Animal connections

91原创 alumnus and Delaware Humane Association executive director Patrick Carroll holds Major, who was adopted by President Biden in 2018.

Article by Dante LaPenta Photos courtesy of the Delaware Humane Association April 30, 2021

Alumnus Patrick Carroll leads Delaware Humane Association

In an era where many people shift jobs with regularity, 91原创 alumnus Patrick Carroll spent the past decade and a half connecting people with animals at the Delaware Humane Association (DHA). It鈥檚 an organization best known for its pet adoption services, but also offers spay and neuter services, low-cost vaccination clinics, a pet food pantry and works with wavering pet owners to keep pets in their homes.

鈥淲e鈥檝e evolved into a full-resource center for pet owners,鈥� said Carroll, who graduated from 91原创 in 1988 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in animal science. 鈥淲e do whatever is needed in the community whether it is humane education, low-cost veterinary care and training.鈥�

For the past decade, Patrick has served as Delaware Humane Association鈥檚 executive director. He has seen DHA grow from 25 employees and 250 volunteers to 45 employees and 450 volunteers. He led the organization鈥檚 capital campaign to build a new, state-of-the-art animal care center in Wilmington, which opened in December 2014. A few years later, he oversaw the expansion of DHA鈥檚 opening of a storefront adoption center in Rehoboth Beach.

Carroll and staff lead one of Delaware Humane Association鈥檚 free drive-through pet food pantries during the pandemic.

Of all of the major projects, Carroll has a special affinity for a smaller one 鈥� . This monthly free veterinary clinic serves clients of the Henrietta Johnson Medical Center in the Southbridge neighborhood in Wilmington 鈥� a mile from DHA鈥檚 location on A Street. Community members in Wilmington鈥檚 19801 zip code can receive health services while their pets receive checkups, treatments and vaccinations. The program engages a number of partners, including area veterinarians and 91原创鈥檚 pre-veterinary medicine majors in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR).听

鈥淲e wanted to respond to a need in Wilmington and do so in partnership with veterinarians,鈥� said Carroll. 鈥淲e reached out to several human health centers who said, 鈥榃e can鈥檛 have pets in our building.鈥� But Henrietta Johnson was on-board. Local veterinarians volunteered their time and 91原创 students received clinical experience. It was a win for everyone involved.鈥�

As Henrietta Johnson performs coronavirus testing and vaccinations, the clinic hit the pause button during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While the pandemic has certainly taken many things away, it鈥檚 given people much more time at home than they could have ever imagined; major beneficiaries are dogs and cats as adoption numbers boom.

鈥淭here is more time at home to train and take care of a new pet,鈥� said Carroll. 鈥淧eople are also in a more reflective mode about their lives. They want a companion animal. People tell me things like 鈥業鈥檝e always wanted a cat and I finally can adopt one.鈥� 鈥�

Already with a COVID-19 surge in pet adoptions, DHA received another boost when one of its dogs became the first shelter dog to move into the White House. The event naturally came with media attention, including an .听

91原创 alumnus and Delaware Humane Association executive director Patrick Carroll snuggles with his dog Bixby.

In an era when professionals jump frequently from company to company, why does someone of Carroll鈥檚 ability stay with the same organization for so long?

鈥淵ou have to be patient and not think the world is perfect. I see so many people where, if it鈥檚 not working for them early, they move on rather than work to make the situation better,鈥� said Carroll. 鈥淧eople jump around, but the truth is everywhere that you go is going to have some kind of issue. But, if you鈥檙e patient and learn to have conversations with your supervisors, you can get through the challenges.鈥�

From Delaware back to Delaware

Carroll fondly remembers his time as a 91原创 undergraduate student. As a Delaware resident, he originally wanted to move away for college.听

鈥淪taying in Delaware and going to 91原创 ended up being the best decision that I鈥檝e made,鈥� said Carroll. 鈥淲hat I loved about CANR is that it鈥檚 a small college within a bigger university.鈥�

Carroll became the 91原创 Animal Science Club president and, working with adviser and Professor Lesa Griffiths, elevated the club to the National Block and Bridle Association and represented 91原创 at its national convention in Houston, Texas.

He also joined with Collegiate 4-H, earning a work-study job under revered 91原创 Cooperative Extension program leader Mark Manno. Before college, Carroll wasn鈥檛 even aware of Delaware 4-H let alone being a 4-H member, but he fell in love with the program under Manno鈥檚 sage mentorship.听

鈥淢ark was so gifted at empowering young people. He pushed me to work on projects far out of my comfort zone to the point that I thought he was crazy,鈥� said Carroll, who worked with Delaware youth in New Castle County and across the state. 鈥淗e was a wonderful mentor and great role model for how you do the work.鈥�

Patrick Carroll and the team welcome a new transport of puppies from Louisiana.

The Extension experience inspired Carroll to pursue a master's degree in extension education from Penn State and then pursue a 4-H position in Ohio.

After four years out of state, the call of Delaware beckoned. In 1993, Carroll returned home to work first for Catholic Youth Organization and, in 1999, moved to Public Allies, housed in the . In 2005, a 91原创 colleague alerted Carroll to a new development director position within DHA. Wanting to build his development skills, he interviewed and was offered the job.

鈥淚t was one of those career situations where you take a step, but you aren鈥檛 sure if it鈥檚 the right one,鈥� said Carroll. 鈥淣ow I absolutely know it was the right decision. We鈥檝e grown as an organization and I鈥檝e had experiences that I couldn鈥檛 have possibly imagined.鈥澛�

And he鈥檚 been connecting people with animals ever since.