RayLynn Bradigan is the Executive Director of the upper Valley Humane Society. RayLynn went to Hanover High and was away from the Upper Valley for 20+ years before returning here about a year ago. This is her first presentation to a community group.
RayLynn Bradigan, Executive Director
Mission: Create a community in which all pets are loved. Provide innovative shelter, enhance quality of life, promote employee wellbeing. They are in the process of reworking the mission now.
Pets ARE loved, but many folks don’t have the means to provide for them. UVHS wants to be a resource, not only a last resource. Have people feel they can ask for help. Our 4-Way test resonates with RayLynn.
Special Guest…Romeo
He’s in need of a home!
He came to a shelter from Florida
“Resource”: Not just a place to adopt a pet or take a pet when they can’t care for it anymore. Want to help in other ways, connect people in need to other organizations that may be able to help.
“Compassionate and accessible services”: Wellness clinics, pet food pantry, emergency boarding (such as when someone is unhoused temporarily to keep the person and pet together over the long term), trap-neuter-return (mostly cats), re-homing of pets (relocation or other circumstances).
“Leave it better than you found it”: sincere appreciation to donors, training our staff and volunteers to feel confident, professional growth opportunities (promoting from within), encourage engagement (when people have ideas, we talk about them), listen to team and provide support.
How will we do it?
- Get back out there! Rekindling relationships, pursue new relationships, say “YES!”. UVHS now has 4 new board members, and an improved social media presence.
- Welcome in! Not appointment-only. Open Sat Sun 11-3 for walk-in by this fall. Reception desk staffed fulltime, volunteer coordinator starting next week, improving signage (unless you know where it is, we are hard to find – only sign we have now says “Dead End”).
- New clinic program – now offering dental/spay-neuter and more specialized procedures, staff veterinarian, building relationships with local veterinarians, public wellness clinics (get basic vaccines, annual checkup)
- Find your new best friend – behavior evaluations upon intake, enrichment and training programs for pets in our care (adventure outings, different trail scents), transports from the south (from overpopulated shelters – recently flew 21 animals in from Jupiter FL), fewer hurdles to adoption (shouldn’t be easier off Craig’s list than from a shelter, facilitate finding a good match)
- Appreciation – being gracious for all gifts, donors and volunteers, personal acknowledgements for donations
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