Talia Padilla

Talia Padilla is the Senior Manager of the Field Training Initiative program for Best Friends Animal Society, supporting animal control and field services professionals across the country. In this role, she designs and facilitates national training initiatives to help ensure field officers are equipped with modern, lifesaving practices that strengthen community-based animal services.

Talia has worked in animal welfare since 2007 and brings extensive experience across veterinary medicine, municipal shelters, and non-profit animal welfare organizations. Prior to joining Best Friends Animal Society, she served as an animal control officer for ten years and later became a Supervising Animal Control Officer, overseeing both field services and shelter operations. As her department’s training coordinator, she led the Regional Animal Law Enforcement Academy, preparing new officers to enter the profession with a community-based approach to field services, and continued this training in the field as a Field Training Officer. She also served as the shelter’s Disaster Coordinator for nearly three years, helping prepare and support her community during emergency response efforts. 

Talia grew up in San Diego, California and comes from a family of animal welfare advocates. She currently shares her home with her cat, Charlotte, and her dog, Winnie.