It’s Never Too Late to Make an Impact: How Purpose, Community, and Creativity Are Shaping the Future of Animal Welfare
It’s Never Too Late to Make an Impact: How Purpose, Community, and Creativity Are Shaping the Future of Animal Welfare
In animal welfare, many people assume that those leading the charge have always been in the field. But Jackie Roach’s story proves something different—sometimes, your most meaningful work begins later in life.
In this episode of the Top Dog Podcast, Jackie Roach, CEO of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society, shares how a simple volunteer experience led to a complete career transformation—and how that perspective now shapes her leadership, community programs, and vision for the future.
For organizations, fosters, and Dooberteers, this episode is a powerful reminder: it’s never too late to make a difference—and sometimes, fresh perspectives are exactly what the industry needs.
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
Jackie didn’t grow up in animal welfare. In fact, she spent over 30 years in the retail and corporate world—and even admitted she was once afraid of dogs.
Everything changed when she started volunteering at a shelter.
“I had no concept of animal shelters… I didn’t even know what was involved.”
That experience opened her eyes not just to the animals—but to the entire system behind them.
For organizations, this is a crucial insight:
Many people in your community want to help—but they simply don’t understand how.
That’s where education, outreach, and welcoming environments matter.
One Animal Can Change Everything
Like many in this field, Jackie’s turning point came from a single dog.
She adopted a dog who wasn’t expected to survive—and instead, that dog lived for years and changed the course of her life.
That experience led her to start a breed-specific rescue, saving over 2,500 dogs.
It’s a familiar story in animal welfare:
One connection becomes a mission.
For fosters, this hits home. Every foster experience has the potential to create lifelong advocates.
The Experience Matters—For People and Animals
One of Jackie’s earliest observations in shelter work wasn’t about the animals—it was about the people.
She noticed that adopters, who were excited and hopeful, often had poor experiences at the shelter.
“This should be a life-changing moment… but it felt like going to the DMV.”
That realization shaped her approach to leadership.
Animal welfare isn’t just about saving animals—it’s about:
- Creating positive human experiences
- Building relationships with adopters
- Turning visitors into lifelong supporters
For organizations, this is huge:
Every interaction is an opportunity to grow your community.
From Scarcity to a Winning Mindset
When Jackie stepped into her CEO role, the organization faced serious challenges:
- Financial strain
- Deferred infrastructure needs
- Staff burnout
- Low morale
Her biggest realization?
“We can’t operate from a place of scarcity.”
Instead of focusing only on limitations, she shifted toward a “winning mindset”:
- Try new ideas
- Learn from failures
- Build forward momentum
- Focus on what’s possible
For shelters and rescues, this mindset shift can be transformational.
Celebrating Wins (Because They Happen Every Day)
Animal welfare can be emotionally heavy. It’s easy to focus on what didn’t go right.
But Jackie emphasizes something simple and powerful:
“Good things happen here every day.”
By intentionally celebrating wins, organizations can:
- Boost team morale
- Reduce burnout
- Reinforce purpose
- Keep teams motivated
For Dooberteers, this is a reminder to celebrate your impact too—every transport, every foster, every saved life matters.
Community Programs Are the Future
Jackie’s work in Santa Fe highlights the importance of community-based solutions.
Some of their programs include:
- Pet food assistance
- Foster care for medical and neonatal animals
- Community wellness and vaccination efforts
- Partnerships with local organizations
- Innovative programs like “Dog Day Out”
She also emphasizes something critical:
We cannot adopt our way out of overpopulation.
That means focusing on:
- Prevention
- Retention
- Access to care
- Community engagement
For organizations, this is the shift happening across the industry.
Creative Ideas Can Drive Big Impact
One of the most exciting parts of the episode is Jackie’s creativity—especially her idea to expand programs for tourists.
Imagine this:
Visitors come to Santa Fe, check out a shelter dog, and explore the city together.
This kind of thinking:
- Enriches animals’ lives
- Engages new audiences
- Creates unique donor opportunities
- Builds community connections
For Dooberteers and orgs, this is your reminder:
Innovation doesn’t always require huge budgets—just new ways of thinking.
Leadership Starts With Listening
When asked about leadership, Jackie shared a simple but powerful lesson:
“Listen first… and then listen again.”
Great leadership in animal welfare isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about:
- Understanding your team
- Listening to your community
- Adapting based on real needs
- Creating space for others to contribute
What This Means for Dooberteers
Jackie’s journey shows that:
- You don’t need a perfect background to start helping
- One experience can change your path
- Every role—volunteer, foster, supporter—matters
Whether you’re just starting or already deeply involved, your role is part of something bigger.
Listen to the Full Episode
Want to hear the full conversation with Stacy LeBaron and learn more about community cats, Trap-Neuter-Return programs, and leadership in animal welfare? Listen here:
Watch on YouTube:
Listen for the audio versions:
If you’re passionate about helping animals, join the Doobert community where volunteers, fosters, transporters, and animal organizations work together to save lives every day.
Visit Doobert.com to get involved, volunteer, foster, or transport animals in need.
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