Marketing and Adoption Counseling Survey Results

September 6, 2022

The Marketing and Adoption Counseling Survey was launched in January 2022 and distributed by Maddie's Fund^®. It was created to learn more about the communications methods being used by animal shelters and rescue organizations to convey information about pets who are available for adoption to the public.

Are you registered for the National Calls?

April 19, 2022

We are three months in to the grant giveaways during the National Calls, and we’ve only just begun! If you’re not already familiar, these Monday and Friday calls started early in the pandemic, as a way to come together when we had to be apart. They have grown to be a lifeline for many, with…

Supporting Renters With Pets During COVID-19

Abby Volin and Sarah RosenbergOctober 8, 2020

As more renters find themselves on the brink of eviction, the animal welfare field is girding for a deluge of surrenders. But there's still more that can be done to keep people with pets together safely in their homes.

Supporting Both Ends of the Leash

Geraldine D'Silva, Janet Hoy-Gerlach, Aimee St.Arnaud and Derrick PrioleauSeptember 23, 2020

Learn how a private veterinary practice is partnering with human health care and social workers in unique ways to support people and their pets.

Million Cat Challenge: Going Home

Dr. Sara Pizano, DVMSeptember 3, 2020

Learn how to take your matchmaking game from the adoption floor to the worldwide web.

Maddie Talks: Aha Moments

December 2016

Maddie Talks Outline Examples

January 2017

Shy Dogs Survey

February 2016

Caring from Across Town: Practical Telehealth for Shelters & Clinics

Dr. Michael (Mike) Greenberg, Brenton Minish, Julie Ryan-Johnson, DVM, Aimee St.Arnaud and Beth HarrisonJune 4, 2020

Come learn more about the telehealth landscape and how best to implement this tool in your shelter or clinic.

Building a Foster-centric Organization

Kristen Hassen-Auerbach, Dr. Sheila Segurson, Kelly Duer and Teresa JohnsonFebruary 2020

What does it mean to be foster centric? Learn from the people who have elevated foster care from a sideline shelter program to a best practice.

How to Get Your Story Told: Effective Engagement with Local Media

Sarah Collica, Director of Marketing and Communications, Austin Pets Alive! and Nikki Reck, Communications Specialist, Pima Animal Care CenterApril 2020

Learn how to cultivate relationships with news sources and tips and tricks from a marketing director and an Emmy-Award winning newscaster.

Adopters Are Out There! Market Your Way Out of Space Crises

Teresa Johnson, CEO/Executive Officer and Chief Lifesaving Officer, Kansas City Pet Project and Cheryl Schneider, Director of Animal Services, Williamson County Regional Animal ShelterApril 2020

Learn how adopters can be your biggest lifesavers when your shelter is experiencing space crises.

Statewide Advocacy

Ryan Clinton, Laura Donahue and Katie JarlApril 2020

Learn from expert advocates as they share their success stories for state-wide efforts to transform to No Kill.

Fundraising for Survival: Lessons for Any Sized Organization, Part 1 of 2

Maggie Lynch, Director of Development, Austin Pets Alive! and American Pets Alive!April 2020

Join fundraising innovator Maggie Lynch and learn how to raise money and how to get scrappy when you need to! (Part 1 of 2)

Fundraising for Survival: Lessons for Any Sized Organization, Part 2 of 2

Maggie Lynch, Director of Development, Austin Pets Alive! and American Pets Alive!April 2020

Join fundraising innovator Maggie Lynch and learn how to raise money and how to get scrappy when you need to! (Part 2 of 2)

Public Safety and Lifesaving ARE Compatible

Marc Peralta, Senior Director, National Mission Advancement, Best Friends Animal Society and Ed Jamison, Director, Dallas Animal ServicesApril 2020

Join Marc Peralta and Edward Jamison to hear about the increases and impact they have seen in public safety, when lifesaving takes priority.

Workshop: Marketing and Branding to Engage Your Community

Kasey Spain and Nikki ReckApril 2020

Learn from shelter branding experts how to identify steps to create and market your No Kill brand to your community.

Build Resilience and Excitement Around Change

Shelly Thompson, Tawny Hammond, Cheryl Schneider, Teresa Johnson and Lee Ann ShenefielApril 2020

Shelly Thompson moderates this panel to help you get the insider tips on how to cultivate a team of resilience and build strong teams that will rally around you.

The Leader's Guide to Communicating with Stakeholders: How, When and What

Stephanie Bilbro, Director, Shelter Lifesaving Operations, Austin Pets Alive! and Sarah Collica, Director of Marketing and Communications, Austin Pets Alive!April 2020

Learn how to own your narrative and communicate your vision with major stakeholders.

Ergonomics for Shelter Veterinarians

Sara White, DVM, MSc, Founder, ErgovetDecember 11, 2019

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we're rescheduling this webcast for Wednesday, December 11 at 12pm PST / 3pm EST. We apologize for this inconvenience and invite you to register for the new date.

