Lorri Caffrey has been named interim executive director the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter following its separation from previous Executive Director Maureen Van Artsdalen. In addition, Dr. Sara Pizano, a veterinarian, animal welfare strategist and author of The Best Practice Playbook For Animal Shelters will work alongside Caffrey and the shelter’s board of directors in an advisory role for at least the next six months. Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter is an East Hanover-based animal shelter that promotes the fostering and adoption of rescue dogs and cats.
The changes are part of a revised strategy to better achieve the shelter’s mission to “build a community of people and organizations working together to save today’s, and prevent tomorrow’s, abused, neglected and homeless animals.” As the shelter’s 50th anniversary approaches, these steps strengthen the organization’s decades-long commitment to animal-focused care, including the ability to quickly identify and provide the right services needed for each animal to reduce their stay at the shelter, and free up capacity to care for more animals.
Caffrey has over 17 years of work experience in nonprofits, spending much of that time working with volunteers, managing fundraisers, and cultivating relationships with the community. Born and raised in Cedar Grove, Caffrey has been a resident of Verona for the past 20 years. She is a co-founder and board member of the SUDC Foundation, which supports people affected by a sudden unexplained death in childhood, and served on the Junior Woman’s Club of Verona, where she helped develop programs like Packs with Purpose, which provides school supplies to children in need in Verona.
“We are excited to take the next step in our growth to double our animal welfare impact in the community” said Henry Ristuccia, president of Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter’s board of directors. “We are well-positioned to execute our vision for 2021 and beyond, and work with our community to provide the highest quality of care for all animals that come through our door. We look forward to continuing to develop our relationships with the community, and caring for our animals for many more years.”
Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter is committed to working with the community to provide the best care possible. Feedback and suggestions are welcome and should be directed to [email protected]. The shelter’s search for a new executive director is ongoing.
