Name: Adam Yourkawitch

Position: Animal Control Officer

Adam Yourkawitch officially joined the team at ARL this past July as an Animal Control Officer. After having served as the Berks County Dog Warden for seven years, Adam continues to make an impact on people and their pets in his community by combining his passion for law enforcement and animal welfare. Responding to calls about animals in the community, assisting in the transport of animals, and creating a supportive space for the public are some of the many roles he has taken on since joining our team.

We asked Adam a couple of questions to share with the community he serves.

Before coming to the Animal Rescue League, you served as the Berks County Dog Warden for seven years. Tell us what inspired you to start a law enforcement career specializing in animal welfare.

I have worked in law enforcement type jobs throughout my entire career. When I first heard about an open position as the county dog warden while I worked for the state, I was immediately interested because I have always loved dogs and wanted to make a difference. By enforcing dog law in Berks, I felt I could make a difference in our community. I’m glad I went for it!

What inspired you to make the transition to the ARL as an animal control officer?

After working with many humane officers throughout my career, I was always amazed by their work. While I was dog warden, I had many responsibilities enforcing dog laws within Berks County, but I had no role otherwise in animal protection like the Animal Rescue League does. That’s because the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement does not oversee or have jurisdiction over animal cruelty.

With all of that in mind, I felt inspired by how the team at ARL is big on community relations and making a positive difference in the lives of animals and their families. I was impressed by ARL’s culture of community, honesty, and relations with the public, so when I heard about the job, I was eager to join the team.

What is one thing you wish people knew about your job?

When we work with people in our community, it is because we genuinely want to help them and their pets, not because we want to punish them. We genuinely want to offer collaborative solutions with our community to make sure their pets are safe. Most times, we are not showing up to somebody’s house to take their animal; we’re just there to help.

What was your favorite case from your time as the county dog warden?

Once, I was involved in a case where an older woman had two friendly but rambunctious pit bulls that kept escaping her yard, and her neighbors would repeatedly call to report their escape. After stopping by a handful of times, I finally asked her what we can do to help. Upon talking, we concluded that while she loved the dogs, it was probably best to find them a new home where they would not be able to escape as easily. She thought it over and determined her daughter would be able to take them in, so she signed the dogs over to her. It was a difficult decision, but it felt good knowing that she realized this was the best choice for them and that she could visit the dogs when she wanted.

What do you hope to accomplish at the ARL?

So many things. I hope to improve animal control contracts with our local municipalities, develop impactful relationships with local law enforcement, make connections in our community, assist with fundraising opportunities, and most importantly, help animals!

Any last words of wisdom?

I’m a large believer in this quote: “It’s not about the mistakes you make, it’s about how you fix them.”