Pennsylvania SPCA chief steps down

The short and controversial reign of Howard Nelson, chief executive of the Pennsylvania SPCA, officially came to an end yesterday.

In a unanimous vote, the 14-person PSPCA board accepted Nelson's resignation, effective immediately. Nelson, 45, formerly head of the Washington Humane Society, joined PSPCA in March 2007.

His departure came exactly one week after he shocked the board with his sudden decision to resign, citing health reasons and "an environment no longer conducive to my success or the success of the organization."

Nelson had no formal contract. As a compromise with the board, he agreed to take an unspecified leave of absence. One-year board member Beth Ann White, 43, a former banker, was named interim chief executive.

She will continue in that role until a permanent replacement is named, said Kevin Feeley, a spokesman for the board. Nelson, who was paid $189,000 a year, will receive a severance package. The terms were not disclosed.

Nelson "moved the organization forward and deserves credit for a lot of the progress it made over last 18 months," Feeley said. "We wish him well in the future."

Nelson would not comment, and his attorney could not be reached.

He engineered PSPCA's successful bid late last year for the city's $2.9 million animal-control contract. He increased staff and oversaw major improvements in the deteriorating Feltonville shelter.

Many credit Nelson with dramatically advancing animal welfare throughout Pennsylvania. In addition to expanding animal-cruelty investigations in Philadelphia, he led efforts to close puppy mills in Lehigh and Chester Counties.

"If it hadn't been for Howard, these animals would still be suffering," said Libby Williams, founder of New Jersey Consumers Against Pet Shop Abuse.

"This is a huge, terrible loss. He did so much in the little time he was with us."

With employees, Nelson was known to have a confrontational management style and a volatile temper.

Former humane officer Terry Bohn critized Nelson last night, saying that he had refused to carry out a raid at a farm because no media were present.

Marsha Perelman, a member of the Governor's Dog Law Advisory Board, defended Nelson, saying he "may have embarrassed authorities who hadn't been doing their jobs for so many years and had looked other way."