New Tri-County Humane Society Executive Director is a Familiar Face

(KNSI) – The new executive director of the Tri-County Humane Society is a familiar face to the organization.

Marit Ortega started there as a kennel cleaner, moved to full-time as animal care manager, and worked her way up to director of philanthropy over nearly two decades. Still, Ortega says she has a lot to learn now as she takes over the nonprofit’s top spot.

She is already communicating with leaders from other shelters across the country about best practices. She says she has access to “so many great people out there. There’s so many wonderful ideas. Everybody is working together, trying to do what’s best for the animals. Lots of opportunity for us to learn and just keep doing better. It’s fun because a lot of what comes through we are doing. She’s been really on top of making sure we’re just staying with whatever’s recommended.”

Ortega takes over for Vicki Davis, who was part of Tri-County Humane Society for 39 years.

Ortega has spent most of her career with the shelter but also put in about five years at Catholic Community Schools, where she was involved with the capital campaign for the north building at Cathedral. She says she has a ton of ideas she wants to try out.

Just as important to Ortega, though, is resurrecting programs halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “There’s some things on my mind that I’d like to do, and some things that we did before that I want to bring back. Some of our humane education programs, birthday parties, getting into the community a little bit more.”

Ortega also would like to be active in nursing homes, where the animals could be used to lift residents’ spirits. It hosts several fundraisers, including the annual companion walk in September, which has hundreds of creatures, great and small, participate.

The Tri-County Humane Society sees 70 to 100 animals adopted each week. They are all examined, vaccinated, treated for injuries, and prepared for their new homes. It is a no-kill shelter, and they are cared for until they find a match.

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