About Us
Jeannette Bonomo: Receptionist
 

Jeannette grew up in Colorado and moved to Central Oregon in 2005. She worked as a photographer prior to graduating from Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in 1996. Since then, she has worked as a Certified veterinary technician in various veterinary hospitals, including a 24 hr. animal emergency clinic, a naturopathic veterinary clinic and a wildlife rehabilitation center.
Jeannette started helping Dr. Jeff Cooney with his raptor rehab in 2008. In her spare time, Jeannette volunteers her skills as a veterinary technician for Blue Mountain Wildlife (a non-profit, wildlife rehabilitation center in Pendleton, Oregon). Together, Jeff and Jeannette perform many lifesaving treatments and surgeries on countless wild birds and animals.
Jeannette feels it is important to educate the public about wildlife conservation and endangered species and how the effects of non-native species, feral animals and lead poisoning are affecting particular native wildlife populations.
Jeannette has a soft spot for 'special-needs' animals. She shares her home with a 'wheel-chair Boston Terrier', a French Bulldog w/ a heart condition, a 'one-eyed, one-legged Canary', a tortoise w/ a major overbite and a cat w/chronic liver disease!!
Jeannette adds writing, photography, the outdoors and her pets  to her list of 'likes'. She will be contributing frequently to BSNP's e-newsletter and Facebook - and, this includes the photographs! During camera-friendly weather, she may be out capturing images of the beauty around us…or, her pets out in it.

 
Byron Maas, DVM: President/Medical Advisor/Board Member
 

We are pleased to welcome back Dr. Byron Maas to the project as Medical Director and surgeon.  Byron left private practice in 2005 to establish the Bend Spay and Neuter Project with Sara Dice after many late nights and weekends, performing surgeries and volunteering to help the growing feral cat population in Central Oregon.  After hundreds of sterilization procedures it was apparent that the Bend Spay and Neuter clinic was needed.  He has been practicing for nearly 20 years in companion animal medicine and surgery. Previously dubbed the “King of Spays” (Animal Affairs Journal 2006) Byron is passionate about population control in companion animals worldwide. He started the surgical practice at the Humane Society of Central Oregon and the mobile SNIP clinic serving the greater Central Oregon region, volunteered a year in the South Pacific Island Nation of the Cook Islands commencing the Ester Honey Foundation Clinic in Rarotonga and volunteers regularly in developing nations to provide veterinary care. Dr. Maas owns Bend Veterinary Clinic providing small companion animal care for the High Desert Museum and the animals at Chimps Inc. in Tumalo. He is a huge asset to our clinic and our community.
 
Megan Wellinghoff: Secretary/Board Member
 

Megan grew up and went to college in her home State of Indiana where she received a degree in Recreation at Indiana University. She moved to Bend in 2005 to join her now husband, Orion, and for the outdoor recreation Central Oregon offered. She joined The Bend Spay and Neuter Project in January of 2008 as a volunteer. Her compassion for animals was evident when she dedicated her Saturdays to cleaning the cattery, she also helped with off site adoption events. Along with her love for cats and her professional attitude she is a great asset to the clinic. Megan lives with her husband, puppy Ninja and her furry feline family, Waffles, Joey and Alvin.
 
Paula Muellner: Board Member
 

Paula is originally from Rochester, New York and attended Long Island University – Southampton College, where she received her B.S. in Environmental Science.  She moved to Bend, Oregon in late 2003 when a chimpanzee caregiver position opened up at a local chimpanzee sanctuary.  Paula briefly left Oregon in 2005 to complete her Master of Science degree in Ecology at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania.  After completion of her M.Sc she returned to Bend as Chimps Inc.'s Executive Director.  She has worked with local nonprofit organizations for nearly seven years and continues to work in Bend as a development coordinator for a local nonprofit. 

 

Paula’s personal goals are to work with conservation and animal welfare communities to educate the public about the negative impact feral animals as well as invasive species have on native wildlife and endangered species.   When she isn’t working she enjoys running, biking and spending lots of time with her beautiful dog, Ava. (not pictured)

 
 
Debbie Sironen:  Board Member
 

I am a native Oregonian, born in Portland, and raised out in Helvetia.  That is about 15 miles from Hillsboro.  I moved to Bend in 2007 because I love it here!  We used to come here often when I was a child, enjoying all that central Oregon has to offer.
I was involved with the Feral Cat Coalition and the Humane Society in Portland when I lived there. I’ve always loved animals, so being with the Bend Spay & Neuter Project was something that I really wanted to do.  I also volunteer one afternoon a week at the Chimps, Inc chimpanzee sanctuary, as well as doing recovery and whatever else is needed at the BSNP clinic. 
I have recently re-joined the board of directors, having been the past president.  I took a few months off to pursue some other activities and travel.
I have 5 cats (2 that were rescues here at BSNP, and the other 3 were found cats), and a wild and crazy dog named Zoey.  She is a rescue dog, and doesn’t like it much when someone invades her personal space. Hence, the nickname of ‘The Biting Dog’.
 I really believe in adopting animals from shelters, or giving homes to those that can be safely brought indoors. I’m also a very big advocate for spaying and neutering your animals. With so many animals out there looking for homes, there is no need to bring more into the world.

 
 

We simply couldn't do it without the help of all of our wonderful volunteers!