Rachel D.K. Finney, Chief Executive Officer, Leaving Columbus Humane After 16 Years of Monumental Impact on Animal Welfare
National search under way to carry-on legacy of being an industry leader
After 16 years of dedicated and compassionate leadership, Rachel D.K. Finney, CAWA, has announced her transition from Columbus Humane. The organization extends its deepest gratitude for her unwavering commitment to the welfare of animals and community residents, and her outstanding contributions to Columbus Humane.
“Rachel’s passion for the well-being of animals and the residents of our community, coupled with her visionary leadership, has left an extraordinary impact on Columbus Humane and Central Ohio,” said Angie Tabor, President of the Columbus Humane Board of Trustees. “The organization expresses its heartfelt appreciation for her tireless efforts. We will honor and carry on her legacy through the search for the next CEO who will embody our mission of fighting animal cruelty, helping animals in need and advocating for their wellbeing.”
During her tenure as CEO, Finney spearheaded numerous initiatives that significantly impacted the lives of animals and people, strengthening the bond between the organization and the community. Some of her notable accomplishments include:
Expanding programs, staff, facilities and resources:
Accomplishments include five major building projects, including the monumental improvement of shelter facilities in Hilliard, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for animals awaiting adoption.
As the result of a $6 million capital campaign, the first-of-its-kind Essential Care Center was created. This state-of-the-art facility combines heavily subsidized veterinary care, pet food assistance and veterinary workforce training under one roof.
Her tenure also saw a budget growth of 430 percent, from $1.7 Million to $7 Million. Columbus Humane staff also grew exponentially from 35 staff members to 78, including a team of seven veterinarians. Nearly 95 percent of Columbus Humane’s funding comes from personal donations, corporate sponsorships, fees for services and grants.
Creating Innovative Programs: Under her guidance, Columbus Humane expanded innovative programs like the following:
The Safe Haven for Pets program that offers animal care and housing on-site at LSS CHOICES for Domestic Violence shelter and at Columbus Humane 365 days-per-year.
In partnership with the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio and Jewish Family Services, Finney created a new workforce development program. The Rachael Ray Foundation Pathways to Careers in Animal Health veterinary assistance training program is providing diverse, skilled workers to address critical shortages in veterinary medicine.
Columbus Humane celebrated 16 years of partnership in 2023 with the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Columbus Humane veterinarians host all fourth-year veterinary students for their shelter medicine rotation. Through of this partnership, more than 75,000 pets have been spayed/neutered in our community in the last 16 years.
Industry Leader in Advocating for Animal Welfare: A Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA), 25-year nonprofit executive, and commissioned Humane Agent, Finney actively advocates for the pets and people of Columbus. She serves as a Board Trustee for the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and the Ohio Animal Welfare Federation, and chairs the CAWA Certification Council. In her tenure, our animal cruelty investigations department has grown to the largest program in the State of Ohio with the most robust solutions to help the community.
Saving Lives: Optimizing the intake and adoption process lead to Columbus Humane creating a national model of success for other animal welfare agencies. Providing the community with more resources to care for pets and expanding internal programs allows Columbus Humane to maximize resources and not euthanize animals due to space constraints. Columbus Humane now acts as a consultant to other animal welfare agencies on best practices in animal sheltering.
“This relationship has been the epitome of the word partnership, our college and students have benefitted immensely from the experiential learning opportunities provided by Columbus Humane. Rachel’s dedicated and innovative leadership has been transformational, and along with the amazing staff has positioned the organization with an especially strong foundation to build upon for the next CEO. I am proud of their great work and grateful for the mutually beneficial relationship, and I look forward to maintaining win-win-win affiliation moving forward.” Rustin M. Moore, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS
“When I joined Columbus Humane in 2008, the organization was filled with so much potential,” said Finney. “There’s something truly magical about a group of dedicated people coming together to save and change lives for the better. I get chills when I think of what we’ve accomplished together to help animals and people. It’s really working and we’ve made a meaningful difference–and there’s still room for more!”
Finney’s transition is effective on or before June 30, 2024. Columbus Humane is partnering with Adisa on a national search for the next leader. The Columbus Humane Board of Trustees is committed to ensuring a seamless transition to continue its mission of fighting animal cruelty, helping animals in need and advocating for their wellbeing.
Columbus Humane
Established in 1883, Columbus Humane is dedicated to serving Central Ohio through a variety of programs for animals and people. Their mission is to fight animal cruelty, help animals in need, and advocate for their well-being. As a non-profit law enforcement agency, Columbus Humane investigates reports of animal cruelty in Franklin County, responding to an average of 6,000 investigations every year. Serving as a vital community resource, the organization offers support to strengthen the bond between people and their pets, introducing the first-of-its-kind Essential Care Center—a subsidized veterinary hospital and pet food pantry for underserved communities. As an adoption center, Columbus Humane cares for an average of over 250 animals daily and facilitates an average of 3,000 adoptions yearly. For more information, visit www.columbushumane.org.
