About Us
Friends of CITY DOGS Cleveland is a 501 (c)(3), volunteer run organization established in April 2020 with the mission of providing the animals taken in by Cleveland Animal Care and Control (CACC) with medical care and enrichment during their time at the kennel, preparing them for adoption into loving homes, and creating opportunities for potential adopters to get to know them as the great family members they were meant to be. Friends of CITY DOGS Cleveland is CACC’s primary fundraising partner.
OUR MISSION
To provide financial assistance for the animals at Cleveland Animal Care and Control, which includes daily enrichment opportunities, medical care, and supporting the CITY DOGS adoption and volunteer programs.
OUR VISION
Enriching, improving, and advocating for the lives of Cleveland's homeless dogs as they navigate their journey to a better life.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michelle deBock, President
Robert Heffner, Treasurer
Stephanie Halko-Dudly, Secretary
Shelby Brooks, Director of Marketing
Beth Heffner, Director of Events & Financing
Val Gesting, Director of Finance
EIN 84-5003484
About The Board
Michelle deBock President
Steph Halko-Dudley Secretary
Michelle deBock President
Michelle deBock is the founding board president of Friends of CITY DOGS Cleveland. She has been an educator for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District for 25 years, teaching children of all ages. deBock’s interest in dog advocacy increased in 2010 when fate brought her into contact with a stray pitbull-type dog that stole her heart and eventually her bed. Learning more about the breed discrimination ordinances in Cleveland, she became a supporter of efforts to change city regulations, specifically legislation that ended BSL in Cleveland.
Michelle began her formal volunteer work at the Cleveland Kennel in 2018 and has logged over 4000 hours dog walking, volunteer training, conducting adoption meets, and attending events throughout the city to promote the organization. Importantly, she has fostered dozens of CITY DOGS for short-term respite and recovery, until adoption. She is also a multi-time member of the special group known as CITY DOGS foster failures.
Robert Heffner Treasurer
Steph Halko-Dudley Secretary
Michelle deBock President
I started out as a volunteer for City Dogs by walking dogs with my wife Beth. We then became more involved with events, transports, hikes, and run group. Working with the City Dogs group has changed our lives In many ways but most importantly with the addition of our very own City Dog, Gemma.
Steph Halko-Dudley Secretary
Steph Halko-Dudley Secretary
Steph Halko-Dudley Secretary
Stephanie has over 25 years of experience in communications and operations within the healthcare sector. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree from Bowling Green State University.
Stephanie has been a City Dogs volunteer since 2019, when her uncle adopted a pocket pitty named Beezus. Her favorite activity will always be volunteering on early Saturday mornings and walking dogs on Detroit, although now she enjoys attending events and selling merchandise.
Stephanie lives in Brunswick with her husband and dog. She enjoys gardening, attending the theater and museums, and exploring Cleveland.
Shelby Brooks Director of Marketing + Merchandising
Beth Heffner Director of Fundraising + Events
Beth Heffner Director of Fundraising + Events
Shelby first joined FOCDC as the Marketing and Merchandising Chair in June 2020 and joined the Board of Directors in 2023. She graduated from Cleveland State University with a Master’s degree in 2018. She brought nearly a decade’s experience merchandising in retail stores in the Cleveland area throughout her college career. Shelby strives
Shelby first joined FOCDC as the Marketing and Merchandising Chair in June 2020 and joined the Board of Directors in 2023. She graduated from Cleveland State University with a Master’s degree in 2018. She brought nearly a decade’s experience merchandising in retail stores in the Cleveland area throughout her college career. Shelby strives to find local merchandise vendors in an effort to support the greater Cleveland area small businesses whenever possible.
Shelby began her volunteer journey with CITY DOGS in 2017 where she found a renewed passion: helping homeless dogs. She quickly trained for every possible position as a volunteer to maximize her abilities to help more dogs. Shelby has logged thousands of hours walking, running, and hiking dogs, training new volunteers, working events, passing out KONGS, adoption counseling, and fostering. Most recently, her primary role as a volunteer is fostering dogs in need along with supporting the mission of FOCDC.
Beth Heffner Director of Fundraising + Events
Beth Heffner Director of Fundraising + Events
Beth Heffner Director of Fundraising + Events
My volunteering journey with CITY DOGS Cleveland began in 2015 after reading a post on Facebook that the Cleveland Kennel needed dog walkers. What began as a way to get a few dogs out for some exercise has turned into something I could never have imagined. Walking dogs, coordinating, working events around town, running through the woods
My volunteering journey with CITY DOGS Cleveland began in 2015 after reading a post on Facebook that the Cleveland Kennel needed dog walkers. What began as a way to get a few dogs out for some exercise has turned into something I could never have imagined. Walking dogs, coordinating, working events around town, running through the woods in the middle of the night to raise awareness and money for the dogs, stuffing raffle baskets for fundraisers, and transporting our beloved CITY DOGS from Colorado to Maine in search of their forever homes. Volunteering has allowed me to meet and fall in love with so many Cleveland dogs...including my very own sweet rescued girl, Gemma.
Valerie Gesting Director of Finance
Beth Heffner Director of Fundraising + Events
Valerie Gesting Director of Finance
Valerie is a CPA who recently retired with more than 30 years of audit, information security, and risk management experience in the financial services and retail sectors. She has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Miami University and a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Cincinnati. Valerie has been a City Dogs volu
Valerie is a CPA who recently retired with more than 30 years of audit, information security, and risk management experience in the financial services and retail sectors. She has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Miami University and a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Cincinnati. Valerie has been a City Dogs volunteer since July 2019 and enjoys bicycling, kayaking, baking and crafting for City Dogs, and collecting cookbooks. She lives with her husband, Dan, who is also a City Dogs volunteer, and her City Dog Scout.