We are an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of pets and people in Southeast Missouri. We envision a community where every animal has a safe and loving home. Our care and support helps more than 2,000 animals stay off the street each year.
We receive no operating funds from the government or the Humane Society of the United States. We rely on the love and support of our community for volunteers and donations to continue our mission.
Our
Vision
Southeast Missouri Pets believes that animals and people enrich each other’s lives. Our goal is to save every adoptable pet in our care and reduce the pet overpopulation through education and providing families the opportunity to better their lives through the human pet bond.
Our
Mission
Southeast Missouri Pets serves our communities by nurturing the human pet bond by providing shelter care and advocacy for homeless pets and providing spay and neuter resources and education for people.
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Charlotte Craig, President
Everett Cassady, Treasurer
Karen Honaas, Secretary
Janet Robert, Board Member
Glenda Quinn, Board Member
Sam Herndon, Board Member
Marsha Haskell, Board Member
Lois Long, Board Member
Brett Yount, Board Member
Raelenna Ferguson, Board Member
Meet the Executive Director
Jenn Farmer
Jenn Farmer has always had a love of animals even as a small child growing up in Morris, Illinois. She is a mom of 3 grown children and has 6 fur babies, that keep her on her toes! She is a former Autism and Behavior Consultant for a local school. She and her therapy dog were together most of the time. Jenn started her journey at SEMO Pets as a volunteer, who even took laundry home on the weekends to keep the shelter caught up. She then began working weekends and summers while off of school, before taking the full-time position as Volunteer Coordinator. After hard work and determination, she accepted the Executive Director position in January of 2023. Jenn not only loves people, but she found her true passion working with the pets at the shelter and finding them their forever homes. In her spare time, which is limited due to the long days she puts in at the shelter, she enjoys working out at the gym and spending quiet evenings at home with her fur babies. Jenn Farmer truly puts her heart into her work, and it shows with everything she does for the shelter.
Meet the Development Director
Mary Burton
Mary has served as Development Director of Southeast Missouri Pets since January 2023 when she came out of retirement to assist with building a stronger Southeast Missouri Pets development program.
Mary has been a life-long lover of all of God’s creatures both large and small, having been raised on a farm in southern Illinois. Her family has had the blessing of sharing their home with a myriad of pets over the years -all of whom have been strays or shelter pets sent to bring love and joy to their home.
Mary served as the Executive Director of Community Counseling Center Foundation from 2013 until her retirement in 2020. She was Executive Director of the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation from 2006 -2013, and Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Southeast Missouri Chapter from 1990-2006.
Mary graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 2022 Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree majoring in Health Communication and minoring in Mass Communication.
Mary started her career at the age of 17 working in the health care field at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, IL. She worked for Ferguson Medical Group as an office nurse for 5 years. She has been an instructor for American Red Cross CPR/First Aid, Community Disaster Education courses, and CERT (Community Emergency Response Training). She has received accreditation from the American Cardiology Technologists Association, Physicians Office Laboratory Technology Association, and is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive.
Mary received honorable mention for the Tiffany Award for Employee Excellence, Management Service from the North Central Region of the American National Red Cross in 1999. Mary received the Spirit of Excellence Award for Management from the American Red Cross State Service Council in November, 2000. Mary was chosen as an Otaki Girl Scout’s 2003 “Women of Impact” award winner for Southeast Missouri given by the Girl Scouts, and the 2012 Zonta Club “Woman of Achievement” award.
She served 5 years as a trainer for new CEO’s from the North Central Region of the American National Red Cross. She served 6 years on the Missouri State Council for the American Red Cross. She also served as facilitator and coordinator for the State of Missouri Red Cross Executives Directors group. She was chosen by Elizabeth Dole for participation in the National American Red Cross Star Track Program and selected to assist Red Cross chapters across the country. She served as interim Executive Director of the Springfield, IL chapter. She also served on a national audit team traveling to Los Angeles, CA.
Mary is a member of the P.E.O. Chapter FY, helping to support and further women’s education. She served as president of the chapter from 2019-2022. Mary served as president of the Cape Rotary Club; is a Paul Harris Fellow; and staunch Rotary Club believer.
She is the proud mother of Cole (Nikki) Burton and Annie (Elliot) Shearon. She has taken on the challenge of being the best grandmother in the world to Gage, Harlow, and Lake.