Sarah Mansfield (she/her) is excited to be part of the MSL Animal Law program. As a lifelong animal lover and dedicated advocate for animal welfare, Sarah has spent many years volunteering with local rescues, working with farmed animals, neonatal kittens, and all sorts of wildlife. During her time as Operations Manager of SoCal Parrot, Sarah rescued, rehabilitated, and advocated for wild naturalized parrots throughout Southern California. She has built connections with parrot rescues in Central and South America and participated in joint efforts with USFW and other government organizations to care for young parrots confiscated at the US-Mexico border.
Although she is no longer running the rescue, Sarah remains deeply committed to wildlife welfare and advocacy. Her years of rescuing and caring for wild parrots have highlighted the urgent need for stronger legal protections for both naturalized and illegally smuggled birds. With the knowledge and skills gained from the MSL Animal Law program, Sarah hopes to collaborate with legislators across Southern California to enact local ordinances protecting naturalized parrots in their communities. Ultimately, her goal is to create a repatriation program for smuggled wildlife to be returned to their country of origin and released back to the wild.
Currently, Sarah is a Major Gifts Officer with a large nonprofit, where she is learning about the complex process of political fundraising. In her free time, she enjoys walking her three dogs (Layla, Elton, and Merlin), volunteering with local wildlife and bird-related organizations, and going on adventures with her partner, Travis.