The 2024 Open Arms Challenge was a grant opportunity focused on open and inclusive practices and programs. Twenty-three national organizations came together to encourage shelter and foster-based organizations to start new programs or expand current ones around the issues of barriers, inclusivity, return to home and more. This Challenge was funded by Adopt a Pet, California for All Animals, Life of Riley, Maddie’s Fund^®, and Michelson Found Animals Foundation and in collaboration with American Pets Alive!, ASPCA, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, Best Friends Animal Society, BISSELL Pet Foundation, The Community Cats Podcast, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), Cuddly, Greater Good Charities, HeARTS Speak, Humane Society of the United States, JVR Shelter Strategies, Maddie’s^® Million Pet Challenge, National Animal Care and Control Association, Petco Love, Petfinder Foundation, PetSmart Charities and Shelter Animals Count.

The Open Arms Challenge ran from April 1 – 30, 2024, and was all about encouraging animal shelters, foster-based organizations and organizations focused on keeping pets and people together, to pilot new approaches that open doors to new adopters and volunteers and welcome their communities. A compassionate 243 participating organizations created or expanded inclusive programs and practices to make it easier for communities to adopt or foster a pet, as well as expand these practices to the culture of the organizations. The results: 11,052 pets were adopted, 69,539 were able to stay in their home/community, and over 20,900 volunteers participated!

Grant prizes were awarded to 107 organizations, for a combined total of $500,000.

Please help us congratulate the Open Arms Challenge 2024 winners!

California for All Animals Awarded the Following Grants

1. City of Perris, Perris, CA: $25,000
2. City of Rancho Cordova, Rancho Cordova, CA: $25,000
3. Madera County Animal Services, Madera, CA $15,000
4. Nine Lives Foundation, Redwood City, CA: $15,000
5. ASTRO Foundation, Oakdale, CA: $10,000
6. Butte Humane Society, Chico, CA: $10,000
7. Downtown Dog Rescue, South Gate, CA: $10,000
8. Pets Lifeline, Sonoma, CA: $10,000
9. Pets in Need, Redwood City, CA: $10,000
10. Sanger Animal Control Department, Sanger, CA: $10,000
11. Siskiyou SNIP, Yreka, CA: $10,000
12. Westminster Adoption Group and Services, Westminster, CA: $10,000
13. Animal Friends of the Valleys, Wildomar, CA: $5,000
14. Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter: Alameda, CA: $5,000
15. Human Society Silicon Valley: Milpitas, CA: $5,000
16. Kitty Bungalow, Los Angeles, CA: $5,000
17. Riverside County Department of Animal: Jurupa Valley, CA: $5,000
18. Stanislaus County Animal Services, Modesto, CA: $5,000
19. Town Cats of Morgan Hill, Morgan Hill, CA: $5,000
20. Woods Humane Society, San Luis Obispo, CA: $5,000

Spring Point/Life of Riley Awarded the Following Grants

1. The Council on Aging in Central Oregon, Bend, OR: $25,000
2. Broken Souls Rescue and Recovery, Staten Island, NY: $15,000
3. Houston Humane Society, Houston, TX: $15,000
4. First Nations Veterinary, Portland, OR: $15,000
5. Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control, Detroit, MI: $5,000

AdoptAPet, Michelson Found Animals Foundation and Maddie’s Fund awarded grants for Grand Prize, Best Overall Effort, Uses of Practices, plus 11 Random Winners as follows:

Grand Prize Winners ($10,000)

1. City of Irvine Animal Care Center, Irvine, CA
2. Spokane Humane Society, Spokane, WA
3. Until They’re Home, Fort Collins, CO

Overall Effort Awards ($5,000)

1. Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Alexandria, VA
2. Beautiful Hearts Rescue, Shell Lake, WI
3. Bitterroot Humane Association, Hamilton, MT
4. Buster's Paw Prints, Red Bluff, CA
5. Cabot Animal Support Services, Cabot, AR
6. City of Great Falls Animal Shelter, Great Falls, MT
7. Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Tucson, AZ
8. Lifeline Oro Valley Animal Rescue, Oro Valley, AZ
9. Maui Humane Society, Puuene, HI
10. Nashville Humane Association, Nashville, TN
11. Paws Claws and Hooves Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc., Snowflake, AZ
12. Pawster Nashville, Nashville, TN
13. South Suburban Humane Society, Matteson, IL
14. The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County, Tacoma, WA
15. Wanderers' Rest Humane Association, Canastota, NY
16. Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter, Billings, MT

Grant Prizes by Welcoming Practices Category ($2,000)

Processes are Equitable and Inclusive

1. Bartholomew County Humane Society, Columbus, IN
2. Cat by Cat Inc, East Amherst, NY
3. City of Saginaw Animal Services, Saginaw, TX
4. City of Santa Rosa Animal Control, Santa Rosa, NM
5. Feral Freedom Northern California, San Martin, CA
6. Happy Life Animal Rescue, Pawling, NY
7. Partners For Pets Humane Society, Troy, IL
8. Polk County Bully Project, Lakeland, FL
9. The Animal Foundation, Las Vegas, NV

