From Animal Control to Community Care with Rachel Horton
In this episode of Save A Pooch, we're joined by Rachel Horton, Director of Saginaw County Animal Care & Control (SCACC) in Michigan. This conversation digs into how a municipal shelter can pivot from reactive enforcement to proactive care. Rachel Horton walks us through SCACC's playbook: early-intervention that keeps pets with their families, community pet-food pantries and access-to-care partnerships, volunteer activation that multiplies impact, and real safeguards for staff against compassion fatigue. We'll also discuss tricky topics—what "live release" does and doesn't measure, why poverty drives pet relinquishment, and how to build trust with residents who are wary of "animal control."
Listen to Episode #69 Now:
BIO:
Rachel Horton is the Director of Saginaw County Animal Care & Control (SCACC) in Michigan. She leads a people-centered sheltering model that pairs public safety with prevention, education, and practical support; keeping more pets in homes and strengthening community trust. A champion for frontline wellbeing, she prioritizes training and mental-health safeguards for staff and volunteers while building partnerships that expand access to pet food, basic veterinary care, and behavior help. Her work bridges public health, equity, and animal welfare: when communities stabilize people, animals benefit too.