“He was the last puppy left in the litter, and he was just in there all alone,” said Betz, 36, who has worked at the facility located along 743 Galleria Drive Extension since 2021.

While Chaos passed away last year, Betz still has a huge connection to the shelter where she found her “soul dog.”

“It just feels like home to me,” she said.

Given her personal connection to the facility, it seems fitting that Betz was recently promoted to director of operations on March 23 after working her way up the ranks from kennel technician to kennel manager.

The Humane Society of Cambria County, 743 Galleria Drive Extension in Johnstown, has outgrown its current space, officials say. The organization has recently received approval to purchase a 12-acre property site along Jari Drive in Richland Township for a larger facility. Courtesy photo

“I’m really excited to lead with passion and to help the company grow and become what we all collectively want, and that is to help animals,” she said.

Finding her place

Betz grew up with family pets in Winber, but they didn’t have any pets when she was in high school. Looking to reconnect with animals, she frequently walked through the Humane Society of Cambria County.

After graduating in 2009, she applied to work at the Humane Society but never got a response. In the meantime, she attended Penn Highlands for Veterinary Technology before leaving and working at area kennels to gain experience.

A few years later, she secured a position at the humane society and has worked with animals and pet owners ever since.

“I’m really into helping the community, and that’s something that I’ve always been passionate about,” she said.

To help pets find their forever homes, she said it’s as simple as helping a resident with pet food or surgical procedures, such as spaying and neutering. She wants to help community pet owners, as many animals are often returned to shelters or abandoned due to a lack of funds or education.

“She has a passion for animals that is needed for that position,” Carrie’s wife and kennel technician Amber Betz said. “It’s clear, and you can see that, and when she talks, you can tell she is here for the right reasons.”

Amber said that Betz is trying to make the shelter a place that many people have only imagined, and she can achieve those goals because of her open-mindedness.

“I think that the passion behind what she does is the most important thing, and I think that’s going to help her be successful,” Amber said.

Although she has only worked at the society for three months, front desk receptionist Taryn Block had similar thoughts about Betz.

“She works really hard here, and she does everything she can for this place,” she said. “I truly believe she is the perfect person for the director’s job.”

Growing out

For 50 years, the Humane Society of Cambria County has facilitated more than 138,000 adoptions, but has now outgrown its facility, according to its website.

“There are a lot of things that need updating,” Betz said, mentioning that the building requires more kennel space for all types of shelter animals.

Over the last few years, however, society employees have been designing a new facility set on a 12-acre property site along Jari Drive in Richland Township. Betz said they recently got approval from the city to purchase the land.

“It was a really big win, we were really excited,” she said.

They will break ground this fall.

The new building will double their capacity and include a medical suite for on-site treatment, an education and adoption center for pet owners and a community service hub.

Knowing that some pet owners aren’t aware of animal laws or current procedures, she said, “It’s really important to educate people and get the word out there.”

“A lot of people don’t know where to turn when they have an animal, they don’t know what to do, they don’t know where to go,” she said.

She said many questions can be answered by facilitating meetings or workshops with shelter staff.

“The new building is not only going to open up space, but a lot of opportunity for us to help the community in the way that we want to,” Amber Betz said.

To raise money, the Humane Society of Cambria County recently launched its Homeward Bound campaign on April 1 to reach its $6 million goal to build a new 130,000-square-foot building.

They are also running a buy-a-brick campaign where individuals can purchase a brick in memory of a loved one. The new building will be made up of those inscribed bricks with names, messages, dates and dedications.

Becoming a member can also help out with donations, Carrie Betz said, as monthly funds add up over time. Donations can be made at: https://www.humanecambria.org/donate/

Betz believes the future of the humane society will be great, as all the work they’ve put in will pay off with the new building.

“We’re here to help them (the animals) until they get their forever home,” she said. “We’re all going to celebrate, and it’s going to be a really big win, and I can’t wait to see everyone smiling and happy … (at) that finish line.”

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.