Marcia Mayeda, CAWA

 

Director, County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control

 

Marcia Mayeda began her career helping animals as a child, rescuing baby birds and other orphaned animals in need of help. As she grew older, she worked for her local veterinarian during high school and served as the neighborhood pet sitter. Marcia always knew her career would involve helping animals, and while studying animal science in college she found her calling when she was hired at the local animal shelter in 1984. She has dedicated her life to helping unwanted and abused animals ever since.
Marcia has served as the Director of the County of Los Angeles’ Department of Animal Care and Control since 2001. The department is the largest animal control department in the country, patrolling more than 3,200 square miles and serving 47 contract cities as well as all unincorporated areas of the County of Los Angeles.  The Department employs more than 440 full time staff, benefits from the support of more than 1,100 volunteers, and manages the care of approximately 60,000 animals each year through seven animal care centers and two administrative offices.

 

Before being selected by the Board of Supervisors to lead the animal control department, Mayeda was director of community outreach for Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley in Santa Clara, California. She also previously was director of the society’s animal shelter and field operations and was responsible for the housing and medical care for the more than 40,000 animals housed annually by the society. Before going to work for the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley, Mayeda was the executive director of the Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka, Kansas. 

 

Mayeda has a bachelor’s of science degree in animal science from Western Illinois University and a master’s degree in nonprofit management from the University of San Francisco. She is also a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator and serves on the Los Angeles County Management Council’s executive committee. Mayeda’s leadership philosophy emphasizes protecting and serving the people and animals of Los Angeles County through high standards of customer service, teamwork, integrity and compassion. She and her husband share their lives with four rescued dogs and a Shire draft horse.