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Joey Brooks, President

Joey is employed as an animal cruelty investigator in Gwinnett county. He has a previous background of crime scene investigation, and he recently completed the National Cruelty Investigation Level III program. He serves on the Gwinnett County Domestic Violence Task Force and Fatality Review Project. He has lectured extensively on animal welfare and cruelty investigation topics to law enforcement. Contact Joey at Joey.Brooks@gwinnettcounty.com.

Allison Brooksher Cauthen, Vice President
Allison holds both a B.B.A. and J.D. from the University of Georgia. She currently works as an Assistant Solicitor for Gwinnett County. She prosecutes many ordinance and misdemeanor violations concerning animals. Allison has publications in the 2005 and 2006 Animal Cruelty ICLE. Allison has been involved with animal protection issues since she was a small child. Her passion for animal protection is the very reason she attended law school. Contact Allison at abrooksher@gmail.com
James C. West, Treasurer
James is a former paralegal and has been with Bank of America for six years working as an estate settlement officer. James graduated from Kalamazoo College in Michigan with a B.A. in political science and French, and also holds a paralegal certificate from New York Paralegal School. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Estate Planning Council of North Georgia, and on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Association of Paralegals as Co-Director of Pro Bono.


Melinda Merck, DVM, Sr. Director of Veterinary Forensic Sciences for the ASPCA

Dr. Merck frequently testifies as a forensic veterinary expert for animal cruelty cases around the country, including cases involving animal hoarding, dog fighting and animal torture. She most recently was the veterinary forensics expect on the Michael Vick dog fighting case. In addition, she continues to be a veterinary forensics consultant for the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office in Atlanta, Ga., and conducts veterinary forensic examinations for Gwinnett County Animal Welfare Services. Dr. Merck is the author of the textbook, Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigation by Blackwell Publishing and the co-author of the book Veterinary Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty: A Guide for Veterinarians and Law Enforcement. She frequently provides training for veterinary and law enforcement professionals nationwide on the use of veterinary medical knowledge in the investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty cases. Dr. Merck lives in Atlanta, Ga., with an assortment of dogs and cats, many rescued from cruelty cases.

 

Sanford (Sandy) Wallack, Esq., Of Counsel
Sandy is a practicing attorney in Atlanta with an emphasis on criminal defense, civil rights and animal law. He holds a B.A. from the University of Florida and a J.D. from Emory Law School. In addition to serving on GLPA's Board as Of Counsel, Sandy is a volunteer lawyer with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Animal Legal Foundation's Attorney Referral Network.
Michelle Farmer, Membership Coordinator
Michelle has an extensive business background and currently works as an executive marketing manager. She graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in both marketing and finance and with a minor in economics. Michelle's community involvement activities include serving as a team leader with a pet facilitated therapy program.  Contact Michelle at glpamembership@gmail.com
Cheryl McAuliffe
Cheryl is a founding member of GLPA and has held several animal protection positions in GA. Currently she is the GA State Director for the Humane Society of the United States.
Laura Janssen, Honorary Board Member

Laura Janssen, Esq., graduated from the Florida State University Law School in 1995 and began in 1997 at the Forsyth County Solicitor General's office as the Chief Assistant Solicitor. Laura is an attorney and has been involved in advocating for animal welfare for almost a decade. She is currently the Dedicated Animal Cruelty Prosecutor in the Fulton County District Attorney's office. Contact Laura at laura.janssen@co.fulton.ga.us








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