Austin Pets Alive! has long been known for innovating, collaborating, and sharing our knowledge of how to save animals’ lives. But animal welfare is also about humans—the humans who love and own pets, and the humans who work in animal shelters. That’s why in the spring of 2023, APA! launched Pet Pals — a program for vulnerable working-age youth to participate in a paid internship.
This program is aimed at cultivating and training new animal welfare leaders, who have backgrounds that have historically not been well-represented in this field. Pet Pals interns explore the world of animal welfare and develop important professional skills— learning the ins and outs of shelter management, and gaining the necessary skills and experience to work in animal sheltering, including at Austin Pets Alive!.
