Laura Bevan 
Director, Southeast Regional Office, The Humane Society of the United States
Tallahassee, Florida

How long have you been working in your current career? What did you do before?
18 years. Before that I was a reporter for radio stations in the Central Florida area.

Why did you decide to pursue this career?
My family has always been involved in humane work – especially my mother who was president of the Leon County Humane Society (FL) for many years. We have always taken in unwanted animals, were involved in foster programs, etc. I did radio news for 5 years, which was interesting, but I wasn’t really making a difference – making the world a better place.

What traits would you say make your job “humane”?
My job is a mix of both worlds – both direct hands-on help for animals, and less direct action such as passing legislation, doing speeches on various issues, etc. I am able to work on “big picture” issues, like passing stronger laws against animal fighting, but also able to assist law enforcement in raids and participate in the actual seizure of animals out of that horrible life. I also respond into the field to rescue and assist animals impacted by disasters, but when I come back home I work on promoting disaster planning and response for animals to minimize the number of animals in danger the next time a disaster strikes.

What kind of education and training did you get before you started your first professional job?
My degree is in Broadcast Journalism and my jobs before I got into humane work were covering the Florida Legislature for the Florida Radio Network, and then covering local news in Central Florida. It was great training for the job I do now in that I learned how to take information and package it in a concise, understandable way. I also became comfortable speaking to just about anyone about anything – which comes in handy when you are talking to lawmakers or law enforcement officers. You have to be respectful, but not intimidated.

How did you find your first job in your profession?
Well, my family lives in Tallahassee and my mother, who has always been involved in humane work, found out a job with The HSUS’ Southeast Regional Office was open. The position was looking for someone who could write, work with legislatures and assist constituents with animal issues. While I had not worked at an animal shelter, I had the basic skills needed to start doing the job.

What are your duties in your current position?
As regional director I promote the ideals, programs and polices of The HSUS in a seven state region (AL, FL, GA, MS, SC, TN, NC). This entails working with animal shelters (both public and private), government agencies, animal activists, our constituents and members, and anyone else that is trying to make the world a better place for all types of animals. I lobby lawmakers to improve laws impacting animals, or to stop bad bills that will harm animals. I work with local law enforcement and humane/animal control agencies on large scale cruelty cases, such as animal fighting or animal hoarding (which is when a person is overwhelmed by too many animals and can no longer provide proper care). I work with local and state governments to develop disaster plans for animals within existing emergency management plans, and then respond to help the areas impacted when a disaster strikes. When four hurricanes hit Florida in 2004, I directed the companion animal response effort for HSUS, but under the authority of the Florida Department of Agriculture.

What do you like most about your job?
It is never boring and I do believe I am making the world a better place, at least in my little corner of it. I also am privileged to work with some of the finest people in the world, both within and outside The HSUS.

What do you like least about your job?
It never ends. Just when you make headway in one area, another horrible animal cruelty takes place. You keep thinking there has to be a limit to man’s inhumanity to our fellow creatures, but there really isn’t. In the end, you have to accept the fact that you are never going to eliminate all animal cruelty - you have to pick and choose where you can make a difference and do that.

What’s a typical workday like for you?
There really isn’t a typical day. Some days I am in the office all day answering phones, doing e-mail, planning for upcoming campaigns or legislation. Other days, I may be in a field of over 1,000 fighting roosters overseeing teams cataloging each one for a local law enforcement agency who has raided the property, or directing efforts to set up temporary animal shelters after a hurricane. A week later, I might be dressed in a business suit giving a speech on the connection between animal cruelty and human violence to 300 social workers.

What types of training or experiences do you need to keep up-to-date in your field?
Humane work is definitely one of those fields in which you constantly have to read, attend conferences, visit shelters, and interact with as many people as possible to see what new issues are coming up or what the latest trends out there are. It is impossible to know all the issues – there are so many when you consider that we deal with not just dogs and cats, but wildlife, farm animals, marine mammals, etc.

What keeps you motivated to keep doing your work?
The belief that I am making a difference and the other people in the trenches with me. It can get discouraging to try to deal with the overwhelming amount of animal cruelty and neglect taking place, but then you look around and see the small victories stacking up. Then you look at the incredible people that are not giving up and you take another deep breath and know that you can keep going.

What personal traits do you think someone needs to be successful in your field?
Patience, persistence and perspective. I have seen so many people come into humane work wanting the change the world and stop all animal cruelty in a week, month or year. They become frustrated, angry and bitter and end up leaving the cause. Permanent change takes time and energy to bring about. You have to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and when you get pushed backwards, you have to be stubborn enough to push back. You also need to be able to see the big picture. I am shocked when I look back over the past 18 years to how far the humane movement has come. You don’t always realize it at the time because you are so focused on the present. When you have the perspective of time you can see where all those small victories have added up to something substantial.

What advice would you give to a college student or other young person considering entering your field? What advice would you give to someone who’s changing fields and is interested in a career in your profession?
Learn everything you can every day and come to an understanding of your own beliefs. Even within the humane movement there are vastly different opinions on every issue dealing with animals. Research the issues and have a clarity in your own mind of your beliefs, but be willing to challenge or change those beliefs if necessary. If you are getting into humane work because you “love animals, but hate people” you are going into the wrong profession. You have to deal with people in order to help animals. Talk to people with differing views than your’s – you may not change your mind or theirs, but you will at least understand their position. The world isn’t stark black and white – there are more shades of gray than anything else. Keep reading and talking to people about the animal issues you care about, get active in opposing animal cruelty either by working at your local animal shelter, rehabbing neglected or unwanted animals, lobbying your local, state and federal legislators, etc. The point is to get started and do something to make a difference.

Anything else you’d like to add about your work or about careers helping animals?
It is hard, frustrating, dirty, heart-wrenching and never-ending work. However, it is also an opportunity to meet incredible people and animals, and in the end know that your existence made a difference in the world. You can’t ask for much more than that.

August, 2005