DACC Employee Highlight: Alma Gandara

This week is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) operates seven animal care centers located throughout Los Angeles County. Each of these care centers is staffed with hard-working, compassionate people who are deeply committed to providing the best possible care to the 60,000 animals that pass through our doors each year. During this challenging time, DACC employees are essential workers who are dedicated to the care of shelter pets.

We recognize that showing appreciation during National Animal Shelter Appreciation (NASA) week is really about appreciating the people who come to work to ensure pets are fed and cared for every single day. We thought you would like to know about one such employee. An image of Alma Gandara was featured on the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement message about NASA week. That photo (see below) depicts Alma as an Animal Care Attendant for our Carson Animal Care Center.

Since the time the photo was taken, Alma has promoted and currently holds the title of Animal Control Officer. She now acts at the Kennel Lead at our Baldwin Park Animal Care Center. Alma loves her job and enjoys coming to work as she has done for thirteen years. As the Kennel Lead, each morning Alma visits every animal in the care center to take inventory and to get to know the various personalities of each. The information she collects about the animals helps to match pets with new families. She works closely with our adoption partners to match animals with special needs to suitable environments that will ultimately lead to forever homes for these pets. Alma also trains new volunteers to assist with adoptions and ensures that volunteers and animal care attendants at the Baldwin Park Care Center have the equipment and tools they need to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. When Alma goes home at the end of the day she is greeted by her husband, children and her own pets (two dogs, one cat, and one parrot).

Please join with us in thanking Alma and the many employees at the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control who dedicate their lives to the wellbeing of shelter pets.

An image of Alma Gandara was featured on the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement message about NASA week. This photos depicts Alma as an Animal Care Attendant for our Carson Animal Care Center.

An image of Alma Gandara currently as an Animal Control Officer at our Baldwin Park Animal Care Center holding one of our adorable and available cocker spaniels (A5394185).