Whitney Bollinger, director of strategy and network operations

Whitney Bollinger is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator who joined Best Friends in February 2023 as the director of strategy and network operations. Whitney came to Best Friends from Dallas Animal Services (DAS), one of the nation’s largest open intake municipal shelters, where she served as assistant director, overseeing the shelter and administration units. Shortly after joining DAS, Whitney built the nationally recognized BeDallas90 brand and community engagement campaign that helped DAS achieve a record-high save rate in 2020. Whitney played a pivotal role in securing the 2019 Petco Innovation Showdown grant, the creation of Friends of DAS, key operational pivots during the COVID-19 shutdown, the development of the city’s first Coyote Management Plan, innovative lifesaving programs such as foster incentives and Three to Thrive, advancing equity efforts through data analysis, and defeating the proposed injunction of the Dallas Humane Pet Store Ordinance. She was also a department spokesperson, legislative liaison, and core equity team member.

Whitney attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a degree in Public Relations with concentrations in English and Advertising and an International Advertising study abroad program through the University of London. Whitney entered animal welfare in 2009 when she was recruited onto the marketing committee of a non-profit humane society while running her own graphic design company. Since then, Whitney has served as a marketing associate for the Austin Humane Society, director of development and communications for the Humane Society of North Texas, and director of fund development for the Spay Neuter Network.

Whitney is shown here with her dog Norah, an American Bulldog, who was found emaciated on the streets of Dallas and entered her home as a DAS fospice suffering from advanced kidney disease. Thankfully, she made a miraculous recovery, became a permanent resident of the Bollinger home, and continues to thrive.

Whitney is from Austin, TX, but lives in Fort Worth with her husband, Tim, and their two big dogs, two cats, and three hens.