Cheyenne Animal Shelter names new CEO

After a national search for a new chief executive officer, the Cheyenne Animal Shelter Board of Directors has named Cheyenne resident Don Kremer as the new CEO.

Kremer takes the place of Bob Fecht who resigned last fall after using pepper spray on an 8-month-old puppy that had bitten a shelter employee to demonstrate how employees could use the spray if they felt threatened by an aggressive animal. The new CEO has made his stance very clear on the spray going forward.

“There will be no use of any pepper spray in the shelter by staff,” said Don Kremer, new CEO. “Animal control officers are trained in the use of that and that’s usually in the field so it really doesn’t have an application here in the shelter at all.”

He plans on working to mend the ties between the community and shelter that have been damaged or broken.

“Trust,” said Kremer. “Regain that trust. We’re not asking necessarily that this should just be handed to us. So it’s something that we’re going to earn, and [we’re] very willing to do that.”

After the incident last fall, the Cheyenne Animal Shelter Board of Directors completed an independent audit of policies and procedures, developed a crisis management plan, and implemented new staff training.

The shelter provides treat pouches to be worn by staff members handling dogs to reward appropriate behavior with treats. The pouches also include a water squirt bottle and Pet Corrector Air Spray cans to interrupt inappropriate behavior.

Don Kremer’s CEO position is effective on Feb. 11.