Brother Wolf hires new executive director

Press Release

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue

The Board of Directors of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is pleased to announce that Paul Berry has been hired as the organization’s new Executive Director. Berry is former CEO of Best Friends Animal Society (the largest animal sanctuary in the country) and past interim Executive Director of Alley Cat Allies.

Berry has 20+ years experience in animal welfare including working at the local and national levels. Under Berry’s leadership at Best Friends Animal Society, the national No-Kill organization accomplished groundbreaking work in exposing the puppy mill industry and campaigning to protect pit bulls and feral cats. Other notable accomplishments during Berry’s term as CEO include leading a massive (6,000+) animal rescue effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, saving 22 of the Pit Bulls from the Michael Vick dog-fighting case, and producing the popular Dog Town TV series with National Geographic Television.

“Paul brings a wealth of skills and experience to our organization at a critical time in our expansion,” says Denise Bitz, Founder and President of Brother Wolf. “We’ve just completed the process of strategic planning and board reorganization and have recommitted to our founding mission to build a No Kill community.”

Brother Wolf is launching a four-point plan to help achieve no-kill status in our community- where no placeable cat or dog dies for lack of a home.

“Our community has made great strides in reducing the number of homeless animals over the last few years. But, sadly, close to 2,000 animals lost their lives in Buncombe County last year. I know we can do better then that. The animals deserve it,” Bitz said.

The four-point plan will augment the work of local humane groups to provide a comprehensive approach to reducing those numbers as aggressively as resources will allow. The plan includes:

1. Increasing Brother Wolf’s adoption efforts by (a) increasing offsite adoption events, (b) growing our Volunteer Foster Network, and (c) making key improvements to our Adoption Center.

2. Engaging the Community’s help in Pet Retention efforts by organizing, neighborhood by neighborhood, to empower citizens with resources and education that helps keep animals from ever entering the animal sheltering system.

3. Developing a Community Cats Program by recruiting volunteers and providing them with the training and resources necessary to conduct effective TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, return), community education, and neighbor mediation to keep outdoor cats from ever entering the animal sheltering system.

4. Developing vital sanctuary resources to treat the behavioral and medical cases that require longer-term rehabilitation.

“Saving the last group of animals who are currently at risk will be very challenging – they are the ‘special needs’ dogs and cats. But I’m confident in our plan forward and with Paul joining the team, I’m certain we’ll achieve our no-kill mission,” says Bitz.