Kirsten Gross – Director of Madera County Animal Services (Retired in Dec 2020).  

The Madera County Animal Shelter impounded approximately 8,000 or more stray, homeless or abandoned animals in the year 2002, the year I started.

Over my career period, we were able to reduce euthanasia rates in Madera County from 95% to 15% through community education, and public relations, with an intensive focus on adoption outreach, and spay and neuter services. Achieved a Live Release rate of 85% in 2019.   

Recognizing the growing animal population crisis we traveled to Sacramento in 2007 to advocate for animals and spoke with lawmakers and lobbyists about the need to support a mandatory state spay and neuter ordinance under the California Assembly bill AB 1634, which ultimately did not pass.  

Founded and coordinated the 300-plus volunteer group the Friends of Madera Animal Shelter (FMAS) to increase the capacity of foster homes and the placement of many thousands of homeless dogs and cats through adoption events.

With donated funds started and equipped a large animal holding area, as a shelter and care facility for neglected, or abandoned horses and other farm animals. 

With the FMAS volunteer group, we were able to transport thousands of dogs and cats to out-of-area homes through adoption events at multiple PetSmart stores in the Bay Area. Developed additional relationships with other local animal rescue groups to place animals. FMAS received grants of over $200,000 from PetSmart Charities to further adoptions and help with low-cost spay and neuter program efforts. Developed and administered other low-cost spay and neuter partnerships with the County of Madera, The City of Madera and outfitted a satellite animal holding shelter at the City Chowchilla. 

Planned and oversaw the building of the 4,000 sq ft Roberta Wills Adoption Center after identifying and using a generous $250,000 bequeathment to the county animal shelter from a local teacher. Worked closely with Madera County on this project which doubled the capacity of the aging Madera animal shelter and provided many improvements, modern amenities, and larger, more humane dog kennels with a separate 32-cage cattery room complete with interaction areas. 

The FMAS volunteer group received and administered a $1.5 million donation in 2015 from the estate of the local Red and Nancy Arnold Foundation which provided approximately 18,000 low-cost spay and neuter surgeries through local vets for Madera residents through a voucher program. 

Due to the growing need to relocate the huge, growing surplus of homeless, adoptable animals, FMAS developed a network of volunteers to drive adoptable, homeless animals one way to other rescues and humane societies in Washington State, Oregon State, and California.  

Personally fostered, rehabilitated, and placed thousands of homeless dogs, cats, birds, and livestock. 

In spite of almost two decades of these intense efforts Madera County and the Central Valley continue to struggle and are overwhelmed with homeless and unwanted animals. 

Member California Animal Control Directors Association

Animal Control Officer II 

Fresno State Animal Science major with a pre-veterinary emphasis 

Six years prior experience as a Vet Technician