St. Paul, MN
Our Twin Cities Team Leads and volunteers work in unbridled collaboration to raise money for their Minneapolis and St. Paul SDC Teams. To donate to their efforts to provide free veterinary care to pets of people experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities, click here.
Team Lead:
Laura Ziegler Gurda, DVM
Wisconsin raised, Minnesotan by marriage. Veterinarian by profession, mom by choice. Loves a senior street dog named Soca. Roots in shelter medicine, One Health, and emergency medicine. Passions for family, friends, food, outdoors, and music.
Co-Team Leads
Stefan Knep, DVM
Minnesota import from Germany (29 years ago). 1 wife, 3 kids, 2 dogs, 2 crested geckos, approximately 45 tarantulas.
Raelynne Benjamin
Florida transplant in Minnesota. Graduate from Carleton College with a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Sociology and a minor in Women and Gender Studies, pre-med track. Owned by a horse (Reece), ex-feral cat (Screech), Great Dane (Obsidian), German Shepherd mix (Malone), Shar Pei mix (Howlite), deaf Pitbull mix (Tropez), Bearded Dragon (Dimitri), Pac-Man frog (Goblin), hairless rats (Rawhide and Ribeye), hedgehogs (Chanterelle and Truffle), at least one foster, and a variety of invertebrates. Passionate about special needs dogs, behavioral reform, travel, and all things spooky.
Nicole Kizer, DVM
Former vagabond who now calls Minnesota home. Mom to two small humans, a border collie named Hazel and a cat named Finn. Passionate about surgery, dentistry, teaching veterinary students and increasing access to veterinary care for all. Has worked with patients from hamsters to whale sharks. Explorer, hiker, aspiring novelist and connoisseur of hoppy beer.
