Name: Don Smith

Position: Animal Care Specialist

How long have you been part of the ARL team: I’ve been at ARL since October 2024. I started as a volunteer and was hired soon after.

What inspired you to pursue a career working with animals: I find it highly rewarding to care for animals in need. There is great satisfaction in providing food, shelter and love for animals who have fallen on hard times. If we don’t do it, who will?

What are some of the most important responsibilities in your position: First and foremost, I work daily to provide sanitary conditions and nourishment to the animals in our care. Other responsibilities include ensuring that other staff have everything they need to do their jobs (linens, clean dishes, toys, the list goes on!) as well as providing daily enrichment for dogs and cats. This comes in the form of special foods and treats, interesting scents, and pleasant sounds.

How do you help animals adjust to the shelter environment: We help animals adjust to the shelter environment by using soft voices, being mindful of what we’re wearing (certain clothing items can potentially be intimidating to animals), providing lots of enrichment, and ensuring that animals get as much time out of the kennel as possible. We also closely monitor the animals for any medical concerns and maintain a close working relationship with the veterinary/medical staff.

Can you share a success story about an animal whose transformation you got to witness firsthand: Any time an animal is adopted and stays adopted, I consider that a success. In my time at ARL, I have seen many animals become adoptable after coming into the shelter with serious challenges, which is a testament to the dedication and skill of Animal Care staff and the Behavior Team.

What makes ARL special to you: ARL is special to me because of the opportunity to serve my community by addressing critical needs. The ARL has a proud legacy of caring for Berks County’s animals in crisis going back to 1952 and as an amateur student of local history that means a great deal to me.

Do you have any pets at home? Tell us about them: I have a chiweenie named Autumn that I adopted from the ARL in October 2025. She was very shut down her first few weeks at home but these days she pretty much runs the show. I also have a big, powerful brown tabby named Sylvester (Sly for short) and a beautiful black cat named Midnight. Autumn and Sly are friends!

If you could spend a day as any animal, which would you choose and why: If I could be any animal, I’d be some kind of bird so I could get an aerial view of Reading and Berks County every day! 

What’s a funny or unexpected thing you’ve learned from working with animals: Through working at ARL, I’ve learned a great deal about animals. For instance, I had no idea dogs like to eat produce like strawberries and watermelon, but they do!