The new director of the Humane Society of the Black Hills - the fifth person to hold the job in 10 years - is gone after only five weeks on the job.

July 24 was the last day for Steve Hawley, who was hired in June to replace Phil Olson. Olson had resigned in April after less than two years with the nonprofit animal shelter, citing personal reasons.

"I resigned, and I'm no longer with them. I wish I could discuss more, but I can't," Hawley said Wednesday. "I took the job because I love the animals, and I don't want the Humane Society to be hurt because of this."

The news came as a shock to George Stone, a New Underwood feed store owner who donated 2,000 pounds of dog and cat food to the shelter three weeks ago because he was so impressed with Hawley.

Stone had been upset about how an interim director handled a problem with a dog that Stone adopted. He said Hawley made an effort to reach out and resolve the issue.

"I just can't even fathom what is going on," he said. "This is a guy who made contact with me immediately, has been super professional, followed through tremendously, had some vision for that organization, and they turfed him?"

Board president Katy Stulc, who was elected to the position in June after Hawley was hired, said Hawley gave his resignation at Thursday's board meeting.

"I don't know the circumstances that led up to his resignation," she said.

As a result of the resignation, she said, the board has decided to seek help from a consultant to improve the shelter.

"We're going to have them look at the entire gamut of what's going on there," she said, mentioning staff training, staff hierarchy, daily operations, business practices, mission and vision.

The news is surprising because Hawley's hiring seemed to usher in a new era for the shelter, which had been plagued by turnover and board turmoil over the past decade. At Hawley's hiring, board members talked about "permanence" and a positive future ahead. Hawley described the job as one that would combine his skill at accounting and management with his love for animals.

Former board member Dan Jongeling, who left the board in June for health reasons, was surprised to hear of Hawley's departure.

"That's horrible news," he said Wednesday. "We were so excited to have him."

Stulc said turnover is common at animal shelters because of the emotional nature of the work. She said she thinks that may be a reason Hawley resigned.

She asked the public for patience and encouraged people to volunteer.

"We are doing everything that we are doing to help the animals," Stulc said. "Please hang in there with us. We are making positive changes. We have an almost completely new board. We have a lot of positive energy and positive ideas."

Some contributors may have limited patience, however.

Stone said the city of Rapid City should reconsider its contract with the Humane Society. The city is paying $235,197 this year for animal control, sheltering and rescue services.

"There's city money being sent to that organization to support it, and if these are the kind of behaviors, that's something the city should be concerned about," he said.

Mayor Alan Hanks said he could not comment about the departure because he did not know the circumstances of why Hawley left, but said he has no plans for changes to the city's contract with the shelter. Hanks said despite "a few bumps in the road," the city has long had a good relationship with the shelter, including when the city contributed land and funds to the construction of the current shelter building.

"I see that relationship continuing into the future," Hanks said. He said he "will sit down with the Humane Society and find out what's going on" and "work through all the issues."

Contact Barbara Soderlin at 394-8421 or barbara.soderlin@rapidcityjournal.com