Ms. Wells most recently served in leadership roles for the KC Pet Project in Kansas City, Missouri, including Director of Operations and Animal Behavior and Project Manager. Wells will serve as the leader of the Lawrence Humane Society and will be based in LHS’s new Lawrence, Kansas facility at 1805 E. 19th Street. Wells will oversee shelter operations, accounting and finance, marketing and public relationship, and leadership of 35 LHS team members. Ms. Wells’ tenure as Executive Director begins on January 2, 2020, and she will relocate to the Lawrence community in the near future.

“We’re pleased to welcome Shannon to the LHS team where she will work with us to continue serving as a best in class shelter and delivering important care for pets in the Lawrence community,” said John Olsen, Chair of the Board of Directors for the LHS. “Shannon has worked tirelessly on behalf of animals, pets, and pet owners in the Kansas City community. She will be an outstanding leader for our dedicated team at the LHS. I have no doubt Shannon will be an excellent resource for the Lawrence community and will help the LHS continue its community and industry leadership.”

Ms. Wells was an original staff member of the KC Pet Project (KCPP) from the time of KCPP’s inception in January 2012. As Director of Operations, Ms. Wells oversaw a staff of 100 team members and founded KCPP’s first-ever canine parvovirus treatment program. She also developed numerous organizational programs across KCPP’s adoption locations in metropolitan Kansas City and helped serve more than 10,000 pets annually. Ms. Wells has served as a speaker for the Humane Society of the United States and earned their Unsung Hero Award in 2018. Ms. Wells has an M.S. in veterinary forensic medicine from the University of Florida and earned her B.A. from Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo. Ms. Wells is also a certified professional dog trainer.

Ms. Wells’ appointment is the result of a nationwide search conducted by the LHS Board of Directors throughout 2019. Current Interim Executive Director Kirk Putman will remain active with LHS helping first with Shannon’s transition to her new role and then as a member of the LHS Board of Directors. Putman, a former Hill’s Pet Nutrition executive, was named Interim Executive Director in June 2019.

“With a passionate, hardworking staff; an incredible new facility; and the support of the animal-loving community of Lawrence, the Lawrence Humane Society is on a trajectory to do incredible things for people and pets in the coming years. This is an exciting time to join the LHS team, and I look forward to what we will accomplish together,” said Ms. Wells.