Name: Brooke Brenner

Position: Animal Care Supervisor

How long have you worked in animal welfare: I just passed my 12yr anniversary in animal welfare! August of 2013 is when I was hired here full time, but I was also a volunteer dog walker before I applied to work here!  

Do you have pets of your own at home: I have 4 dogs named Callie, Pearl, Squishy, and RIP. I also have a goldfish and a flock of ducks with a goose. It’s worth mentioning that I have a four-year-old son who isn’t a pet but is an absolute animal.  

What does leading the animal care team look like for you day-to-day: We start each day with a team huddle giving the expectations and run down for the day. On a good day, I spend the morning moving animals out of holding areas into the general population and making them available for adoption. On a “bad” day, I’m cleaning a kennel at the same time! My afternoons are usually spent checking in with staff, meeting with leadership and other departments, and making sure we are all doing our best and the most that we can for each animal in our care.  

What is one thing you wish people knew about the work your team does behind the scenes: I have two. The first is that my team never stops moving. This team takes pride in their work and works hard all day long to ensure all our animals have clean spaces, enrichment, socializing, walks, and anything else they might need. The second? I wish people knew how emotional our work is and how much we genuinely care for each animal that crosses paths with us.  

How do you celebrate successes — big or small — with your staff: We celebrate successes by putting positive energy back into our work. This field can be very draining. Every success is celebrated in its own small way by giving us the boost we need.   

Is there a particular animal or case you’ve helped with that you’ll never forget: One of the many, many animals I will never forget is a dog from 2017 who was in a house fire. He was brought here for emergency boarding but also had severe burns all over his body. He was a Fila (mastiff) whose purpose was protecting their home, so he was not very accepting of us in the beginning. But with the help of his family, he became extremely bonded to a handful of staff. The staff, our incredible medical team, and an outside veterinarian slowly nursed him back to health after months of treatment. When he left our facility, he was transferred into boarding until his family found a new home (in Florida!) and eventually moved a year later. I would go every day after work to the boarding facility and continue to care for him. I became very bonded with this dog and his family. I was so grateful the ARL had the resources to help this family in some of the worst days of their lives. We took care of their pet while they took care of each other and thankfully they were all able to be reunited in the end. I was even invited to their home in Florida to visit them and got to reunite with them and their dog twice at their new home!  

What keeps you motivated on the hardest days: The animals motivate me. “If not you, then who?” is something that I think of when I’m feeling discouraged. If I am not willing to do this work, if I am not willing to show up for them, then who can I expect to do the same?  

What is your favorite memory at ARL: Gosh, there are too many. Success stories, wild adventures of rescue, animals pulling through all different challenges, adopting my personal pets.   

Any last words of wisdom: I know that animal welfare isn’t for everyone and that’s perfectly okay, but I would suggest finding a hobby or a job that fills your cup.