At an early age, Chris Seelbach had a soft spot for animals. It seemed like a perfect fit for him to step into his role as president and CEO of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Cincinnati (even though he never envisioned himself leading the nonprofit).
Under his leadership, SPCA Cincinnati plans to open an Over-the-Rhine adoption center as part of a $3.5 million expansion of its facilities. The nonprofit is also breaking ground this summer on a new 4,000-square-foot medical center at its Sharonville campus.
“This is about meeting people where they are,” Seelbach told The Enquirer. “We are taking adoption out of the shelter and placing it directly into the community − where a moment of curiosity can become a lifelong connection.”
Seelbach joined The Enquirer’s “That’s So Cincinnati” podcast to discuss how he came into his role at SPCA, the timeline for the OTR and Sharonville expansions, and, of course, the fostering of his “obese” orange cat, Pumpkin.
Seelbach, who served on city council from 2011 to 2022, said he was burnt out from politics, so he decided to reflect on what truly made him happy.
The answer was animals.
The cat dad of three, who’s in the midst of fostering a fourth, began working with Ohio Alleycat Resource & Spay/Neuter Clinic (OAR), a nonprofit organization “dedicated to creating a progressive, compassionate community where cats can live their best lives.”
After his time at Alleycat, he was approached by SPCA Cincinnati for its president and CEO role. Now, after 13 months since Seelbach took over, the organization is making big splashes in Greater Cincinnati.
To hear Seelbach discuss what plans he has in store for SPCA Cincinnati and gush over Pumpkin, the adorable orange cat he and his husband are currently fostering, take a listen to the “That’s So Cincinnati” podcast at the top of the page.
“That’s So Cincinnati,” The Enquirer’s weekly podcast on what’s making news in our community, features a who’s who of special guests. Find it at Audioboom, Apple or your favorite podcast platform.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How a soft spot for animals took a councilman out of politics
Reporting by Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
