Kerry Clair announced on Saturday that she would retire as Executive Director and President of Pets Alive, Inc. based in Middletown, NY.
For the past 6 years, Kerry has been at the helm of Pets Alive, rescuing thousands of animals during that time and steering Pets Alive to the forefront of the no kill movement. A beloved and valued member of the Pets Alive team, Kerry leaves behind a remarkable legacy of dedication, love and compassion for animals. The Pets Alive team will continue that legacy and expand on it, taking Pets Alive to new heights over the coming months and years.
Plans are already in place to build a state of the art medical facility at the Middletown location, enabling Pets Alive to save money while increasing the level of care to the animals. At the Westchester facility, major renovations are in progress, including a new roof and new dog kennels to provide a safer, healthier, happier environment for the animals. In Puerto Rico, Pets Alive will continue to grow and be a voice for change on the island. All of this and more is made possible in part by very generous grants from Sidewalk Angels Foundation.
With so many new and exciting developments in store for Pets Alive, the search for a new Executive Director to lead the Middletown sanctuary is already underway. Kerry has agreed to assist the board of directors in the search and to stay on to train her replacement, assuring a smooth transition.
Please join us in thanking Kerry for helping to build a strong foundation on which Pets Alive can continue to grow and save even more lives over the coming years. As Kerry looks forward to a well-deserved retirement, we wish her all the best that life has to offer.
Board of Directors, Pets Alive, Inc.
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
~Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Kerry, you made the difference. You really worked hard and the animals have benefitted thru your devotion and insight. You will be missed but you have stabilized this rescue and it will continue because of your vision to move it forward.
Thank you so much!!
Kerry,
I wish you all of the best and much happiness in your well-deserved retirement! As a longtime supporter of Pets Alive and a strong advocate of no kill shelters, I have been amazed and inspired by what you’ve accomplished at Pets Alive in such a short time. You were pivotal in bringing the shelter back from the brink of bankruptcy and dissolution and making it one of the top no kill shelters in the U.S.. Your genuine love and concern for the animals as well as your constant, tireless dedication and determination to help and do what is best for every animal has always shone through in everything you have done for Pets Alive. A thousand thank yous!!
Kerry,
I first learned about PA when BF became involved after Sarah’s passing. As I read the blogs, I am always amazed at the progress that has occurred in those years under your leadership. When Matt left, you remained steadfast in seeing the vision through. Your dedication and success is AMAZING. My only regret is that I never did make the trip from Mass to meet you in person; but because of you, I have continued to donate to PA each month. I wish I could do more, but you taught me (through actions) that if every person does what they can, however small it may be in the big scheme of things, the combined effect is something HUGE/POWERFUL.You leave a legacy of love, devotion to the animals, and dedication to the No Kill movement. With people such as yourself, I truly believe that one day, it is truly possible that we will see an end to shelters that are forced to euthanize animals who are unable to speak on their behalf. Thank you for EVERYTHING that you have sacrificed to care for the animals. Your love of them shines strongly. I wish PA success in finding the right person to carry on what you have begun and for you, I wish you a happy and healthy life and a chance to heal the wounds on your heart that has been battered by emotion and challenge for a very long time. You are one special lady!
Thank you Kerry for all you’ve done. In November of 2008 we adopted Dante, a shepard/rotweiler mix who had been rescued from a horder in Tennesee. He had been so badly starved that his rescuer thought he would have to be put down. That starving (about 15 lbs. at rescue)puppy is now a 90lb. full grown duffus. Our vet tells us he’s slightly overweight, but who could deny him a snack? Without Pets Alive or you, Kerry, there would be no place for dogs like Dante, and our lives would be all the poorer for it. Thank you and God bless!!
Keri transformed Pets Alive. Her work was tireless, passionate and 24/7. The animals could not have had a better guardian. I’m sure the team is sad to see you go and I wish you great luck on whatever your next calling may be.
best-Leila
Thank you, Keri, for all the work you have done for animals and Pets Alive. I hope you enjoy your retirement and enjoy the love of all the animals you come in contact with.
Kerry, you have done a magnificent job at Pets Alive. I am sorry to see you go, but have a feeling you will always have your hands in it somewhere. It would be great if you could let some of us know where you are going and your next endeavors.
I hope the next admin is as open-minded and professional as you are, but unfortunately, I’ve already encountered a less-than-pleasant reception from them concerning new ideas, or just opinions in general. It’s too bad since that’s usually the beginning of a backslide in credibility and participation.
I was blocked from further commenting on your FB page since I disagreed with the early age at which the animals are spayed and neutered. I offered new age suggestions, such as Zinc Neutering, but was met with a rude remark that I could do what I wanted when I opened and ran my own sanctuary. Not a good start.
This same admin, while offering up medical advice for everyone to get Lyme vaccinations was not thrilled when I offered the advice with published professional evidence of its inefficacy so that folks can make an educated choice concerning their pets’ health.
Perhaps you could coach this new admin on how to respond politely to well-meaning people instead of shunning them and turning a blind eye. It would behoove them to listen to you – a successful director for a well-known and well-loved sanctuary.
Take care and much luck in all you decide to do on your journey known as the rest of your life. You will be sorely missed. <3
Kerry, thank you for all your years of hard work and dedication to Pets Alive and all the animals you have helped over the years. It will be a real challenge to replace you. I hope in your future you consider becoming a writer….. you’ ve always had such a great talent in writing all the news, blogs, etc, keeping people informed of important PA events, Ernie stories, etc…. I will really miss that. I hope you continue to use your God-given talents, and enlighten the world!! You’ve always been nothing but nice to me….you will be missed!!!
Kerry, you have done such an amazing, tireless job at Pets Alive. It is hard to imagine it without your leadership, but you have been an inspiration, and gathered like souls around you, to insure that it will go onwards and upwards! You are an inspiration to me, with your tireless, unrelenting work for the animals. My beloved Deva (aka Devil) and I thank you, and wish you all wonderful things in your future.
We crossed paths when I looked for help in getting Gracie, a greyhound, I saved from another animal shelter but could not give her a home with us a place to wait for a forever home. I will always be grateful for that and knowing such a warmhearted person who truly loves animals and worked so hard for their benefits.
Kerry, best of luck in whatever you chose as a future path. You will be hard to replace, apparently, as it is now November 10 and I cannot find any posting about who has been appointed as the new ED of Pets Alive.