Our Mission
The mission of Animal Services Angels is primarily to provide support to Santa Barbara County Animal Services and other similar agencies in California, by raising funds to support programs that advance animal welfare. We focus on raising funds to support and create projects that advance animal well being, and provide guidance to recipient organizations about our priorities, in order to align our core missions to best serve the animals about which we all care.
Animal Services Angels has filed for 501(c)(3) recognition with the Internal Revenue Service and is awaiting a determination letter.
Animal Services Angels Board of Directors
Lee E. Heller, Ph.D., J.D., President
Dr. Lee Heller has been active in animal welfare since 1980, when she worked at the Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society between college and graduate school. She moved to Santa Barbara in 1996, and quickly became an active volunteer with Santa Barbara County Animal Services, also volunteering for ASAP, C.A.R.E.4Paws, Aussie Rescue, the City of Carpinteria, and the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, as well as several environmental organizations. She has served on the Board of Directors of ASAP, Dog PAC, Get Oil Out!, Gordon Wildlife Center, the Environmental Defense Center, and SB CAN. She also served as a Public Member of the California Veterinary Medical Board, and as District Leader for the Humane Society of the United States, and District Captain for the ASPCA. She was named a Cox Conserves Hero in 2015 by Cox Communications, and a Local Hero in 2016 by the Santa Barbara Independent.
In addition to assisting several regional nonprofits with fundraising, Dr. Heller fosters rescued animals—over 600 cats and kittens for ASAP between 2000 and 2020, and hundreds of dogs for many of the organizations named above.
Dr. Heller holds a Ph.D. from Brandeis University and a Juris Doctor from the Santa Barbara College of Law.
Lori Lewis, J.D., Treasurer
Ms. Lewis is a partner at the law firm Mullen & Henzell, LLP, where she practices estate law, concentrating in the areas of estate planning and incapacity, advising clients on matters involving powers of attorney, conservatorships, advanced health directives, wills, and trusts. She assists clients in preparing and executing estate planning documents to memorialize their testamentary wishes, avoid probate, and reduce or eliminate estate taxes, whenever possible,
Kristi Gibbs, DVM, Secretary
Dr. Gibbs has been a veterinarian in the Santa Barbara area since 2010 with a special interest in veterinary dentistry. Through veterinary medicine she has fostered unique relationships with clients, other veterinarians and several animal resources in the area. Recently she has helped with various fundraising campaigns to help the animals of Santa Barbara County. Dr. Gibbs was awarded her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, California Veterinary Medical Association and the Santa Barbara Ventura Veterinary Medical Association where she previously was president.