First and foremost, we want to acknowledge our generous benefactors whom, in 2011, contributed $6,143,811. We believe that our founder Anna Harris Smith would be proud of how the Animal Rescue League of Boston continues to expand its relevance into the 21st Century.
Following almost two years of planning, the renovation of our Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center is nearly complete. The improved facility provides a soothing, comfortable environment for animals while incorporating the latest in energy efficiency and green technology. It is anticipated that the project will receive LEED certification.
I am proud to have been a part of this project, and to have played a role in securing the future of our Dedham facility and the League as a whole. I wanted to let you know that I have made the difficult decision to step down from my position as the League’s seventh president. This has been a wonderful journey for me, and I would like to express my gratitude to the many friends and supporters who have enriched, enlivened and uplifted me during my time at the League.
I know that the future is very bright for this organization, especially under the guidance of Interim President Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore. Martha brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. She began her career at the League in 2001 and has served as director of Veterinary Medical Services since 2006. Martha was recently named an “Emerging Leader” in the field of veterinary medicine by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). She currently serves as the immediate past-president of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and is on the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee and the American Heartworm Society Board.
Martha’s compassion and knowledge of animal welfare coupled with the leadership she has demonstrated at the League make her an ideal candidate for this role. Please join me in congratulating her.
John J. Bowen Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore President Interim President
League Presidents
| George A.O. Ernst | 1899 – 1901 |
| Anna Harris Smith | 1901 – 1929 |
| Robert E. Sellar | 1932 – 1946 |
| Walter J. Dethloff | 1946 – 1949 |
| Carlton E. Buttrick | 1949 – 1977 |
| Arthur G. Slade | 1977 – 2005 |
| John J. Bowen | 2005 – Present |
