LEVERETT — Dakin Humane Society’s new executive director said he thinks cats are misunderstood creatures.
When Carmine DiCenso was 5, his family got a black and white cat named Pebbles. That cat stayed with the family for nearly 20 years, he said, and was always greeting them at the door and lying on their laps. She was like a member of the family.
DiCenso’s love for all animals, including his beloved “lap cat,” as he calls her, eventually evolved into a career of working in animal welfare. Now, effective Aug. 1, DiCenso will start as executive director at Dakin, following a national search after the previous executive director, Leslie Harris, left the organization.
“As long as I can remember, I’ve had a special bond with animals,” DiCenso said. “Animals give so much to people’s lives.”
According to a statement from Dakin, DiCenso served on the boards of the New England Federation of Humane Societies and the Ocean State Animal Coalition and spent time as the Rhode Island State Representative for the Humane Society of the United States Companion Animal Advisory Council.
But DiCenso’s passion for animal welfare began when he first volunteered at the MSPCA animal shelter in Boston on the weekends.
At the time, he was 23, and had already started a career in human services. He said he meant for the shelter to only be a part-time hobby. But it began to consume his time, and he liked working with the people there too much. To be surrounded by like-minded, passionate people was an addictive environment, so he went on to continue in the profession.
Now, DiCenso, 42, has had extensive experience in animal welfare. He has four cats — Fiona, Bumble, Pepper and Maisy — two dogs — Piper and Sophie — and a house rabbit named Waffle, who DiCenso said gets along extremely well with everyone.
“Carmine will be a terrific executive director,” said Nancy Creed, president of Dakin’s board of directors, in a statement. “He has significant experience in both human services and animal welfare, and understands the need to serve the human — as well as the animal — population of our community. His career has been devoted to making and keeping that connection.”
As executive director, DiCenso will oversee all aspects of Dakin’s work at its locations in Leverett and Springfield. The 50 employees and nearly 800 volunteers at Dakin treat, shelter and foster more than 20,000 animals each year, according to the statement. Four thousand homeless pets find a home annually, thanks to Dakin.
DiCenso said he’s excited to join Dakin’s team and hopes to continue to expand their services.
“We want to make sure we’re in touch with what people are telling us they need,” DiCenso said. “My biggest goal is to make sure we have impactful, meaningful programs for the people and animals of that area.”