The volunteer Board of Directors believe in complete transparency and financial accountability. We put the dogs first and have developed a rigorous screening process for our fosters and potential adopters ensuring that all dogs receive stability, love and attention. The Board strives to create awareness of what responsible pet ownership means. Join us and make a difference in the lives of unwanted or abandoned dogs. Someone is always available to discuss rescue operations.
Shannon Briggs, President (Campbell River) Shannon@IslandDogsRescue.com
Cecily Shaw, Vice President (Nanaimo) CShaw@IslandDogsRescue.com
Miranda Kurucz, Secretary (Victoria) Miranda@IslandDogsRescue.com
Lisa Jaggard, Treasurer (Parksville) Lisa@IslandDogsRescue.com
Trina Jackson, Director (Victoria) Trina@IslandDogsRescue.com
Louise Bundschuh, Director (Courtenay) Louise@IslandDogsRescue.com
Chantelle May, Director (Campbell River) Chantelle@IslandDogsRescue.com
Shannon
Shannon & her dog Cedar in the river -Eiko Jones Photography
Shannon has been rescuing dogs since 2010. Her passion stems from her love of huskies and the awareness that some people who adopt huskies just aren’t cut out for the ‘husky lifestyle‘ which can land the dogs in need of homes. After starting her rescue work with an import rescue, Shannon became increasingly uncomfortable with bringing dogs into Canada after learning about dog overpopulation in Canada and just how bad it really is. Any chance Shannon gets she will share what she has learned through her rescue journey!
Shannon has always been fascinated with pets and grew up with a cat or two as a constant presence. She also keeps Malawai fish, something she has done since she was 5. Shannon grew up in Sayward on 100 acres and didn’t actually have a dog until she was 12. Currently she shares her house with 2 cats, 2 huskies, a tank of fish and always a foster dog. Shannon works at the Immigrant Welcome Centre and is completing her Social Work Degree. When she isn’t working on dog rescue you can find her in her organic garden, hiking in the woods or reading a good book with a hot cup of tea. Shannon hopes to move to property in the near future and eventually have a small kennel to act as a quarantine facility for new dogs coming into the rescue.
Miranda
Miranda with her dog Kaiser
Miranda has been involved with rescuing dogs since 2012. As someone who avidly followed the canine community on Vancouver Island—it seemed an easy progression for her to join the board for VIDRS after volunteering support and donations whenever possible. Miranda is passionate about spreading awareness of the rescue community, and educating awareness for homeless animals that can be found locally. As someone who started with an import rescue she has seen the good, the bad and the downright dreadful things that can happen to dogs who are part of the “import machine”. She is always happy to discuss the issue of importing animals, and encourages anyone interested to send her an e-mail.
Miranda has always loved animals—and by the age of 4 she was able to convince her parents that she was responsible enough for her first dog. Soon to follow came 5 lizards, 3 adopted cats and a horse. Her love for animals even took her halfway around the world when she decided to sign up for animal husbandry at a refuge in Namibia, Africa. Here, she spent two months helping vet, rehabilitate, re-release, feed and care for a variety of animals including baboons, leopards, cheetahs, lions, vervet monkeys, brown hyenas, meerkats and, her favourite, the African wild dog. Miranda works at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC and is working towards completing her Fourth Class Power Engineering. When she isn’t working on dog rescue she can be found hiking with her dog Kaiser, painting, or studying. Miranda’s immediate goal is to find a home where she can foster more dogs for VIDRS—and eventually she would like to own acreage.