Humane Society welcomes Amanda Haas as new board president

The six paid employees work about twice as many hours as what they are paid for and that needs to change. We need more volunteers. Cheryl Haynes, Outgoing Board President”

This August, the High Desert Humane Society held a board meeting on the field where Amanda Haas trains dogs, works with 4-H kids, and has, for years, worked with shelter dogs to socialize them and make them more adoptable.

The move signals new leadership for the organization, where it was announced that Cheryl Haynes, who has led HDHS as its Board President for the last 2.5 years, was stepping down. And Amanda Haas had agreed to step into the position.

The invitation was billed as a community Board Meeting and had twenty attendees including the HDHS staff, volunteers, 4-H members, and Gila County Animal Control staff. Haynes said it was good to see the turnout, and she is hoping the organization can be more transparent in the future and get more involved with the community. She plans to remain on the board to help mentor and lend a hand where needed.

The Humane Society is struggling to keep up with the demand, and the community meeting centered around ways to increase the number of volunteers needed to help with not only the upkeep and adoption services at the shelter, but also the donations that come in through the thrift store on Pine Street, which fuel sales at both the future store on Broad Street and the thrift store on Pine.

"The six paid employees work about twice as many hours as what they are paid for," said Haynes, "and that needs to change. We need more volunteers."

The board reviewed the P&L for the last six months, which shows expenses far exceeding income at this point. Since January, HDHS has taken in $166,872.65 and had expenses of $188,128.37.

Expenses include the wages for the six staffers, as well as utilities, building maintenance and repair, pet food and supplies, veterinarian fees, and transportation.

The thrift store, Haynes reported, averages $400–500 per day, and the furniture store makes less than that. The designer boutique shop, which had been opened several years ago on the second floor of the thrift shop, was closed down this year and will be leased out to help cover utilities at the building.

Additional repairs needed on the buildings include both electrical and AC issues, and the Board is in the process of getting quotes and applying for county grants to assist. Tim Haas, owner of EarthQuest Plumbing, married to Amanda, is also assisting with some plumbing issues and helping submit a site plan.

And currently, the popular TNR program of trapping, neutering, and releasing feral cats has been on hold awaiting funding. Since November, over 150 feral cats have been spayed/neutered as part of the program, helping to control the pet population in Globe-Miami.

Two years ago, Haynes oversaw the consolidation of the dog and cat shelter at the current location, which helped reduce overhead costs and make it feasible for one staff member to manage both shelters.

That staff member, Jordan Asberry, was hired as the manager last year and oversees the day-to-day operations of both shelters, which combined are equipped to house 15 dogs and 30 cats. "And they are usually full," she says. HDHS is often assisted by the Animal Welfare League, a no-kill shelter based in Phoenix, who will sometimes take animals from here to give them a bigger audience of potential adopters.

The organization is discussing ways to increase revenue, including online sales, auctions, and quilt raffles. An annual fundraiser by Round Mountain Baking Company is planned on August 26 to coincide with National Dog Day, where all proceeds will be donated back to the humane society.

Haas, who has run her own business as a dog groomer and trainer for over 30 years and occasionally helps with her husband's plumbing business. Although she has her hands full, she says when Haynes asked her to serve on the board and replace her as board president, Haas says, "God told me it's time to step it up, and I said OK."

Haynes says she feels grateful to Haas for taking on this challenge.

According to Haynes, since 2025, the HDHS has taken 233 cats and 38 dogs to be spayed and neutered. This includes TNR, shelter animals being adopted out, and pets of community members. Adoption fees fail to cover all expenses.

Ashberry says, "It's not a selling animals business. It's a saving animals business."