The Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society recently welcomed Clay Mayhood as the new president of the GMHS Board of Directors. Mayhood has been on the board for the past year and a half since he was asked to become a member at the end of 2022.
“I did without hesitation,” he said.
Mayhood became involved with GMHS after marrying his wife, Madeline. She once served the board as secretary, and her mother was also very active with the shelter. Mayhood said his wife’s work “really strengthened the organization.”
Last fall, Mayhood was asked to be the next board president and began leading the strategic plan for GMHS, which includes transitioning the shelter into an animal welfare campus.
The goal of the campus is to “provide a greater number of services to the region” and “enhance the human-animal bond,” said Mayhood.
The campus will include the Dean and Cam Williams Education and Community Center, which will be a newly attached wing to the shelter. The plan for the wing is to hold educational classes in the new facility. There will also be conference rooms that the public will be able to rent for use, which will help generate funds for the shelter. Mayhood hopes to break ground on this project before the year is out.
Another project he is looking forward to undertaking is a columbarium. This area will be a quiet and reflective area for animal lovers to enjoy nature and remember their pets. Mayhood is also looking to create a picnic area, a dog park and possibly a small amphitheater for live entertainment.
Further down the road, Mayhood would like to create an animal boarding facility and expand its spay and neuter clinic services on-site at the shelter. GMHS’s sole clinic, the Fixin’ to Save Spay & Neuter Clinic, is located at the White Marsh Shopping Center in Hayes.
Though plans for the campus are still in the concept stage, Mayhood, the board and staff are looking forward to announcing the master plan for the site to the public soon.
“We’re very excited about it,” he said
According to Mayhood, GMHS staff is great about coming up with new ideas. He also said that GMHS Executive Director Charles Brown has been introducing new events and promotions, leading to a record number of adoptions this year.
Mayhood had a 35-year career with WestRock and currently resides on Ware Neck in a home his wife’s grandparents built in the 1920s. He is the father of three adult children and a grandfather of three. He has a nine-year-old Catahoula Leopard Dog named Blue, and enjoys kayaking and being on the water.
“It’s worthy of the community’s support,” said Mayhood about GMHS.