Dr. Apryl Steele

President and CEO

Dr. Apryl Steele is the President and CEO of the Dumb Friends League in Denver, CO. After practicing veterinary medicine for 18 years, she had the honor of joining the League to advocate for animals who are vulnerable due to homelessness, mistreatment, or their owner’s financial situation. Since becoming the CEO in 2018, she has overseen expansion of the League’s impact to include a veterinary hospital that provides subsidized veterinary care to underserved pet caregivers, led a $40 million shelter renovation, helped develop the Socially Conscious Animal Community framework, and led 280 employees through the culture change that happens when a CEO of 44 years retires. She is currently chair-elect for the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. She is the past president of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society, the American Association of Feline Practitioners, and of the Animal Assistance Foundation. Apryl is a veteran of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps.