WEST OCEAN CITY — Ending months of uncertainty and speculation, the Worcester County Humane Society this week announced it has named a new director.
Worcester County Humane Society members have tapped Linda Lugo to fill the post left vacant by the departure of longtime director Kenille Davies late last year. Lugo brings a wide range of animal shelter experience to the position. She started her career in 1994 as a kennel attendant for the Wicomico Animal Shelter before ascending to the position of director, which she held for the last 10 years. Lugo said this week she is excited about her new position with the Worcester County Humane Society.
“I am over-the-top-of-moon, child at Christmas excited,” she said. “There are a lot of amazing WCHS staff and volunteers. I can’t wait to work with them and plan on hitting the ground running.”
Lugo’s first day at her new position will be Monday, March 17, or as she refers to it as lucky St. Patrick’s Day. Shelter members believe with Lugo at the helm, they can continue to make huge progress toward many other great opportunities for the community’s animals in the future.
Originally from Arizona, Lugo has been a Maryland resident since 1985. Her passion has always been animals, although she holds a degree in social work and enjoys working with people. In a restructuring of the organization following Davies’ departure, the WCHS has a new Ways and Means Committee that has been meeting monthly to work on fundraising initiatives aimed at reducing the facility’s significant debt. For example, upcoming events include a Guest Bartending night at Burley Oak Brewing Company in Berlin on March 24 and the Boardwalkin’ for Pets set for April 26. In addition, the shelter staffers will also be attending the Spring Home and Garden Show, the Easter Show and Springfest to sell raffle tickets and other items to raise money for the animals and their care.
The shelter is also utilizing social media to advance initiatives and has a new website at www.worcestercountyhumanesociety.com featuring pictures and profiles of animals available for adoption. The shelter’s Facebook page already has 3,000 “likes” with the number growing daily, allowing the humane society to update daily animal adoptions as well as featuring incoming animals.
Davies announced in November she was stepping down as director of the Worcester County Humane Society after 37 years, but made it clear it was not a voluntary decision. She has since started her own organization, Kennille’s Kupboard, aimed at providing for the needs of animals in the community.