Ed Boks was executive director of both Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (AC&C) and New York City Animal Care & Control, the two largest animal care and control programs in the United States both rescuing over 50,000 lost pets, exotic, and wild animals annually.

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control in Phoenix, Arizona became the largest pet adoption agency in the United States, under Ed’s leadership, adopting 22,000 pets into loving homes every year, and Ed established the first municipal no-kill shelter in the United States.

Ed was recruited by Mayor Bloomberg to replicate his programs in New York City in 2003. While there, pet adoptions increased 125% and euthanasia decreased 30%. Ed established strategic no-kill plans in both communities and now plans to do the same in Los Angeles.

Ed brings over 25 years of experience in the animal welfare and control field to LA Animal Services. Ed is a retired pastor, teacher, and a former management development consultant.

Ed and his team are working hard to transform the traditional catch-and-kill mentality that exists in many communities into a recognition of the inherent value of the lives of the more than 50,000 animals LA shelters care for each year. To achieve this goal he plans to institute a host of innovative programs: Big Fix, FELIX, Operation Safety Net, New Hope, Plus One/Minus One, No E Below the Knee, A House is Not a Home (without a pet), Teach Love and Compassion, and several other programs, all designed and developed to meet specific community challenges.

Ed also served on the National Animal Control Association (NACA) Board of Directors and lectures on animal welfare and control issues around the United States.