Denise Fleck with  Bonsai, Sushi and Mr. Rico                                            

A former film studio publicist at Paramount Pictures, Denise Fleck founded Sunny-dog Ink in 1999 to aid animals in need.  She now writes articles for animal and mainstream publications (Dog Fancy Magazine, The Pet Press, The Pet Gazette,Animal Wellness Magazine and Home Again ID's Website among others) in addition to teaching Animal Care Classes (Pet First Aid & CPR and Senior Pet Care) and speaking at various venues, Denise has appeared on an episode of "Lassie's Pet Vet" for PBS-TV, "Groomer Has It" for Animal Planet, Animal Radio, Clear Channel's Animal Corner, Barbara Niven's Animal Rescue Radio and is involved in other productions for PBS, Pet Entertainment Today and CNN Headline News.   She has written books including "Lessons Learned from Eleven Dogs and a Cat:  A Pet Guardian’s Guide to First Aid, Animal Care & Disaster Preparedness,” and a book of love stories to her companion animals entitled, “Canine Valentine,” as well as several for children and their parents.  According to Ms. Fleck, “The series will not only educate on the responsibilities of pet guardianship but also teach about sharing this world with our four-legged, feathered and finned friends.   It will share the thinking of Mahatma Gandhi (The moral progress of a nation and its greatness should be judged by the way it treats its animals.)  in a fun and entertaining manner.” 

            Denise Fleck has trained with The Red Cross® and Pet Tech, Inc. and continues to attend and participate in a variety of animal-related seminars and workshops.  She is a member of the Surf City Animal Response Team (www.scart.us) and a Board Member of The Bumper Foundation (www.bumperfound.org) as well as Pet-A-Medic.  She teaches her animal care classes at Doggie Day Care Centers, Kitty Hotels and Pet Stores throughout the Los Angeles and Orange County area as well as through the L.A. College Extension Program, Guide Dogs of America, SCART, the United Animal Nations, The Burbank Animal Shelter (www.basv.org) and Wag My Tail Grooming School (www.wagmytail.com).  Denise became interested in learning these important skills when her own Yellow Labrador (affectionately know as “The Sunny-dog”) ruptured discs in her spine and became immobile.  This story has a happy ending however, with Sunny bouncing back from surgery and other difficulties to remain the happy and loyal refrigerator-opening companion of Denise and her husband.

            “Sunny’s misfortune compelled me to learn whatever I could should I again face a difficult situation with a dog or other animal,” explains Ms. Fleck.  “Through volunteer work at various rescues and shelters and on an Animal Helpline, I’ve encountered situations that continue to test, and hopefully improve, my skills.”

            During her 10 years at Paramount Pictures, Ms. Fleck worked on publicity campaigns, coordinated press junkets and supervised film premieres for some of the most successful projects in motion picture history, including GHOST, THE UNTOUCHABLES, The INDIANA JONES, NAKED GUN and BEVERLY HILLS COP sequels, CLUELESS and THE GODFATHER III.  She led Paramount to win its first ever Maxwell Weinberg Showmanship Award for 1994’s “Outstanding Publicity Campaign” on FORREST GUMP and has handled press for Tom Hanks, Sally Field, Denzel Washington, Chris Farley, David Spade, Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, Kevin Costner, Richard Gere, Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Alicia Silverstone, Paul Hogan, Jack Nicholson and Lassie among others.

          Prior to being a studio publicist, Denise worked in programming for WOFL-TV35 in Orlando, Florida and then at The American Center of Films for Children in Los Angeles.  She attended the University of Southern California's Film School and graduated Summa Cum Laude in Communications from Seminole Community College.

          Ms. Fleck resides in the Los Angeles area with her husband Paul, their Black Lab Rico and Akitas Haiku & Bonsai.  Their always loyal Akita Sushi, Akita/Border Collie Rex, Sheltie Duchess and Yellow Lab Sunny (all rescues) have crossed The Rainbow Bridge and are missed terribly but each left their own unique set of paw prints on the family's heart and will never be forgotten.

Television Shows/Appearances

Santa Monica Update 6/07

Lassie's Pet Vet (PBS-TV) Episode #112 First Aired 9/30/07

CNN Headline News 11/28/07

Pet Entertainment Television (Pilot)

KTLA Morning News with Gayle Anderson 12/21/07

Groomer Has It (Animal Planet) May 2008 Date TBD

Radio Shows/Interviews

The Dog Dish with Jill Kessler 12/05

Animal Radio with Hal & Judy 4/7/07     http://animalradio.com/040707.html

Animal Corner with Nancy Mace (Clear Channel)

Animal Rescue Radio:  Where to go, What to do, How to Help with Barbara Niven (Big Media USA)  http://www.bigmediausa.com/archive.asp?aid=10781

Writing Credits for Denise Fleck

"Doggie Country Clubs" (article in progress)

Dog Fancy Magazine (September 2008) Luxury Unleashed Column

"Beat the Heat and Swim with Your Pooch" (article in progress)

Dogs for Kids Magazine (August/September 2008)

"Personal Chefs for Pets"

Dog Fancy Magazine (August 2008) Luxury Unleashed Column

"Heat Stroke and Your Pets" (article in progress)

Paw Print Magazine (Summer 2008)

"Tools to Keep Your Pet Safe"

The Bark Magazine (Summer 2008 TBD)

"How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend"

Dogs For Kids (June/July 2008)

"Dogs Gone Wild:  The China Grill Experience"

Dog Fancy Magazine (May 2008) Luxury Unleashed Column

"Are Your Prepared to Help Your Pet?"

