How our Certification Policy Director upholds our standards with science and humanity
Since joining Certified Humane® in 2015, Amber Doty has worked at every point in the certification process.
She has been the inspector. She’s helped farmers get started in the certification process, breaking down the steps to join the program. She led the Compliance Team, a key step to determining if the farm or ranch is meeting Certified Humane’s standards.
Now, as Certification Policy Director, her job is to oversee the inspectors working in the field, train new inspectors, and ensure the Farm Animal Standards are upheld.
Her work ensures that farm animals are treated humanely.
“It gives more credibility to what the farmers are doing,” Amber said. “When people ask, ‘How do you make sure your animals are happy and healthy?’ farmers can point to their certification and say, “We have this third party who’s checking in and making sure everything is going well.”
The Certified Humane® team values Amber for her deep understanding of the program — which comes from a history of working in many roles in the certification process — as well as her compassion for both animals and the farmers and ranchers who want to provide them the best care.
“She’s just an amazing source of information. She has an amazing amount of practical knowledge on how to apply our standards to farms,” said Executive Director Mimi Stein. “She keeps us in line and knows how to keep a steady balance.”
Finding her place
Amber’s commitment to upholding the fairness of Certified Humane’s science-based standards is matched only by her heart for animals. As she was earning her degree in animal science at Iowa State University, her goal was to become a mixed practice vet, caring for a combination of family pets and farm animals.
However, Amber quickly realized she didn’t want to be in the field, birthing calves at two in the morning. Nor did she want to be the one deciding if it was worth treating an injured or sick animal on a small family farm. She didn’t want to explain to a pet owner that a beloved beloved cat or dog couldn’t be saved.
For a while, she used her science degree to work in a food laboratory, running tests to determine the fiber content of packaged food. In 2015, she applied to a job listing to become a certification decision officer with an organization she hadn’t heard of.
Through that interview process, Amber met Certified Humane® founder Adele Douglass Jolley, who instantly recognized her value to the team. Amber learned there were so many other career opportunities available for animal lovers other than becoming a vet.
Audits, creativity, and blue jeans
One of her favorite jobs at Certified Humane® has been working as an inspector, traveling to different farms and ranches for onsite audits. She loves seeing all the unique ways farmers show their love, care, and attention for their animals, no matter what species they raise.
“It’s interesting to see how different farmers will make different setups work,” Amber said. They all have unique challenges, and farmers’ creativity is incredible.”
She remembers one farmer who bought an old schoolhouse and turned it into a chicken house. Another farmer had a dairy business that wasn’t going well, so he turned the whole operation into a pig farm.
At one turkey farm, Amber looked up to see a bunch of blue jeans hanging from the ceiling.
“And so I’m asking, ‘Why is your laundry hanging out in your turkey house?’” Amber remembered with a laugh. “It turns out that whenever he wore out a pair of jeans, he’d cut them up and leave them for the turkeys to play with. And the turkeys loved to bite at the blue jeans and rip them up. It made for good enrichment.”
Taking the mystery out of standards
Later, when Amber began to lead the Compliance Team, her deep understanding of farming challenges allowed her to guide farmers to the most practical and effective solutions. One of the hardest parts of that job was telling farmers that they weren’t meeting the standards — sometimes, just barely.
“We don’t want our farmers to feel bad about what they’re doing, especially when they clearly do care about their animals,” Amber said. “We know they’re trying their hardest to make a living and do the best for the animals. But our standards were set for a reason. They help ensure animals are able to follow their instinctive behaviors without frustration or competition.”
The Certified Humane® program requires farms or ranches to be fully compliant with the Farm Animal Standards. The high bar provides better transparency; shoppers don’t have to wonder if the farm is phasing into the program or how one tier of compliance compares to another. The logo ensures every standard has been met.
“A lot of farmers are willing to make changes as long as there’s a reason behind it,” she said. “Conveying that science and providing the research really helps.”
“Equipment shortages and lack of physical space are common problems with first-time applicants,” Amber said. “When it comes down to it, it’s all about ensuring the health and well-being of the animals.”
“She’s good at taking the mystery out of our standards,” said Client Relations and Outreach Specialist Lindsey Turner. “The application process can be daunting. She helps break it down.”
It’s all about the animals
Today, Amber leads a team of inspectors across the United States and works with the international team leader. It’s her job to train the inspectors and make sure the Farm Animal Standards are being applied equally across all Certified Humane® farms.
Amber strongly believes in the importance of Certified Humane’s mission in keeping animals safe. In the end, that benefits the farmers, too.
“It lets more farmers know that there is a pathway to prove they’re raising animals humanely,” Amber said. “They can reap the benefits of healthier, more productive flocks and herds, with less labor to manage.”
With several cats and a Saint Bernard, Amber is surrounded by animals at her home in Iowa as well as at work. Her sister teases her, asking if she has enough cats, but Amber can’t turn away an animal in need.
“If a cat needs a home, I’ll take it,” Amber said. “I’ll either keep it, or if he doesn’t fit, I’ll find him a good home. I’ve got an open door policy.”
Whether pets in her own home or animals on Certified Humane® farms and ranches, Amber is proud to have an important role in bettering the lives of animals.
