Animal shelter has new assistant director

Cynthia Iacopella is the new assistant director at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter.

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

After a four-month, nationwide search, officials at the Town of Hempstead have announced the hiring a new assistant director of the Hempstead Town Animal Shelter.

“We are pleased to welcome aboard Cynthia Iacopella, who brings a wealth of experience to the Hempstead Town Animal Shelter,” Town Supervisor Kate Murray said. “Her extensive background and expert knowledge of animal welfare makes Ms. Iacopella the right choice for the future of the animal shelter.”

Iacopella began her professional career in Southern California, working various positions at zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers until she returned to New York to work for the city’s Animal Care and Control. Her resume includes about four years as director of Adoptions and Resident care at the non-profit Bideawee Animal Shelter in Wantagh. Prior to that, she served four years as the Care Center Director for Animal Care and Control of New York City, where she spearheaded a companion animal rescue placement program for stray, abandoned and homeless animals, and was credited for successfully lowering the euthanasia rates at AC&C. Iacopella was also the director of shelter operations for three years at the non-profit Animal Haven Shelter in New York City.

Iacopella will join them in the implementation a progressive pet agenda that focuses on the “enhancement of pet care at the shelter and the furthering of aggressive pet adoption and placement efforts,” according to Murray.

“I am eager to continue the successful programs and services already in place at the Hempstead Animal Shelter,” said Iacopella, “and [to] integrate new and exciting initiatives to improve on that excellence.” She will serve as the Hempstead Town Animal Shelter’s assistant director while she completes the final three credits required for her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Anthropology from the University of California-Santa Barbara. Once she obtains the degree — a requirement for the director’s position — the Town intends to  appoint her as the director of the animal shelter.