January 2025 Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection
Beyond the Shelter: Expanding Capacity with Foster Innovation with Santa Barbara County Animal Services
Sarah Aguilar, Director of Santa Barbara County Animal Services, describes how she and her small team expanded their capacity and improved morale through the growth of their foster program. From starting a Doggy Day Trip program, with about 350 trips each month, to 1,500 kitten placements and housing as many dogs in foster as in shelter, SBCAS built on their existing systems and saw immediate benefits in dog well-being, adoptions, and volunteer engagement. Hear how they did it, what they learned along the way, and what’s next for the program.
Guest Speaker: @Sarah Aguilar, Director, Santa Barbara County Animal Services
Sarah Aguilar’s current role as the Director for Santa Barbara County Animal Services, serving 6,000 pets annually and a half million people over 2,700 square miles, combines her diverse background which includes holding key positions in various organizations dedicated to animal welfare and casual dining. Prior to her current role, Aguilar served as the Senior Director of Operations at Austin Pets Alive! in Austin, Texas, where she played a pivotal role in advancing lifesaving initiatives. Before that, she served as the National Foster Programs Manager at Greater Good Charities and as the Deputy Director for Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, Arizona. Aguilar's journey in animal welfare began as the Foster Care Coordinator for Ventura County Animal Services, placing over 3,000 pets annually into foster. Beyond her professional endeavors, Aguilar enjoys cultivating her living room into a greenhouse, restoring her 1949 Chevy pickup, and immersing herself in live music events. Alongside her husband and niece, she cares for three beloved dogs in their coastal abode.
About Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection:
Join us on the first Thursday of every month to discuss successful foster innovations and programs, collaborate with others in the field, answer questions and talk through complex foster-related issues.
Who should join: Foster managers, coordinators, volunteers and any staff who are interested in learning about what’s working in foster programs.
Register here: https://maddies.fund/MonthlyFosterRegistration
Can't attend live? Register anyway and you will get a link to the recording within a day or two after each meeting.
All recordings and resources shared during the webcast will also be available in the Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection group on Maddie's Pet Forum https://maddies.fund/monthlyfosterconnectionMPF
Maddie's Fund does not share registration information.
The opinions expressed by webinar presenters are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Maddie’s Fund.
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