Executive Director – David Curneal
With nearly 50 years of personal animal care experience, Friends in Need is in good hands with David Curneal as our Executive Director. David began his love of animals at the ripe young age of 8, when he began working with pigeons and guppies (passions that he has continued to follow to this day). From those modest beginnings, Dave was able to build a substantial animal care career, including publication in over 14 pigeon, poultry, and fish magazines, dozens of awards at national, state, and local animal events, and managing and mentoring over 1,000 aspiring caregivers in various capacities throughout the decades as that “fluffy-headed German guy in the tie-dye shirt”. 🙂
In addition to animal care, Dave has worked professionally running his own fly-tying shop for hobby catch-and-release fly fishing as both a celebrity fishing guide featured on Reese’s Outdoor Pieces as an avid fisherman and spent decades managing garden centers at both Lowe’s and Home Depot, developing affinity with many different plants and winning awards for heirloom tomatoes and other gardening. Currently, in addition to his responsibilities with FIN, Dave sells concrete garden art at the Lehi and Salt Lake Farmer’s Markets in Utah, manufactured in his shop on the FIN property.
Dave lives in his empty nest with his sweetheart, with 6 children who’ve flown the coop, married, and has 11 grandchildren.
