March 2019 by Mark Sloat, Program Manager, Austin Animal Center and April Moore, Engagement Manager, Austin Animal Center

Audience: Executive Leadership, Shelter/Rescue Staff & Volunteers

Video Length: 38:50

Animal Protection Officers: Using a Community-based Approach to Measurably Reduce Intake in the Field

Gone are the days of animal control officers rounding up people's pets to achieve higher shelter intake numbers. Today, Austin's Animal Protection Program works in tandem with shelter programming to help create and maintain the city's no-kill status. This session will teach proactive, engagement-based approaches that value the human-animal bond, redefine 'animals in need,' and engage community members, shelter staff, and volunteers to solve problems together. This session is for anyone interested in changing the way animal protection is viewed and operated. This presentation was recorded by Maddie's Fund® at the 2019 American Pets Alive! Conference.

About Mark Sloat

Mark Sloat's career in animal welfare began in 1985 when he took on the operation of a small non-profit rural dog rescue, which he oversaw for 24 years. He also worked as a contract animal control officer for a rural county in Minnesota for 11 of those years. During that time, he learned the value of returning pets to their families. By keeping them together, he had the opportunity to help the owners better care for and appreciate their pets. Mark has now been employed by Austin Animal Center Services for five years. He started as ACO in the Animal Protection unit and eventually moved up to program manager.


About April Moore

April Moore has served as Animal Protection Supervisor with the Field Services Unit based at the Austin Animal Center for over 10 years. She played an integral role in helping the Animal Services Office become the nation's largest no-kill open-intake animal shelter by developing community policies and programs that promote lifesaving and connect community members with the resources needed to keep their pets safe and healthy. The Field Services Unit serves over 1 million residents in the Austin and Travis County area through response to over 30,000 calls for service, emergency response, neighborhood canvassing and outreach events. April is also an instructor for Maddie's® Lifesaving Academy.