SHARONVILLE, Ohio (WKRC) – Inside the Sharonville Convention Center, hundreds said goodbye and thank you to Harold Dates Monday. The former president and CEO of the SPCA Cincinnati passed away on June 29. Dates was 73.
For 42 years, Dates changed the lives of thousands of people and shelter pets. During his tenure, Dates is credited with 200,000 placements -- 7,000 of them through Local 12.
In the early '90s, Dates partnered with Local 12 to bring viewers segments with animals, hoping to find them homes. Dates also started the Adopt-a-Pet-a-Thon, an annual fundraiser for the SPCA.
"We've adopted tens of thousands of animals because of that. That's one of the legacies Harry leaves behind is actually really starting the concept of putting animals on television and highlighting them,” said Mike Ratzlaff.
Ratzlaff joined Dates at the SPCA 17 years ago when he left the corporate world to be consultant for them.
"In the three months I could see the passion and the love that he had for the SPCA and the animals. So that day I drank the Kool-Aid and never looked back,” said Ratzlaff.
You can’t replace a guy like Harry Dates; we can only try to carry on his legacy.
A memorial service for Dates is set for 10 a.m. at Spring Grove Cemetery on July 9.
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