Membership meeting called to address Humane Society vacancies, status

In an open letter to members of the Humane Society of Warren County (HSWC), Board President Ellen Aders this week announced an “open house” meeting at 213 East Main Street for August 14 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., offering “a platform (for members) to ask questions, voice concerns, and share positive feedback.”

The announcement was contained in the HSWC’s summer newsletter and follows the resignation of shelter Executive Director Alyssa Ellison after only six months on the job and the recently-announced cancellation of the society’s top fundraiser, the “Waggin’ for Dragons” boat race slated for August. Invitations to apply for the open position are already posted on the internet, along with a job description.

Also, Aders said there remain two positions on the 11-member board to be filled. Former board president Amy Thurman recently returned to the board by appointment and was named board secretary. Aders invited any HSWC member to submit a “letter of interest” and resume to her by Aug. 1, indicating she would fill out the board before the Aug. 14 meeting.

There are always friendly, smiling faces looking for a home at the HSWC’s Julia Wagner Animal Shelter. Royal Examiner File Photos/Roger Bianchini

“The HSWC has come a long way (but) we still have much work to do. It is a time for all hands on deck and we need a full board of 11 to accomplish this work,” Aders said, suggesting she was seeking candidates with backgrounds in finance management and bookkeeping; small business management; human resources; and legal expertise.

Meanwhile, a change has been made in membership renewal. Currently, memberships expire a year from purchase. In future, all memberships will expire in October and should be renewed before the end of that month.

Kayla Wines, shelter manager and a veteran of five years service to the Julia Wagner Shelter, gave a shout out in the summer newsletter for a relatively new program, “Hand in Paw”, which helps needy families and individuals to keep their unaffordable pets in their homes instead of turning them over to the shelter. Wines said: “(The program) provides broad financial assistance to pet owners in need and reduces pet relinquishment.”

So far this year, “Hand in Paw” has helped 33 families who, combined, had 61 pets. Providing those families with pet food, temporary boarding, training, and veterinary care kept those five dozen animals out of the shelter. The program is funded solely through designated donations and restricted grants.

Major donors of funds through an older program, “Save the Paws Alliance,” were reminded of the continuing need for these donations, starting at $1,000 annually, Members of the alliance are awarded lifetime memberships and the money they donate provide the resources necessary to achieve “no kill” status for the shelter, which has been in effect for about three years.