The Humane Society of Schuyler County, a leading advocate for animal welfare in the Finger Lakes, is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles Brown as its Director of Shelter Operations. Brown, a veteran of the animal welfare field, will oversee everyday operations of the shelter. As part of the management team, he will work with the Board and Executive Director to shape organizational policy and ensure state and federal compliance. Brown’s role is to drive continuous improvement in animal welfare, focusing on superior care, education, and community-focused adoption services.
“We are delighted to have Charles as a key member of our organization,” said Georgie Taylor, Executive Director. “His extensive background in animal welfare comes at a pivotal time, helping us not only meet the requirements of the New York State Companion Animal Care Standards Act, but to continue to provide exceptional care in an ever-changing landscape.”
“I am excited to join this innovative team and continue to build on the great work that the Humane Society of Schuyler County provides to our communities,” said Brown.
Most recently Brown served as Senior Director of Rescue Transport at Farm Sanctuary. Prior to that, he was Director at Shy Wolf Animal Sanctuary in Naples, Florida where he advised the organization on best practices in animal welfare operations and enrichment for both exotic and domestic species. Before that, Brown served as Executive Director at several humane societies, both large and small, led shelter and animal control operations, and developed high performing teams to significantly increase live release rates.
For more information or to learn how to support the Humane Society of Schuyler County please visit SchuylerHumane.org.
The Humane Society of Schuyler County recently received a $75,000 grant from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) The grant will further the organization’s compliance with New York state’s new animal protection laws, sometimes referred to as the “Companion Animal Standards Act“ which became effective on December 15, 2025. The new laws create uniform care standards for animal shelters and rescues with mandatory licensing, inspections, and enforceable daily care requirements.
This funding will be used by the Humane Society to upgrade its heating and ventilation system, specifically to address the specifications in the new law that temperatures in animal care facilities range between 60 and 80 degrees. ASPCA® award amounts ranged from $20,000-$75,000.
“We are thrilled to be a recipient of this generous grant funding”, says Board President Kimberly Manning. “This funding will help us to be in full compliance with the capital requirements of the new standards and to continue to provide a high standard of care for the animals who come to us in need”.
The Humane Society of Schuyler County, a leading advocate for animal welfare in the Finger Lakes, is proud to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Carmen Ek and Lee “Bear” Smith.
“We are thrilled to welcome such dedicated and talented professionals to our board,” said Kimberly Manning, Board President of the Humane Society of Schuyler County. “Their expertise and passion for animal welfare will be invaluable as we look to expand our community outreach and enhance our services for the homeless pets in our care.”
Carmen Ek joins with over 27 years of experience in marketing, product management, and sales. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Alfred University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Isenberg School of Management. She is Senior Marketing Manager at Regal Rexnord where she is focused enabling customer success for clients in the food and beverage industries. Carmen is a mom to two rescue dogs: an 11-year-old black Lab-Rottweiler mix and a 3-year-old Pit Bull Terrier-Australian Cattle Dog mix who is an alumna of Schuyler County Humane Society.
Bear Smith brings deep expertise in architecture and construction. Smith earned a BA in Architecture from Alfred State University. Upon graduation he spent several years coaching gymnastics at state, national, and worldwide levels. He returned to his architectural roots in 2015 and has served as a Project Manager at Holt Architects since 2016. Bear’s primary interest lies in creating sustainable, affordable community projects for people of all incomes. He has been recognized for his contributions to developing affordable housing and historic preservation. He and wife share their lives with three dogs.
Additionally, Aimee Dars Ellis has been elected Vice President of the Board of Directors. She has served on the Board since 2023. Dars Ellis is Marketing Specialist at Atwater Vineyards. She received her Ph.D. from Arizona State University, her M.S. in Curriculum Design and Informational Technology through the University at Albany (SUNY), her M.B.A. from the University of Oklahoma, and her B.A. from the University of Chicago. A long-time vegan, Aimee is passionate about animal welfare. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their rescue pugs (including one from the Humane Society of Schuyler County), reading, and crafting. Aimee also serves on the Board of Directors of the Watkins Glen Public Library.
For more information about the board or to learn how to support the Humane Society of Schuyler County please visit SchuylerHumane.org
Dogs running at large in the towns of Ovid and Covert are transported to the Humane Society of Schuyler County for shelter and care, where they will be held for five days. In partnership with the Dog Control Officer, April Moore, every reasonable effort will be made to reunite stray dogs with their owners. At the end of the five-day period any unclaimed dogs will become the property of the Humane Society for placement. These contracts will be in effect through December 31, 2026.
Under New York State law all animals leaving the shelter must have a current rabies vaccination and a valid license. If an owner is unable to provide appropriate documentation the Humane Society will arrange for vaccination at the owner’s expense and complete a license application. To reach the Humane Society of Schuyler County please call us at 607-594-2255 extension 201. To reach April Moore, Dog Control Officer, call 607-857-5643 for dogs at large in both Covert and Ovid.
