Lavenda Denney leaving as Julia Wagner Animal Shelter director

Lavenda Denney ends a wildly successful four-year run as executive director of the Julia Wagner Animal Shelter next month, the Royal Examiner has learned.  She leaves in early September to take a position at the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Winchester, where she lives with her family.

During Denney’s years in Front Royal she has turned the local shelter around both financially and in terms of saving the lives of thousands of dogs, cats and other animals. In recent years, it has earned the title of a “no kill” shelter and is regarded as the “14^th best shelter in the Commonwealth in regard to saving the lives of kitties,” she announced in a recent issue of “Shelter Tales”, the Humane Society of Warren County’s newsletter.

The Julia Wagner Animal Shelter has seen much progress under Lavenda Denny’s leadership the past four years – and the county’s dogs and cats are thankful. She leaves next month for an SPCA job in her hometown of Winchester. File Photo

During her leadership, a staff of 18 has stabilized into several working units; morale is high; membership has more than doubled into the 400s; and last year, for the first time in many years, the shelter accounts moved into the black.

Some of this is due to Denney’s leadership in fundraising and negotiating more financial support from the Warren County Board of Supervisors. Also, she has enlisted a large number of volunteers, including many more foster homes for dogs and cats awaiting adoption.

Lavenda Denny – Facebook Courtesy Photo

HSWC president Tammy Darr said the executive director vacancy is advertised on a recruitment website (indeed.com) where those interested in the position may apply. Denney is on vacation and was not immediately available for comment.