Big Dog Ambassadog

As a puppy, Big Dog was left homeless after being purchased from a pet store as a Christmas gift. The well meaning family, unprepared for the demands of a rambunctious pup, left him at the Orange County Animal Shelter. Luckily, he was rescued just in the nick of time by the South Orange county Animal Shelter coalition. Big Dog enjoys attending numerous animal welfare events, promoting a pro-humane Animal Shelter in Lake Forest. He is an accomplished Elvis impersonator and in his free time enjoys ball chasing, sofa lounging, and especially belly rubs.

Melora Kloeckner

Melora Kloeckner is a Union representative with the international Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Number47 rrepresenting the Southern California Edison workers in the Orange County and surrounding areas since 2000. She is formerly a 20 year employee of SCE. As one of the founding members of the IBEW Local 47 Injured Workers Fund, a nonprofit organization providing assistance to injued workers, she became the staff liaison with the organization and Sourthern California Edison management.

Melora was a volunteer at the mission Viejo Animal Services Center and a founding member of its original volunteer organization. During her 10-plus years as a volunteer she served as the organization's president and the volunteer coordinator for the city's shelter volunteer program.

She has been involved in numerous event planning endeavors including SCE's United Way program, class reunions and work related social events.

Mrs. Kloeckner is a 4 year resident of Lake Forest and an 18 year resident of South Orange County.

Allison Mills

Allison Mills has worked for the City of Garden Grove since 1984. She currently is a Senior Project Manager in the Community Development Department where she works on affordable housing projects and manages programs and funding for lower income families and neighborhoods.

Allison´s volunteer work includes serving on the Hearing Board for the Lake Forest II Master Home Owner´s Association, and working as an Election Day Official for every election since 1999. In the past, Allison has served on the Board of Directors for Mission Viejo Animal Shelter´s volunteer group as Fundraising Chair and Publicity-Adoption Chair.

Allison, her husband Bob, and their two dogs have lived in the City of Lake Forest since 1993.

Patti Farina

Patti Farina has been employed by the Orange County Market Place (copyright) since 1989 where she started with the company managing office staffing, payroll, accounts payable and the coordination/computerization of 1,200 vendors at the Market Place.   She is now the Director Administration and Corporate Secretary coordinating executive calendars, corporate correspondence, property management and all aspects of emplyee benefits.

Patti and her husband, Rich, and their 2 dogs have lived in Lake Forest since 1991, and currently volunteer on the City of Lake Forest 4th of July Parade committee.  Patti and her dog, Bailey, recently became a sanctioned Delta Dog volunteer team and are able to visit schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Dr. James Gardner

Dr. James Gardner is a former University Professor.  He is the author of six books and more than 100 professional articles, as well as the author of six software programs.   As a management consultant, he worked with Fortune 500 companies such as General Motors and Waste Management.

Dr. Gardner is a licensed animal rehabilitation specialist. He has been involved in animal rescue work for sea animals in oil spills, for pelicans in the Salton Sea, and went to New Orleans on three separate occasions to help rescue animals in the wake of Hurrican Katrina.   His exploits were featured in the book Rescued.

Dr. Gardner owns 3000 acres on Atlantic rainforest in Brazil where he protects the forest and operates an animal refuge for animals involved in the illegal export trade.   In cooperation with the state government, Dr. Gardner´s work involves rescuing the Pau Brazil tree from near extinction.   The Pau Brazil tree is the only tree in the world to produce high quality wood for musical bows, and the 2000 trees currently growing there represent the single largest collection of Pau Brazil trees growing anywhere in the world.  

You can find out more at The Gaia Way