Meet Our People
Want to join the team? Check out our available careers page here!
Meet Our CEO
CEO Hal Warner has over 20 years of non-profit management experience in Health and Family Services where he has specialized in operations, financial development, marketing, and volunteer programs. Hal has extensive experience in both annual and capital campaigns, strategic planning, and community development. In his role at the Lehigh Valley Humane Society, Hal is responsible for the overall operations of the shelter, community involvement, and fundraising. Hal has a passion for service, teambuilding, and animals. He is a resident of the Lehigh Valley and lives with his wife Shellie, two dogs (Oliver and Gabby), and four cats (Zipper, Lily, Barbara, and Six).
Message From the CEO
To our community members & supporters,
Thank you so much for all that you do for the animals of the Lehigh Valley Humane Society as well as for the owned pets in our community that receive medical care at our Community Veterinary Clinic.
2023 was an amazing yet very challenging year here at LVHS; we finally completed our $4 million dollar renovation and expansion. This project completed our vision for 90 new state of the art dog kennels, a modern rescue and trauma center, greatly expanded free roaming cat areas, a grooming studio and the very first Community Vet Clinic in the Lehigh Valley.
In 2023, our shelter saw an increase of 34% in the number of homeless animals in need. 342 additional cats, 472 more dogs and 39 more small animals were brought to our shelter than in 2022. In total, an astoundingly high 3,340 stray, abandoned or surrendered animals came through our doors last year. More significantly, we continued to improve our live release rates through adoptions, returning lost pets to their owners, TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) for community cats, and partnerships with other shelters/rescues. In 2023, we increased our live release rates by over 24% since 2021. Our live release rate for dogs even exceeded the “no kill” rate of 90%, reaching 91% for the first time ever.
What is a live release rate? This is the percentage of animals that leave the shelter with a live outcome, such as being adopted or being returned to the family that lost them. It is also sometimes called a save rate. As mentioned above, to be considered “no-kill”, an organization must meet a live release rate of 90% or more.
It is very important to note that our live release rates are measured by noses in versus noses out. No excuses, no exceptions, no matter the temperament or health of the animal. Each and every animal is counted. It is the most honest and transparent method of reporting a live release rate. We aren’t successful with every animal but we’re getting better every year.
I’m extremely proud that we have accomplished this, all while remaining the only shelter in the Valley that doesn’t turn away any animal based on their breed, age or health. We do it the hard way, because that’s what the animals of the Valley and you deserve. We pride ourselves on putting the animals of our community and their needs first, before taking in dogs transported from out of state.
Our other programs, such as pet grooming, dog training, and our veterinary clinic thrived in 2023. The Community Vet Clinic continues to provide high quality veterinary services at affordable prices so that pet owners can access medical care and keep their pets in the homes where they belong. Last year LVHS awarded over $300,000.00 in financial assistance for medical care to pet owners from all across the Valley. Our clinic also TNVR’d almost 1,000 cats, helping to reduce the number of outdoor cats reproducing in our community.
2024 will be another challenging year for LVHS as the only remaining shelter in the area that continues to provide animal control and respond to calls to rescue animals that have been dumped in the street to fend for themselves, tied to trees or poles, or left behind in empty apartments. We are still the only agency providing a Humane Police Officer to enforce animal cruelty laws in Lehigh county.
We at the LVHS are all very grateful for your continued support. We will always look for new and innovative ways to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals. We will strive for new programs to serve our community and we will continue to work to become the best Humane Society in the country.
We love to show our community the great things we’re doing! You are always welcome. If you would like to come by for a tour, please email me at hal@lehighhumane.org
Thank you and have a great 2024!
Hal Warner
President & CEO