Ms. Denise Fleck - Applicant for a DAW Position

Denise Fleck has trained with The Red Cross® and Pet Tech, Inc. and continues to attend and participate in various animal-related seminars and workshops.  She teaches her animal care classes at various Doggie Day Care Centers, Kitty Hotels and Pet Stores throughout the Los Angeles area as well as through the L.A. Mission College Extension Program and at Guide Dogs of America Headquarters.  Denise became interested in learning these important skills when her own Yellow Labrador (affectionately know as “The Sunny-dog”) ruptured discs in her spine and became immobile.  This story has a happy ending however, with Sunny bouncing back from surgery and other difficulties to remain the happy and loyal refrigerator-opening companion of Denise and her husband, Paul.

“Sunny’s misfortune compelled me to learn whatever I could should I again face a difficult situation with a dog or other animal,” explains Ms. Fleck.  “Through volunteer work at various rescues and shelters and on an Animal Helpline, I’ve encountered situations that continue to test, and hopefully improve, my skills.”

During her 10 years at Paramount Pictures, Ms. Fleck worked on publicity campaigns, coordinated press junkets and supervised film premieres for some of the most successful projects in motion picture history, including GHOST, THE UNTOUCHABLES, The INDIANA JONES, NAKED GUN and BEVERLY HILLS COP sequels, CLUELESS and THE GODFATHER III.  She led Paramount to win its first ever Maxwell Weinberg Showmanship Award for 1994’s “Outstanding Publicity Campaign” on FORREST GUMP and has handled press for Tom Hanks, Sally Field, Denzel Washington, Chris Farley, David Spade, Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, Kevin Costner, Richard Gere, Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Alicia Silverstone, Paul Hogan, Jack Nicholson and Lassie among others.

Prior to being a studio publicist, Denise worked in programming for WOFL-TV35 in Orlando, Florida and then at The American Center of Films for Children in Los Angeles.  She attended the University of Southern California’s Film School and graduated Summa Cum Laude in Communications from Seminole Community College.

In addition to her own Animal Care Business, Denise Fleck is a dedicated volunteer with the Akita Buddies Rescue in Palmdale, a Board Member of The Bumper Foundation and hopes to become the Director of Animal Welfare for her local neighborhood Council.

Ms. Fleck currently resides in Shadow Hills, California with her husband Paul, their Black Lab Rico and Akitas Haiku and Bonsai.  Their always loyal Japanese Akita Sushi, Akita/Border Collie Rex, Sheltie Duchess and Yellow Lab Sunny (all rescues) have crossed The Rainbow Bridge and are missed terribly, but all truly left their own very unique set of paw prints on Denise’s heart.