Customer Success is Ensured Through Customer Service

1. Austin Humane Society, Austin, TX
2. Darlington County Humane Society, Darlington, SC
3. February Star Sanctuary, Knoxville, MD
4. Frankie & Andy's, Winder, GA
5. Humane Society Elkhart County, Bristol, IN
6. Love for Animals, Inc, East Point, GA
7. Misfit Felines, Stoughton, WI
8. Nuzzles & Co Pet Rescue and Adoption, Peoa, UT
9. Oshkosh Area Humane Society, Oshkosh, WI
10. Silverstray Social, La Porte, IN

Marketing is Inclusive of All Areas of Your Community

1. Aggieland Humane Society, Bryan, TX
2. Albert's Dog Lounge Rescue, Whitewater, WI
3. Central Dakota Humane Society, Mandan, ND
4. City of Lovington Animal Shelter, Lovington, NM
5. Karma Cat Rescue, Mountain View, CA
6. Oahu SPCA, Wahiawa, HI
7. Summit County Animal Control and Shelter, Frisco, CO
8. Suncoast Humane Society, Englewood, FL
9. Winchester Area SPCA, Winchester, VA

Organization Embraces an Open and Welcoming Culture

1. Animal House Cat Rescue and Adoption Center, Saint Louis, MO
2. Ferndale Cat Shelter, Ferndale, Ferndale, MI
3. Hood River Adopt a Dog, Hood River, OR
4. Humane Society Naples, Naples, FL
5. Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin, Janesville, WI
6. Kitty Rescue Corp, New Port Richey, FL
7. People For Animals, Hillside, NJ

Organization Creates Partnerships with Organizations

1. Braveheart Bulliez Rescue, Roswell, GA
2. Cat Tales Rescue NC, Chapel Hill, NC
3. Kenol's Cats, Elizabeth, NJ
4. MatchDog Rescue, Marlton, NJ
5. Oconee Regional Humane Society, Greensboro, GA
6. Routt County Humane Society, Steamboat Springs, CO
7. Spayed and Aid of Kentucky, Russellville, KY
8. Speak for Animals, Greenville, SC
9. The Anti-Cruelty Society, Chicago, IL
10. Vanderburgh Humane Society, Evansville, IN
11. Williamson County Animal Center, Franklin, TN

Other (another welcoming practice not listed above)

1. Advocates for Abused and Abandoned Pets A3P, Spotsylvania, VA
2. Community Animal Medicine Project, San Pedro, CA
3. East Bay SPCA, Oakland, CA
4. Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, Palm City, FL
5. SPCA of Wake County, Raleigh, NC
6. The Life of Kai Compassion Connections Inc., Davis, CA

Grant Giveaways ($1,000)

1. Erie County SPCA, West Seneca, NY
2. Human and Pet Initiative, Oakland, CA
3. Pasado’s Safe Haven, Monroe, WA
4. Paws for Life, Youngsville, NC
5. Praline’s Backyard Foundation, Atlanta, GA
6. Salem Friends of Felines, Keizer, OR
7. Souris Valley Animal Shelter, Minot, ND
8. Southern Pines Animal Shelter, Hattiesburg, MS
9. The Animal Protective Association of Missouri, Brentwood, MO
10. Tree House Humane Society, Chicago, IL
11. Whiskers N Wishes Sanctuary, Marana, AZ

Prizes from Collaborating Partners

The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement:

The following organizations received a $250 credit toward professional development or annual membership:

• Cabot Animal Support Services, Cabot, AR
• Central Dakota Humane Society, Mandan, ND
• Oahu SPCA, Wahiawa, HI
• Spayed and Aid of Kentucky, Russellville, KY
• Winchester Area SPCA, Winchester, VA

Community Cats Podcast

All 107 of the grant winners will receive a free registration for Community Cats Podcast’s TNR Certification Workshop in December 77, 2024.

Cuddly

• Beautiful Hearts Rescue, Shell Lake, WI received a $2,000 grant
• Red Waggin’ Rescue, Kirkland, WA received a $2,00 wish list haul.

Humane Society of the United States

• City of Great Falls Animal Shelter, Great Falls, MT was awarded $1,500 grant for their alignment with the Adopters Welcome Program.
• The following organizations received a free registration for 2025 Animal Care Expo:
• Advocates for Abused and Abandoned Pets A3P, Spotsylvania, VA
• Hood River Adopt a Dog, Hood River, OR

Maddie’s^® Million Pet Challenge

The following six organizations are receiving Hard Copies of the Best Practice Playbook for Animal Shelters:

• Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control, Detroit
• Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter: Alameda, CA
• Humane Society of Southern Arizona, AZ
• Riverside County Department of Animal Services, Jurupa Valley, CA
• Stanislaus County Animal Services, Modesto, CA
• Williamson County Animal Center, Franklin, TN

East Bay SPCA, Oakland CA received a scholarship worth $299 for Open the Door to Veterinary Care online certificate program.

Humane Society Silicon Valley, Milipitas, CA received $250 and support for setting up a program through Uber to provide transportation for pets and people.

The National Animal Care and Control Association

The following organizations received scholarships to Animal Control Officer training:

• City of Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control, Fort Wayne, IN
• City of Great Falls Animal Shelter, Great Falls, MT
• City of Santa Rosa Animal Control, Santa Rosa, NM

The following organizations received agency memberships:

• City of Great Falls Animal Shelter, Great Falls, MT
• City of Irvine Animal Care Center, Irvine, CA
• Summit County Animal Control and Shelter, Frisco, CO

Challenge Partners