Members of the board of directors of the Animal Care Trust announced that they have hired Karen Walsh, LVMT, as the new executive director of the McKamey Animal Center.
Ms. Walsh, who is adjunct faculty at the Chattanooga State Veterinary Technology program, was instrumental in the planning and design of the center and staff roles, has served as a board member of the Animal Care Trust and has been interim director of McKamey Animal Center for several months.
Her educational background and previous experience of running a shelter and owning and managing her own businesses has given her superior qualifications to fill this position, officials said.
Over 100 applications were received for the position once it was posted and several phone and personal interviews were conducted. The search committee recommended Ms. Walsh to the board and she was unanimously approved. The position is officially accepted on July 1, although Ms. Walsh is currently in the position.
The McKamey Center celebrates its first anniversary July 1 and has seen 4,853 animals in the center through May.
Officials said, "With national averages of euthanasia in animal shelters standing at approximately 64%, we are proud to have a rate of approximately 27% at McKamey." Although no city shelter can be a true no-kill shelter due to sick, injured and aggressive animals that are not adoptable, we are proud that our low-kill shelter has established lines of adoption, foster and rescue that allow us to say we have never had to euthanize an animal due to lack of space."