When Rick Aiken came to work at the local humane society 24 years ago, it was days away from closing. Today, the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia is a thriving organization, having served millions of pets and people in those years. Now Aiken is preparing for retirement, and today, The Times asks him five questions about life as a shelter director and what life in retirement may bring.

1. How has the work of the humane society changed over the years?

The biggest change was transitioning in 2009 from a shelter that euthanized to one that does not euthanize, which totally changed our focus and the way we do business.

Like many fields, we’ve also seen changes in industry policies and regulations. We’ve also seen positive advancements in veterinary care, especially the trend toward pediatric spay/neuter which we offer at our Spay/Neuter Center, as well as a greater emphasis on wellness and preventative care for companion animals.

Pet owners are much more sensitive to proper care for their pets than in the past.

2. What accomplishment during your tenure makes you the most proud?

Opening our low-cost, high-quality Spay/Neuter Center in 2005. We will be celebrating our 40,000th surgery in October 2012. The impact of the volume of surgeries our Spay/Neuter team has performed is immeasurable. Millions of lives have been saved because millions of births have been prevented.

Our region has a tremendous pet overpopulation problem. Thousands of animals are euthanized each year because owners do not alter their pets.

When combined with education and legislation, spay/neuter is one of the most important ways we can continue to impact the overpopulation problem in our area.

3. What advice would you give someone thinking about getting a pet for the first time?

Adopting a pet is a commitment for the life of the animal. Most animals average a lifespan of 14 years.

You should consider the financial commitment of veterinary care, food and other costs, as well as the time commitment of exercise, training and general one-on-one time with your pet.

It’s also important to research the breed — including size, temperament and activity level — that is the best fit for you and your family. Of course, the commitment of having a pet is little in comparison to what they give us in return — unconditional love and acceptance.

4. What is your most memorable story involving an animal brought to the shelter?

One of the funniest memories is the lady who brought in puppies to surrender and swore they were a Great Dane/Chihuahua mix. I’ve seen quite a bit in my career, but I don’t see how that could happen!

One of the saddest memories is a lady who was bringing back a puppy, and her 6-year-old daughter was crying.

I asked the mother why she was returning the puppy, and she said because her daughter was not taking care of it. What could have been a great learning experience for her daughter, who could have learned responsibility by the mother’s example, turned into a sad memory for that little girl.

5. What do you plan on doing in retirement?

My wife and I love to travel in our motor home, and we plan on heading out for some adventures on the road.

Of course, I will be continuing to support UGA football, which many people know is a passion of mine. Since 1986, I have only missed one game, both at home and away, and it was a bowl game in Hawaii and I was unable to drive my motor home to the islands!

Of course, I will always care about the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia and have a special place in my heart for the opportunity the shelter has given me.