Sheryl Blancato | Saving More Lives by Rethinking the System
Sheryl Blancato | Saving More Lives by Rethinking the System
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In thiIn this episode of the Top Dog Podcast, Sheryl Blancato, founder and CEO of Second Chance Animal Services, shares how shifting from rescue to prevention has allowed her organization to help over 64,000 animals each year.
Starting as an animal control officer, Sheryl quickly realized that traditional sheltering alone could never keep up with the need.
“You can never build a shelter big enough.”
That realization led to a new approach — focusing on accessible veterinary care, community programs, and keeping pets in their homes rather than bringing them into shelters.
One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is the importance of financial sustainability in nonprofit work. Sheryl emphasizes that animal welfare organizations must operate like businesses to survive and grow.
“Nonprofits are a business.”
Through innovative strategies like Lean Six Sigma and open-access care, her organization has created systems that maximize impact while minimizing waste.
She also highlights the power of small acts of kindness — from donors contributing what they can to communities coming together to help pets in need.
“A few dollars can make a huge difference.”
At its core, Sheryl’s work is about prevention — solving problems before they reach crisis level and keeping animals where they belong.
“Why take a pet out of a loving home?”
This message is especially important for Dooberteers, fosters, and volunteers. Every effort to support pet owners and communities helps reduce shelter intake and creates better outcomes for animals.
If you’re passionate about helping animals, join the Doobert community where volunteers, fosters, transporters, and organizations work together to save lives every day. Visit Doobert.com to get involved.
And don’t forget to subscribe to the Top Dog Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode.
Do you know any Top Dogs we should interview? We’re always looking for amazing people in animal welfare to feature on the podcast. Send us an email at tdp@doobert.com.