Humane Society shakes up executive ranks

Julie Horton

The Humane Society of Southwest Missouri made executive hires in recent months changing the operational structure of the organization.

In late November, Dr. Julie Horton, a veterinarian, joined the nonprofit in the newly created position of director of shelter operations. Her hiring came a month after the Humane Society named Sue Davis its new executive director.

Davis said this morning she succeeded former Executive Director Donna Casamento. After nearly a year in the role, Casamento left to pursue other opportunities, said Davis, who declined to say why the former executive is no longer with the nonprofit. Casamento’s LinkedIn page does not list a new job.

Davis, who joined the Humane Society after four years at Paws Chicago, is tasked with running and maintaining the organization’s operations, strategy and structure.

Horton most recently worked as medical director of adoptions for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In her role as director of shelter operations for the local Humane Society, Horton manages the nonprofit’s animal population, surgical suite, intake and foster care.

“We’re really excited to have somebody in charge of our animal operations who comes from ASPCA,” Davis said. “She brings lots of skills to the table.”

Sally Bolding, who joined the organization five months ago, serves as director of administrative operations, which Davis said is the sister role to director of shelter operations. Horton and Bolding report directly to Davis.

Davis said previously, the 32-employee organization had workers who handled different aspects of Horton’s and Bolding’s duties, but the creation of the director of shelter operations and director of administrative operations roles streamlined those tasks.

“It’s completely a new structure,” Davis said.

Davis, Horton, Bolding and others are promoting the Humane Society’s new “no-kill” status enacted earlier this year. Under the structure, only severely injured animals are euthanized. The shelter has room for up to 350 animals, and another 50-100 are put in foster homes until they can be adopted. Davis said the nonprofit seeks more volunteers and foster families to make the initiative more effective.

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