Abby Volin founded Opening Doors, which advocates for tenants with pet-related housing issues and helps housing providers manage pets on properties. She is a nationally recognized expert on animal accommodation law and frequently holds lectures for landlords, attorneys, animal welfare advocates, and healthcare providers. Prior to starting Opening Doors, Abby worked as a policy specialist at The Humane Society of the United States and began her career as a litigator. Abby earned her JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and BA from Tufts University. She has volunteered with numerous shelters and rescue groups throughout the years and fostered countless pets (much to the chagrin of the resident cats).

Abby joins Mandy to discuss how to can help keep families together.

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Todd Cramer is the former President & CEO at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (MHHS) in New York’s Capital District. Prior to joining MHHS, he was the Senior Vice President of Community Engagement & Chief of Staff at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey. Todd has also served as the Senior Program Manager, Adoptions at PetSmart Charities and Director of Community Initiatives at the ASPCA. During his time at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, Todd led the Pets Are Welcome, pet friendly housing initiative, pilot program working to encourage rental property owners to go beyond just allowing pet residents and make them truly welcome by eliminating breed, type and size restrictions and providing the tools necessary for pet guardians and their pets to live successfully in rental communities. Under his leadership, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society successfully partnered with the Sunrise Management & Consultants to create Pets Are Welcome communities. Todd has written for Animal Sheltering Magazine and has been a popular speaker delivering workshops on animal welfare topics at regional and national conferences including Best Friend’s National Conference and the Humane Society of the United States Animal Care Expo.

Heather Schechter, Director of Marketing and Business Development, is responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities and building and expanding the public presence of the company and its clients. She oversees the marketing of multiple apartment communities, including branding, advertising, public relations, and communications functions. Heather brings to Sunrise her experience in marketing in Albany and New York City. She is currently the Past President and Membership Chair of the Capital Region Public Relations Society of America. Heather is Accredited in Public Relations and a licensed New York State Real Estate Salesperson. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Columbia College and a Master of Science degree in Education from the Sage Colleges.

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Shannon Glenn started with My Pit Bull is Family in 2014 and quickly became an expert in housing policy and surrender prevention for the animal welfare community. She has an extensive professional background in grassroots campaigns, voter outreach, community outreach, fundraising, homeless advocacy and policy creation. Shannon holds a Master’s in Advocacy and Political Leadership where she centered her degree program around drafting policies to end housing and insurance discrimination for families with large dogs. She lives in Minneapolis, MN with her partner, Anthony, their two dogs Charlotte and Wilbur and cat Max. Shannon currently is the Shelter Supervisor for the only pet friendly emergency homeless shelter in the state of Minnesota. You can usually find Shannon spending her free time updating our database, volunteering at Minneapolis Animal Care and Control, or enjoying the outdoors with her family.  

Shannon joins Mandy to discuss breed discrimination and barriers to accessible housing.

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Cameron Moore oversees shelter engagement for the Million Cat Challenge, a joint project of Maddie’s Fund^®, the Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Program at the Univerity of Florida, the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, and the ASPCA^® designed to save the lives of 1 million more shelter cats over five years.

Cameron appears to have been born to be part of the Million Cat mission, and been guided by its Five Key Initiatives at every stage of her professional life — even before the Challenge existed.

Cameron joins Mandy to discuss cat intake at shelters and how to reduce cat euthanasia.

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Abby Volin founded Opening Doors, which advocates for tenants with pet-related housing issues and helps housing providers manage pets on properties. She is a nationally recognized expert on animal accommodation law and frequently holds lectures for landlords, attorneys, animal welfare advocates, and healthcare providers. Prior to starting Opening Doors, Abby worked as a policy specialist at The Humane Society of the United States and began her career as a litigator. Abby earned her JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and BA from Tufts University. She has volunteered with numerous shelters and rescue groups throughout the years and fostered countless pets (much to the chagrin of the resident cats).

Abby joins Mandy to discuss the coming eviction crisis from the COVID-19 fallout.

