Let’s welcome…
Cal Morgan, President and CEO of the Atlanta Humane Society and SPCA of Georgia, Inc.
HOW I CAME TO AHS
I’m pleased to be able to share my thoughts and opinions about animal welfare issues as we begin a new journey together. It is an honor to be serving as the leader of one of the nation’s longest standing humane organizations. I became President and CEO in February 2014 after having served in the same capacity at the Michigan Humane Society (MHS) for the past 13 years. I have spent my entire working career in the nonprofit world beginning with the United Way in Detroit and Jacksonville, Florida followed by 12 years as a Regional Vice President for American Cancer Society back in Michigan. I have always enjoyed the satisfaction of working hard for a cause, and animal welfare has become a passion for me.
I made the decision to relocate to Atlanta and lead the Atlanta Humane Society because I saw the potential to build a stronger organization that could significantly impact the welfare of animals in Atlanta and across the Southeast region. As you may know, the Southeast faces more animal welfare issues than many parts of the country – much in part due to the warm weather! The dog and cat breeding season is much longer here, and there’s a woeful lack of legislation surrounding animal welfare. I have built a strong team, and we are ready and able to learn more about the exact challenges in our community and take a stand on the issues. We are developing a plan that will integrate multiple agencies and nonprofit organizations all with the same goal of eliminating animal homelessness.
I believe it’s my own personal journey to gain a greater awareness of animals’ importance in our society and also how many animals are at risk every single day. I’ve always considered myself an “animal loving” member of the public even before coming to work for a Humane Society. I never understood the full spectrum of how animals were being mistreated in our community until I entered the doors at MHS. Animal homelessness, abuse, neglect, and exploitation are big societal problems across the U.S. and here in Atlanta. It is a sad truth that every single day, thousands of animals are in jeopardy. Animal welfare organizations are in the forefront of addressing these issues and have been for a very long time.
HOW ATLANTA HUMANE STARTED
The Atlanta Humane Society (AHS) was formed in 1873 – just 8 short years after the Civil War – when Confederate General Robert E. Lee visited the city and was appalled at what he saw as the abusive treatment of working horses in Atlanta. Lee was extremely fond of horses and had a particular attachment to his horse “Traveller” who served him faithfully through most of the war. His comments were embraced by the wives of industry leaders here who formed a humane society for the protection of animals, women, and children. The folklore may or may not be accurate about Lee’s influence, but AHS was incorporated in that year — and people began to come together to discuss what could be done to protect the welfare of the horses who were the main source of transportation and heavy lifting in a city that was rebuilding after the devastation of the great war.
This was common in this era and many long-standing humane societies were formed for that same purpose in that same decade. AHS, like other humane organizations, migrated to protecting only animals as other organizations and government entities were formed to protect women and children. As horses declined as working animals after the turn of the 20th century, we began focusing in the 1940’s and 50’s on the welfare of companion animals that people were taking into their homes… namely dogs and cats.
WHERE ARE ATLANTA AND AHS TODAY
Today, Atlanta Humane Society is making an impact on the lives of thousands of animals and their owners through programs that have been developed over many decades. I am excited to be leading this great organization at a time of great opportunity in our long history! We have the chance together to exponentially expand the impact we can have on the welfare of animals in our city, state and Southeastern United States! I hope you will come back and be part of the dialogue. In upcoming blog posts, I will talk about the issues which face animals locally and the vision that we have as an organization to try and tackle those challenges.
