Tawny Hammond Blog

No-Kill Sheltering: A Community Achievement and a Lifesaving Commitment

Austin Animal Center, one of the nation’s largest municipal shelters, has been a pioneer in the no-kill movement, achieving a 9...

Is No-Kill Animal Sheltering a Numbers Game?

When we set financial or health goals, success is often defined by measurable progress: reducing debt, increasing savings, losing weight, or gaining muscl...

Navigating Leadership Challenges in Animal Services:

When to Stay, When to Move On

Twenty-five years into my career in park services, I was given an extraordinary opportunity: to lead the animal she...

The Role of Activism in Lifesaving Animal Services

Leadership in animal services isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires balancing diverse stakeholder expectations, navigating political landscapes,...

Are You Ready to Lead and End the Killing of Pets in Shelters?

Have you ever felt held back from an opportunity to lead? Have you ever been ready to rise to a challenge, only to be told to “wait your...

Knowing When to Support and When to Revolt: The Lifesaving Balance in Animal Services

Leadership in animal services is no easy task. With lives on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Knowing whe...

Ending the Violence: Restoring Compassion in Animal Sheltering

The word kill is a violent word. To be killed is even more violent. Yet for decades, many animal shelters have operated under the premis...

“If you want to make everyone happy, sell ice cream, don’t be a leader” – Steve Jobs

The Courage to Save Lives: Lessons from a Surprising Journey in Animal Services

When I transitioned to animal ser...