It takes a village to raise a Flea.
Meet the village.
Founder: Mary-Jo Dionne
Founder Mary-Jo Dionne, is an award-winning, contributing writer to ModernDogMagazine, and self-professed dog-crazed nut-bar. A tofu-eating animal-rights advocate, Mary-Jo has been a guest expert on programs like the CBC’s Steven and Chris Show, Breakfast Television, and most recently appears in Paris France’s documentary Delirium Canine. While she has had the pleasure of interviewing notable dog-lovers like Ellen DeGeneres, Tori Spelling, Cesar Millan, Cloris Leachman, and Access Hollywood’s Maria Menounos, her grittier exposé on the puppy mill industry was awarded The Maxwell for Best Feature Article in affiliation with the Westminster Dog Show. As founder of Vancouver’s Wine and Fleas fundraiser, she has been instrumental in collecting thousands of pounds of pet supplies donated to rescue organizations. A past volunteer at Best Friends Animal Society for a piece she wrote on the organization behind the National Geographic Channel’s hit series DogTown, Mary-Jo had the positive experience of meeting – and falling in love with – the rehabilitating Michael Vick "Vicktory" dogs. She launched TheFleasKnees and TheFleasKneesFund in 2007 in response to her desire to do more to advocate responsible pet ownership. She is currently co-writing her first book Stella the Lazy Dog, with illustrator Danielle Krysa. Mary-Jo is human-mom to rescues Nelly and Cowboy.
Associate: Karin
Go-to-gal: Sasha
Designers: Sue, Choleena, Danielle, Melanie
Techie-dude: Chris, Tantramar Interactive
SpreadSheet Master: Karen
Manufacturing liaison: Genna, Alternative Apparel
Screenprinting liaison: Shabina, Design Sportswear
Legal: Tamara, Lando and Company
Event planner: Polly
Wine and Fleas venue and co-host: Tanya, The Dog and Hydrant
Chief of Finance: Margit, SOTA Accounting
Media and PR consultants: Tara and Julia
Photographers: Andrea, Shawn, Tanya
Board of Business InTelligence and Communications Hotshots (B.i.t.c.h.es): Sharon, Sue, Yvonne
FleaGirlz: Ritz, Sue, Simone, Ladawne, Kirsten, Marni, Andrea, Mel C., Mel E., Annie, Stephanie, Sheila, Hilary, Jennifer, Kim, Dana, Sharon
Photo: Mary-Jo with Michael Vick “Vicktory” dog, Lucas.
Spread the word. Spread the love. Spread the Fleas.
Know a DogMom who is not only crazy about dogs, but crazy about ridiculously hot-looking 100% cotton tees made in support of animal rescue? Forward her www.FleasPlease.com