A Fond Farewell

Dear Friends,

Throughout my life and career, change is something that I have welcomed. Change helps us grow,
challenge ourselves and expand our perspectives. Beginning mid-June, I will be stepping my career
forward and taking on new and different challenges as the Executive Director of the Stanislaus Animal
Services Agency. It’s an organization much like HSU with the added element of animal control law
enforcement. While I’m excited about this change, I hold enormous amounts of fulfillment for all that
we have accomplished together for the betterment of animals at the Humane Society of Utah over the
past 3 plus years. It’s these milestones and moments that I will carry with me for a lifetime.

The Humane Society of Utah is a special place. A place that is not reliant on a single person, it is the collective group that creates the greatness that is HSU. I leave the Humane Society of Utah knowing that the future of the organization is bright. In the past 3 years, we have achieved so much. We opened a new clinic in St. George and purchased a large lot for future St. George expansion. We did this while eliminating all our debt, building up over $3 million in reserves, and growing from a $6.2 million annual budget to nearly a $9 million budget, putting us in a very strong financial position for the future to help even more animals. Our programs expanded as we passed statewide legislation benefiting animals for the first time in 14 years; we have helped more families than ever keep pets in their homes and out of shelters; we have educated more children than ever throughout the state; we have expanded our transport program; we even began a pilot program with the University of Utah to have a social work student work with families needing help with animal situations. We accomplished all of this and more while the organization navigated the major challenges of COVID. With a solid team of leaders, our robust volunteer corps, our generous donors, and our outstanding staff, HSU will continue to grow and enhance the lives of animals and the people who love them for many decades to come.

I will always have a special place in my heart for my colleagues. The amazing people who work here have hearts so big and a passion so real that it astounded me every day. Every one of them is my hero. I truly thank each of them for being such a positive force that enhances the lives of animals and people, every day. I am grateful for my time as a part of this compassionate and caring team.

That I have had the privilege of playing a small role in the amazing story of the Humane Society of Utah
has been a joyful honor.

With great appreciation,

Vaughn Maurice