters in Colorado and surrounding states, and is purely donation and volunteer based.

Anthony Martinez joins the Saving Dobermankind Board as President. Martinez served as a Compliance Manager for a non-profit healthcare corporation for 33 years. He was intrigued and drawn to the process of all-volunteer non-profit Doberman rescue groups so much so that he was pulled to the “dog-side” and retired eight years early to serve these majestic canines. “I am amazed at the positive energy and direction an organized team–One Team, One Mission–can accomplish in helping deserving Dobermans,” he said. “One of our biggest challenges is finding and keeping volunteers engaged and active for the good of the Dobermans, life can be demanding. We also have an obligation to be aware of and address the potential for caregiver burnout,” Martinez says. “I’m an optimist, and I enjoy the day-to-day challenges of rescue, one dog at a time, we wouldn’t do it if it was easy.”

Martinez became enamored with the Doberman breed when he met a sole survivor of a raid on a dog-fighting ring named Leo. This handsome, deserving red Doberman was estimated to be 14 years old and a weathered old soul who ended up coming home with Martinez where he was spoiled rotten for the short remainder of his life. Since then, Martinez has been driving the Doberman rescue bus. Now he is the loving owner of several Doberman including Loki, Aiden, Cain, Zorro, Aldo, Quinn, Sancho, Jett, Cash (a SDAR sunset phase foster), and Caiden (a SDAR foster).

Emily Pischel has been named Vice President of the Board. She is a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Coordinator. “I want to be an integral part in the growth and success of Saving Dobermankind. The better we are, the more dogs we can help find their happily ever after,” Pischel said. “My family currently has two Dobermans and a German Shepherd. Bailey was our first Doberman and made us fall in love with the breed. Once I started volunteering and fostering, we brought Karma into our home as a sunset foster for Saving Dobermankind. She was pulled from a shelter with mammary tumors and unfortunately her cancer is not curable so now she will live the rest of her life with us.”

Pischel said her family quickly fell in love with the breed and wanted to help as much as they possibly could, with volunteering becoming a family affair that includes her husband and kids. “The biggest surprise for me is the amount of dogs needing help,” Pischel noted. “It can sometimes be overwhelming how many need homes and medical and love. We do the very best we can with our resources, but there are always 50 more for every one adopted.” Pischel continued: “Everything is volunteer based. No one here is making any money and we are doing it in the little spare time we have. The more help we have, the more resources available, the more dogs we can save.”

Erin Fandal has been named Treasurer. She is Operations Manager for a local roofing company, Infinity Roofing where she handles Construction Project Management, including inspecting, measuring, and estimating for roof replacements. She went to school for Land Use, Environment and Resources, and environmental causes, especially water resources, are near and dear to her heart.

“My sister, Emily Pischel, began volunteering for Saving Dobermankind, and it’s been a family affair since then,” Fandal noted. “Our mother started out fostering puppies–she adopted one, of course!–and now our other sister has joined the cause.  It’s really neat to have the family invested in a cause.” Fandal continued: “I was most surprised by how truly sweet and goofy Dobermans are, contrasted with some preconceived notions that they are not.  These dogs are so smart, loyal and loving; they really want to be part of the family.”

Abby Tomkiewicz has been named Secretary. She is owner/operator of Five Star Critter Care, Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Company. Prior to devoting her days to caring for dogs, she was a geologist.

“I had been looking for a rescue to volunteer with once I moved to Denver, and I saw a post from Saving Dobermankind that they were looking for volunteers. I started volunteering processing adoption applications and have enjoyed the other great volunteers in the rescue,” Tomkiewicz recalled. “I have never owned Dobermans but growing up a neighbor had a pair and I always thought they were a wonderful breed.”

Shawna McGregor has been appointed to the Board, in charge of Marketing & Outreach. She is Senior Vice President of The Rosen Group, and opened the firm’s Denver office in 2012. She is passionate about animal rights and the environment. She adopted a Doberman from SDAR in 2015 and has been an active volunteer and donor ever since.

“I wanted a Doberman since I was a kid and my Aunt had one. My parents also happened to own the noble breed before I was born. I brought my first Dobie, Kita, into our lives in 2014 and immediately fell in love with the breed’s loyalty, energy, grace and beauty. But I decided she needed another friend,” McGregor said. “My mom told me I should rescue, so I started surfing the internet looking for a buddy for Kita. I found Saving Dobermankind through Rescue Me, and they connected me with Bruno, at the time a 10-month-old red Doberman at a high-kill shelter in Arkansas. SDAR had him transported to Colorado in March 2015, and the rest is history. I know I will always have Dobermans in my life.”

Doberman Pinschers are known to be affectionate, obedient, loyal, energetic, watchful and fearless. A Doberman Pinscher of correct breed temperament is trustworthy with his master’s children, friends and company. They are known to be excellent with children and other pets. They are great learners. They need exercise and like to be with their humans as much as possible. Today’s Doberman temperament has undergone a gradual but steady decrease in overall sharpness.

To review Saving Dobermankind dogs and puppies that are available for adoption, please visit SavingDobermankind.org, Petfinder or RescueMe. To support Saving Dobermankind fundraising efforts, please consider purchasing the Rescue’s 2017 Calendars, which are now on sale for $8 at https://www.savingdobermankind.org/online-store. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Shawna McGregor at917-971-7852 or shawna@rosengrouppr.com.

 

About Saving Dobermankind Animal Rescue

Saving Dobermankind is a 501(c)3 non-profit volunteer rescue based out Colorado. SDAR pulls Doberman Pinschers, Dobie mixes and other breeds of dogs from high-kill shelters in Colorado and surrounding states. SDAR is purely donation and volunteer based, with every penny re-invested in the care of the dogs. For more information, visit SavingDobermankind.org, Petfinder or RescueMe. Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. Support us through our Amazon Wish List and on Amazon Smile.