In this episode, the Animal Welfare Data Center team answers written questions about who we are, what we do, and about our mission to provide affordable technology and data tools to support 501(c)(3) organizations working at the front lines of animal and human welfare.

After the Q&A, Lauren and Anthony shift into a candid conversation about the current overpopulation crisis, the strain it places on shelters and rescues, and the real challenges of working with community leadership toward meaningful policy reform. We discuss what the data is telling us, where systems are breaking down, and why transparency, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making are more critical than ever.

This episode offers an honest look at both the progress being made—and the barriers that continue to stand in the way of sustainable change.

In this episode, we break down one of the most powerful tools available to the public: the California Public Records Act (PRA). We explain what the PRA is, who can make requests, how to submit one effectively, and why this process is essential for transparency and accountability in our communities.

Whether you’re a volunteer, a nonprofit leader, or a community member trying to understand how decisions are made, the PRA can unlock information that supports meaningful policy reform. We discuss how public records shape our work in animal and human welfare, how data reveals system-level challenges, and how empowered residents can use this tool to drive positive change.

Clear, practical, and rooted in real-world impact—this episode is a guide to understanding your right to information and using it to strengthen community advocacy.

In our first episode, we introduce the mission behind the Animal Welfare Data Center and why this work matters. We share who we are, what inspires our focus on data, transparency, and community impact, and how we’re working to support nonprofits that serve both animals and the people who care for them. This episode sets the foundation for the conversations ahead—policy, public data, community power, system-wide change, and the tools we’re building to help organizations make a bigger impact.