March 2019 by Michele Figueroa, Christi Metropole and Faith Wright

Audience: Executive Leadership, Public, Shelter/Rescue Staff & Volunteers

Video Length: 44:45

Save Lives in Space Crises

Learn how to not end lives due to temporary space shortages by pulling other levers that will decrease the pressure that you feel. This presentation was recorded by Maddie's Fund® at the 2019 American Pets Alive! Conference.

About Michele Figueroa

Michele Figueroa is the operations manager at Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) in Tucson, Arizona. At PACC, she manages the intake and placement of around 17,000 animals - achieving an annual save rate of around 90 percent. Michele has been with PACC for 13 years and one of her particular achievements is the PACC medical clinic that now serves every pet, regardless of the severity of their medical needs. Michele has served in a leadership capacity in almost every area of the shelter, including animal control (which is now animal protection), the medical clinic, adoptions, and admissions. Beyond her work to lead the internal operations team at PACC, though, Michele has also implemented community vaccine and microchipping efforts in underserved areas with the greatest needs.


About Christi Metropole

When Christi Metropole encountered a stray, in-need kitten in 1999, she was appalled to learn that little to no resources existed to help her, her cat, or the thousands like them. As a result, she founded Stray Cat Alliance and soon, feral and free-roaming cats had found a formidable ally. Under Christi's unwavering leadership, hundreds of volunteers and scores of donors have since united to provide education, human power, and skills to Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) thousands of cats who need help. She is frequently requested as a speaker on critical issues related to cat care and protection, laws regarding humane treatment, and human health-related concerns.


About Faith Wright

Faith is the Shelter Management Advisor for Austin Pets Alive! and conducts site visits and responds to crises from other shelters. She began her journey volunteering for APA! in 2009 and in 2011 became the Operations Manager for APA!. In 2016, her role shifted to Facilities, Information, and Legal Services Manager. Faith and her family have fostered over 500 animals since the beginning of her time with APA!. Faith has helped spread the word of the no-kill mission by moving temporarily to Edinburg, Texas and working as the temporary shelter manager at Palm Valley Animal Center. She helped increase their live release rate to almost 50%, up from 37%. Since her return to Austin, she has been taking weekly trips to area shelters in Texas and New Mexico to evaluate intake process, animal flow, and rescue efforts. Faith prides herself in taking home an animal to foster from each shelter she visits.