Internship Creating Pathways into Animal Welfare

Intern Alexis Neill

When Alexis Neill arrived at Dakin earlier this summer to begin her 140-hour internship, she wasn’t just looking to lend a hand in one area—she had a bigger project: to help build an internship program that could support multiple departments and, ultimately, future students like herself.

To truly understand how Dakin works, Alexis took a hands-on approach. She spent time across several departments to see where interns could assist; learning the ins and outs of the adoption center, how surrendered pets are brought into care, and the process that determines each animal’s next steps based on their physical and behavioral needs. She jumped in to help screen foster applications, assisted with a fundraising campaign for kittens, and got a behind-the-scenes look at how Dakin manages its social media presence.

“I always wanted to see how Dakin works,” Alexis shared.

Currently preparing to enter her junior year at Elms College, Alexis is majoring in entrepreneurship and dreams of opening her own cat sanctuary one day. That passion for animals is already reflected in her growing dog-sitting business, which she’s been building alongside her studies for the past three years—starting with just two clients and expanding to twelve.

As part of her internship, Alexis also dug deep into research, exploring how other organizations—especially animal welfare groups, colleges, and universities—structure their internship programs. She reached out to national leaders like the ASPCA and Best Friends Animal Society, set up virtual meetings, and reviewed program materials they generously shared.

“I actually loved the research part,” she said. “I learned so much. Before any meeting, I’d go home and study the organization—look at their ads, their social media, whatever I could find. Some groups weren’t able to share much, but others were incredibly helpful, and when they were open and shared their knowledge, it was like a vote of confidence. It felt like we were all working toward the same goal.”

That sense of collaboration extended to her time at Dakin, too. “Everyone was so kind and helpful,” Alexis reflected. “Even if I asked a question that I thought was unimportant, they made me feel like it was worth asking. If I needed materials, they gave them to me. I felt really supported.”

What stood out most to her, though, was the passion shared by Dakin’s team. “What everyone does here is amazing,” she said. “It’s inspiring to see so many people—especially the volunteers—doing this work just from the goodness of their hearts.”

With Alexis's support, Dakin has launched the foundation of an internship program, aiming to expand the range of internship roles through diverse prospects in the coming years. We extend our gratitude to Alexis for her hard work and dedication, which we hope will allow students to experience all facets of animal welfare and the various career paths one can pursue working with, or on behalf of, animals.

Looking ahead, Alexis concluded, “This internship program is going to open opportunities for younger people. Animal welfare isn’t always on people’s radar when they’re choosing a career, but it should be. I think this will help more students discover and pursue it.”