Darlene Duggan | Turning Data Into Better Decisions
Darlene Duggan | Turning Data Into Better Decisions
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Darlene Duggan never expected her career in biostatistics and epidemiology to lead her into animal welfare. After volunteering at Anti-Cruelty in Chicago, she fell in love with the work and eventually worked her way into leadership.
“I was hooked.”
After nearly 30 years in the field, Duggan has watched animal welfare change significantly. One of the biggest shifts she has seen is organizations moving away from competition and toward collaboration.
“If we get along and join forces and, you know, put our resources together, it’s only going to help more animals.”
That same shift applies to how shelters work with the public. Rather than treating struggling pet owners as the problem, Duggan believes organizations should look for ways to support them and help keep pets in their homes.
Her background in data has also become a major part of her leadership. She describes animal welfare as both an art and a science, combining compassion and instinct with data to make better decisions.
“There is an art and there is a science to animal welfare.”
Technology is opening even more possibilities. Duggan recently used AI alongside shelter data to examine whether puppies affected adoptions of large dogs. The analysis showed that puppies were essentially net neutral, helping the team move past assumptions and make decisions based on evidence.
“Now we know that puppies don’t harm our large dog adoptions.”
For Duggan, progress isn’t only about better systems. It’s also about supporting the people doing the work. She encourages animal welfare professionals to build strong networks so they have people to turn to during difficult periods.
“Make sure that you’re growing your network, both within animal welfare and without.”
And on the hardest days, Duggan focuses on the positive moments that make the work worthwhile, including watching adopters leave the shelter with a new family member.
Her ultimate goal is to leave Anti-Cruelty stronger and better prepared for the future.
“I think I want my legacy to be someone who was fair.”
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.