In addition, if you find a stray dog in the town of Lodi, please contact Dog Control Officer, Ben Caulkins at 315-406-5060.
Residents in the Town of Barton please contact the Dog Control Officer at 607-237-1370 or contact the Humane Society at 607-594-2255 extension 201.
Residents for the town on VanEtten will continue to contact Dog Control Officer, Dustin Rose at 607-342-0433 or the Humane Society at 607-594-2255 ext 201.
The Humane Society looks forward to continuing to advance animal welfare and to support the pets and residents of Schuyler County and nearby communities.
The Humane Society of Schuyler County is a not-for-profit 501 (c)3 corporation dedicated to advancing animal welfare since 1987.
The Humane Society is currently looking for an Animal Care Associate to work on the canine side of the Shelter. The work involves feeding, socializing, and kennel cleaning. A detailed job description can be downloaded from the link below. If you are interested in the position, please fill out a job application at the link below.
In 2009, the Humane Society assumed management of the existing dog shelter. Since that time the Humane Society has provided the towns of Schuyler County with the stray dog sheltering services which the towns are required to provide under Article 7 of the New York State Ag and Markets Law. The Humane Society also provides sheltering services for dogs that are seized by the Schuyler County Sheriff’s office for cases of hoarding, neglect and animal cruelty under NYS Ag and Markets law Article 26 and owner surrendered pets.
The Humane Society has not increased fees to the towns since 2009. Going into contract discussions for 2019 the Humane Society proposed increases which were rejected by the towns. However, in the spirit of providing care for the animals and the betterment of the community, the Humane Society agreed to the existing terms at that time. However, since 2009 costs have risen dramatically. Minimum wage alone has increased from $7.25 an hour in 2009 to $15.50 in January of 2025. The cost of utilities has increased as have other costs of care for dogs housed until they are either redeemed by their owners or placed for adoption. These costs were simply not being covered by the existing contracts. The primary source of revenue from each town has been 70% of the dog licensing fees collected by the towns which have steadily declined. This has resulted in a financial deficit which Humane Society has been funding for several years.
To arrive at a proposed fee for the towns, the costs associated with dogs brought in as strays were separated from dogs and cats admitted to the shelter under other circumstances and other costs not related to animal care. The costs presented to the towns reflected care for those dogs for whom the towns are responsible under article 7 of NYS Ag and Markets Law. The proposed fees were allocated based on the average number of dogs housed from each town over the recent four-and-a-half-year period.
In June we requested a meeting to present a new proposed contract structure and fee schedule to the towns at the Council of Governments meeting. Several meetings were held from June through November. The Humane Society proposed a subsidy to the towns that would have reduced the burden, but the towns chose to pursue an alternative supplier.
The Humane Society proposed a flat yearly fee for each town, with the towns retaining their dog licensing fees collected during the year. For 2025 the proposed cost to each town is listed, along with the anticipated 2025 license revenues. The anticipated net cost is the Humane Society Fee minus the anticipated 2025 license revenue, based on 2023 actual figures.
Town
Proposed 2025 Humane Society Fee
Anticipated 2025 License Revenue
Anticipated Net 2025 Cost to Town
Catherine
$5,989
$2,164
$3,825
Cayuta
$3,214
$242
$2,972
Dix
$11,248
$2,578
$8,670
Hector
$8,619
$3,568
$5,051
Montour
$11,686
$2,430
$9,256
Orange
$3,944
$1,284
$2,660
Reading
$11,778
$2,242
$9,536
Tyrone
$8,619
$753
$7,866
The proposed flat fee was intended to enable the towns to set an accurate budget figure for the year, regardless of the number of strays they may be responsible for in any given year. The towns are able to offset a portion of the cost by ensuring that more dogs are licensed, increasing licensing fees and/or charging a surcharge for unlicensed dogs.
The shared services agreement which has been in place for 15 years with the county, the towns, the Sheriff’s Department and the Humane Society has served the residents of Schuyler County well, providing complete coverage of animal welfare issues 24×7.
It is unfortunate that these discussions have not resulted in a workable agreement. The Humane Society remains committed to resolving these issues in the future and to providing other vital services to our community. These include shelter and adoption services for owner surrendered pets, victims of animal cruelty, neglect or abandonment, low-cost spay/neuter services, a pet pantry, and a commitment to expansion of educational and community outreach programs. It has been an honor to serve the hundreds of stray dogs who have crossed our doors over the past 15 years.
The Humane Society of Schuyler County will continue to provide sheltering services for the town of Van Etten.
Thank you so much to everyone that participated in FLXgives and our online auction. This year was our most successful year for FLXgives, and the auction was a huge success. Thank you to all of the generous people who donated items. If you are a winner, then please pick up your item at the Shelter during open hours.
