Who We Are

Dale Mountan

President, Russell Refuge, Inc.

Dale is the president and founder of Russell Refuge.

Incredibly, Dale has single-handedly rescued, rehabilitated, and given refuge to more than 300 Jack Russell Terriers over the years, which speaks for itself. Dale lives with her equine veterinarian husband, Paul, on a horse farm in Rhinebeck, New York.

Dale is a mother, grandmother, and a caregiver to a variety of animals including, but not limited to 8-10 horses, 1 ancient pet cow, 10 family dogs and up to 40 rescue dogs at a time.

Pat Anklin-Relation

Vice President

Pat Anklin is Vice President of Russell Refuge. She was a volunteer with the national Jack Russell breed club rescue organization for 7 years and American Fox Terrier rescue for 3 years. She credits her ability to rehab and bring rescues into her home to her Jack Russell, Maxwell. His gracious acceptance of all who need help has saved many lives.

Pat has a BS in Cultural Studies from Empire State College. She lives in upstate NY with five dogs and has one daughter (with two rescue dogs) and a grandson. Her feeling toward dogs: "They always give more than they receive. It's an honor to care for them."

Pauline Clark

Treasurer

Pauline Clark is the treasurer of Russell Refuge. She moved to Milan, New York five years ago with her husband who is retired from the diplomatic corps. She has a Masters degree from Syracuse University and has lived most of her life overseas.

She comes to rescue with many years of dog care and training experience. What began with one adoption from Russell Refuge, ended up with such a strong bond with these wonderful dogs, that she and her husband now proudly call five Refuge Jacks theirs. Pauline has adopted and fostered the hard to place and the elderly dogs from the Refuge. In addition to all of this she acts as the Refuge laundress, dog walker, pooper-scooper and anything else the Refuge needs.

Tamara Davis

Secretary

Tamara is the secretary of Russell Refuge.

Anita D'Ammora

Board Member

Anita is a board member of Russell Refuge.

A lifelong New Yorker, Anita is married and has two grown children and two Jack Russells that she dotes on.

She joined the JRTCA ten years ago when she got her first JRT, and has been a volunteer for the last five years with Rescue, transporting dogs and photographing them for the website.

Sharon Mansker

Board Member

Sharon is a board member of Russell Refuge.

Sharon lives in California on a ranch with three horses, a mule, a cat and two dogs, one of which is her Jack Russell Susie Q, a working therapy dog. Susie spends many days with Sharon at schools with young children, nursing homes and hospitals.

Sharon comes out faithfully every year to the Refuge during fair week to help out at the dog tent Refuge booth, Sharon has been a Jack Russell owner for over 25 years and brings a wealth of knowledge of Jacks and the therapy dog business to Russell Refuge.

Ursula Zorika

Volunteer

Ursula Zorika donates time to give rescue dogs massage therapy and energy balancing. She has been a volunteer at the refuge for four years, upon her retirement from teaching special education.

Ursula has lived in the Hudson Valley for most of her adult life. She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science Degree. She's a member of the International Association of Animal Massage Therapists.

Ursula is a wife, mother, and grandmother and lives on a farm in Ulster Park with her husband, five horses, two senior (14 and 16) Jack Russells and assorted other critters.

Rick Hemsing

Webmaster

Rick is the webmaster of the Russell Refuge web site. He is also the webmaster of the Russell Rescue (since 2004) and the JRTCA terrier.com (since 1995) web sites.

Rick lives in Virginia with his wife, Leslie, and their Jack Russell Terrier, Jade. Rick and Leslie have been JRTCA members since 1993 and enjoy helping with rescue (maintaining the web site, writing biographies for Refuge terriers) and attending terriers trials.

The JRTCA and rescue web sites are dedicated to Katie and Jasmine, two wonderful Jack Russell Terriers who live now only in our hearts.

Leslie Hemsing

Gift Store

Leslie is the designer of the charms for sale in the Russell Refuge Gift Store. All of the proceeds from the sale of the charms go directly to the Refuge.

Leslie lives in Virginia with her husband, Rick, and their Jack Russell Terrier, Jade. Leslie and Rick have been JRTCA members since 1993 and enjoy helping with rescue (creating the charms for the Gift Store, writing biographies for Refuge terriers) and attending terriers trials.

The charms in the Russell Refuge Gift Store were inspired by Jasmine, a wonderful Jack Russell Terrier who lives now only in our hearts.