Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 14 hours ago
This presentation explores a shift in municipal animal control services from a traditional enforcement-centric model to one rooted in community engagement. Dr. Christina Avila advocates for an empathetic, inclusive, and collaborative approach that prioritizes relationship-building, education, and accessibility. The goal is to foster trust, address cultural sensitivities, and create sustainable improvements in animal welfare. Using ordinances as a structural framework, the presentation emphasizes aligning enforcement with the spirit of law fairness, justice, and community impact.
Speaker:
Christina Avila, PhD, Animal Control Supervisor, City of Perris Animal Control
To access the full agenda and resources from this call or to ask questions of our speakers, visit https://maddies.fund/communityconversations42825
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
Chapters
00:00 Welcome
06:25 National updates
08:28 Presentation
This presentation explores a shift in municipal animal control services from a traditional enforcement-centric model to one rooted in community engagement. Dr. Christina Avila advocates for an empathetic, inclusive, and collaborative approach that prioritizes relationship-building, education, and accessibility. The goal is to foster trust, address cultural sensitivities, and create sustainable improvements in animal welfare. Using ordinances as a structural framework, the presentation emphasizes aligning enforcement with the spirit of law fairness, justice, and community impact.
Speaker:
Christina Avila, PhD, Animal Control Supervisor, City of Perris Animal Control
To access the full agenda and resources from this call or to ask questions of our speakers, visit https://maddies.fund/communityconversations42825
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
Chapters
00:00 Welcome
06:25 National updates
08:28 Presentation
