Caryn Fugatt shares how a volunteer dog-walking opportunity evolved into a leadership career in animal welfare, and why preserving the human-animal bond is at the heart of everything Pope Memorial Humane Society does.
Danielle Hanosh shares how her background as a middle school teacher inspired the creation of LEAP, an innovative program using farm sanctuaries to teach leadership, ethics, environmental stewardship, and compassion to the next generation.
Dara Worthington shares how thoughtful leadership, community support, and a commitment to seeing the potential in every animal have helped Friends of Strays grow into one of Florida’s most impactful shelter organizations.
Nicole Navarro shares how a small fox sanctuary in the Florida Keys evolved into a unique healing space where rescued foxes help survivors of trauma, addiction, and hardship discover hope, boundaries, and resilience.
Kerri Burns shares how a career spanning disaster response, animal welfare leadership, and community service taught her that the future of animal welfare depends on collaboration, compassion, and putting people first.
Alexis Fine shares how investing in staff, building strong community partnerships, and leading with compassion has helped Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter create better outcomes for animals and the people who care for them.
Starting as an animal control officer before becoming a veterinarian, Kate witnessed firsthand how shelters often lacked the medical knowledge, resources, and systems needed to properly care for animals.
After being given just 90 days to live due to end-stage liver failure caused by alcoholism, Zach found hope and purpose through the unconditional love of his dogs.
As a volunteer with Chatham Animal Rescue and Education (CARE), Chris is helping lead efforts to address cat overpopulation through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), affordable spay and neuter access, and community collaboration.
After first entering animal welfare in the late 1990s, Kristen left the field due to the trauma of working in shelters with extremely high euthanasia rates. Years later, she returned with a new mission: changing the system from within.
