The Role of Activism in Lifesaving Animal Services
Leadership in animal services isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires balancing diverse stakeholder expectations, navigating political landscapes, and making tough decisions—all while remaining steadfastly committed to saving lives. But one thing is clear: effective animal services leadership needs activists pushing for progress.
Though it may feel uncomfortable at times, pushback and questioning from activists are often catalysts for innovation. As a former director, I would always ask myself, “Will this feedback result in more lives saved?” If the answer was yes, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. If the answer was no, I listened politely, considered the input, and moved on.
Activism and lifesaving animal services share a common foundation: they are driven by a community ethic. Successful programs are built on partnerships among municipalities, non-profits, and community members, all working together toward the shared goal of saving lives.
The Danger of Taking Context Out of the Equation
In my last executive role, I entered a city where the auditor’s office had recently conducted a review of the animal services department. The report touched on a few areas of deficiency, but overall, it was not exceptionally critical.
However, individuals seeking to discredit no-kill sheltering seized on snippets of the report, taking them out of context to further their own agendas. This tactic reminded me of “clobber verses”—a term used to describe how some people cherry-pick biblical passages to justify their personal beliefs, while ignoring the broader context.
Similarly, misusing statistics or omitting key details to criticize no-kill sheltering is not only unprofessional but can also cause significant harm to communities and organizations. Such tactics divert attention from lifesaving efforts and create unnecessary confusion and division.
The Realities of Leading Lifesaving Animal Services
Modern lifesaving animal services are complex, requiring leaders to learn quickly, challenge outdated practices, and act decisively under pressure. Success demands more than knowledge of individual components; it requires the ability to put the entire lifesaving puzzle together.
Leaders must juggle personnel management, budgeting, operations, and community relations—all while maintaining political acumen. This work requires courage, humility, and resilience, especially in the face of public criticism.
A Lesson in Prioritization
At one point in my career, critics pressured me to use emergency donation funds to hire dog walkers. While that may have seemed like a noble cause on the surface, context was crucial.
Our shelter had an intake of 16,000 animals annually, with a live release rate of 98%. Only under 400 pets lost their lives each year, and only after all other options had been exhausted. No pet was killed due to a lack of resources or space.
We were routinely at capacity, and our primary focus was on keeping pets with their families and finding homes or rescues for those in our care. We had a robust enrichment program supported by staff, volunteers, and the public, as well as playgroups that began just two months after my arrival.
While we were far from perfect, spending emergency funds on dog walking would not have contributed to our overarching lifesaving goals. Yet critics omitted this context and shaped their own narrative.
How to Support Lifesaving Leaders
If your community is saving more lives in its shelters every day, get behind those efforts. Cheer on the leaders making it happen. Gather others to support their work. Roll up your sleeves and ask how you can help.
Activism and constructive criticism have their place, but they must be grounded in context, accuracy, and a shared commitment to the ultimate goal: saving lives. Misguided pressure and unwarranted criticism only waste time—time that is precious for the voiceless animals depending on us to get it right.
A Call to Action
Lifesaving animal services require a partnership between leadership and the community. Activists play a vital role in pushing for progress, but it’s essential to focus that energy constructively.
So, the next time you see a shelter making strides, offer your support. Whether that’s through volunteering, donating, or rallying others to get involved, your efforts can make a real difference. The clock is ticking, and together, we can save more lives.
