High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Pawsitively Making a Difference: A Culture Audit on Save a Life Pet Rescue

Pawsitively Making a Difference: A Culture Audit on Save a Life Pet Rescue

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Course Code

LDR

Course Number

2002

Faculty/Instructor

Haley Winston

Faculty/Instructor Email

haley@ucf.edu

About the Author

As a group, we are honored for the opportunity to conduct a culture audit of Save a Life Pet Rescue as part of our Service-Learning experience. This project allowed us to apply leadership principles while making a meaningful impact on an organization dedicated to animal welfare.

We would like to sincerely thank Save a Life Pet Rescue for allowing our group to volunteer and gain firsthand insight into their mission. Special thanks to the director and volunteers for sharing their experiences and for the incredible work they do to save and rehome animals. We also want to express gratitude to my professor and classmates, whose collaboration and discussions helped shape this project.

This experience has deepened our understanding of organizational culture, leadership, and community engagement, and we appreciate the opportunity to contribute to such an impactful cause.

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

The purpose of our culture audit of Save a Life Pet Rescue was to evaluate the organization’s values, mission, and practices to understand how effectively they align with their stated goals. Our group applied the Social Change Model of Leadership, focusing on the 7 Cs—Collaboration, Common Purpose, and Commitment were particularly evident throughout our observations.

To conduct this audit, each group member volunteered 15 hours at weekend adoption events, where we assisted with animal care, adopter guidance, and event setup and breakdown. Additionally, we interviewed the organization's director and volunteers to gain insight into their experiences and perspectives.

One key takeaway from this experience was recognizing how espoused values versus enacted values shape an organization's culture. Save a Life Pet Rescue’s mission, as stated online, emphasizes saving and enriching the lives of dogs in high-kill shelters. Our observations confirmed that this mission is actively lived out through volunteer-driven efforts, adoption services, and pet welfare initiatives. Another key insight was the critical role of volunteer commitment—without dedicated individuals, the organization would struggle to carry out its life saving mission.

Overall, this audit highlighted the importance of community engagement and leadership in nonprofit work. By fostering a strong culture of service, Save a Life Pet Rescue successfully creates a lasting impact on both animals and adopters.

You can view the group's video report at https://www.canva.com/design/DAGjaIFdxKc/2vqkjHVGlRUXXXCbqsd-rg/watch?utm_content=DAGjaIFdxKc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h07372e2b4f

Keywords

animals; pet rescue; animal shelter; dogs; LEAD Scholars; service learning

Pawsitively Making a Difference: A Culture Audit on Save a Life Pet Rescue


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