From the Humane Society of Harford County:
Immense changes are happening for both homeless animals and the citizens who love them in Harford County! For the first time in its 70-year history, The Humane Society of Harford County (HSHC) has a full-time, on-site shelter veterinarian. Mary C. Zink, D.V.M. has been hired to oversee the medical needs of the 4,500 animals HSHC sees annually. In addition, a new shelter operations director rounds out the leadership team installed by executive director Jen Swanson as the entire operation prepares to move into a new shelter facility in early 2016.
“Dr. Zink brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about best practices in shelter medicine,” said Swanson. “Her primary focus will be preventive veterinary care, care of sick and injured animals brought into the shelter, high volume spay and neuter procedures, and management of the shelter’s veterinary team.”
Dr. Zink earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from The University of Maryland, College Park and completed her veterinary education at The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She began her career practicing small animal veterinary medicine in a traditional clinic setting. She went on to a house-call practice, eventually moving into the animal health industry, which led to her most rewarding role, working as a shelter veterinarian. For the last seven years, she has worked with The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, the Baltimore Humane Society, and most recently served as the Director of Veterinary Services at the Maryland SPCA.
“The shelter is on the brink of so many new opportunities, like Jobs for Vet Techs, and I am eager to join HSHC at such an exciting time,” Dr. Zink said. “I became a veterinarian to help people experience the joy of owning a beloved pet. Since the human-animal bond begins in the shelter at the time of adoption, it’s only fitting for me to do what I love in this environment.”
Prior to Dr. Zink joining the staff, HSHC has been privileged to have many of Harford County’s veterinarians volunteer their services. “The Harford County veterinary community has provided outstanding support to our animals over the years,” said Swanson. “From volunteering to give vaccinations, to providing expert guidance, to performing expensive surgical procedures at a significant discount (or waiving the fees entirely), Harford County’s vets have been the absolute best to work with. Dr. Zink and I are very excited to continue and enhance our partnerships with the veterinary community.”
Cat Kelly recently joined HSHC as its Shelter Operations Director, helping to oversee the shelter’s vast operations, from animal care and enrichment to adoption policies and procedures. Kelly was most recently shelter supervisor at Baltimore County Animal Services where she was instrumental in facilitating many new protocols and programs and helped strengthen community partnerships. Prior to that, she managed a veterinary practice in Timonium where she was also a vet tech for many years. Kelly is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
“I’m an animal person, so it’s very gratifying to play a role in finding pets safe and loving homes,” Kelly said. “I’m also eager to expand HSHC’s relationships with animal rescue groups and others in the animal welfare industry.”
For more information on the Humane Society of Harford County, visit the website at www.harfordshelter.org, connect with HSHC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or call the shelter at (410) 836-1090.
Good news for sure. BUT aren’t there experienced people from Harford County to fill these positions??
Mary Zink is a proponent of releasing feral cats back into the parks, woods and marshes of the county. She supports a “political” no kill agenda as does the new shelter manager. Each free roaming cat kills upwards of 100 or more small mammals and birds. Free roaming cats are cited as the 2nd leading cause of the demise of songbird populations behind loss of habitat. These people don’t care – regardless of the affect to local wildlife populations of having concentrated groups of cats being fed in large community bowls of food by well-intentioned but off base women. I’d remind everyone of the rabid cat found wandering at the dump this year.
Yes it was much better when they killed peoples pet cats within hours of coming through the front door.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/hope-in-harford-county/my-cat-was-killed-last-friday-by-the-harford-county-humane-society/599112673442851?comment_id=6445674&offset=0&total_comments=17¬if_t=note_reply
If this owner cared about the cat they’d have spent the $50 to have it chipped. Cat was reported to have looked sickly when turned into the shelter. I don’t believe for one second this cat was strictly an indoor cat – as with most cat owners it was let out and allowed to wander. We wouldn’t have feral cats by the thousands of cat owners could generally be described as “responsible”.
And hopefully euthanize dogs just as fast.
Go euthanize yourself.
Thanks for proving my point. Its pretty funny the double standard hypocrisy that comes from cats to dogs.
People are all about extermination of cats, talk about a dog and its game on.
They’re all just property.
Euthanize myself? I didn’t include a personal insult in my reply, why did you? Oh, that’s right, Edgewood North residents don’t have any class. Enjoy your crime infested shit hole, drug poppin’ town.
A full-time vet at Harford’s Humane Society–GREAT news!
Wonderful news. Much needed changes are finally happening in Harford County.