Honoring Erik Hendricks on the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

WHEREAS, After more than thirty years of service, Erik Hendricks will retire as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in March 2007; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hendricks began working with the PSPCA in 1976 because of his love for animals. He began his tenure as a PSPCA ambulance driver and was named Executive Director in 1979; and

WHEREAS, As Executive Director Mr. Hendricks expanded the scope of the PSPCA by increasing staff and adding two additional satellite shelters to serve the northeast and northwestern regions of the state. These two additional satellite shelters increased the number of PSPCA shelters from five to seven and brought the protection of the PSPCA to animals that would otherwise be exposed to the neglect and abuse by callous individuals; and

WHEREAS, Hendricks modernized the physical structures in Philadelphia and at the satellite shelters. In Philadelphia the old institutional-style shelter was completely renovated to a highly attractive, bright and modern state-of-the art facility. Hendricks’ imaginative shelter designs ranged from a greenhouse-style building in Philadelphia to the landmark Victorian-style structure in Montrose. He was the first to construct kennels out of glass block, replacing the standard prison-like kennels found in most shelters; and

WHEREAS, In 2002 Hendricks decided to discontinue providing contracted animal control services to the City of Philadelphia in order to move the PSPCA in a direction of a no-kill shelter; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hendricks’ dedication to animals and animal welfare is evident from his unwavering commitment and untiring work ethic over these past thirty years; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and congratulate Erik Hendricks on the occasion of his retirement.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Hendricks as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End