Meet Aimee Christian

ARL Vice President of Animal Welfare and Veterinary Medicine

Earlier this year, ARL welcomed Aimee Christian as the new Vice President of Animal Welfare and Veterinary Medicine. In this role, Aimee oversees ARL’s animal welfare and veterinary programs, including the Animal Care & Adoption Centers in Boston, Dedham, and Brewster; Community Services; Community and Shelter Medicine; Law Enforcement; and Boston Veterinary Care (BVC). Working alongside the President & CEO, she ensures that all animal care operations are running efficiently and effectively and remain aligned with the organization’s strategic plan. Aimee brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her new role, most recently holding the position of Vice President of Community Medicine at the ASPCA. In that role, she served communities in New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami, and worked for nearly 15 years overseeing the ASPCA’s high quality, highvolume spay/neuter and basic veterinary care programming nationwide. Aimee recently sat down with OFFF to discuss how her prior experience will help propel ARL into its next chapter as an animal welfare leader in Massachusetts, as well as her initial thoughts on the organization after a few months on the job. Here’s what she had to say:

OFFF: Prior to joining ARL, was there anything about the organization that sparked initial interest?

Aimee Christian (AC): A good friend of mine who’s very familiar with ARL described the organization to me as small but mighty – and it’s absolutely true! This organization has so many capabilities. I’ve been so impressed by the talent and commitment of the staff and volunteers who do so much in and around the Boston area to help animals and the people who love them.

OFFF: Expanding services into communities of need is a cornerstone component of ARL’s vision for the future. How can your experience in this area help ARL expand?

AC: The future of animal welfare is in the communities we serve, and ARL has already done a great job recognizing this and taking action. I am currently building upon the great work ARL has already done by joining the Spay Waggin' and Wellness Waggin' services together where possible, and increasing the days of services for the Spay Waggin’. This will allow us to better serve people and pets in Boston as well as keep our commitments to the animals and people of the South Shore.

And there’s fine-tuning to make sure we are doing all we can to have the biggest impact in the areas we’re needed most.

OFFF: Why is it so important for ARL to bring its services into our communities?

AC: Many animal welfare organizations across the Northeast have done a great job placing animals in homes, providing basic and preventive care, and performing spay/neuter procedures. As animal welfare continues to evolve, ARL has emerged as a leader with our mobile, community-based programs. As the population in our Animal Care & Adoption Centers continues to decrease, the next phase is to have our shelters continue their necessary functions while focusing the medical work in the communities where pet owners love and care for their animals, but may not have access to veterinary information or services.

OFFF: What has stood out to you during your first few months at ARL?

AC: ARL’s volunteer base is tremendous. We have volunteers who have dedicated their time for more than a decade because they love what our organization does and that we’re true to our mission. Additionally, the support of our donor base is incredible. Without our donors, none of this work would be possible. My job is to be a steward of these donor dollars and ensure we’re using the money as productively and efficiently as possible.