Meet The Think Adoption First Team
In planning this edition of the Think Adoption First Update, we realized that we have never introduced you to our Think Adoption First team. We think it’s time you meet the people who, for the last three years, have helped grow the adoption program with our stores and nurture the relationships with our Adoption Partners. Our team is: Lori Morton-Feazell, Director of Animal Care, Education & Compliance; Mary Samples, National Adoptions Program Manager (Western U.S.); Karen Meader, National Adoptions Manager (Eastern U.S.); and Troy Webb, Adoptions Coordinator. We all work together to help support Petco’s Think Adoption First mission to “raise the quality of life for pets and people who love and need them.”
Lori Morton-Feazell, Director of Animal Care, Education & Compliance
Lori has been working with Petco for more than nine years and currently serves as the Director of Animal Care, Education & Compliance. Lori has spent her entire career working with animals by promoting the care and compassion of those that cannot speak. She spent 23 years working in animal welfare at a humane society and animal control agency before coming to Petco. She began her career as a humane officer working the field responding to cruelty cases, animal rescues and stray animals. From there, she served as Captain of Animal Control to the Deputy Director of San Francisco Animal Care and Control. Finally, she became the VP of Animal Care and Control at the Peninsula Humane Society. Lori received a degree in animal science and has worked as a veterinarian technician. As a member of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA), she stays up-to-date with animal welfare trends and the latest news in the field. Lori loves the unconditional love that animals share. “Humans are lucky to have animals in their lives, as they provide us comfort,” she says.
Mary Samples, National Adoptions Program Manager (Western U.S.)
Mary has been with Petco for more than four years, and for the past two years she has served as the National Adoption Program Manager covering the West Coast, Northwest, Southwest, Alaska and Hawaii regions. Mary’s love for animals goes way back to childhood. She knew she wanted to work in the animal industry one way or another. She started her Petco career in the Animal Care & Education department working under the Vice President of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Tom Edling. Gaining extensive knowledge of Petco standards for animal care, she was able to transition to the Think Adoption First team and work with Lori Morton-Feazell. Mary rescued her first dog, Jake, a yellow lab, about nine years ago, and her family has grown since joining the Think Adoption First team. She has since adopted a Bearded Dragon, Drago, and a kitten, Charlie. “I am truly blessed to be a part of an amazing company with the mission to Think Adoption First, and reduce euthanasia,” Mary says.
Karen Meader, National Adoptions Program Manager (Eastern U.S.)
Karen has been in the Petco family for 10 years. For the past three years, Karen has served as Petco’s National Adoption Program Manager covering the Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. Prior to that, she was the Regional Marketing Coordinator for the Southeast, and a General Manager and Operations Manager for Petco stores in Florida. Karen has attended numerous animal welfare conferences hosted by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators, Humane Society of the United States, ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society and Petfinder. She has also attended and successfully completed an Animal Control Officer Certification course. Karen currently has five rescue pets—three cats and two dogs—and lives in Florida with her husband and son.
Troy Webb, Adoptions Coordinator
Troy has been with Petco since June 2010, and joined the Think Adoption First team in March of this year after transitioning to San Antonio from San Diego. He says the recent experience of adopting his pup, Claire, a Lab-Retriever mix rescue, has given him new a perspective on his job. “I’ve always felt fortunate to work for a company that contributes to a worthy cause like animal welfare, but since joining the adoption team, I get to see firsthand the difference that we can make by assisting our Adoption Partners,” he says. “We help people come together and grow as human beings while contributing to a better quality of life for animals. It’s a great thing to be a part of.”