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Ed Jamison became the Director of Dallas Animal Services (DAS) in October of 2017. The animal situation in Dallas has been the center of scrutiny over the years due to large roaming dog populations, high profile dog attacks, and low positive save rates from the shelter. With over 39,000 dogs and cats entering DAS’ care last year, Dallas is the 3rd largest intake in the United States. Ed has been tasked to increase public safety by getting lose animals off the streets, while at the same time increasing positive outcomes. To accomplish that, Ed is leading a staff of over 200 employees, maximizing the relationships with the rescue community, rebuilding the volunteer base, and instituting new, progressive programming. The newly launched “Dallas 90” campaign is designed to help create a community where all people and animals are safe, treated with respect, and have access to the resources needed to thrive. In December of 2018, even with record high intakes, DAS realized a 90 + percent rate for four consecutive months, which is a first for the Department.

Prior to coming to Dallas, Ed was the Chief Animal Control Officer for the City of Cleveland, Ohio, but he entered the Animal Care & Control World in the mid 2000’s while he was the Animal Warden for the City of Garfield Heights, a suburb of Cleveland. In his time serving Cleveland, Ed made a push to redefine the way Animal Control functions, and re-brand the public’s perception of the industry, along with “pit-bull” type dogs.  The award winning, trademarked CITY DOGs Cleveland Adoption and Volunteer programs are flourishing and being copied throughout the country.

Ed joins Mandy to discuss municipal shelter operations.

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Melanie Sadek, identical twin sister of host Mandy Evans, has been the executive director of Valley Humane Society in Pleasanton for the 9 years. She has established the organization as a well-respected non-profit, helping both animals and people in the Tri-Valley. Melanie serves on the Board of Directors for the California Animal Welfare Association. In this role, she has been active in evaluating and helping pass animal welfare legislation in California. Her passion to make a difference didn’t start with Valley Humane Society. Starting her career in the field of highway safety, Melanie managed the Traffic Safety Department for AAA in Northern California and has trained thousands of law enforcement officers, nurses and public health workers in highway safety issues. In 2016, Melanie was recognized with the TriValley Hero Community Spirit Award for her dedication to helping others. 

Melanie joins Mandy to discuss PR (external communications) and shelter branding.

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Amanda Arrington is the Senior Director of the groundbreaking Pets for Life (PFL) program at the Humane Society of the United States and previously served as a lobbyist and North Carolina State Director for HSUS.  With PFL, Amanda guides a social justice-driven approach to create equity in and access to pet resources and information for people in underserved communities. Under her leadership the program has been implemented in over 50 markets across the country and is working to make companion animal welfare a more just and inclusive movement.

Amanda is also the founder and Executive Director of Beyond Fences, a non-profit based in Durham, NC.  The organization builds trust and relationships in communities by providing no-fee pet services and support for people living in underserved areas.

 Amanda currently serves as vice-chair of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement’s OnPOINT committee on increasing diversity in animal welfare, served three years as the chair of the Durham County Animal Control Advisory Committee and on the board of the Durham Interneighborhood Council. Amanda has received many awards for her community outreach work including the prestigious American Veterinary Medical Association Humane Award in 2018.

Amanda joins Mandy to discuss the Pets for Life Program.

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Jessica and Marc join Mandy today to discuss removing barriers to pet adoptions in animal shelters.

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UC Davis’ Dr. Karsten became board certified in Shelter Medicine Practice in November, 2017. Her main areas of interest include population management, infectious disease control, intake diversion/safety net programs, and providing affordable, accessible veterinary care in all communities. Dr. Karsten became board certified in Shelter Medicine Practice in November, 2017. Her main areas of interest include population management, infectious disease control, intake diversion/safety net programs, and providing affordable, accessible veterinary care in all communities.

James Pumphrey has worked in the animal care industry for almost two decades, gaining leadership experience in animal shelters from the east coast to the west coast.  As a seasoned animal welfare leader, James is passionate about advancing conditions that put welfare first for both people and animals. He is committed to developing thriving workplace cultures that allow staff to do their best work as they support the people and animals in our community. Currently working as the Deputy Director for Animal Care of Davis County in Utah, James is known for his ability to offer expertise, guidance, and support to fellow shelter leaders helping them to achieve their goals through collaboration. He has a keen interest in animal (including the human variety) behavior gaining expertise in modifying conditions and emotional responses to circumstances that empowers the individual to succeed. Inspiration comes to James through the emerging role for shelters to offer community support services which keep families together and helps to expand access to care allowing them to flourish. 

Dr. Karston and James join Mandy to discuss changing the culture within animal welfare.

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