2024 Open Arms Challenge

The largest and most consistent community outreach team in animal welfare are field services officers. There is no question that they are in the community, but what are their primary objectives? Field services are governed by ordinances, laws, and regulations, as well as internal organizational policies that may include utilizing a citation book, warning notices, and other enforcement tools. A punitive approach leads to more pets being unnecessarily separated from their family, heavy fines that cause financial burdens, and emotionally-charged encounters for both the officer(s) and community members. By adopting a community-oriented approach focused on relationship building, outreach, education, connecting support services, lost pet reunification, and more, field services provide a vital connection point at the intersection of people, pets, and the support they need to keep them together. In this session Vincent Medley, Maddie's^® Human Animal Support Services Project Director at Human Animal Support Services (HASS) will discuss the new and emerging approach to field services that establishes connections and builds bridges with our communities, government, and animal welfare partners, and where to begin when transitioning to a community-oriented approach.

View the discussion thread with resources related to this call here: https://maddies.fund/communityconversations52223