Top humane society post remains vacant
10/17/2012The Toledo Area Humane Society is gearing up to search for an executive director but has yet to advertise for the position, which has been vacant for three weeks.
“We should know more by the end of the week,” said Cyndi Condit, marketing/special events manager, who confirmed the Maumee group has not posted the position on any national job boards, including those run by national animal-welfare organizations that focus on jobs with animal shelters.
Executive Director John Dinon abruptly left the organization Sept. 25.
The group issued a statement that he was leaving effective Oct. 1, but when reached by phone Sept. 25, Mr. Dinon said he already had vacated the job and that he could not comment further.
Mr. Dinon, who was paid $82,500 in 2011 and had the same annual salary this year, according to Ms. Condit, took the top position at the humane society on Oct. 6, 2008.
“The search committee includes board members, a TAHS employee, and a TAHS volunteer, and a community member,” Ms. Condit said. “The process is under way, and will likely be a three to six-month time frame before a new E.D. is hired.”
Until the new director is hired, Deb Johnson, the society’s director of operations, is taking on some duties that were under Mr. Dinon’s jurisdiction, such as working more closely with the humane officers, she said.
Dr. Johnson, a veterinarian, said she might apply for the executive director’s job.
“I am considering applying for the position, but until the job description is listed, I won’t decide for sure,” she said. “I know what I think my skill set is, but [I’m] not sure what direction they want to go with the [executive director] position.”
The group has been busy under Dr. Johnson’s leadership finishing out the last two weeks of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Challenge.
After the first two months of the challenge’s adoption round, the humane society has beaten its goal of 878 adoptions in three months and is close to 1,100 adoptions. The humane society is currently ranked seventh overall in the country and first in its division.
Round two of the challenge begins at noon today and runs through Oct. 31. The top three vote-getters in the country will be eligible to win $25,000.
Supporters will be able to vote once daily by visiting www.Vote-ToSaveLives.org.
Contact Tanya Irwin at: tirwin@theblade.com or 419-724-6066.