Board of Directors

ST. JOHNS COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL

Paul Studivant began his animal control career 29 years ago as an Officer with the St. Augustine Humane Society. Currently, Studivant is the Emergency Support Functions 17 Coordinator for St. Johns County and enjoys working in the Emergency Operations Center during activations. Studivant responds to hurricanes, wildfires and large-scale animal seizures. Studivant served on the Florida Animal Friend board from 2013-2018 and was President in 2015. He has also been on the board of the Florida Animal Control Association since 2008, serving as President in 2010 and 2014. He previously served as President for the Florida Rabies Advisory Committee and the Florida State Agricultural Response Team.

HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE US

Laura Bevan began her career with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in 1987 at the Southeast Regional Office (SERO) in Tallahassee. Laura became SERO Regional Director in 1992. She now is director of the Southern Region, which expanded to cover 13 states and Puerto Rico. During her tenure, Laura has conducted investigations into activities including animal dealers, animal collectors, horse and dog racing, animal fighting and ritual animal sacrifice. She has been deemed by the courts as an expert in animal cruelty/animal fighting. Laura has been instrumental in getting numerous animal laws passed in several states, especially Florida where she has lobbied the Legislature since 1988. Laura also has extensive experience in working natural disasters, specifically hurricanes, wildfires and floods. In 2008, she was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference for her work helping to develop the state’s disaster planning and response for animals.

PINELLAS ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Dr. Ernest Godfrey is the director of the Pinellas Animal Hospital and Seminole Boulevard Animal Hospitals of St. Petersburg. Since 1988, Dr. Godfrey has been an active leader of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, serving on the FVMA executive board as treasurer, president, or president-elect. In addition, for the past 40 years, he has been director of the Central Florida Academy, which provides continuing education programs to veterinarians. He currently serves on the FVMA’s Advisory Committee for the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida and is Chair of the Continuing Education program for the FVMA’s Annual Conference and is the Florida VMA’s Delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates.

FACA/FAPAA

Darcy Andrade is the Executive Director for Florida Animal Control Association (FACA), now called Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association (FAPAA). She also served as the Director of Collier County Domestic Animal Services, an open-admission county shelter from 2013 through 2021. Within her first two years, she increased the live release rate from 38% to 90% – and maintains a 90%+ live release rate since 2017. Her animal welfare career started as a volunteer in 1992 and has since grown to include titles such as Adoptions Counselor, Kennel Technician, Kennel Manager, Director of Shelter Operations, Animal Control Officer, Animal Control Supervisor, Field Operations Manager, and Director. She is a Certified Animal Cruelty Investigator through the University of Missouri, and she is a Certified Animal Control Officer in Florida and Washington State. She has served on various boards including President of the Florida Animal Control Association, Treasurer for Washington State Animal Control Association, and she is on the Steering Committee for Florida Leaders in Lifesaving.

Dr. Larry G Dee is an associate at VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital, founded in 1947 by his father and uncle. He is in practice with his two brothers and 18 other veterinarians. He has been in companion animal practice for 47 years and is a charter diplomat by examination of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in canine and feline practice. Dee has served as president of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, his specialty college (the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners), the American Animal Hospital Association, and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. He has been named AAHA Veterinarian of the Year as well as FVMA Veterinarian of the Year. He has received the highest award given by the FVMA: The FVMA Distinguished Service Award. He has received Auburn University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and the WSAVA’s International Award for Service to the Profession. He served for six years on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Executive Board. He currently serves as co-chair of the FVMA College Advisory Committee and serves as treasurer of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. He is a member of the National Academies of Practice in Veterinary Medicine.

HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE US

Kate MacFall serves as the Florida State Director for the HSUS since spring 2012. During the 2011 Legislative session, she was a lobbyist for the ASPCA. Kate has been a volunteer and an Advisory Board member at the Tallahassee Animal Service Center in Tallahassee and the co-founder and president of the Animal Shelter Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the animals in the care of the shelter. Kate is a runner and created the “Tails & Trails” run/walk fundraiser for the shelter. As an animal lover, she also fosters dogs when one needs special attention. She is a great fan of the bully breeds and has also been a strong advocate for Florida’s greyhounds for many years.