Angela Walters Yates has been hired as the Animal Services director for Santa Barbara County.
Yates has some 30 years of leadership experience and comes with extensive animal sheltering knowledge and community relationships to make a positive difference in the lives of animals and the people who care about them, the county Public Health Department said in announcing Yates’ appointment.
Most recently, Yates served as the executive director, and previously a board member, for the Animal Shelter Assistance Program (ASAP) over the past eight years.
At ASAP, she was responsible for oversight, program development, and accountability for best practices over all operational areas of the cat shelter, including intakes, behavior, retention, animal care, foster care, adoptions, veterinary care, in-house spay/neuter clinic, community cats, outreach and partnerships with other animal welfare organizations.
“We are enthusiastically looking forward to the talent, expertise and leadership that Angela will bring to our Animal Services division,” said Paige Batson, deputy director for community health at the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department.
“Her years of experience in the animal welfare industry and strong collaborations with community partners are key elements that will contribute greatly to our efforts of achieving innovation and best practices,” Batson said.
Yates managed an organization of eight staff and 250 volunteers to provide the highest level of shelter and foster care for 1,000 felines annually. Yates has been a successful agent of change both within ASAP and in the broader Santa Barbara County community to raise the standards of care and best practices for animal welfare organizations and agencies.
“I’m honored and excited to join Santa Barbara County Animal Services, especially during a time of such innovation and change in animal welfare, not only in California, but across the nation,” said Yates.
“Santa Barbara County has been my home for the past 17 years, and I’ve built strong relationships in our community and have a deep commitment to working collaboratively,” shes said. “I find inspiration in our community’s passion and advocacy for the welfare of animals, and I’m looking forward to working together to meet the needs of animals and humans alike,”
Yates will officially join the Santa Barbara County Animal Services team on Oct. 5.