ORLANDO, Fla., June 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The almost 80-year-old Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando announced today that Kerri Burns, the agency's President, is retiring from the post after the successful two-year turnaround of the organization under her leadership. Burns, who is leaving the organization effective July 2, 2015, is pursuing personal goals and is not continuing professional service in the animal welfare field.
"We have celebrated many successes under Kerri's leadership, most notably, increasing adoptions by placing 6,460 dogs and cats into new, loving homes through our animal shelters and expanding veterinary services to help and heal 44,866 pets through our affordable veterinary clinics last year," said Doug Glicken, Chairman of the Board for the Pet Alliance. "Kerri has a once in a lifetime opportunity to pursue a global sailing adventure and we are all quite envious that she is taking this leap to pursue personal dreams."
Even though Kerri is leaving the Pet Alliance, the leadership team that she personally assembled is remaining in place. An Interim Executive Committee will ensure continuity of the success of the organization and will be comprised of Rebecca Rhoades, DVM, CAWA, Vice President of Operations; Sean Hawkins, Vice President of Philanthropy & Marketing; and Fraily Rodriguez, Vice President of Community Initiatives.
"I accepted the President position at the Pet Alliance to engage the community to save more animal lives," Kerri Burns said. "We have challenged the historical role of animal shelters in this community. No longer will we build large warehouses for homeless animals. Instead, we are focusing our limited resources on finding ways for animals who have homes to keep those homes, and to prevent more from becoming homeless in the first place."
Burns will be joining the newly formed "Community Animal Welfare Advisory Board," serving as a volunteer, remaining an integral part of animal welfare policy for the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando. According to Glicken, a national search to fill Burns' vacancy will commence promptly.
About Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando
As the go-to pet experts for Central Florida, the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando does good things for dogs and cats and the people who love them. Formerly the SPCA of Central Florida, the organization's goal is to provide compassionate and knowledgeable services for pets and to be leaders in innovative animal care and veterinary medicine. More than 7,000 homeless dogs and cats turned to the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando for caring, compassion, and hope through its two animal shelters last year. Highly skilled veterinarians will help and heal an additional 45,000 animals through two veterinary clinics. Providing shelter for animals in crisis, disaster response efforts, and pet food pantry programs for dogs and cats in need, thousands of additional animals are helped each year. Visit www.PetAllianceOrlando.org for more information.