ASPCA Director of Public Information

Valerie Angeli

  
"How can I stop people from abusing animals?"
"There's a family of raccoons in my chimney!"
"Help! My dog is lost!"

Got a question about animals? Ask Valerie Angeli, Director of Public Information at the ASPCA. She and her staff answer more than 100 telephone calls from people around the country every day. And when she's not on the phone, Valerie is busy responding to the approximately 200 letters and 500 e-mails she receives weekly. Wow! (P.S.: You also might catch her on TV, telling people about the cool cats and dogs available for adoption here at the ASPCA.)

Skills required for her job:

A college degree and an extensive knowledge of animal-welfare issues. Plus, you have to be a great communicator—both speaking and writing.

How she got involved:

"I wanted to work at the ASPCA since I was 16 years old and did a report on the ASPCA in school," says Valerie.

The hardest part of the job:

"Dealing with animal cruelty and neglect each day."

The best part of the job:

"Helping to educate people on how to help animals in their area."

Funniest thing that happens at work:

"When animals make bad smells and seeing co-workers get blamed for it!"

Cool companion animals she's known:

"I had a beautiful red thoroughbred horse named Preference for more than 20 years, and a wonderful Maine coon cat mix named Cleo for 21 years, both of whom recently passed away," says Valerie. These days, she's "owned" by her 80-pound dalmatian mix, Bacini.

Her advice for kids who want to work with animals?

"Do it! There is nothing more rewarding than doing for a living what feels right in your heart! If you are passionate about animals and want to help and protect them, I strongly recommend working for a humane organization."