Cara Drake

Cara Drake is an Implementation Specialist on the National Shelter Engagement Team at Best Friends Animal Society, working with shelters and communities across the country. Her passion for animal welfare began in her childhood in rural Oklahoma, where she often cared for sick and injured stray animals. She first pursued a career in law enforcement, earning a degree in Criminal Justice from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, but felt a strong pull to keep working with animals. That led her to a position as an Animal Welfare Officer with the City of Edmond Animal Services, where she found a way to serve both animals and the people who love them.

After 13 impactful years in animal services, Cara joined Best Friends to share what she has learned in the field. She partners with shelters to launch new lifesaving programs, fine-tune the ones already in place, and uncover resources within their own departments and communities. Having worked in a shelter herself, she knows every community is different, and she builds on the strengths each team already has. Her goal is to leave shelters feeling capable, supported, and ready to keep saving lives long after she’s gone.

When she’s not on the road, Cara loves camping, hiking, and spending time with her husband, their two sons, and their dogs. An avid outdoors enthusiast, she dreams of visiting every one of America’s National Parks, and her travels for work are a good start.