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  • 1.  Community Conversations - 4/28/2025 - Shifting the Paradigm from Enforcement to Engagement

    Posted 25 days ago

    Updated 4/28/25 at 3:20 pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand!

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.

    We hope to see you on the next Community Conversation on Monday, 4/28/25 at 11am PT for a discussion on "Shifting the Paradigm from Enforcement to Engagement: How to Provide Community Support Services as an Animal Control Agency" with Dr. Christina Avila, Animal Control Supervisor for the City of Perris Animal Control. 

    This presentation explores a shift in municipal animal control services from a traditional enforcement-centric model to one rooted in community engagement. Dr. Christina Avila advocates for an empathetic, inclusive, and collaborative approach that prioritizes relationship-building, education, and accessibility. The goal is to foster trust, address cultural sensitivities, and create sustainable improvements in animal welfare. Using ordinances as a structural framework, the presentation emphasizes aligning enforcement with the spirit of law fairness, justice, and community impact. 

    Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvoRegistration2024

    Make sure you are using the latest version of Zoom when you join us!

    If you are unable to make it live on Monday, this thread will be updated with the recording and resources so you can watch and share whenever you'd like.  After you watch the recording on-demand or attend the call live, be sure to complete this new April 2025 entry form to enter to win up to a $5,000 grant: https://www.maddiesfund.org/weekly-community-conversations-apr25-giveaway.htm


    #AccesstoCare
    #CommunityPartnerships*
    #EducationandTraining
    #FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

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    Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 2.  RE: Community Conversations - 4/28/2025 - Shifting the Paradigm from Enforcement to Engagement

    Posted 20 days ago

    Thanks to the 142+ people and paws who joined us on today's Community Conversations call! The recording is now available to watch on-demand. Below you'll find a recap of today's call and the resources shared. 

    Call Recap

    • Welcome from hosts
    • Question of the Day: What's an experience you've had-either personally or professionally-where a compassionate approach made a bigger difference than a punitive approach?
      • "Working with dogs, compassion always makes a big difference as opposed to scolding." -  April Cannizzaro
      • "Working with some "unintentional hoarders" to cut down the number of animals they had instead of seizing them and going to court" - Patricia Burg
      • "I have a local grooming business in the community and I had an elderly person who could not afford getting their dog done, so I groomed it for free and then educated them on the importance of grooming and helping them understand what all includes having a pet and then gave them additional resources for help for food for her and her pet. That is how my LC'S Foundation came about :)" - LaTonya (Tonya) Smith
      • "As I was developing my personal leadership style, I was quite zealous about how the way things should be. I was fortunate to report to not just a boss, but a mentor who helped to guide me in my approach :)" - Lily Yap
      • "With working with children, trying to see from their point of view first. With working with adults, leading with the idea that they have the best intent and coming from that understanding first and having compassion that some people were never taught that their tone and the way they say things sometimes outweighs what words they are saying. Also- definitely dogs scolding vs compassion." - KaDee Andreasen 
      • "I had a neighbor who's pit bull needed vetted. I reached out to a rescue group to get her help. She didn't need to be cited, judged or punished. She just needed support." - Wanda Miller
      • "We've been working with someone who is over their pet limits.  Normally they would be cited and forced to get rid of the animals, but we are working to sterilize and help them adopt the pets out instead." - Brandy Buie
      • "Showing compassion when a pet owner was struggling with training challenges helped build trust and positive outcomes-something a strict, punitive approach would never have achieved." - Paula Herrera
      • "Easier access for those without transportation" - Kate Marshall
      • "It would be so impactful - we are an extremely rural with a lot of varied communities that are underserved and low income. A mobile vet would be a phenomenal resource to our local community." - Brittany Pratt
      • "It would be great to be able to go where low-income people need the help." - Patricia Burg
      • "Compassion goes far with any animal." - Anita Selby
      • "As a teacher compassion always - there is always a way to solve/redirect saving a child's self-esteem through talking out a situation and how to remediate the next time." - Beth Porter
      • "I've seen leaders scold people for breaking tools and equipment more times than i care to see ever again. I like to show our volunteers the direct cost breakdown of all our assets and how much it costs to maintain and repair or replace them in hopes they understand and treat our equipment with more respect as it takes away funding for the animals in our care over the long term." - Katie Sullivan
      • "It is always good to try to see from others' perspectives." - Julielani Chang
      • "We adopted a greyhound to a couple who gave him a great home. Fast forward six or so years. The husband had been sent to hospice. The wife was dangerously neglecting the dog (and herself) and he was in horrible shape. We took the compassionate approach toward the woman and were supportive of her decision to surrender the dog instead of coming down on her for neglect. Good news... the dog has an excellent new home and has been completely rehabilitated." - Mary Flores
      • "Leaving conversations open- asking if there are questions, comments, concerns?" - Deb Sixel
      • "I have found if I'm more compassionate with owners, I can assist the cats better." - Elizabeth Campbell
      • "Previously in our town a very adversarial woman was filming and blasting less than ideal conditions of dogs, and she made a lot of enemies.  We've found if we are compassionate and talk to be people directly and offer resources, they will work with us to better the situation." - Lisa Nelson
      • "We just hosted a kibble for kindness event to allow our community members to get food for their dogs without having to give them up! -Park county Animal shelter." - Aly Davis
      • "We have mentioned to our county board of supervisors here in Plumas County the need for mental health services in connection with animal hoarding. It's a work in progress with them and animal control/sheriff dept." - Heidi lampe
      • "Wanda Miller, York, PA, The Armchair (Cat)Advocate YouTube channel. I connect animal welfare to human services and the overarching umbrella of social justice. We try to support the people who care for cats as well as the cats themselves." - Wanda Miller
      • "Working ICU/ER in critical care owners are scared upon presentation. A lot of fear comes from a lack of knowledge and being compassionate in these situations allows the owner to be more open and responsive to what needs to be done. I've seen many nurses/DVMs get annoyed with owners, and it only makes the case harder to handle." - Maria Putnam
      • "Had an abused dog case, found out the dog was deaf therefore not responding." - Janet Noble
      • "Being compassionate with a colleague who seemed distracted and was underperforming at her job… it turned out her son had been diagnosed with a serious medical condition. She needed support and compassion and not reminders of her late project tasks." - Yvonne Moyer

