Board Members

As a child, I was always saving homeless animals whenever I could.  Not much has changed.  I’ve been a 14 year member of the BAHS board and it is truly rewarding work. 

I’m very passionate about fostering.  There is no feeling like it.  Nursing a dog or cat back to health and then seeing it thrive in a new family is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.  I definitely have a soft spot for senior dogs and nic-u kittens.  It’s nothing for me to be dragging a carrier with kittens to work everyday so they can get a bottle every two hours.  My family owns and runs Tribout Bingo and Carnival in Belleville.

My favorite addition to BAHS in recent years has been the community outreach.  I love the opportunity to keep an animal with their family thru our Pet Resource Pantry or the low-cost spay/neuter or vaccine clinics. 

I also love organizing or helping with events.  I chair Glo-Bingo when the times allow.  And I’ve chaired the 5K, Pet Parade, Ice Cream Social and Doggie Egg Hunt in the past.

I am married to my husband, Jack.  We have three children; Kayla, Brett & Todd.  We senselessly lost our son, Brett in a car accident in April of 2019.  Our family started our own foundation, Brett’s First Responders, to help first responders injured or killed NOT in the line of duty. 

All of my four-legged children are rescues.  We have four dogs; Penny, Diesel, Molly and Franny.  And two cats; Henry and Sassy.

Kristie has always had a passion for and devotion to homeless pets. As a child there were countless times a stray dog or unwanted cat would make their way to her family’s doorstep. Kristie always found an avenue to help an animal find its way to a responsible forever home.

in 2017 Kristie began volunteering at the shelter and eventually entered the world of fostering in 2019. Kristie had turned an “empty” bedroom into a “kitten room” and every feline that enters that room also enters her heart . From healthy and happy to sick and feral, dozens and dozens of kittens and several cats have graduated from that room to find their forever families. She also has a rescue black lab turned rescue pit/mastiff  (DNA results taught her never to judge a book by its cover) named Fore and a rescue cat named Chip.

Kristie joined the board in 2021 serves areas that hold her passion. She has been involved with Bags for Wags over the past several years and looks forward to continuing to help the tradition flourish as one of BAHS’s largest fundraisers. She also continues to volunteer at the shelter in just about any aspect needed such as transport services, vaccine clinics and helping on surgery days. The staff knows they can count on Kristie!

Kristie and her husband Scott have a son and daughter-in-law who live in Chicago, as well as two adult daughters who live in the Belleville/St Louis area. 

Journalist Michelle Meehan Schrader often writes about the antics of her colorful rescues in a bi-weekly column for the Belleville News-Democrat. BAHS’s longest-sitting (and sometimes standing) board member, she became a director in 2002 after seeing a pregnant dog running along the highway in rush hour traffic.

“Cars were whizzing by at 70 miles an hour,” she remembered. “I tried but there was no way I could get to her. This haunted me for weeks until I realized I couldn’t go back in time and rescue that dog — but there were other dogs I could help.”

Editor of the shelter’s newsletter and contributing feature writer for the BAHS website, Michelle can often be seen walking in BAHS parades, hawking our T-shirts and assisting with adoption and fundraising efforts. A lifelong animal lover, she lives in Smithton with her husband Mark, a Belleville attorney, and their two-legged son Sam.

Her four-legged children include a former farm cat named Malcolm and three BAHS alum: Lenny, a neurotic spaniel mix; Lola, a bossy Chihuahua with a penchant for frilly pink tutus and Captain Jack, a one-eyed Shih Tzu (whose story you can find on our website!)

Cori Jurgensmeyer can’t imagine her life without pets.

“I don’t’ have children. I have two dogs – Mack and Charlie,” she said. “They’re my babies.”

Outside of the shelter, Cori works for Nestle Purina (for 17 years). She’s been the Nestle Purina Petcare Team Captain for HSMO’s Bark in the Park for 13 years. Cori is also an avid member of the Road Warriors runners group.

Before joining the BAHS board, Cori, was a dedicated shelter volunteer.

“I started volunteering after participating in the Slumber Pawty fundraiser. I would do Dog Day Out – taking a dog out for a day trip – or weekend fostering.”

When the pandemic struck and Cori began working from home, she transitioned into fulltime fostering.

“The first time one of my foster’s got adopted, I cried,” she remembered. “It’s still hard but I always feel better when I see them go into a good home. It’s great when they become part of a family.”

 Cori’s four-legged family — Mack and Charlie – will  travel with her returns to the office.

“We can bring our pets to work, as long as they’re well behaved,” she said. “I have two beds in my cube area – one on one side and one on the other side. It’s nice to have them with me.”

Cori’s dedication to animals traces back to her childhood.

“I would spend the summers with my grandma. She lived on a farm and she had dogs and cats and cows and chickens. I believe I got my passion for animals from her.”

Helping animals find homes brings Cori great joy and fulfillment. “I joined the board because I wanted to do something to help the shelter and give back to the community,” she said. “BAHS is doing some great programs. I want to be part of that. And I hope I can continue fostering in the future.”

As a little girl, Noelle Miles dreamed of being a veterinarian. Her dreams came true – and so did ours – when this talented and compassionate professional began volunteering with BAHS.

“BAHS is an important part of my life because I am a companion animal veterinarian and took an oath to relieve animal suffering,” explained Dr. Miles, who works for Mueller Veterinary Services in Columbia, IL. “Many of the animals we take in have been neglected and are suffering both physically and emotionally.”

Dr. Miles has been on the Board since 2005. She has given loving homes to multiple rescue dogs, the most recent pup being a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel named Gomer.

She visits the shelter on her days off to perform spays and neuters. An avid runner, Dr. Miles also assists with our annual Race for Rescues.

We cannot thank her enough!

Belleville business owner and animal lover Cathy Dervalis played a role in BAHS’s success long before she joined our Board of Directors. The proprietor of Dog Day Afternoon pet supply store and grooming has long- hosted an annual Doggy Ice Cream Social at her shop to benefit the shelter. Over the years, she also has sponsored various BAHS events and selflessly volunteered to groom shelter dogs on her days off.

Cathy and her husband, Dan, have two adult children – son, Jacob and daughter, Dani – five grandchildren, three dogs, a cat and a blue-fronted Amazon Parrot named Grady.

Because parrots can live up to 50 years, Cathy – who has been involved with parrot rescue – has made plans for her daughter to adopt Grady should the bird outlive her. Finding homes for wayward animals has always been her passion.

“I used to belong to Gateway Golden Rescue,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many Golden Retrievers I’ve had in my house over the years. I would do pick-ups and home checks. When my grooming clients can’t keep their pets, I help them find good homes for them.

“I’ve just always loved animals – all kinds of animals,” added the business owner, who is a talented amateur photographer.  “There is such a need for rescue. I’m excited to join the BAHS board.”