Board Members

Dr. Joseph L. Tait

Dr. Tait came to Harlem in 1960 and immediately immersed himself into the politics of Harlem.  He was a founding member of the Fred Samuels Democratic Club and was the fund raiser for the Councilman’s campaigns.

At the same time he was the first black Veterinarian in New York City, and became the first black Veterinarian to be appointed to the New York State Board for Veterinary Medicine, later becoming its Chairman from 1988 through 1990.  He was a mentor to other black Veterinarians and as the owner of multiple practices, provided them with business opportunities.

While pursuing Veterinary goals, he found time to be the Chairman of Planning Board 9, from which vantage point he became a Director in the Commonwealth Holding Company, Inc. Board.  He eventually became Chairman of Harlem Commonwealth Council, Inc. and ultimately became the President and CEO; a position he holds today. He also served on the Francis Delafield Hospital Community Board and was a member of the Borough Board of the Manhattan Borough President’s office.

Today his goal is, through the offices of Harlem Commonwealth Council, to reach out to the community, especially to the young people to provide opportunities for growth professionally and educationally.

• Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Veterinary College in the United States in 1968 with 25 years experience in developing training programs for Humane Shelters for Stray and Unwanted Animals.

• Currently serves as Consultant Veterinarian to the World Society for the Protection of Animals working on World Health Organization recommended Stray Control Programs.  This includes consultative work with Ministries of Tourism, Agriculture and Veterinary Services, Education, Environment and Health in implementing WHO’s Stray Control program.

• Lectures in Government initiated conference on Stray Control.
• Conducted series of international lectures on Humane Euthanasia in Antigua, Budapest, Cuba, Egypt, Grenada W.I., Poland, Taiwan and Thailand.  Conducted Workshops for Veterinarian on Euthanasia at various locations in Taiper City. (1997)
• Conducted Survey of the Pounds and New Shelters in Taiwan (1998)
• Participated in a forum on Humane Euthanasia at International Conference on Euthanasia and Stray Control in Bulgaria. (1999)
• Extensive experience in training Veterinarians in Shelter Medical Care in Antigua W.I., Egypt, Grenada W.I., Cuba, Thailand, Taiwan, Poland, Sri Lanka and Brazil.
• Co-authored “Concepts in Animal Welfare.”  Instrumental in introducing these concepts to Veterinary Faculties in Latin America, specifically Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba and Peru.

• Private Veterinary Medicine (1968 to1989)
• Served as Chief Veterinarian, Berg Memorial Institute of the New York University Medical Center. (1968 to 1969)
• Served as the Veterinary Consultant to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ASPCA. (1978 to 1989)
• Vice President of the ASPCA in charge of Veterinary Affairs. (1989 to 1990)
• Founder and Director of the ASPCA’s Brooklyn Clinic (1982 to1990)
• Served two terms as President of the New York City Veterinary Medical Association. (1974 to 1976)
• Member of the Admission Committee for the Veterinary School in Grenada, W.I.
• Owner of Veterinary Practices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Mt. Vernon, Yonkers, and the Westchester area.

• Set up the standards and protocols for medical care of animals in shelter in New York City.  These standards and protocols are still in use today.
• Changed the method of Mass Euthanasia from the Decompression Chamber to the use of intravenous injections of Sodium Pentobarbital.   The shelter system was handling over 100,000 animals per year at that time.
• Received Merit Awards from New York City and New York State. (1987)
• Member of the New York State Board of Veterinary Medicine. (1984 to 1994)
• Chairperson of the New York State Board for Veterinary Medicine. (1992 to 1994)
• Awarded New York State Veterinarian of the Year by the New York State Veterinary Medical Association. (1996)
• Distinguished Life Member Award conferred by New York City Veterinary Medical Association. (1999)
• Published articles in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and the Journal of Applied Physiology.
• Delivered numerous lectures nationally and internationally on various aspects of Veterinary Medicine.

• Member of numerous national professional organizations.