Humane Society of Warren County names new executive director

Former Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office as Animal Control Deputy Alyssa Ellison has been named as the Executive Director of the HSWC. / Courtesy photo.

FRONT ROYAL – The Humane Society of Warren County’s Board of Directors (HSWC) this month named Alyssa Ellison as its new Executive Director.  Ms. Ellison brings 11 years of animal welfare and animal shelter experience to HSWC. Her experience includes kennel attendant, veterinary assistant, humane agent, and canine manager.

Ms. Ellison acted as the shelter manager for the Washington Humane Society in Washington, D.C. before joining the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office as Animal Control Deputy. During her tenure, she was decorated for her outstanding service for helping to humanely clean up a 400-cat feral colony. Animal Sheltering magazine will feature a story on the cat colony cleanup in its Summer 2018 edition.

Ms. Ellison was Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office’s first female Law Enforcement scuba diver and a member of the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force helping to catch and prosecute dog and rooster fighting rings.

The Humane Society of Warren County is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing compassionate care to abandoned, abused, homeless, and neglected animals in our community. We aim to educate pet owners on the importance of vaccinations and population control and to place adoptable pets in loving homes.

The Humane Society of Warren County was incorporated April 1, 1947 by Julia Wagner to provide food, shelter, and care to lost, stray, and abandoned animals of Warren County, Virginia. In late 2011, HSWC began an aggressive campaign to increase adoptions and decrease the rate of unnecessary euthanasia.

Ms. Ellison will continue HSWC’s mission previously led by Lavenda Denney. Under Ms. Denney’s leadership, HSWC achieved No Kill status in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Ms. Denney is currently as the Executive Director for the SPCA of Winchester, Frederick & Clarke Counties.