The Association Blog

The Interim Animal Services Manager at Grand Prairie Animal Services discusses misconceptions about animal sheltering and shares advice for her younger self

Name & Title: Destinee Wright, Interim Animal Services Manager, Grand Prairie Animal Services
Member of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement since: June 2024

The Association: Lily Yap—a member of the board of The Association and ED at Stanislaus Animal Services Agency—was Division Manager at Grand Prairie Animal Services when you first started there. She was also your mentor. What was you experience of mentorship, and how did it impact your role?
Destinee Wright: When Lily selected me for my original position, I’m sure she wasn’t prepared for the whirlwind of chaos I was going to bring. I always came with ideas, and she would sit back and ask how I thought things would play out. Over time, she learned when to push me, when to trust my crazy ideas and when to reel me back in. The trust she has in me has empowered me to go further and not shy away from things because of fear of rejection. I’m also able to be more open-minded when others bring me grandiose ideas. I’ve been exposed to a lot of new opportunities and people through our mentorship.

The Association: What has been the most valuable part of being a member of The Association so far?
Destinee Wright: I attended the DEI Ambassador program last June, and it was the most valuable experience! As a Black woman majoring in animal science in Texas, I was often one of only a few people of color. And then as I got into the industry, I realized there are not a lot of managers or supervisors in animal wellbeing that are Black, Hispanic, or Asian.  The Ambassador program allowed me to meet other people and learn their perspectives and share my perspective. It helped me realize that just because my salient identity is not the same as someone else’s doesn’t mean that they’re not worried about how they might come off to me. It also encouraged me to treat people as individuals and not pre-judge based on identity. This is something I’m teaching my sons as well—to treat people like a post-it note. Let them fill in the post-it for you. You don’t prefill it.

The Association: What is one goal that you have for your future in animal welfare? How can The Association support you in that goal?
Destinee Wright: I would love to be a consultant for shelters, helping to review operations and development. The diversity of The Association has helped me gain insights into different municipalities, regions and cultures, which will be valuable when I’m called in as a consultant. The Association’s regional networks and webinars have given me a broader perspective, and I hope that will help when I start working across different areas.

The Association: What do you think is the biggest misconception about animal sheltering?
Destinee Wright: That it’s all about playing with puppies and kittens. While I would love to do that, there’s a lot of other work involved, and very little of it is about playing with animals.

The Association: What is some advice that you would give to your younger self?
Destinee Wright: Go for it.

The Association: What is your favorite thing about the city of Grand Prairie?
Destinee Wright: The police department. I’ve never worked with a police department before, and I was surprised by how welcoming, loving, and supportive they are. We’re under their department, and they really focus on wellness and community support.

Learn More

Blog by Lily Yap: A Case for Rebound Romances
Word on the Street with Lily Yap, MBA
Roundtable, 4/22: Navigating Resistance to DEI Initiatives