California dreaming

SHELTER LEADERS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON SAVING HOMELESS PETS — AND ON MAKING THAT DREAM COME TRUE

At Best Friends, we often say that together, we can Save Them All. The operative word in that statement? Together. That’s why we’re so excited to be working with California animal services leaders in continuing the lifesaving work being done.

Twenty executive leaders from organizations across California are part of the Best Friends Executive Leadership Certification (ELC) program, with graduation scheduled in March. The ELC, recognized by Southern Utah University for six academic master’s credit hours, packs a lifetime of lessons into an intensive six months.

It’s no accident that the leaders in the program are from California. When a new dataset analysis came out, we saw opportunities for lifesaving in that state. Tawny Hammond, national director of learning advancement at Best Friends, says, “We knew we wanted to partner with leaders in California and we wanted to make a positive contribution in support of their efforts. There are a lot of hard-working animal services professionals in California and we are stoked to be working closely with those considering and implementing proven lifesaving practices.”

Kaylee Hawkins, director of the Pacific region for Best Friends and a graduate of the ELC program, wasted no time reaching out to shelter leaders in California to put together a class, offering seats in the ELC course. Facilitated by Best Friends’ learning advancement staff, the course covers topics that strengthen executive leadership skills in an animal shelter and field services environment.

“What’s not on the agenda, but just as important, are the robust, healthy, spirited discussions that come about in these classes,” Tawny says. “The participants often know, or know of, each other, and this program helps build or strengthen relationships. They have similar demographics and challenges, but may not have been aware of what everyone else was doing nearby. It becomes a real-time, real-talk learning community.”

That sense of community won’t stop when the class ends, as Kaylee can attest. “One of the long-term benefits was building a Rolodex of industry professionals from my class who I can lean on for support and guidance,” she says.

This is next-level networking, after all, and people can save more pets’ lives when they work together to help pets in the next town, county or even a different part of the state. Kaylee says, “The California class now has a group that they can problem-solve with on a more intimate level, who are familiar with their specific challenges and are likely closer to provide help.”

It’s that kind of collaboration that primes ELC graduates to be the future when it comes to building no-kill communities. Tawny adds, “We are blown away by the commitment and heart of the professionals we’re working with. They are so smart and so motivated. I have no doubt that California can lead the way in realizing a nation that is saving 90% or more of the pets in shelter systems.” That’s what we call California dreaming — and a dream sure to come true.

It’s that kind of collaboration that primes ELC graduates to be the future when it comes to building no-kill communities.