ALLENTOWN, Pa. – From the curb, it looks just another day.
But inside the Lehigh Valley Humane Society and Vet Clinic, the team members are mourning the loss of Hal Warner, who died Monday after a long illness.
“He was the CEO of the Lehigh Valley Humane Society to the public, but to us he was friend, family, mentor,” said Interim CEO Teisha Jones.
Interim CEO Teisha Jones says from the moment Hal walked through the doors 8 years ago he was family.
“He had this amazing ability to see you for your character,” said Jones.
She says he spent every day making others feel the same way.
“He created a welcoming, warm environment for everyone. He eliminated the barriers, so people no longer had to decide if they were going to give their pet up or they were going to come and ask for help, because it was easy to come and ask for help,” said Jones.
And during his tenure, Hal kept expanding community offerings.
“Hal didn’t do small,” said Jones.
He turned a one room clinic into an entire wing complete with operating and dental suites.
He added animal housing and created two outside play areas.
He expanded animal education and hired two full-time adoption specialists, who raised the live release rate from 60 to 95 percent.
“He was just an inspiration,” said Jackie Folsom, Chief Development Officer.
“He loved animals. He had a really, really special bond with his dog, Gabby, who he adopted here not too long after starting,” said Folsom. “Sadly, he always used to talk about how hard it would be for him to lose her, and you know, as it turned out, she lost him.”
The folks at the humane society say Hal Warner’s legacy is the care he cultivated not just in the building itself but also in their hearts.
“He made me believe in me,” said Jones.
To honor Hal’s memory, the humane society’s main building will be dedicated in his name before his birthday, July 30.