The Association Blog

The Association’s President and CEO presents reflections and memories honoring the life and work of an extraordinary leader

Last month, the animal welfare community lost one of its most fervent advocates, and many of us lost a true friend and mentor. Don Mitton, a longtime leader in our profession, passed away at the age of 73.

Don’s career in animal services began in Ontario’s City of Scarborough and led to a long tenure with the City of Toronto. Don served on The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement’s Board of Directors and was a member of the test development committee that worked painstakingly to put together the first version of the Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) exam. Other members of that committee fondly recall a meeting Don hosted at his lake cabin, where CAWA exam questions were written and friendships solidified.

I served with Don on the Board of what was then known as SAWA. His contributions to our discussions were always so valuable. And his sense of humor was unparalleled! I recall a conference we held in Toronto 25 years (or so) ago. A group wanted to order pizza, and when someone suggested Canadian bacon as a topping Don replied, “Up here we just call it bacon.” A few years back, I had the pleasure of visiting with Don during a visit to Toronto. We had a few pints and shared war stories for several hours.

Listing Don’s contributions to the animal welfare profession would take more words than I can write, and it’s fitting that his friends tell the story of the real Don Mitton. The following are a few excerpts from tributes we’ve received from Don’s colleagues and friends:

Salt of the Earth

Some of the great gifts of working in animal welfare are the wonderful people you get to meet along the way.

Meeting Don and becoming friends was certainly a gift —one that I will cherish forever. Don’s sense of humor, contagious smile and laugh will be missed by me and many others. I have enjoyed the emails we exchanged over the last five years since my retirement, and will miss them dearly.

Such an accomplished person. Don was certainly “salt of the earth”. Rest in peace, my friend.

Robert Downey, retired, former President & CEO, Capital Area Humane Society

“Even our dogs are best friends”

I first met Don about 40 years ago at an Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario (AASAO) conference. Over the years, Don and I became great friends. When I left the Hamilton SPCA for a government animal control job, Don was one of my references. He was a mentor to me as I learned how to work in a government environment. He was often my go-to phone call on the question of “How would you…..?” Don had the ability to turn some of the bureaucratic roadblocks into opportunities that benefitted the animals.

In 1998, Toronto became an amalgamated city, and at that point Don and I became coworkers for the next 9 years. Working with Don was a treat; wry sense of humour, knowledgeable on a variety of topics. It wasn’t uncommon for us to grab a beer together after work.

As time went on, Don and his wife, Judith, became very close friends. I played the bagpipes at their wedding, and at Don’s retirement. They moved to a small rural community about three hours north of Toronto. We visited frequently, and we would snowshoe and tour the natural beauty of the area. Even our dogs are the best of friends.

We have lost a pioneer of the animal care and control field; I am going to miss him.

Carl Bandow, retired, former Supervisor, Animal Services, City of Toronto

Always Learning from Him

I have known Don pretty much since I started in animal welfare in Ontario. My first job, starting in 1990, was as an Animal Control Officer with the Guelph Humane Society, where I worked for Lorna Ronald. Lorna was quite active with AASAO (now ASPO). It was through the Association and Lorna that I met Don. He had been a founding member of AASAO, and was working for the City of Scarborough Animal Services at the time.

I remained connected to Don throughout my career, from Toronto Humane Society, and Ontario SPCA to City of Oshawa Animal Services and City of Brampton Animal Services. I would see him annually at conferences, and always leaned on his knowledge and expertise in animal welfare throughout my positions.

Over the years we became friends as well as colleagues, and we determined that we both shared a passion for motorcycles. I distinctly remember Don’s retirement countdown. He would update me as to the current number of days remaining until his retirement every time our paths crossed.

Kathy Duncan, Director, National Programs at Humane Canada

One of a kind

I met and became friends with Don at a National Animal Control Association conference in Salt Lake City, circa 1985.

I connected with Don at numerous conferences over the years. We visited each other’s homes, traveled to the Rock and Roll Hall Fame, and took several other fun trips. Don was known for the jokes he emailed on a regular basis. Don even flew in to celebrate my retirement from HSUS.

Don was a very smart guy with a mischievous sense of humor. Even though we lived in different countries, he was a close friend. I will miss Don. He was one of a kind.

John Snyder, retired, former Vice President, HSUS

A Good Soul, Leader & Friend

I always appreciated knowing Don through The Association. He was respectful, experienced with running a large animal services organization and, at the time, was one of our few members from the great country of Canada. He was also part of the original group of leaders who volunteered to write questions for the CAWA exam. He provided the international perspective we needed for question-writing and worked hard on getting the certification launched.

We lost another good soul, animal welfare leader and friend. May his memory be a blessing.

Nancy McKenney, MNPL, CAWA, CEO, Marin Humane

“Hanging out with ‘the bad guys’”

Don was a great friend for more than 40 years. We kept in touch, even after we both retired. He would share weekly emails full of laughs, stories and cartoons. He was funny, but also extremely logical and very knowledgeable.

In the early years, many people in the humane society world that I worked in didn’t have high opinions of their peers in animal control. But I learned from many professionals on the governmental side of the work – folks like Don Mitton, John Snyder, Dennis Moore, Jim Bandow and Eric Blow – that animal services professionals were (and are) often more progressive and logical than those on the not-for-profit side. When Don once asked me why I’d want to hang with the “bad guys,” I said because I learned a lot from them, and they are all great people!

Robert Rohde, CAWA, retired, former President & CEO, Dumb Friends League

Best and Kindest

The animal welfare movement in its many forms has lost a tireless and innovative leader; humanity has lost a constant component of one who believed in equality and human rights for all, and I lost my best friend and stalwart companion of over fifty years.

I can best describe him in the words that Dr Watson wrote of Sherlock Holmes ” the best and kindest man I ever knew.”

Don was involved in many animal welfare causes and organizations, leaving his mark, and collecting many friends and admirers along the way.

Norm White, retired, University of Toronto Animal Care and Use Program

Clearing the Path for Today’s Leaders

I worked with Don on the committee that wrote the first CAWA exam in 2004. It took us over a year. Although it was a lot of hard work, the group had so much fun working together. Don was one of the nicest, smartest people you would ever hope to meet. He added so much to that effort and everything else he did. He was such a gift to animal welfare in Canada and elsewhere.

Don was one of the extraordinary leaders in animal welfare who emerged in the 80s and 90s. Most people in animal welfare today don’t even know who Don Mitton is, but everyone should know that he was a leader and progressive voice for animals who helped clear the path for today’s animal welfare professionals. We should all honor his life and contributions.

Patricia Mercer, President, Houston SPCA

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I invite anyone else who knew Don to leave a comment and share your thoughts and memories here on the blog, or on our members-only Facebook page. A memorial service will be held at a later date, and we will share that information when we have it.

Rest well, my friend, and thank you for the strong shoulders you provided, upon which I and many others now stand.