    • National Updates

    • Presentation:   
        • Guest Speaker:
          •  @Christina Avila, PhD, Animal Control Supervisor, City of Perris Animal Control Animal Control
        • Key Takeaways:
          • Shift in Approach:
            • Move from enforcing rules to engaging communities. 
            • Prioritize empowerment and mutual respect. 
          • Core Challenges: 
            • Distrust, cultural gaps, and resource limitations hinder outreach. 
          • Role of Ordinances:  
            • Provide structure ("spine") and meaning ("body")-must reflect empathy and justice.
          • Actionable Methodologies
            • Clear, empathetic communication.
            • Collaboration and community-driven solutions.
            • Ongoing education to prevent conflicts and improve safety.
            • Collect and respond to community feedback.
          • Principles to Guide Engagement:
            • Empathy
            • Communication
            • Transparency
            • Cultural Sensitivity
            • Accountability
            • Accessibility
          • Community Tools & Resources
            • Leverage platforms like Facebook, Instagram, PawBoost, and Nextdoor.
            • Promote educational programs in schools.
            • Use flyers and data-backed strategies to support outreach.

    • Highlights from the Chat
      • "Actually, these kinds of situations are best resolved with community buy in. I don't think private citizens realize how important their support of Animal Control helps resolve these issues. It's a team effort! - Christy Mundy
      • "Thanks for doing this!" - Wanda Miller
      • "I wish we had this level of AC- you guys sound like you are doing a wonderful job!" -  Heidi Iampe
      • "Animal Control/Services departments are extremely under-sourced and, as Dr. Avila said, operate in a historical system of mistrust. Our ACO's are human's too, and likely every individual is in animal services because they love animals. They are balancing a lot of needs, and the policies that may have come out of them may seem callous but remembering that our ACO's are people who care deeply about the community and animals may go a long way to having productive conversations about why they may leave or impound an animal, or different policies you might want to see." - Emily Wood
      • "WOW....thank you for being such an inspiration and so much compassion.....I live in Southern Idaho and I want to do something like this, thank you for being such a wonderful human!!" - Christina Veloz
      • "This presentation was wonderful. It's so heartening that so many animal control officers and departments are moving toward more compassionate responses to people and better outcomes for animals and people. Wonderful." - Kristen Petrie"I LOVE this series, thank you Maddies and everyone involved!  🥰" - Jean Harman
      • "Being OPEN MINDED is the big difference." - Anita Selby
      • "You surely have continued to make a smooth wheel - even if you didn't invent this wheel!" - Jean Harman


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    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Community Conversations - 4/28/2025 - Shifting the Paradigm from Enforcement to Engagement

    Posted 19 days ago

    Thank you, everyone, for the kind words and acknowledgement. My favorite comment was from Jean about inventing the wheel. I am going to add that to the presentation. 



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    Christina Avila
    Animal Control Supervisor
    City of Perris
    Perris, California
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Community Conversations - 4/28/2025 - Shifting the Paradigm from Enforcement to Engagement

    Posted 18 days ago

    To answer the question of the day:
    I had just started working at a Shire horse (they are the tallest breed) farm and was told to watch out for a particular horse.  I watched the barn manager interact with her and she stomped her feet, tried to kick him, threw her head around and was altogether unruly.  He did his best to control her with a whip, but she really did not care for him at all.  A week or so after he left, she and I were getting along very well.  Instead of punishing her with a whip, I gave her room to explore and reason to enjoy my company.  Later, she had to have a cyst in her nose removed.  I had to stand on a ladder in front of her to wash the area multiple times a day.  The old barn manager came for a visit and could not believe the transformation in her!



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    Diana Kelley
    Executive Director
    Healing Horse Touch Company
    https://HealingHorseTouch.com
    KennethMNUnited States
    Discover Healing, Connection, and Renewal through Horses.
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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