Dog's Life Magazine (Spring 2008) Fetch Column

"Stardom Only a Dog Treat Away"

Dog Fancy Magazine (April 2008) Newshound Column on Pet Talent Agencies

"Bone-Up on Pet First-Aid"

Dog Fancy Magazine (April 2008)

"Common Poisons and What to Do to Save Your Pet"

Paw Print Magazine (Spring 2008)

"You Want Me to Brush My Doggie's Teeth?"

Dogs for Kids Magazine (February 2008)

"As the Mercury Rises...Take Precautions to Keep Your Pets Safe"

The Pet Press (July 2007)

"Heat Stroke & Your Dog"

Dogs Days in LA Magazine (July 2007)

"Pet First-Aid Awareness Month"

Dog Days in LA Magazine (April 2007)

"Don't Wish You HAD Taken a Pet First-Aid Class"

The Pet Press (April 2007)

"Add A Pet First-Aid Kit To Your Holiday List

The Pet Press (December 2006)

"Poisons and How To Save Your Pet"

www.homeagainid.com (October 2006)

"Learning Rescue Breathing and Pet CPR"

www.homeagainid.com (October 2006)

"Directors of Animal Welfare:  Helping Los Angeles Communities & The Animals That Inhabit Them"

The Pet Press (August/September 2006)

The Pet Gazette (July/August 2006)

www.opinioneditorials.com/freedomwriters/dfleck-20060320DAWArticle

www.lavoice.org/index.php?name+News&file+article&sid+1647

www.laindymedia.org/news/2006/03/150871.php

www.indybay.org/news/2006/03/1809363.php

www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_641.shtml

www.searchwarp.com/swa50395.htm

ezinearticles.com/?expert=Denise_Fleck

"Why Learning First-Aid & CPR for Your Animal is a Smart Move"

Animal Wellness Magazine (June 2006)

"Dont Be an April Fool:  Take Part in Pet First-Aid Awareness Month"

The Pet Press (April 2006)

"Make a List & Check It Twice to Insure a Safe & Happy Holiday"

Animal Wellness Magazine (December 2005)

"Halloween Pet Safety Tips"

The Pet Press (October 2005)

"The Story of Sushi"

Dog Fancy Magazine (August 2005/Perspective)

"Keep Your Pets Cool This Summer"

The Pet Press (June 2005)

The following California Companies have offered Denise Fleck's

PET FIRST-AID & CPR CLASS:

A Dogs Life Salon & Spa                            Stevenson Ranch

Bark Avenue                                              Downtown Los Angeles

Bone Adventure                                         Costa Mesa

Bow Wow Bungalow                                   Burbank

Burbank Animal Shelter                              Burbank

California Cat Center                                   Van Nuys

Central Bark                                               Los Angeles

Doggie View Day Care                                Studio City

Doggie Central                                           Culver City

Glendale Humane Society                           Glendale

Greater Swiss Mtn Dog Club                       Southern California

Guide Dogs of America                               Sylmar & Irvine

Howies Doggie Day Care                             El Segundo

Hollywood Hounds                                       West Los Angeles

K9s Only                                                    Tarzana

L.A. Mission College                                   Sylmar/Granada Hills

Los Angeles Pet Sitter's Organization           L.A.

Loved Dog/Tamar Geller's                            West Los Angeles

Paradise Ranch                                          La Tuna Canyon

Petco                                                        Burbank, Encino, Glendale, Redondo Beach & Valencia

PHD (Perfect House Dog)                           Tujunga

Surf City Animal Response Team                 Huntington Beach

Surf Dog Market                                         Redondo Beach

SPCA-LA                                                  Long Beach

Tender Loving Care                                     West Los Angeles

U-Shampooch                                            Redondo Beach

United Animal Nations                                National

Urban Dog                                                 West Los Angeles

Wag My Tail Grooming School                    Tujunga

Denise Fleck has been a Guest Speaker at:

Animalia Pet Boutique - Huntington Beach, CA

The Burbank Library/Buena Vista & Central Branches

Discovery Science Center - Santa Ana, CA

Guide Dogs of America - Irvine, CA

Guide Dogs for the Blind - Thousand Oaks, CA

Long Beach Unified School District/Lakewood High School

Los Angeles County Library/Valencia

Santa Monica Public Library/Fairview & Main Branch

Shadow Hills Blessing of the Animals

Spot Pet Boutique - Beverly Hills, CA

Standard Schnauzer Club of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA

Valley Hills Obedience Club      

West Los Angeles Obedience Training Club

Whittier Children's Library - Whittier, CA

Zen Pooch - West Hollywood, CA

Certificates Earned by Denise Fleck:

CERT (Community Emergency Response Training/LAFD)  3/07

FEMA ICS 100   10/17/06

FEMA ICS 200    2/28/07

FEMA ICS 700    4/12/07

EMERGENCY ANIMAL SHELTERING/HSUS  7/15-16/06

BEGINNING SEARCH & RESCUE  6/10/06

INTERMEDIATE SEARCH & RESCUE  3/10/07

Denise & Paul with Rex & Rico              Duchess the Sheltie                                                                     Denise Teaching PET FIRST-AID     Denise is currently owned by Bonsai the Japanese Akita, Mr. Rico -- her Senior Black Lab and...Haiku the long-coat Akita