The science and humanity of compliance — Certified Humane®
Posted: November 20, 2025 by Certified Humane®
How our Certification Policy Director upholds our standards with science and humanity
Since joining Certified Humane® in 2015, Amber Doty has worked at every point in the certification process.
She has been the inspector. She’s helped farmers get started in the certification process, breaking down the steps to join the program. She led the Compliance Team, a key step to determining if the farm or ranch is meeting Certified Humane’s standards.
Now, as Certification Policy Director, her job is to oversee the inspectors working in the field, train new inspectors, and ensure the Farm Animal Standards are upheld.
Her work ensures that farm animals are treated humanely.
“It gives more credibility to what the farmers are doing,” Amber said. “When people ask, ‘How do you make sure your animals are happy and healthy?’ farmers can point to their certification and say, “We have this third party who’s checking in and making sure everything is going well.”
The Certified Humane® team values Amber for her deep understanding of the program — which comes from a history of working in many roles in the certification process — as well as her compassion for both animals and the farmers and ranchers who want to provide them the best care.
“She’s just an amazing source of information. She has an amazing amount of practical knowledge on how to apply our standards to farms,” said Executive Director Mimi Stein. “She keeps us in line and knows how to keep a steady balance.”
Finding her place
Amber’s commitment to upholding the fairness of Certified Humane’s science-based standards is matched only by her heart for animals. As she was earning her degree in animal science at Iowa State University, her goal was to become a mixed practice vet, caring for a combination of family pets and farm animals.
However, Amber quickly realized she didn’t want to be in the field, birthing calves at two in the morning. Nor did she want to be the one deciding if it was worth treating an injured or sick animal on a small family farm. She didn’t want to explain to a pet owner that a beloved beloved cat or dog couldn’t be saved.
For a while, she used her science degree to work in a food laboratory, running tests to determine the fiber content of packaged food. In 2015, she applied to a job listing to become a certification decision officer with an organization she hadn’t heard of.
Through that interview process, Amber met Certified Humane® founder Adele Douglass Jolley, who instantly recognized her value to the team. Amber learned there were so many other career opportunities available for animal lovers other than becoming a vet.
Audits, creativity, and blue jeans
One of her favorite jobs at Certified Humane® has been working as an inspector, traveling to different farms and ranches for onsite audits. She loves seeing all the unique ways farmers show their love, care, and attention for their animals, no matter what species they raise.
“It’s interesting to see how different farmers will make different setups work,” Amber said. They all have unique challenges, and farmers’ creativity is incredible.”
She remembers one farmer who bought an old schoolhouse and turned it into a chicken house. Another farmer had a dairy business that wasn’t going well, so he turned the whole operation into a pig farm.
At one turkey farm, Amber looked up to see a bunch of blue jeans hanging from the ceiling.
“And so I’m asking, ‘Why is your laundry hanging out in your turkey house?’” Amber remembered with a laugh. “It turns out that whenever he wore out a pair of jeans, he’d cut them up and leave them for the turkeys to play with. And the turkeys loved to bite at the blue jeans and rip them up. It made for good enrichment.”
Taking the mystery out of standards
Later, when Amber began to lead the Compliance Team, her deep understanding of farming challenges allowed her to guide farmers to the most practical and effective solutions. One of the hardest parts of that job was telling farmers that they weren’t meeting the standards — sometimes, just barely.
“We don’t want our farmers to feel bad about what they’re doing, especially when they clearly do care about their animals,” Amber said. “We know they’re trying their hardest to make a living and do the best for the animals. But our standards were set for a reason. They help ensure animals are able to follow their instinctive behaviors without frustration or competition.”
The Certified Humane® program requires farms or ranches to be fully compliant with the Farm Animal Standards. The high bar provides better transparency; shoppers don’t have to wonder if the farm is phasing into the program or how one tier of compliance compares to another. The logo ensures every standard has been met.
“A lot of farmers are willing to make changes as long as there’s a reason behind it,” she said. “Conveying that science and providing the research really helps.”
“Equipment shortages and lack of physical space are common problems with first-time applicants,” Amber said. “When it comes down to it, it’s all about ensuring the health and well-being of the animals.”
“She’s good at taking the mystery out of our standards,” said Client Relations and Outreach Specialist Lindsey Turner. “The application process can be daunting. She helps break it down.”
It’s all about the animals
Today, Amber leads a team of inspectors across the United States and works with the international team leader. It’s her job to train the inspectors and make sure the Farm Animal Standards are being applied equally across all Certified Humane® farms.
Amber strongly believes in the importance of Certified Humane’s mission in keeping animals safe. In the end, that benefits the farmers, too.
“It lets more farmers know that there is a pathway to prove they’re raising animals humanely,” Amber said. “They can reap the benefits of healthier, more productive flocks and herds, with less labor to manage.”
With several cats and a Saint Bernard, Amber is surrounded by animals at her home in Iowa as well as at work. Her sister teases her, asking if she has enough cats, but Amber can’t turn away an animal in need.
“If a cat needs a home, I’ll take it,” Amber said. “I’ll either keep it, or if he doesn’t fit, I’ll find him a good home. I’ve got an open door policy.”
Whether pets in her own home or animals on Certified Humane® farms and ranches, Amber is proud to have an important role in bettering the lives of animals.
Category: Leaders of Certified Humane®