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How Parks and Recreation leaders can use the "Third Place" concept to combat loneliness

Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of spending time with professionals across a wide spectrum of roles: animal control officers, shelter administrators, city clerks, parks leaders, dog park ambassadors, veterinarians, licensing teams, IT departments, and pet-tech innovators who are pushing progressive change forward. Each offered a unique lens, yet all shared a common goal: creating communities where pets are safe, supported, and welcome.

After 25 years in the animal welfare technology space, as both a user and a product designer, I’ve seen the best and worst of animal shelter software. While I’m not directly involved in shelter technology today, I still have skin in the game. I care deeply for the animal welfare mission, and through my work with BarkPass, I remain part of the broader ecosystem. But first, let’s talk honestly about why full-service shelter software has failed to evolve and what we can do about