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Using Data to Save Lives Articles
Although the problem of dog and cat homelessness is widespread, every community has its own special challenges and resources. What are your spay/neuter rates, and how can those be improved? Is there a housing problem? Do your local veterinarians feel shut out from the shelter and rescue community? Are animal welfare organizations working together, or against each other? Is there transparency and accountability about animal control and shelter statistics? Getting an accurate picture of what's happening in your community is the vital first step to change.
How to Sell Policymakers on Fee-Waived Adoption
May 2013
It’s been proven that free pet adoptions save lives, but some communities prohibit the practice. Animal advocates in Alachua County, Florida persuaded their County Commissioners to change their restrictive policy with patience, personal relationships, research and statistics. Read More
Common Ground: Shared Goals, Respect for Differences Boost Lifesaving for Portland Area Pets
January 2013
The ten-member Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland (ASAP) has been able to reduce euthanasia by 65% in 2006 and save every healthy shelter dog and cat in the Portland metro area, thanks to a shared commitment, trust, and lifesaving objective. Read More
How to Work With Municipalities to Save Community Cats
August 2012
Do you ever feel like your local government agencies and officials just won’t listen when you try to talk to them about progressive community cat policies? Maybe it’s not them, but you. Rick DuCharme of First Coast No More Homeless Pets in Jacksonville, FL, explains how the power of relationships led to one of the nation’s most successful community cat programs, and what steps you need to follow to build effective working relationships with the decision-makers in your community. Hint: It involves doughnuts. Read More
Searchable Database to Compare Community Lifesaving
This page offers users the ability to search and compare community and shelter data from hundreds of organizations. Read More
A Model Pet Evaluation Matrix
April 2011
Use the Pet Evaluation Matrix provided here for your organization or community. Read More
Using Data to Make Austin a No-Kill City
March 2012
Today, Austin has a save rate of 91%. That wasn’t the case just four years ago when 44% of the animals coming into the Austin Animal Center were losing their lives. Dr. Ellen Jefferson recounts how she used the shelter’s data to figure out bottlenecks in the system and develop and fine-tune programs to fill in the gaps. Read More
71% of Americans Favor No-Kill Editorial
February 2012
Maddie’s Fund President Rich Avanzino makes a compelling argument for transparency, and charges that the impulse for secrecy in animal welfare counters lifesaving progress. Read More
Data-Smata, Who Cares About Data?
February 2012
Are you on the fence about the importance of publishing shelter data? Barbara Carr of the SPCA Serving Erie County in Buffalo, NY explains why she became a firm believer in revealing the good, bad and the ugly, and describes how transparency has helped her organization save more lives. Read More
And the Survey Says...Maddie's Shelter Medicine Survey Summary
January 2011
Findings from Maddie's survey on shelter health needs. Read More
Accountability Editorial
2007
Why standardized terms improve statistics and strengthen animal welfare. Read More
Why Transparency Editorial
2006
Transparency is a big plus even if an organization is less than perfect. When the public can see that an agency is improving, it enhances the organizations's reputation, builds community trust, and increases financial support. Read More
What is a Treatable Shelter Pet? Editorial
2005
The treatable designation need not require the shelters to provide the called-for treatment or rehabilitation. The idea is to put in writing what the shelters are aiming to achieve for the community's homeless pets. Read More
What Statistics and Definitions Can Do for You Editorial
2004
Statistics and definitions help create organizational efficiencies, define organizational goals and priorities, save lives, enhance image and build public support. Read More