Starting next month, Tina Leone will lead the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society as chief executive officer in a full-time and in-person capacity. She has been serving in the role since March, traveling to the campus every other week to fulfill her new duties.

Leone’s addition to the shelter follows previous GMHS Executive Director Charles Brown’s resignation late last summer. “The stars aligned,” said Leone about her new role. “Timing is everything.”

She left her position as CEO of the Ballston Business Improvement District in Arlington, last year after over a decade. Leone also previously served as CEO of District Dogs, a dog day care, boarding and grooming company.

In addition to her professional experience, Leone has worked as an animal rescuer and advocate for over 20 years. She has served on boards for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and American Brittany Rescue. She also founded Sporting Dog Rescue International in 2019.

“My heart is definitely in nonprofit,” said Leone.

Though she has never operated a shelter before, Leone was grateful for the strong leaders already employed at GMHS when she was hired.

“I was glad to see we had such a strong team in place,” she said.

Beginning her role at GMHS, Leone is looking forward to expanding the shelter’s reach in the community. As she was coming on board, GMHS had just begun construction of The Williams Center. This new wing to the shelter will help achieve Leone’s goal of engaging with the community; it is set to open in early 2026.

“It’s an amazing asset,” said Leone. The Williams Center will allow GMHS to “serve the community even better.”

The new wing will serve the community in many capacities, such as operating as an event center, training facility and a place to hold programs.

“A lot of things have to be before and hours,” said Caitlin Donnelly, GMHS Communications & Development Manager. The new wing will allow GMHS to hold programming during normal operating hours without disrupting the shelter’s regular schedule.

To better care for canine residents, Leone would like to redo the dog kennels to make the environment as stress-free as possible for these animals during their stay at GMHS. This would include a sound system and scent system to keep the dogs calm.

Leone would like to “brighten the place up too.” This would include new paint and creating murals on the walls, making the kennel area more open and inviting for visitors.

Also, she is dedicated to providing more behavioral and enrichment activities for the dogs and having staff members spend more time with the dogs they are assigned each day. This is all in an effort to make the shelter experience “as pleasant as possible.”

“We just try to do our very best with every animal that comes in,” said Leone.

Another mission of hers is to help keep animals in their homes, recognizing that finances are usually a big hurdle for people when deciding whether they can keep their pet.

“It’s hard for people to afford their animals,” said Leone.

In only five years, veterinary care fees have skyrocketed. “It’s about tripled in cost,” she said.

Though GMHS already has its Fixin’ to Save Spay & Neuter Clinic at the White Marsh Shopping Center, Leone would like to expand those low-cost spay and neuter services for the community.

“We have more plans for the future of animal welfare,” said Leone.

GMHS also has its pet pantry available for people who are struggling to provide food for their animals, all in an effort to keep pets with their people.

“It’s heartbreaking when the family has to break up,” said Leone.
Another goal of Leone’s is to help regulate the feral/community cat population.

“We think there are 10,000 to 15,000 cats total,” said Leone about the feral/community cat population in the area. “The whole community has to address it. That’ll be a big initiative.”

Leone is happy to move be moving to the area, describing Gloucester as a peaceful, beautiful and friendly place.
“It’s a great community, I love being here,” she said.