It’s one of those sad end-of-an-era moments. Vicki Davis is about to retire as executive director of the Tri-County Humane Society.
The good news is Davis’s long history of hard work and visionary abilities for the humane society will continue under the inspired leadership of its new director, Marit Ortega.
After four decades of passionately dedicated hard work on behalf of thousands upon thousands of animals, Davis plans to step down in early February. Her singular achievement cannot be underestimated.
The TCHS began in – of all places! – a refurbished gas station with a scrounged-together operating budget of $40,000 its first year. Some years later, a new building was constructed in east St. Cloud and then, after the hard work and long haul of fundraising, a wonderful, bright, spacious new facility was constructed and opened in 2020. The building, located just to the west of the old one, even features a surgical center and its own surgical team to spay/neuter every animal and to help critters in desperate need of surgical procedures.
Davis is quick to give credit for the TCHS’s ever-advancing, hard-won successes to the long series of donors, staff members and amazing volunteers. But make no mistake: Davis was the guiding spirit from Day One. She worked like a trooper for 40 years to make TCHS one of the finest humane societies in existence. Her deep and abiding love for animals was her constant impetus and strength to make it all work and grow.
In the beginning, Davis did it all. She handled human-relations tasks, directed daily operations, took care of the animals, planned special events, strategized for fund development and served as manager of customer service. She worked so hard at those herculean labors morning, noon and night to make it all come together year after year.
The TCHS now thankfully has a full-time worker in charge of all the tasks Davis had to take on all by herself once upon a time.
As a result, hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats were adopted and found “forever” homes, not to mention other kinds of critters such as guinea pigs and rabbits.
The important work at the TCHS was enhanced in so many ways by outreach educational programs, off-site adoption events and several annual fun fundraisers, like its Companion Walk every autumn. People in central Minnesota cities – Sartell, St. Joseph, Sauk Rapids, to name just three – became involved as volunteers to help in so many ways to make TCHS an ongoing success, helping so many animals that would otherwise be doomed. It was Davis who led the way.
We thank you, Vicki! Critters thank you, too (woof, woof! meow, meow!). We hope plans are underway to have an artist sculpt a statue of you that can grace the grounds of the TCHS.
In the meantime, we suggest people all through central Minnesota send thank-you cards to Davis, and while you’re at it, you might want to enclose a donation to the TCHS in the thank-you card.
Send cards and donations to Vicki Davis, Tri-County Humane Society, 735 Eighth St. NE, St. Cloud, MN 56304.
Donations can also be made online at www.tricountyhumanesociety.org.
