Written by Karel Minor, Humane Pennsylvania President & CEO

Twelve years ago, when (what was then known as) the Humane Society of Berks County was asked by the Humane League of Lancaster County to take over management of their organization, I first met Aida May. At the time, she was a non-management kennel technician, and she had already been working there for a few years. I remember the reaction of the Berks management team was basically, “Who is that and why doesn’t hasn’t she been promoted?”

Aida presented herself with a calm, even-tempered demeanor and a quiet competence. Quiet tends to be overlooked, if not ignored, but I took note. When the two organizations underwent the extremely rough birthing process of formally merging to create the new Humane Pennsylvania, Aida stuck around. She kept stepping up to more and more and was promoted to a Coordinator position and ultimately as Manager of Adoption Programs at Humane PA.

This may seem like light praise but it is not: throughout she was an unflappable presence. Animal welfare is a business that tends toward maximum “flappability.” It’s high-stress, high-emotion, life-and-death stakes, and often tends to gather to itself people who may…how can I say this gently?…get along better with animals than people. Aida is a rare person who is kind and compassionate with animals and with people.

So, when she announced it was time for her to move on to a better work opportunity, the news brought mixed emotions for all of us. We all want her to do what’s best for her and her family, but it is also hard to figure out exactly how the place will function and will “feel” without her presence. Aida has been part of Humane PA for more than half the time I’ve worked here, which is twenty-one years this July. While we all know that 125-year-old organizations like ours have a longer life span than any one employee, we also know that without people, we’re nothing.

Aida is one of the people who has made the lifesaving work HPA does possible, and has gotten us through good times and bad. She was there when we merged. She was there when we implemented the radical new approach to community animal health called the Healthy Pets Initiative. She was there when our vet hospitals were certified by the American Animal Hospital Association, the first in PA and among the first in the nation. She was there during COVID, when we kept our doors open and did not lay off a single staff member. She made good times better and made bad times less bad.

We will miss her and we send her our appreciation and love. We hope you will do the same.