WALNUT CREEK, CA, August 19, 2024 – Joybound People & Pets welcomes Miguel Abi-Hassan as its next chief programs officer (CPO). In this role, Miguel will oversee Joybound’s animal and human wellbeing programs, expanding its beneficial impact on pets, their guardians, and the communities Joybound serves.
“Miguel is a national voice in advancing human-animal bond initiatives, policies, and best practices and I am thrilled to have his inspirational leadership on the team,” said Joybound CEO Susan Lee Vick. “He is perfectly poised to take our high-performing program staff – and Joybound overall – to the next level of excellence, expanding our beneficial impact in both the animal wellbeing and service animal sectors.”
Miguel has more than two decades of animal welfare leadership and consulting experience with regional and national organizations and is a regular international instructor on topics related to compassion fatigue prevention, strategic leadership, and impact analyses. Most recently, Miguel led all hands-on programs for the Humane Society of the US/International and Legislative Fund as the Chief Animal Rescue, Care, and Sanctuaries Officer. He managed a global portfolio of programs including leading the recent rescue of nearly 4,000 beagles from a mass breeding facility that received multiple Animal Welfare Act violations for issues such as inadequate veterinary care and insufficient food. In July of 2022, many of these dogs were bound for animal testing laboratories across the country. By September 1, 2022, all 3,776 were on their way to loving homes.
Previously, Miguel served in the leadership team for various well-known animal welfare organizations ranging from Ohio to Florida. He spent 11 years as the CEO of Halifax Humane Society where he increased adoptions above the 90th percentile and raised the number of service programs from 16 to 36 along with the renovation of an 8-acre campus. His signature programs included high-volume and high-quality spay/neuter clinics, Veteran companion dog programs, and a boarding/grooming center.
Miguel will be relocating from Orlando, Florida, with his three adopted senior pets – a Sheltie, umbrella cockatoo, and a blue-tongue skink.
About Joybound People & Pets
We are Joybound People & Pets Alliance, formerly Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), a privately funded, 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Walnut Creek, California. With dog and cat rescue and adoption at the heart of its mission, Joybound is dedicated to making life better by forming, supporting, elevating, and celebrating the human-animal bond. Its range of services includes training, veterinary care, assistance with food and supplies, therapy and service-animal programs, and rich learning resources for all pet families. Joybound also serves our community through programs for children, seniors, Veterans, and animal guardians who need a helping hand to keep their pets in safe, healthy, forever homes. Joybound’s goal is for every adoption story to become a lasting tale of friendship, love, and mutual happiness.
