Celebrate ACO Appreciation Week with California for All Animals

Field officers have to be adept at handling not only stressed animals but stressed people too. We appreciate their hard work and dedication every day, and we can’t say it enough. National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week offers us a chance to pause and acknowledge the care and assistance they provide.

This week at California for All Animals, we’re sharing the stories of just a few of the many amazing field officers working across the state. Join us in celebrating the ways they’re collaborating to build safer, healthier, more compassionate communities for animals and people, one conversation at a time.

For officers like Christina Avila, working in animal welfare can be as challenging as it is rewarding. Nine years ago, Christina decided to step away, but after a year off, she was back, this time as a senior officer at City of Perris Animal Control, and everything changed. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say Christina changed everything. Find out how she went from total burnout to lighting a fire under her team to adopt a culture of support and create new opportunities for pets and people in her community.

Visit the California for All Animals website to meet Christina Avila, and check back throughout the week for more ACO stories to come!

Photo: Senior Animal Control Officer Christina Avila, center, celebrates a mobile spay/neuter community event with her team. Credit: City of Perris.