Meet Belinda Davis

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Belinda Davis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Belinda below.

Hi Belinda, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I’ve always had a deep love for animals. Even as a child, I was naturally drawn to them. When I was seven years old, I learned where meat came from, and I stopped eating it immediately. At that age, I didn’t fully understand the ethical implications of animal agriculture, but the idea of eating animals was something I just couldn’t accept. I stuck to my decision, even when it meant sitting at the dinner table long after everyone else had finished because I refused to eat my meal. I remained vegetarian into my mid-thirties, thinking it was enough since I believed that no animals were harmed for eggs and milk.

Originally, I thought about becoming a veterinarian, but I didn’t have the discipline in high school to achieve the grades needed for that path. Instead, I pursued a biology degree and eventually completed a PhD, working in research and industry. I still loved animals, but by then, any thoughts of working directly in an animal-related field had faded.

It wasn’t until I started volunteering that I truly found my purpose. My journey began with an organization in Australia called the Coalition Against Duck Shooting. We campaigned to end this so-called “sport” and spent time at the wetlands during the shooting season to rescue injured birds and deter shooters. My passion for animal advocacy grew from there. A friend later invited me to visit Edgar’s Mission, a farmed animal sanctuary, and I was hooked from the moment I arrived. I fell in love with a sheep named Timmy and became a regular volunteer, helping with outreach and farm chores. That experience reignited my passion for working directly with animals. This was also the point I became vegan. Instead of burying my head in the sand and remaining ignorant, I learned more about the animal agriculture and realized being vegetarian wasn’t enough and that my choices were contributing to animal suffering.

In 2010, I rewarded myself for nearing the end of my PhD with a trip to Africa. Although I enjoyed it, I felt a bit selfish, so I promised myself that my next trip would be a volunteer trip. In 2011, I went to Phuket, Thailand, to volunteer at Soi Dog Foundation. I immediately fell in love with the dogs and cats there, especially the senior dogs. After two more trips to volunteer, I was offered a job. In 2013, I left my industry job of nine years and moved to Thailand to become Soi Dog Foundation’s first communications and fundraising staff member. It was a steep learning curve, adjusting to a new country and developing new skills, but the work was incredibly rewarding. In my six years there, the team grew from one to 14 people, and fundraising revenue increased from about $1.7 million to over $12 million by the time I left in 2019.

After moving to the U.S., I felt my dreams had come true when I started working with Animal Outlook and We Animals Media. Animal Outlook is a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on farm animal advocacy, and We Animals Media is an animal photojournalism agency documenting the lives of animals used for human purposes around the world. I’m now exclusively with Animal Outlook as my role there has grown, but I continue to support We Animals Media and believe deeply in their mission.

I’m incredibly grateful to be where I am today, working towards ending the abuse of farmed animals. Volunteering played a pivotal role in getting me here, and I always encourage others to start with volunteering if they want to pursue a passion. I continue to volunteer to maintain personal connections with animals and currently help out at Wildwood Farm Sanctuary and Preserve in Oregon, as well as foster animals for the county shelter. My love for animals was clear from a young age, and it’s been a dream come true to make helping them my career.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am the Senior Director of Communications and Development at Animal Outlook, with a primary focus on communications. My role involves managing all aspects of our organization’s communications, including writing copy for our website, social media, newsletters, and press releases. I also handle social media management, graphic design, video production, and website updates.

The most exciting part of my job is preparing for investigation releases. Animal Outlook conducts undercover investigations in various animal agriculture facilities, such as slaughterhouses, hatcheries, dairies, breeding farms, grow-out facilities, and aquaculture operations. Our investigators also document animal transport and live markets. These courageous investigators gather footage that reveals the harsh realities of these facilities, which our legal team uses to seek charges against those committing cruelty. We also use this content to support our vegan advocacy efforts.

When an investigation is ready to be released, my job is to take the gathered footage and information and create compelling content to share the realities of the animal agriculture industry with the world, whether through owned or earned media channels.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

While my educational background is in science, the skills I developed during my undergraduate degree, PhD, and my experience in both research and industry have been invaluable in my current role. The three qualities or skills that have had the most impact on my career transition are:

Willingness to learn: When I first started at Soi Dog Foundation, I lacked creativity, which is crucial for writing compelling fundraising materials. A pivotal moment came when the founder advised me to spend time with a dog I was writing about and get to know him. Then, I was told to write from the dog’s perspective. This advice transformed my approach, and I still think about the bond I formed with Hero, the dog, and how it shaped the materials I wrote about him. Even now, I’m always eager to learn new skills in my current role, and I find great joy in doing so.

Resilience: Completing my PhD was challenging. It took a long time, and I worked an outside job for most of it. To be honest, it was incredibly tough, but I never gave up, and I’m very proud of that. This resilience has been crucial in my current job, where I often have to review footage of animal cruelty repeatedly to create release videos and write content. I’ve learned to prioritize the animals over my own feelings, which helps me stay focused and prevents me from becoming overwhelmed during investigations.

Flexibility: Working for a small nonprofit means wearing many hats and often going beyond the scope of your job description. Unless you work for a large nonprofit with clearly defined roles and ample resources, being flexible is a quality that will take you far in this field.

For those early in their journey, my advice is to cultivate a love for learning, build resilience, and stay flexible. These skills will serve you well as you navigate your career.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was set the expectation that I would go to university and support me throughout my education, even beyond my undergraduate degree. My teenage years were challenging, and while I managed to get decent grades, I didn’t excel—I did just enough to get by. However, my parents’ confidence in my abilities never wavered. They continued to encourage me, even when I struggled in my first-year classes. They provided a home, financial support, and emotional encouragement, even when I was more focused on partying and spending time with friends than on my studies. They could have easily told me I was on my own, but they didn’t. Their unwavering support allowed me the space to find my footing, eventually improve my grades, and ultimately be accepted into a PhD program.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://animaloutlook.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animal.outlook/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalOutlook
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belinda-davis-2aa05527/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnimalOutlook
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnimalOutlook