Steve Kaufman’s email for inquiries: steve@caloosahumanesociety.org
Currently a general practice lawyer at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., Toni’s mission is to meet the legal needs of the community. She is committed to public service through acceptance of pro bono cases, self-represented litigant assistance and presentations in area schools. Prior to her election to the CHS Board of Directors in 2017, Toni served as pro bono counsel to CHS. Toni received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and her law degree from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN, and she is licensed to practice law in both Florida and Minnesota.
When not practicing law, Toni is playing the oboe or flute with various community bands, training for her next triathlon, or out on an adventure with her husband and four children. If you don’t see her there, you might inquire after her with the family master, Sir Fred the basset hound.
With a lifelong love of animals, as a child, her mother had no limits as to how many animals she could foster as they shared an equal love of animals and saving their lives. While she had no limits, though maybe she should have, as this included dogs, cats, hogs, calves, birds, hamsters, gerbils, and even an opossum.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her 3 girls at home. Her 3 girls being Jack Russell’s are named Happy, Deetdeet, and Mavis with Happy being the oldest at 18 years old.
She also comes with a love for her community previously serving on the Swamp Cabbage Board as the Treasurer and previously serving as the LaBelle Cattlewomen’s Vice President.
Toddy attended John Carroll University, where she earned her Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in English literature.
Her first career was in fundraising and grant writing; before she transitioned to her true calling – training dogs.
Toddy owns a dog training business. She loves working with shelter dogs to find them a forever home. Under her guidance, many of these dogs go on to do therapy work in our community.
Toddy is married to her high school sweetheart, Brian. They have 3 adopted dogs who are their pride and joy.
Toddy began volunteering for CHS in 2017; and was instantly hooked. She is very proud to be a member of the Board of Directors.
Deirdre has been married for 20 years to Douglas Purvis and has two wonderful children; Jaxon, who is 18 and attends the University of Florida, and Jaelyn, who is just finishing her freshman year at LaBelle High School.
She also has two fur babies, Zoey and Twiggy.
Although Deirdre is an accountant by trade, she traded in her calculator to pursue her passion as an educator. She has been teaching for 17 years with the last two years being a sixth grade ELA teacher at LaBelle Middle School.
She has devoted her private life to being a wife to her husband Robby, and mother (to teenagers and animals alike), but loves to volunteer for local organizations in her free time. She has volunteered for Relay for Life of LaBelle, held many positions for the Swamp Cabbage Festival, arranged entertainment for the 4th of July Red, White & Tunes in LaBelle, and she is excited to be the newest Director on the Board of Directors here at the Caloosa Humane Society.
Melissa has adopted from the Caloosa Humane Society in the past, and she’s proud to say that she is still the human of her 15 year old Maltese Penny. She has two other dogs, Hank and Toby, along with two cats, Conway and Loretta.