Animals Have No Voice. They Can't Ask For Help. They Can't Ask For Freedom. They Can't Ask For Protection. Humanity Must Be Their Voice.
815
TRAP, NEUTER, VACCINATE & RETURN
8000
POUNDS OF FOOD DELIVERED
800
CAT SHELTERS BUILT & DISTRIBUTED
200
CATS FOSTERED & PLACED
Board of Trustees
Lisa Morris
Founder
Board Member
Lawyer with former work experience at HSUS, Washington, DC., managing a national standards program for local humane societies and animal control groups. Retired Executive Director, OH School Employees Retirement System. Active in Columbus community cat projects and dedicated animal lover.
“My passion for all animals and their quality of life is coded in my DNA. I’m proud to follow in the footsteps of my mother who founded a humane society over 60 years ago that remains active to this day.”
Kent Shimeall
Founder
Board Member
Lawyer with experience in public sector in Washington, D.C., OH Attorney General’s office, and OH Supreme Court. Retired. Active in local animal rescue efforts.
"I have come to appreciate the tremendous value animals bring to our quality of life and that we owe it to them to improve the quality of their lives.”
Dawn Truesdale
Board Member
Veterinarian with Linworth Animal Hospital, a member of the American Animal Hospital Association. Previously interned in emergency medicine while working with Michigan Veterinary Specialists. Advocate for all animals’ well-being and for their good health.
“As a practicing veterinarian, I bring my love of animals to work each and every day. It has become an important priority for me to advocate for animals, especially those that need our protection and care.”
Judith D Fisher
Board Member
Retired, former Vice-Chairman and CFO of Huntington Bancshares. Former Board Member of Lifecare Alliance, Girl Scouts of Central Ohio, Harding Hospital and State Teachers Retirement System. Volunteer at various cat rescue organizations. TNR experience. Animal advocate.
“Animals are connected to us all, but domesticated creatures especially so, because they depend on us for food, shelter and protection. My goal is to work diligently to see that their welfare is assured, providing them contented lives in exchange for their companionship and unconditional love.
Denson Parker
Board Member
Retired management employee with AT&T. Active in local animal rescue, as well as neighborhood management of community cats and visiting wildlife. Personally cared for downtown Columbus colony of 20 feral cats for years, practicing TNR. Committed to helping develop practical solutions for community animal issues.
“To capitalize my interest with APN, I am passionate about doing what’s necessary to protect those animals in our midst that are vulnerable to abuse or neglect.”
Penny Barrick
Board Member
Lawyer, chambers of Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Formerly with Porter Wright Morris and Arthur, LLP, Columbus. Secretary and board member of the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program, a non-profit dedicated to helping Ohio’s judges, attorneys, and law students obtain treatment for substance use disorders and mental health issues, a committee member of Restored Citizens Initiative helping federal prisoners reenter society, mentor at Moritz Ohio State College of Law, and a 4H leader in Young Riders, Franklin County 4H. Experienced horsewoman and advocate for their care and humane treatment. Committed to improving the quality of life for all animals.
“I am passionate about the welfare of all animals but focus much of my attention on horses. I believe that we can prevent the suffering of thousands of horses a year through the dissemination of information about irresponsible breeding, in the back yard, horse showing businesses, and particularly in the horseracing industry. Every day horses are shipped in the most horrendous conditions to brutal slaughter outside of the United States.”
Kelly Murphy
Board Member
Kelly Murphy is a dedicated financial planner and advisor in the financial services industry. Originally from Cincinnati, she relocated to Columbus in 2019 and has been a proud resident of Franklinton since 2022.
Kelly’s passion for animal welfare led her to APN in 2024 while seeking support for community cats in her neighborhood. Over the past year, she has actively worked to improve the lives of these animals, helping to neuter and vaccinate approximately 10-11 cats and successfully placing two in adoption programs, where they quickly found loving homes.
Her involvement with APN has not only made a tangible difference in the well-being of the local cat population but has also fostered greater awareness and engagement among her neighbors. Through her efforts, community members have recognized the importance of humane cat management and have become more informed about available resources.
As a board member, Kelly continues to further APN’s mission by educating others on how they can get involved. She is committed to helping reduce the stray cat population and improve the lives of homeless animals through advocacy, outreach, and continued collaboration with the community.
Heidi Short
Board Member
Heidi Short brings a wealth of diverse experience and a deep commitment to animal welfare to her role as a board member of the Animal Protection Network. Throughout her career, she has connected with people from a wide range of backgrounds, but it wasn’t until she became involved in Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and fostering that she truly discovered her passion. She now plans to further her dedication to this field by completing her college education with a focus on animal welfare.
Known for her diplomatic and patient approach, Heidi is steadfast in her beliefs and unwavering in her commitment to making a difference. Her involvement extends beyond direct cat rescue—she plays a critical role in strengthening partnerships between APN and other organizations, such as New Albany Pet Rescue, where she is frequently called upon to assist cats in crisis situations, from those trapped in drains to abandoned kittens in parking lots.
Through her dedication, advocacy, and hands-on involvement, Heidi continues to be a driving force in improving the lives of community cats and expanding awareness of humane solutions for managing feline populations.
Elizabeth Birie
Board Member
Elizabeth Birie brings a background in program leadership, learning design, and community engagement to her role on the Animal Protection Network board. Throughout her career, she
has led statewide initiatives, managed large-scale events, and built collaborative partnerships focused on education, implementation support, and measurable impact.
Her commitment to animal welfare grew through hands-on involvement in community cat advocacy and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts. She has worked alongside caregivers and
rescue partners to support humane population management, strengthen neighborhood awareness, and expand access to resources that protect vulnerable animals.
Elizabeth is especially interested in advancing sustainable, community-based solutions that pair education with action. She believes meaningful change happens when compassion is supported by structure, collaboration, and thoughtful outreach. “Animals depend on us. When people care and act on that care, we can reduce suffering and create practical, humane solutions that work for both animals and the community.
Rachael Denholm
Board Member
Rachael is a lifelong animal lover who obtained her B.S. in Zoology from Ohio State University and worked with animals in a variety of settings including five years in education and husbandry at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
After obtaining her Master of Public Health - Veterinary Public Health degree at Ohio State, she worked as an infectious disease epidemiologist for the state of Ohio from 2017 to 2025. Rachael is now a healthcare data analytics specialist for the state of Ohio with advanced skills in database maintenance and data analytics.
She strives to implement sustainable evidence-based solutions especially as it relates to public health and animal welfare. She is passionate about education on animal welfare topics, building communities through open communication and education to allow humans and animals to coexist, and empathetically empowering people who may want to help animals in need yet lack the resources.
Rachael worked with fellow board member and neighbor Elizabeth to engage with other cat caretakers in their community and create an efficient communication system to coordinate community cat efforts. The group stays very busy with TNVR, fostering, and homing of stray cats in their corner of downtown Columbus and run a neighborhood community cat Instagram page.
Rachael is excited to help strengthen the networks APN has already begun building and advance tracking processes to maximize APN's impact.
