The Association Blog

Read about Sally Hubbard’s 21-year journey with Save-A-Pet, Inc., driven by her belief that compassion for people is just as important as compassion for animals

Name & Title: Sally Hubbard, CAWA, Director of Operations, Save-A-Pet, Inc
Member of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement since: May 2017

The Association: You’ve worn a lot of hats—veterinary medicine, fundraising, social media. How did your career evolve into this wide range of roles?
Sally Hubbard, CAWA: I’ve always been an animal lover, and science—especially biology—was my favorite subject, so I went into college as pre-vet. Back then, there weren’t many formal pathways into animal welfare. It was like, if you love animals, you become a vet. But during my sophomore year, I started working at Save-A-Pet, and everything shifted. I fell in love with sheltering and all that came with it, so I changed my major to animal sciences.

I started as an animal health staff member, moved up to supervisor after graduation, and then into management in 2014. From there, it just kept growing—fundraising, operations, business management, and social media. I’ve been with Save-A-Pet for 21 years, and no week is ever the same. You’re always learning something new. It’s been a very natural progression.

The Association: What has working in animal welfare taught you about working with people?
Sally Hubbard, CAWA: This is a question I really like. I used to be shy, and like many in this field, I often heard people say, “I love animals, but I hate people.” But saying that doesn’t help the animals. You need people—donors, volunteers, adopters, even those surrendering pets—in order to help animals. They’re the most important part of making the journey happen.

Over the years, I’ve come to believe that connection and compassion for people are just as essential as compassion for animals. Especially in investigations, you meet people with very different beliefs or who are struggling with mental health challenges. If you can connect without judgment, you can make a real difference. Not just for the animal, but for the person, too.

The Association: Please share one of your most memorable and impactful cases.
Sally Hubbard, CAWA: One that really stands out is the story of a German shepherd we named Britta. I oversee our humane investigations program, and we found Britta locked inside a tiny, cluttered shed, tethered with an electrical cord that had grown into her neck. It was heartbreaking.

We created an in-depth campaign around her story with regular updates. We wanted people to understand where she came from, but we focused just as much on the positive—what we were doing to help her heal. That approach made a huge impact. When people posted negative comments about the previous owner, we worked hard to redirect the conversation toward hope and recovery. People followed Britta’s journey, rooted for her recovery, and ultimately a foster stepped up—and adopted her. It was a full team effort and a great example of how storytelling and positivity can drive real change. 

The Association: One more, just for fun. What’s your current theme song?
Sally Hubbard, CAWA: Life Is a Highway by Rascal Flatts, 100%!  It’s my feel-good song. It’s a household favorite, and any time I hear it, I’m instantly in a better mood. It perfectly describes how life feels: always moving fast, always something new to see, always something new to learn. With three kids, my own pets, and a busy job where I wear so many hats, life is never boring. But I’m enjoying the ride.

Learn More

Get to Know Sue Berry, CAWA
Word on the Street with Meredith Jones
Word on the Street with Sarah Hicks, DVM