Manatee County Animal Services has a new chief

MANATEE -- Manatee County Animal Services has appointed the executive director of the Humane Society of Pinellas as its new chief.

Sarah Brown, who has been the executive director at the Pinellas Humane Society since April 2011, accepted the offer of employment and will begin Feb. 1, according to an email sent from Bob Smith, Public Safety Department director, to County Administrator Ed Hunzeker on Wednesday morning. Brown's annual salary will be $80,880.

"Sarah brings a strong back

ground of animal care and welfare to the position, including both hands-on operational and management experience as well as experience as an animal shelter volunteer," Smith said in the email. "We are excited to bring Sarah onboard and for the many great things she will no doubt accomplish."

Before accepting the position, Brown said she took a few days to really think about it because "it's a big opportunity but it's also a big challenge."

"My passion is animals and saving animals," said Brown, who has owned rescue animals for most of her life. "The opportunity to make Manatee County a true no-kill community and work with partners is just a great opportunity."

Community collaboration, which is currently lacking in Manatee County, is key to making that happen, Brown said.

"One shelter can't do everything on their own without community collaboration, a tough game without that," Brown said. "This is a great opportunity to dive in and make those things happen."

Animal Services, which has a shelter in Palmetto, declared in 2011 it would become the first no-kill agency in Florida.

While the numbers are headed in the right direction, Brown said there are always ways to make lives more comfortable for the animals while in the shelter and having partners to rely on to pull animals along with "clear transparent communication."

"You can't do this alone," Brown said. "When a shelter is out there trying to do everything, it is just impossible and (you are) going to hit roadblocks until you form a real community collaborative with shelters and advocates."

Brown previously served as senior management for Animal Care and Control of New York City, "which is one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the country, taking in approximately 30,000 animals each year," according to Smith's email.

Brown and the other finalist, Suzanne Fuqua, were brought into the county's Public Safety Center last Monday for face-to face panel interviews. Fuqua is the former executive director of the Humane Society of Sedona in Arizona. The county received 76 applications during its nationwide search from individuals hoping to lead the at-times controversial division.

Joel Richmond, animal services interim chief, applied but was not a finalist.

The interview panels included "senior operational and administrative management from the Public Safety Department, senior staff from Animal Services, a representative from the Sheriff's Office and a representative from our corps of dedicated Animal Services volunteers," Smith said in the email.

Brown's application stated her objective is "looking for an opportunity as a leader in animal welfare to bring an organization to its full potential." It describes her as "a progressive leader with experience in both managed no-kill and open admissions sheltering."

Commissioner Carol Whitmore said the search for a new chief went through the appropriate process with input from stakeholders, including the sheriff's office and volunteer John Marble.

"I just hope the animal community will give this person a chance to succeed and make Animal Services something that everybody will be proud of in our community," Whitmore said. "They went through a long process to find somebody. ... I'm just hoping that the community will give this person a chance and welcome her with open arms and remember our whole goal is to save more animals."

Whitmore added that she's "impressed with her credentials and her experience in New York City with a high-volume shelter."

Brown said she knows it is always different when a new leader comes in.

"I really look forward to working with everyone in the community," she said. "I'm big on communication and transparency. My passion is really making a community no-kill and save as many animals as possibly by getting them into good, responsible homes."

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Manatee County Animal Services has a new chief ."