About Jenna

Jenna Gates and Snickers, a black and tan Shiba InuI had dogs and horses all my life before moving to NYC in the late 80s, but I wasn’t lucky enough to be owned by a Shiba Inu until January 2004. After 15+ years without a companion animal, everything changed when my first Shiba, Snickers, moved in. He truly stole my heart in a way no other animal ever has before or after. After seeing how much he enjoyed playing with a pair of neighborhood Shibas (Benno & Lily), I founded NYC Shiba Inus and Their Human Companions to organize monthly Shiba playdates.

In April 2007, several of us from the meetup group founded NYC Shiba Rescue, Inc. (NYCSR), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the mission of which is to rescue Shiba Inus and Shiba Inu mixed breed dogs from dangerous environments and shelters in the NYC metropolitan area. I was the President of NYCSR until moving away in June 2008. I continue to serve on the Board of Directors and am actively involved in volunteer recruiting, development of policies & procedures, and other activities.

Professionally, I was an IT Project Manager on Wall Street for about 10 years. We have moved a few times since June 2008 though and are currently living in Tupelo, MS, where I am the Manager of Finance and Administration for a small manufacturing company.

While working in rescue, I came to believe that education is the key to improving the lives of future companion animals and that all compassionate pet owners can, and should, contribute to educating others. To this end, I utilize every avenue available to me, online and off, to spread the word about the responsible acquisition and thoughtful care of companion animals.

Snickers and I take the opportunity to educate the public about the Shiba breed in particular, and responsible dog ownership in general, wherever we go. We are registered Delta Society Pet Partners and enjoy visiting specifically with children and teenagers in schools, shelters and mental health facilities. We intend to become a R.E.A.D. (reading education assistance dog) Team and plan to participate in the R.E.A.D. program in the public schools in Tupelo through our local therapy dog group, Comfort Creatures.

My ultimate goal is to get my new organization – Animals Who Educate – off the ground and, eventually, functioning in schools throughout the country.

If you’re interested in our progress, sign up for email updates.

 

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