Nally Takes the Helm at Belmont County Animal Rescue League
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The Belmont County Animal Rescue League recently welcomed a new director to its team as Denise Nally took over the position earlier this month.
Nally has a passion for caring for animals and is ready to take on the new role, serving the people and animals of the county.
"I'm excited and looking forward to making improvements - improving and working to make things better here in Belmont County,'' she said. "I genuinely love what I do for a living. I leave work every day feeling a sense of accomplishment."
Nally said she has found her calling in animal advocacy. She has 25-30 years of experience in the field of animal care and has overseen kennel operations, been in veterinary technician roles and directed spay and neuter clinics.
Prior to beginning her new career with BCARL on Jan. 3, she volunteered for the organization in the past. She previously was executive director for both the Marshall County Animal Shelter and the Tiffany Dlesk Spay-Neuter Clinic in Moundsville.
"I had ventured off and tried a different career for a while, but it didn't last me very long because I just loved it. I thought that I was ready for something different but I really wasn't. I missed this, I missed the animals a lot and I missed doing what I love," she said.
Nally said she has many goals for the rescue league in the coming year, including hiring another humane agent, upgrading the facility and doing her best to serve the community's needs.
"We have some grants and grant money that we're utilizing to build a quarantine intake room so that's currently in the works. Lots of construction is going to be happening over the next year or so," she said. "I really just want to serve the pets and community of Belmont County to make sure the pets and the people have the necessities they need to take care of their animals."
Nally has completed humane agent training, bringing the nonprofit's active agents up to two. She said she plans to hire another agent this summer, which she said would be beneficial to the county and surrounding areas.
"It's going to be a huge help. Belmont County is relatively a large county, so it's hard for one agent to cover the whole area," she said.
Before the BCARL board hired Nally, the position had been vacant since the organization chose not to renew the contract of former director Jennifer Woollard in February 2020, after it was suspected she had stolen money from the group while in her position. Woollard, who had worked for the nonprofit for six years as the executive director and a humane agent, was later arrested for allegedly stealing more than $15,000. In June 2021, Woollard was charged with two counts of grand theft and one count of theft. According to the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas, her trial is slated for 9 a.m. Feb. 10.