New Northeast Animal Shelter executive director Bob Citrullo with his dog Daisy
photo by Northeast Animal Shelter
During the years he spent as executive director of Chattanooga Educational Humane Society, Bob Citrullo sent hundreds of unwanted dogs and cats to New England and other northern communities in search of loving adoptive homes.
Now he’s followed them.
Less than a month after Mr. Citrullo abruptly resigned from his position here in late May, the president and founder of Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA. announced he had been selected as that facility’s new executive director.
“After conducting a thorough national search, the board is exceptionally pleased to welcome (Mr. Citrullo),” Cindi Shapiro announced on the shelter’s website.
“Bob’s visions align perfectly with our values to provide a caring community where every adoptable and treatable pet finds a life-long, loving home,” she wrote. “Bob brings to NEAS a deep knowledge of all aspects of animal rescue.”
Among the reasons he was selected, she noted, were his financial and management expertise and his medical background.
Before getting involved in animal welfare, the organization noted, Mr. Citrullo was an ER nurse and ran a military hospital in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Citrullo’s resignation from the local humane society, citing personal and medical reasons, followed more than five years marked by successful leadership.
That was capped by Hamilton County Commissioners’ vote last November to allocate $10 million for a new 36,000 square foot facility that will replace HES’s current dilapidated 119-year-old facility on North Highland Avenue.
He is hoping to make similar strides forward while heading the shelter in Massachusetts, he said.
“I am excited to join the NEAS family and to build upon the shelter’s past success and unwavering commitment to saving homeless animals over the last 43 years,” he explained on the group’s website. “I am deeply inspired by the human-animal bond and believe we must not only work to save animals’ lives, but have a responsibility to serve the community where we play a vital role.”