Are You Ready to Lead and End the Killing of Pets in Shelters?
Have you ever felt held back from an opportunity to lead? Have you ever been ready to rise to a challenge, only to be told to “wait your turn”? If so, you’re not alone—and it’s time to break free from that mindset.
Early in my career in animal services, I attended a meeting with local executives from the metro area where I worked. The purpose of the meeting was to form a regional coalition to problem-solve and share strategies for improving animal services.
As someone new to animal services but not new to public service, I was eager to contribute. With a quarter-century of leadership experience in park services, I was well-versed in strategic planning and professional excellence. I was also aware that I was entering a field filled with differing opinions on what success looked like, how to achieve it, and the pace of change.
The meeting began with an exercise: the facilitator asked us to stand in a line, arranged by years of experience in animal services. I found myself at the end of the line. Despite my extensive leadership background, I was the “newbie” in the room. It was an uncomfortable moment—one that left me wondering why years of experience in this specific field were being emphasized over transferable skills and aptitude.
Don’t Wait Your Turn to Save Lives
That exercise was a pivotal moment for me. It was a stark reminder of how “wait your turn” cultures can stifle innovation and progress. But the urgency of our mission—to save thousands of pets from dying in shelters every day—didn’t allow for waiting.
There’s no time for professional posturing or infighting among organizations. Ending the killing of pets in shelters requires honesty, collaboration, selflessness, and a relentless drive to get it right. It demands that we prioritize the mission over ego, focusing on saving lives rather than jockeying for recognition.
I had seen a similar culture in park services: a “prove yourself by putting in the time” mentality that often overlooked talent, aptitude, and dedication. But in animal services, the stakes were higher. Every day, thousands of pets were running out of time.
Building a Lifesaving Team
I used my entrepreneurial background and years of leadership experience to get to work. The smartest decision I made was finding and building a talented team. Together, we worked fast to save lives, eliminating the killing at our shelters and proving that progress could be achieved with urgency and focus.
I knew we couldn’t afford to wait for permission or acknowledgment to drive change. We needed to act—and act decisively.
A Dream Realized: Leadership Development for Lifesaving
Today, I’m proud to lead the nation’s first-ever Executive Leadership Certification Program for Best Friends Animal Society. This program was born out of a dream I had at the very beginning of my career in animal services: to strengthen the leadership skills of animal services executives and equip them to end the killing of pets in shelters quickly and effectively.
This program welcomes leaders from any profession. Whether your background is in public service, corporate leadership, or another field entirely, your skills, professionalism, and dedication are invaluable to this mission.
The Time is Now
If you’re ready to use your leadership skills to save lives, I invite you to join me. Don’t let the “wait your turn” mentality hold you back. The clock is ticking for pets in shelters across the nation, and your leadership could make all the difference.
Together, we can build teams, innovate solutions, and create a future where every pet has a chance at life. I promise to recognize and leverage your unique strengths as we work toward this shared goal.
Let’s rise to the challenge and end the killing of pets in shelters—for good.
