Caryn Fugatt | Building Trust Before Crisis Happens
Caryn Fugatt | Building Trust Before Crisis Happens
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In this episode of the Top Dog Podcast, Caryn Fugatt, Executive Director of Pope Memorial Humane Society – Cocheco Valley, discusses her journey from volunteer dog walker to executive director and the lessons she learned along the way. Her story is a powerful reminder that leadership in animal welfare often begins with a simple desire to help.
After moving to New Hampshire and looking for volunteer opportunities, Caryn discovered the shelter as a dog walker. What started as a way to spend time with animals quickly grew into a passion for helping both pets and the people who love them.
“It seemed just like the perfect opportunity to help people and help animals at the same time.”
One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is the importance of preserving the human-animal bond. Caryn believes that shelters should do everything possible to help families stay together before considering surrender as the only option.
“Part of our mission is really to preserve that human-animal bond.”
Under her leadership, the organization has continued expanding services that support pet owners, including low-cost clinics, pet food assistance, training programs, and community outreach efforts designed to keep animals where they belong — at home with their families.
“We want our community to know that we’re here for them no matter what.”
Caryn also shares how empathy plays a critical role in sheltering. Whether helping a family facing difficult circumstances or supporting staff through emotionally challenging situations, she encourages her team to approach every interaction with compassion and understanding.
“Look at both sides of the leash.”
As a leader, Caryn is focused on building a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and trust. She believes that healthy organizations start from within and that strong internal relationships ultimately create stronger community partnerships.
“Being able to work together and problem solve together.”
At its core, this episode is about compassion, empathy, and recognizing that animal welfare is ultimately about supporting both animals and people.
“We continue investing in the human-animal bond.”
This message is especially important for Dooberteers, fosters, volunteers, and shelter professionals. By meeting people with understanding instead of judgment, we create stronger communities and 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.