The past couple of months have been very challenging for the Dallas Pets Alive! medical team. We have taken in more medically urgent animals, tougher cases, and several surgeries that have run up large vet bills. But, we do it because that’s what it takes to save more lives! Behind the incredible DPA medical team is a woman who juggles vet and ER phone calls while she works a full-time job as a preschool teacher, and also balances life as a new mom. Allison is at the core of what we do and the pets we save wouldn’t have their second chances if it wasn’t for her hard work and dedication to DPA!’s mission. We literally could not do what we do without her.
Learn more about our Medical Director, Allison Brandon, below:
What does your role within DPA! involve? What do you oversee within the organization?
I currently serve as the Medical Director. I have an incredibly hard-working team of 12 volunteers. Together, we review the medical records of each pet that enters our program and determine what each pet needs in order to be healthy and adoptable. We work with a variety of vets across the metroplex, and we help to coordinate the appointments for our fosters to ensure everyone is getting the care that they need. I work closely with our vets to create treatment plans for our pets, which can vary anywhere from antibiotics for a cough to extensive surgery and therapy for a severe injury. We have anywhere from 125-300 pets in the program at any given time so this is no easy feat!
What is your professional background?
I work as a special education teacher for a local school district. I’m really lucky to do what I’m passionate about, both professionally and in my volunteer role!
How long have you been involved with the organization?
I’m approaching my four-year anniversary with DPA! I started as a foster, then a Foster Representative, and then as the Foster/Medical Director, overseeing 50 volunteers and every pet in our program. We saw astronomical growth in our foster program and needed to split up the role into more focused areas, so I transitioned to Medical Director last year.
What drives you to dedicate your time to DPA!?
I love seeing the transformations of our pets – physically, emotionally, behaviorally. Dallas Pets Alive! focuses on the most “unadoptable” pets at the shelter and puts in the time, energy, and resources it takes to see them grow into absolutely wonderful family pets. I’ve been with DPA! for so long and have seen literally thousands of lives not just saved, but changed. It gives me the warm fuzzies just thinking about the impact we’ve collectively made as an organization!
On average, how many hours per week do you volunteer?
Being the Medical Director means I’m on call all the time. I probably volunteer between 10-20 hours a week now, but sometimes that means making phone calls to get a pet to the emergency room!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I have one cat and three dogs, two of which are foster fails – Luna, Chloe, Bone Jovi, and Ozzy Pawsbourne. All of our fosters are named after an artist or band!
Be like Allison. Apply to volunteer with Dallas Pets Alive! today.
