The Board of Directors Behind FUR’s Mission

I was born with a love for animals. Growing up in Nashville, I had dogs and cats and rode horses every weekend. Animals brought me the most joy in life and they still do; I’ve never been without one. My husband and I moved to Maggie Valley a few years ago from FL where we had a Speed Boat Tour business and rescued cats and dogs. Prior to that, we were realtors in San Diego, volunteering for the Humane Society. Since moving to Western NC, we’ve become involved with FUR and STAR Horse Rescue. Giving back to those that have no voice is one of the toughest but most satisfying & rewarding experiences I have ever had. We currently enjoy living in our mountain home with our 3 rescue dogs & 5 rescue kitties!

Growing up in rural PA, I became a cat lover as there were many barn cats around to play with. I moved to FL in 1975, where I started a house-cleaning business followed by a small plant nursery. Our family included a cat, dog and bunny for many years. After retiring in 2014, my husband and I moved to the NC mountains where I became interested in photographing the local flora & mountain vistas and now have art exhibited at Gallery One in Sylva. We discovered FUR from a visit to the FUR store. After volunteering a few times, we brought home a brother, Roy, for our kitty, Cleo. I soon joined the fundraising committee, helping with FUR’s first photo contest, where Roy won funniest cat! I have also chaired many silent auctions and raffles at FUR events. It has become my passion to help the precious FUR kitties.

I was born and raised in Chicago, which is where I rescued my first kitty — a Chicago alley cat who lived with me for 18 years and moved with me over a dozen times to four different states. Everywhere I have lived, my fur babies have gone with me, as has my affinity for rescuing stray and feral cats. As long as I can remember, I’ve had a driving desire to help others — human and animal — simply because I can. I’ve volunteered at countless fundraiser walks, helped to feed those in need and served as a mentor for disadvantaged students. I stumbled across FUR in 2015 by accident and have been volunteering ever since. By day, I serve as an executive director for VML, a global marketing agency, where I specialize in health care and performance marketing. By night, I am a proud, crazy cat lady. I live in Waynesville with my husband, my two children and four cats (three of whom came from FUR and one of whom adopted us).

I am a retired educator from Illinois. With 38 years in education I taught math, was math department chair, Director of Discipline and Attendance, Associate Principal and Principal. Growing up with dogs all my life and a landlord that said no dogs, my first feline rescue was in 1982. I fell in love and have rescued several cats since then. I did some volunteer work at a shelter in Illinois but became very disenchanted due to all the cats being in cages. So sad. I retired to North Carolina a couple of years ago and soon after discovered FUR. A blessing in disguise.

Although I have always loved animals, it was my husband who ignited my particular love for cats.  Once I met his beautiful long haired calico Mitzi, I was hooked.  Our first cat child together was our Max, a little inner city stray that approached me during an afternoon walk and begged to be taken home. After that it was just a string of strays, fosters and foster fails.  I have volunteered off and on for many years at cat shelters in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, but I have never seen a shelter like FUR. I’ve been volunteering at FUR since March of 2021, and have become involved in fundraising and social media activities.  I have also enjoyed meeting and working with an extraordinary and loving group of people.  But it’s the cats that keep me grounded and provide me with a purpose. 

Jean Dilley has been a resident of western NC since January 2025. She lived in the Philadelphia area for most of her life, working for a small community bank, a start-up marketing company, her own marketing consultancy and her local chamber of commerce. She recently retired from the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Board of Trustees for the Haywood County Public Library. She’s also served on her local property owner’s association board, serving as president for more than 5 years. All of her work has been about people, communication and win-win opportunities. Jean has been an animal lover her whole life, raised with a 90-pound boxer and an orange tabby. Cats have been a major part of her life, sharing fun, fur and love with more than 20 cats, most of whom found her. She currently shares her home with her husband, Pete, a Burmese Mountain Dog and five kitties.

My husband and I relocated to Western North Carolina twenty (20) years ago with our three (3) cats. In our time here we have been involved with many activities and organizations. After adopting several more cats in Haywood County we found FUR. This was definitely a cause we supported. Helping all these kitties is so fulfilling. I have previously served on the Board for three years serving as Treasurer for two (2) of those years. Now, I am rejoining the Board to once again help with the growth of this charity as well as making sure these cats get the best life and one that they deserve.

I discovered a love for cats when my grandparents gave me a kitten for Christmas.  My cat, Frosty, was my constant companion until I left for Wofford College. Taking on the challenge of managing the United Community Bank in Waynesville has finally given me the opportunity to work in the community where I live. My family and I love to help out at FUR and we have even adopted a cat that our daughter lovingly calls, Anchovy. Waynesville and Western North Carolina are my home by choice.  I love hiking, skiing, paddle boarding and playing with our two cats. I am passionate about animal rescue in all shapes and forms.

Richard Gould comes from a business background and holds a degree in philosophy from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest Illinois. Dropping out of college at 18, Richard left for five years in Canada to race formula cars before returning to Chicago to start his printing business. Moving on to working at Harley Davidson, then vice president of a bank and finally teaching middle school in Fort Myers, Florida and then retiring. He paid his way through Lake Forest College at 35 years old. A lifelong love of animals brought Richard to Sarges several years ago. His wife, Constance, had been a volunteer for several years prior to that. They have adopted several cats from Sarges, Brother Wolf and FUR and look forward to continuing to do so. He looks to his business background and multiple careers to contribute to board decision making from multiple perspectives.