Martha M. Boden is the CEO of SPCA Tampa Bay. Located in Largo, Florida, SPCA Tampa Bay serves the Tampa-St. Petersburg area and cares for more than 10,000 animals each year. She previously worked as the CEO of the Humane Society of Indianapolis (HSI). A past member of two national animal welfare industry boards, Boden also helped found a statewide alliance of animal agencies in Indiana.
Boden’s experience caring for hamsters includes founding The Hambulance, a home-based rehabilitation center she operated in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and later in Indianapolis from 1999 to 2007. Boden cared for more than 800 hamsters while operating the Hambulance, assisting pet stores and families with ill, injured or frightened hamsters. She began sharing her extensive knowledge of hamster care with SmallAnimalChannel and Critters USA in 2007.
Boden grew up riding and caring for horses and began volunteering with the Animal Relief Fund (ARF), an animal rescue group and cat shelter in Minneapolis. She oversaw ARF’s foster network and facilitated the group’s efforts to collaborate with other local animal welfare organizations.
Through her work with ARF, Boden met members of the Animal Humane Society (AHS) management team. Interested in shelter administration, she eventually left ARF to join the volunteer ranks at AHS, assisting over two years in three different AHS departments: Operations, Development and Veterinary Services. That experience allowed her to make the transition to animal welfare as a professional when she joined HSI. Boden earned a degree in classical languages at Macalester College and worked as an IT project manager before moving into animal welfare.
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