A sudden change at the top as PSPCA chief takes leave

Howard Nelson, chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania SPCA since March 2007, yesterday began an abrupt leave of absence.

Nelson had resigned late Wednesday in an e-mail to PSPCA's 14-person board, but was persuaded to take an unspecified leave, said Kevin Feeley, a spokesman for the board.

Nelson is said to have a solid relationship with the board. His resignation "came out of the blue. I was flabbergasted," Feeley said.

"It is with deep sadness due to health reasons and an environment no longer conducive to my success or the success of the organization that I am forced to resign my position from the PSPCA," Nelson wrote.

Nelson, 45, was diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and was in remission, he said in an interview last week. He did not return numerous messages left on his cell phone yesterday.

Beth Ann White, 43, a board member since last year, volunteered to serve as interim CEO on a pro-bono basis, Feeley said. A Wharton School graduate and former banker, White is president of Wissahickon Stone Quarry L.L.C. in Glenside, a family business.

Nelson, formerly head of the Washington Humane Society, engineered PSPCA's successful bid late last year for the city's $2.9 million animal-control contract.

He increased staff and made major improvements to the deteriorating Feltonville shelter, including new ceilings and duct work, three new exam rooms and an upgraded kitchen.

Nelson is credited by many with dramatically advancing animal welfare throughout Pennsylvania.

In addition to increasing humane agents and expanding animal-cruelty investigations in Philadelphia, he led efforts to shut down puppy mills in Lehigh and Chester Counties.

The PSPCA board will continue to meet, Feeley said, "as we sort through what happened, why it happened and what happens next."