Access to pet care isn’t always as simple as scheduling an appointment. For many families, transportation is one of the biggest barriers standing between their pets and the care they need.

If you haven’t already done so, we recommend watching the webcast recording, “How Field Officers are addressing transport barriers directly in the community.” In this webcast, animal well-being specialists shared how animal control officers are integrating pet transport into their work to keep pets with their families.

Speakers included Jerrica Owens from National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), Spencer Conover from Pasco County Animal Services, Florida, and Christina Avila from City of Perris, California, who discussed practical community-centered strategies.

So where do you begin?

Start with a community-centered approach
Rather than focusing solely on enforcement, field officers can work to understand each community’s needs and provide direct support-from microchipping and spay/neuter assistance to transport help.

Avila shared that officers often know their communities best. By meeting people where they are, they can identify and remove barriers to care before they lead to surrenders.

Stories from the field

• In Pasco County, when Steven’s dog Ali was hit by a car, an officer and veterinarian transported Ali for surgery, and volunteers drove Steven, who is housing insecure,  to visit during recovery and reunited them after Ali was healed.
• In Perris, officers have transported pets for grooming when owners couldn’t drive, relocated a housing insecure woman’s dog and provided a wagon for an elderly mastiff whose owner couldn’t walk him long distances.

Proactive, people-centered approaches help keep pets and families together.

How to make it work
Both organizations started with grant funding and have since absorbed their programs into operating budgets after seeing the benefits. Here’s what’s worked for them:

• Ask early and often. Officers can proactively ask if transportation is a barrier to accessing care.
• Engage volunteers. Pasco County runs a volunteer-based transport program, with regular shifts and training.
• Collaborate widely. Pasco County’s placement under its public services branch allows close coordination with human and veteran services, ensuring both people and their pets have access to resources.

Changing perceptions
Providing transportation and direct support has changed how communities view animal services. What was once seen as “the pound” is now recognized as a trusted source of help and compassion.

Transportation leads to healthier pets, stronger community trust and more families staying together.

Watch the full webcast, “How Field Officers are addressing pet transport barriers directly in the community,” to learn tips for recruiting and managing volunteer drivers, ways to partner with local human services agencies and how to start with limited resources.