Laura Selvaggio Burban
Laura Burban was born in New Jersey and has been a Connecticut resident since 2000. Laura has been a life-long animal advocate and currently serves as the Director of Branford’s Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter, which also serves North Branford. Prior to becoming director of the animal shelter, Laura owned a household pet services company serving the shoreline. Since 2006, Laura has produced and hosted a television program on BCTV called “Adopt-a-Friend” that highlights animals available for adoption. The show also includes segments to educate viewers about responsible animal ownership.
Since becoming the director of the shelter in 2008, Laura has created initiatives to promote animal awareness and responsible pet ownership in Branford and the surrounding communities. Laura established training programs for adopters to develop skills to work with their pets. She expanded a volunteer orientation, which boasts over 250 volunteers and supported a program that provides hands-on animal interactions and advances independent living skills for students from organizations like Grove School, Aces, and Vista. Other efforts include low-cost spay and neuter programs, an animal food pantry and accommodations for animals at town emergency shelters.
In 2010, Laura started the Summer Animal Camp Program for children. The animal camp is an education-based program that fosters respect for all living creatures. The camp features activities like animal tracking, seminars on plants and bugs and highlights preserving the environment. A focal point of the camp is for children to earn “caught being good” bracelets. These bracelets are given for doing things such as including a child who may be feeling left out, helping someone who is struggling with a craft, or cleaning up an area without being asked. The camp also features guest speakers, including animal behaviorists, conservationists, and rehabilitators. This program provides children with a well-rounded, diverse, hands-on experience interacting with various species.
Laura and her staff also deliver educational seminars by bringing shelter animals to school systems, day care centers and family resource centers across Connecticut. Every aspect of Laura’s mission has been to educate the public on caring for animals properly, respecting our wildlife and understanding their importance in our ecosystem and society. It is Laura’s goal that Branford be the leader in the animal sheltering and control industry. Laura would be the first person to credit the success for many of these efforts to her staff, volunteers, commission members and the dedicated citizens of Branford. As an educator, mentor, and community leader, Laura conveys the passion and vision that inspires others.
Laura is completing graduate work in the Animal Sciences program at the University of Connecticut. Laura has received awards from the Branford Police Department for her animal cruelty investigations, was recognized by the State of Connecticut in her work to stop animal cruelty and recently she was acknowledged as one of the “Top Five Players” in Animal Rescue by New Haven Living Magazine. She lives in Stony Creek with her husband Mitch, their daughters, Cassie and Madison and their adopted dogs, cats, pigs, chickens, bunnies and frog.
Since becoming the director of the shelter in 2008, Laura has created initiatives to promote animal awareness and responsible pet ownership in Branford and the surrounding communities. Laura established training programs for adopters to develop skills to work with their pets. She expanded a volunteer orientation, which boasts over 250 volunteers and supported a program that provides hands-on animal interactions and advances independent living skills for students from organizations like Grove School, Aces, and Vista. Other efforts include low-cost spay and neuter programs, an animal food pantry and accommodations for animals at town emergency shelters.
In 2010, Laura started the Summer Animal Camp Program for children. The animal camp is an education-based program that fosters respect for all living creatures. The camp features activities like animal tracking, seminars on plants and bugs and highlights preserving the environment. A focal point of the camp is for children to earn “caught being good” bracelets. These bracelets are given for doing things such as including a child who may be feeling left out, helping someone who is struggling with a craft, or cleaning up an area without being asked. The camp also features guest speakers, including animal behaviorists, conservationists, and rehabilitators. This program provides children with a well-rounded, diverse, hands-on experience interacting with various species.
Laura and her staff also deliver educational seminars by bringing shelter animals to school systems, day care centers and family resource centers across Connecticut. Every aspect of Laura’s mission has been to educate the public on caring for animals properly, respecting our wildlife and understanding their importance in our ecosystem and society. It is Laura’s goal that Branford be the leader in the animal sheltering and control industry. Laura would be the first person to credit the success for many of these efforts to her staff, volunteers, commission members and the dedicated citizens of Branford. As an educator, mentor, and community leader, Laura conveys the passion and vision that inspires others.
Laura is completing graduate work in the Animal Sciences program at the University of Connecticut. Laura has received awards from the Branford Police Department for her animal cruelty investigations, was recognized by the State of Connecticut in her work to stop animal cruelty and recently she was acknowledged as one of the “Top Five Players” in Animal Rescue by New Haven Living Magazine. She lives in Stony Creek with her husband Mitch, their daughters, Cassie and Madison and their adopted dogs, cats, pigs, chickens, bunnies and frog.