Animal Welfare Is About People Too | Stella Hanly on Community, Leadership & Impact

What if animal welfare isn’t just about animals… but about people too? In this episode of the Purposeful Podcast, Ashley Bernardi sits down with Stella Hanly, CEO of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, to explore how the field of animal welfare is evolving from shelter-based services to a more holistic, community-centered model.Stella’s journey from corporate consulting to nonprofit leadership is rooted in a desire to create meaningful impact. Today, she leads an organization that is redefining what it means to support animals by also supporting the people who care for them.Because one truth is becoming increasingly clear: Where there’s an animal in need, there’s often a human in need too.In this conversation, we explore how removing judgment, increasing access to resources, and strengthening community partnerships can keep families and pets together—and why that matters more than ever.A central truth from this episode: Animal welfare is not just about rescue. It’s about prevention, support, and strengthening the communities that care for both people and pets. What You’ll Learn:- Why animal welfare is shifting toward a community-centered model- The connection between housing, economic hardship, and pet surrender- How removing judgment helps families seek support earlier- Why pets are essential to human well-being, not a luxury- How local partnerships expand impact across communities- What “more than a shelter” really means in practice- How you can support animal welfare in your own communityLearn more or support:https://alexandriaanimals.org