Today we’d like to introduce you to Dena Guyette.
Dena, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My path to DASF blends two lifelong threads: a deep passion for animal welfare and a career grounded in leadership, business strategy, and program management. I’ve spent more than 20 years volunteering in shelters and rescues, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges families and their pets face. At the same time, my professional background—leading sales organizations, driving operational improvements, and building strategic programs in the telecom sector—gave me a strong foundation in organizational leadership.
Over the years, I realized that the skills I had honed in the corporate world could make a meaningful difference in the nonprofit space. When I joined DASF, I approached the role with the mindset of building something sustainable, scalable, and centered on community impact. Today, my work focuses on strengthening the organization’s strategic direction, expanding partnerships, and positioning DASF as a leader in community-based animal welfare initiatives.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been anything but smooth—and that’s what has made the work so meaningful. In animal welfare, you’re constantly navigating resource limitations, emotional challenges, and shifting community needs. Early on, one of the biggest hurdles was transforming passion-driven work into structured, strategic, and measurable programs.
Building sustainable funding models, establishing clear processes, and aligning stakeholders around long-term goals required patience and persistence. I’ve had to make tough decisions, innovate quickly, and rethink how we operate so we can maximize our impact without burning out our people.
But those challenges helped strengthen our leadership approach. They forced us to clarify our mission, refine our strategy, and operate with transparency and accountability. Today, DASF is stronger, more focused, and better equipped because of the obstacles we’ve faced.
As you know, we’re big fans of Denton Animal Support Foundation. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At DASF, our mission is simple: support and enhance the lives of pets in our community by increasing access to care, strengthening the human-animal bond, and providing resources that keep pets safe, healthy, and at home with the families who love them. We focus on practical, community-driven support—shelter support via adoption subsidies and emergency care, spay/neuter and vaccination resources, emergency pet food, and partnerships with nonprofits across North Texas.
What sets us apart is our collaborative approach. Instead of operating in a silo, we bring organizations together to serve the community in bigger and more impactful ways. This year alone, those partnerships have allowed us to host major events offering free vaccines, free microchips, and thousands of pounds of pet food to families who need it most.
Personally, I’m most proud of the fact that our work directly prevents pet surrender and keeps animals where they belong—home. Every time a family tells us, “We couldn’t have gotten through this without you,” it reinforces why DASF exists.
What were you like growing up?
I have always blended compassion with curiosity and a natural inclination for leadership. I loved organizing things, and I was constantly seeking ways to solve problems or improve situations.
A huge part of who I am today comes from my mom. She had an incredible heart for animals and rescued them constantly. It was never a surprise when we’d come home to find another creature in the house, and watching her step up again and again made a deep impression on me. Her belief that every animal deserves love and a chance to thrive shaped my outlook from a very young age.
That influence helped me grow into someone who not only loves animals but feels responsible for creating systems, support, and structure to help them. My leadership style today—purpose-driven, empathetic, and focused on building solutions—can be traced directly back to those early experiences and the example my mom set.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.DentonASF.com
- Instagram: @dentonanimals
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/DentonASF
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dentonasf
