Davis returns as president, promises to ‘get back to the basics’
HOULTON, Maine — It has been a tumultuous past six months for the Houlton Humane Society, as the organization has seen the departure of its executive director and several board members.
And for the second time in those six months, the Houlton Humane Society has unveiled a new board of directors to guide the shelter moving forward.
Cathy Davis, a former board president for the group, has returned to the shelter after a three-year absence. Davis was appointed as the interim chairman of the board of directors following an April 17, 2016 meeting.
“There have been a number of people who have resigned, for various reasons,” Davis explained. “The board was left very short, with just three members at one point. I was asked to come in and do some consultation with the board, because I had some experience with the group. During our conversation, I began to really, really miss being involved.”
Current board members also include Nancy Waldron, Laura Marley, Barbara Murray, Dorene Humphrey, Linda Sewell and Tana McNutt. Three more board members could be added shortly, according to Davis.
She explained that if there were a spot open on the board, a person only needed to come forward and express an interest in serving the group. The board conducts an interview with the person and if there is more than one candidate for a spot, a vote is taken to select a new member. According to the group’s bylaws, there are nine board positions available at any one time.
Ramona Conrad had to step off the board so she could become the executive director following the resignation by longtime director Heather Miller back in October.
Davis said she agreed to take over as the board chairman, on an interim basis, on one condition. A new board chairman had to be properly elected during the next election of officers at the annual meeting in October.
Some changes in policy have already been made. Davis said the shelter is no longer importing dogs from shelters in southern states. Instead, more focus will be placed on helping animals in the state, particularly in Aroostook County.
She also has started a new program to help people with vet bills, after hearing from several individuals that stated their animal had a health issue, but they could not afford to pay for the surgery and were therefore considering putting the animal down. She received a $500 pledge to start the account and plans to explore possible grant writing opportunities to help.
Davis said she could not comment on any incidents that happened prior to her return, nor could she comment on any ongoing investigations that the shelter is currently facing.
Davis stepped away from the group three years ago to care for her ailing father. After he passed away, Davis said she started thinking that a return to the shelter board would help partially fill a void in her life.
“I can think of no more fitting a way to recover from my grief than to immerse myself in a project and I can think of no better project than coming together with animal lovers to save animals,” she said. “Our goal is to get back to basics, to tend to the business of animal welfare, to make sure the shelter regains and earns the respect of the public, to work hand in hand with any and all other animal rescue groups, to walk beside them, to offer them our resources, to be a partner,” Davis said. “Our goal is to heal from recent wounds, and to learn from mistakes. Our goal is to make tomorrow better than yesterday.”
The next meeting of the board of directors is scheduled for Friday, May 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the shelter. The meeting is open to the public.
