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- Mission
- Business philosophy
- Founder Bios
Our Mission
Animal Vocation Resources, LLC (AVR) was founded in 2007 in order to address a need for comprehensive and up-to-date vocational information, training and support in the rapidly growing field of animal welfare professions. The range of occupations included in this field is quickly expanding as new opportunities relating to animal care and human-animal relationships are developed. Current reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and CareerBuilder.com confirm the popularity and growth potential of occupations in the animal welfare field.
AVR’s mission is to provide information and inspiration to individuals aspiring to, or currently involved in, animal welfare professions.
We offer a broad range of innovative and accessible resources that maximize organizational effectiveness and enhance employee productivity and job satisfaction. AVR also provides specialized support and resources for those starting out in a career in animal welfare, from the high school graduate to the adult making a mid-career transition.
Business Philosophy
AVR strongly advocates that individuals perform their best work, and thus maximize the positive impact for their employers and for society, in a work environment that fosters self-growth and team-building and provides for a healthy balance between work life, family and other pursuits.
We believe that well-informed individuals evolve into the most effective employees, and that cultivating an employee’s individual talents and creativity maximizes an organization’s effectiveness.
Founder Bios
Animal Vocation Resources, LLC was founded by two seasoned animal welfare professionals with over 30 years combined experience in various occupations in the animal welfare field.Liz Clancy, Co-Founder:
Liz Clancy earned a B.A in English from New York University in 1993 and a M.S. in Animals and Public Policy from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University (CSVM) in 1996. She has focused her work and research on the study and support of human-animal relationships, veterinary medicine and companion animal welfare issues. Liz taught a veterinary ethics course at Becker College for several years, and has lectured and worked with students at CSVM and Webster University’s online World Classroom program in humane education. She was a research associate at CSVM from 1999-2003 and has performed research in the fields of veterinary oncology and human-animal relationships. Liz has extensive experience in humane society administration, both as a consultant to humane organizations and in senior management positions, including her most recent appointment as Vice President of Animal Welfare, Operations and Policy at Bide-A-Wee, a humane organization in the metropolitan NY area. Liz’s research and work interests include the role of animals in the community, companion animal demographics, pet relinquishment, pet ownership among seniors and veterinary oncology. She is a member of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators, the International Society for Anthrozoology and the Society for Companion Animal Studies.
CherylAnn Fernandes, Co-Founder:
CherylAnn Fernandes is an independent consultant and animal welfare advocate promoting humane treatment of animals internationally through project-based initiatives. In the early 1990’s, CherylAnn co-founded an organization called Teaching Animal Awareness in Legislation and has lobbied at the Connecticut State Capitol and in Washington, D.C. on behalf of animal-related legislation. She is a certified animal control officer and served several Connecticut communities from the mid-1990’s until 2004, at which point she moved into the non-profit companion animal welfare environment as District Manager for the Connecticut Humane Society in Westport, CT. Most recently, she held the position of Adoption Center Manager at Bide-A-Wee.
CherylAnn serves on the Board of Directors for the New England Federation of Humane Societies and participates in a variety of animal causes. She writes for numerous animal publications and had her own column in Leisure Life, writing about animal welfare issues. She earned an A.S. in Management from Housatonic Community College and is currently enrolled in Humane Society University’s program in Humane Leadership at Duquesne University.
