Joint Animal Services staff reported several operational and community programs launched or expanded in 2025, including the Animal Cruelty Response Team, a volunteer dog enrichment program, and REDI (Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) certification for staff.

Sierra, staff lead on cruelty response, said the program added a second cohort of volunteers and opened recruitment to local law enforcement and shelter staff; staff reported seven new approved cruelty‑response volunteers and a total cohort exceeding 20 volunteers. The program has already been deployed in field cases this summer, Sierra said.

Becca, the agency’s positive outcomes coordinator, developed and launched a behavior enrichment volunteer program for dogs and cats that includes puzzles, scent work and timed volunteer slots. Staff described a recent cruelty seizure of more than 20 animals held in court custody; volunteers and staff used enrichment and structured handling to maintain animal condition during extended stays. "We had our time slots where our volunteers can come and set up behavior enrichment for the dogs," the presentation said; staff tied the program to better animal outcomes in prolonged cases.

Hawk also announced that staff completed REDI certification through the Care for Equity program, and said the agency is one of three in the state to reach the bronze‑level certification this year with 100% staff participation. Staff said REDI training focuses on meeting people where they are and reducing implicit bias in service delivery.

Community outreach and fundraisers continued in 2025; staff highlighted fee‑waived adoption events (67 adoptions at one Best Friends‑sponsored event), Capital Collision’s hot rods fundraiser that raised about $3,000, and routine outreach such as library Animal Allies events. Staff also highlighted a widely shared adoption success story: an emaciated dog found in a Lacey park (nicknamed Littlefoot) who regained weight in foster care and has been adopted out of region.

Ending: staff said the programs are intended to improve animal welfare and increase capacity to handle complex cruelty cases; the committee heard these updates as part of the broader operations and budget presentations.