 Susanne Kogut |
Worked for the local SPCA* for: 3 years
Resides in: Ruckersville
Job Title: Executive director of the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA. Kogut is responsible for directing her staff, financial matters, public relations, and working on legislation for animals.
Best of times: “When I first started, we were euthanizing over 40 percent of the animals. Now we euthanize 8 percent or less and that’s only for medical or severe behavioral issues.”
Worst of times: “There’s nothing worse than euthanizing a happy, healthy animal because we fall short on resources or space. I hope we never have to do that again.”
Strangest moments on the job: “Someone brought us a black widow spider they found on their property and turned it in to us in a jar. We ended up letting the spider back outside.”
If she were a superhero, she’d be: “Leader of the Pack. I wish I could train other people working in animal welfare to maximize their resources and programs and save more animals because that’s what it’s all about.”
*Kogut says the SPCA receives about $200,000 annually from the city and county. A much larger portion of the SPCA’s budget comes from fundraising, but she wishes there were more tax dollars at work.
