Gabrielle Amster

 

Director, Wallis Annenberg PetSpace

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Throughout her life and career, Gabrielle Amster has been dedicated to animals. Prior to joining Wallis Annenberg PetSpace as director in 2021, Gabrielle spent over 15 years in animal welfare. She served as the executive director of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and previously held leadership positions with the Santa Fe Animal Shelter in New Mexico, Woods Humane Society in San Luis Obispo, and Animal Trustees in Austin, Texas.

 

In addition to leading multi-faceted animal welfare teams, Gabrielle has established inclusive animal adoption processes; reduced the length-of-stay of shelter animals by enhancing canine and feline enrichment programs; and implemented innovative marketing campaigns to help increase awareness and adoption rates. Gabrielle is not only focused on the welfare of animals, but also invested in providing support to pet owners and finding solutions and resources for both.

 

During her first year at PetSpace, Gabrielle – along with her amazing team – increased adoption and transfer intake rates by nearly 50 percent. She established the agency’s Extraordinary Care Fund which allocates resources to shelter animals in crisis who are facing euthanasia due to life-threatening injuries or health conditions. Gabrielle is currently looking at ways to expand access to care by providing onsite spay/neuter surgeries for animals housed at Los Angeles Animal Services and establish high-volume spay/neuter and shelter medicine training for veterinarians.

 

Away from work, you can find Gabrielle hiking and exploring in Los Angeles and spending time with her family in Palm Springs. She currently has four dogs and a feral cat who has become a part of the family from a near distance.