Irene Peterson spent a lifetime advocating for the care of animals

Irene Peterson, Humane Society of Decatur and Macon County president, passed away over the weekend. She had been the organization’s president for 25 years, helping expand the facility and services.

“Irene’s impact cannot be measured simply by buildings, programs, or accomplishments,” the humane society posted on its Facebook page announcing Peterson’s death. “She dedicated countless hours to the animals who needed her most.”

Before her passing, Peterson had been training Shelter Manager Lisa Lambert and the rest of the staff and volunteers.

“We’re getting by,” Lambert said. “But it was still unexpected.”

The Humane Society is a no-kill shelter located at 3373 N. Woodford St. in Decatur. With Peterson at the reins, the shelter moved from a facility on North Edward Street to Northgate Plaza until the staff and animals found their current location. The facility offers several rooms for housing, cleaning and other animal services as well as adoption events and fundraising activities. Peterson was able to see the expansion of the Trap, Neuter and Return program located next door to the current facility at 3411 N. Woodford St. The services are used to provide Spay Day surgeries for low-income pet owners.

“This dream became a reality in January with the opening of our clinic, which has already provided services for more than 300 animals,” the humane society stated.

The Humane Society board will begin the search for a new president. According to the staff, Peterson's responsibilities included bottle-feeding puppies and kittens, trapping cats for TNR programs, coordinating volunteers, “and ensuring the shelter continued its mission every day,” they stated. “Her compassion, determination, and unwavering love for animals touched thousands of lives. Because of Irene’s tireless efforts, many thousands of animals were given a second chance and found loving homes.”

The Humane Society’s staff would appreciate notes and photos of animals who were adopted with the help of Peterson, Lambert said.

In the meantime, volunteers and donations are still needed, a continuous concern for Peterson. “She enjoyed the donations to the shelter to help keep us up and running,” Lambert said.

A wish-list is posted on the Humane Society’s website. “But financial donations always help,” Lambert added. “That helps keep the building up and going and helps pay the medical bills.”

Peterson had a partnership with other animal agencies in the community, including the Macon County Animal Control and Care Center.

Shelter Manager Amanda Fisher worked closely with Peterson. “She has set the bar high,” she said. “I am certain that the Humane Society will continue to function in the same capacity they always have.”

Peterson was able to help Fisher with several difficult situations. The Humane Society offered assistance with medical needs, emergency surgeries, and specialized adoptions. “They have been known to pull animals into their program when they proved maybe too complex for our routine stuff here,” Fisher said. “Irene herself personally took a lot of those critters to her house through the years.”

According to Fisher, Peterson had a special heart in helping elderly animals. “They were much harder to adopt out and much more expensive to maintain their quality of life,” she said. “It’s certainly a loss for the animal community and our area.”