Name: Andrew Tetley

Position: Pet Placement Lead

Andrew Tetley first joined the Animal Rescue League of Berks County in 2018 as a Pet Placement Specialist after volunteering with the organization for one year. In his community-facing role, he can often be found helping clients with adoptions, reclaiming lost pets, obtaining dog licenses, or answering questions over the phone.

We asked Andrew a couple of questions to share with the community he serves.

Pets at home:

I have three cats at home. Suvi is a nine-year-old torbie that does not really like me all that much, Guinness is a nine-year-old tuxedo that thinks he is a teddy bear, and Spooky is an all-white long-haired cat (and ARL alum) that will love you forever if you brush him or give him chicken. They are all wonderful! 

How long have you been working in animal welfare, and what made you want to work in this field?  

This is my first and only job in animal welfare, and I’ve been here almost 4 years. I graduated from college with an engineering degree, and while looking for a job, I decided to volunteer at the ARL as a dog walker. About a year later, I saw the ARL was hiring, so I applied and was hired as an adoption counselor.  

What is a day in the life of your job like? 

Mornings usually consist of answering emails, responding to voicemails, and tidying up around the shelter. When we open to the public in the afternoon, we are helping clients with adoptions among other things: reclaiming lost pets, dog licenses, donations, and whatever else comes our way. It is certainly never predictable.  

In your role, you help families find new animal companions (and vice versa). What is your advice for anyone considering getting a pet?  

Obviously, I am a big proponent of “Adopt Don’t Shop.” Do your research and be honest about what you are looking for in a pet. It is perfectly okay to acknowledge that a certain animal is not the right fit for you. And when you come to the shelter, do not be afraid to ask questions! We know these animals well and may be able to help you find the perfect fit.  

Tell us about a shelter animal you won’t forget. 

There are too many to name, but one of my best experiences so far was with a German shepherd named Zelda. She came to the shelter a few months before I started working there and had been adopted and returned previously. She was very wary of strangers, especially men, and took a few months and a lot of hot dogs to warm up to me. She went from growling, barking, and lunging at me every time I walked past her kennel to being one of my best buddies at the shelter. She was adopted after about a year and her owners still post updates on her Facebook page.   

What is your favorite memory at ARL?  

One of the most memorable experiences I have had with the ARL was participating in an adoption event at the Greater Philly Expo Center in 2019. We closed for adoptions for the weekend to bring all our available animals to the event. There were about 10 other rescues and shelters there, and it took place over two days. It was just such a cool atmosphere, and we ended up getting around 60 cats and dogs adopted that weekend!

What do you love most about your job, and what do you find to be the most challenging?   

My favorite part is getting animals into their forever homes. Even if we have a busy day, it is very satisfying knowing that those animals that were adopted are better off than they were that morning. I would say the most challenging aspect is seeing really sweet, loving animals get passed over for weeks or even months at a time.  
 
If you could cross one thing off your bucket list right now, what would it be?   

I love watching the Tour de France every year, so I really want to see it in person. I learned some French in high school and college, and I have never really gotten to use it. It would be fun to dust that off and travel around France for a bit.  

 
What is one thing you wish people knew about your job? 

It is much more than just playing with kittens and puppies. We have some really sad stories, and some really happy ones too. In the end, I do it because the positive ends up outweighing the negative.    
 
Last words of wisdom:

Listen to Bob Barker: Get your pets spayed and neutered.