Our Board Members
President
Wayne Laliberte
Wayne has lived in Southern California and been part of the local community for over 26 years. He and his family came to California when Wayne began working as the General Contractor for a locally established Real Estate, Development, and Construction company.
He says, “I am fortunate to still be with the same company all these years later. Having dogs as part of the family has been an important part of my life since I was very young, and having a well-trained pet results in a healthier, happier and more well-adjusted pet. I became more actively involved in lessons and training when we got an English Shepherd about seven years ago. That is when we encountered Kindred Spirits. I have always appreciated KSCEC’s approach to dog training and their continual evolution to looking at best practices as well as unique training opportunities.”
Treasurer
Deb Lee
“As I have mostly owned large breed dogs, I know the importance of having a well-behaved obedient dog. I have been volunteering with Love on a Leash since 2016, first with my GSD Indy and now also with my GSD Raven. I love to see how much joy therapy dogs create when visiting.”
I have been volunteering with LOAL since 2016. First with my GSD Indy and now also with my GSD Raven. I love to see how much joy therapy dogs create when visiting. We do a lot of visits at schools and always make sure to visit with the staff, too. They are also very happy to see us.
Secretary
Dori Slater Vance
Dori Slater Vance’s lifelong passion for all animals led her to her career in veterinary medicine. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of California, Davis, and spent nearly 20 years in the veterinary field. She was an influential advisory committee member of the SPCALA as they built their no-kill shelter in Long Beach, and has worked on the design of a number of animal shelters.
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Dori is also a Board member of FACE, the Foundation for Animal Care and Education. FACE is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) public charity that provides financial grants for animal owners who are unable to afford the cost of their pet’s emergency or critical care. (www.face4pets.org)
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Dori's two Australian Shepherds, Skye and Mysty, approve of KSCEC's mission of providing education and training to increase the bond between humans and dogs.
Director of KSCEC, Trainer
Kate Abbott
I have worked with dogs in various ways over the past 30 years: veterinary technician, protection and security dog handling, obedience instruction, and as a behavior consultant. I have been teaching group obedience classes and offering private training sessions through Kindred Spirits for the last seventeen years.