Working with animals can be intensely physical work. Many veterinarians experience musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) related to their work, and good physical ergonomics can improve this situation. Ergonomics includes much more than the gadgets that many associate with the term or keeping a "good posture" while you work.

Beyond Spay/Neuter: Models for Expanding Access to Veterinary Care

Jocelyn Kessler, MBA, Senior Director of Operations, Community Medicine, ASPCA and Lori Bierbrier, DVM, ASPCAJuly 2019

Join us to look inside organizations who have expanded their services to help remove barriers to care in their communities. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Cash and Counting: The Importance of Data in Grantmaking

Jodi Buckman, ASPCA and Shelly Thompson, Maddie's FundJuly 2019

In this session you'll hear from two grant makers, Maddie's Fund^® and the ASPCA, about the importance of data in grant evaluation and funding decisions. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Win-Win: Building Shelter & Private Veterinarian Collaborations

Katie Broaddus, DVM, CAWA, Chief Operations Officer, Austin Humane SocietyJuly 2019

This workshop helps viewers better understand and address the perspectives of shelters and private practice veterinarians. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Overview of ASPCA Field Investigations & Response and the Nuts and Bolts of Animals in Distress-Disasters

Dick Green, Senior Director of Field Investigations & Response, ASPCAJuly 2019

This workshop provides a brief history of the ASPCA Field Investigations & Response Team (FIR) and discusses the history of animal rescue and how an emergency becomes a disaster. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Medical Issues in Emergency Sheltering

Elise Gingrich, DVM, MPH, MS, ACVPM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice), Senior Director of Shelter Medicine Services, ASPCAJuly 2019

In this workshop, Dr. Gingrich covers some of the more challenging medical issues unique to animals impacted by disaster. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Innovations in Emergency Animal Sheltering

Joe Hinkle, CAWA, Shelter Director, Field Investigations & Response, ASPCAJuly 2019

In this session, the presenter discusses lessons learned and best practices from recent ASPCA emergency shelters with an emphasis on what your agency should be doing now to prepare for setting up and staffing an emergency shelter. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

2018 Year of Disasters in Review

Dick Green, PhD, Senior Director of Field Investigations & Response, ASPCAJuly 2019

In this talk, Dr. Green provides key take-home lessons learned and best practices so that communities and animal welfare agencies will have more tools to enhance animal response capabilities and become more disaster resilient. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Local, State and Federal Animal Response Capabilities in a Disaster

Tim Perciful, Disaster Response Manager, Field Investigations & Response, ASPCAJuly 2019

This talk discusses the major findings from three major surveys and how those results may guide local jurisdictions in determining and enhancing animal response capabilities. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

An Introduction to Maddie's^® Pet Project in Nevada Leadership Conference and Campaign Update

Diane Blankenburg, Co-Executive Director, Maddie's^® Pet Project in Nevada CEO, Humane NetworkMay 2019

At Maddie's^® Pet Project in Nevada, Diane Blankenburg, Co-executive Director, welcomes conference attendees and shows inspiring highlights.

Keynote: Unstoppable! Leveraging Impact and Relationships to Transform the Plight of Animals

Joe Elmore, CEO, Charleston Animal SocietyMay 2019

Building a culture of champions from a culture of advocates is critical to establishing a foundation for these strategies.

Compassionate Lifesaving: Taking Care of You and Your Team to Save More Animals, Part 1 of 2

Dr. Linda Harper and Faith MaloneyMay 2019

In this session (Part 1 of 2), you will discover proactive tools to help you and your team face the challenges and restore the joy in your animal-helping organization.

Compassionate Lifesaving: Taking Care of You and Your Team to Save More Animals, Part 2 of 2

Linda Harper and Faith MaloneyMay 2019

In this session (Par 2 of 2), you will discover proactive tools to help you and your team face the challenges and restore the joy in your animal-helping organization.

Creating Clark County Successes: How We Are Doing It - panel discussion

Carol Fox, Dr. David Henderson, Ann Inabnitt, Joe Macias, Chris Robinson and Carly ScholtenMay 2019

In this presentation, animal lifesaving experts in Clark County, Nevada answer questions about their success in saving animals and serving their communities.

A Playbook Approach to Saving Lives in Animal Shelters

Dr. Sara PizanoWednesday, May 15, 2019

In this webcast. Dr. Sara Pizano will walk you through the steps each shelter, whether public or private and regardless of resources, can take to help and save more cats and dogs.

Valuable Volunteer Programs: Successful Programs Proven to Work

Monica Dangler, Volunteer Manager, Austin Pets Alive! and Gerri Kappler, Austin Pets Alive! Board MemberMarch 2019

Join volunteer leaders to learn how to rethink volunteers and reach your goals together and as a united front.

Animal Protection Officers: Using a Community-based Approach to Measurably Reduce Intake in the Field

Mark Sloat, Program Manager, Austin Animal Center and April Moore, Engagement Manager, Austin Animal CenterMarch 2019

This session will teach approaches that value the human-animal bond, redefine 'animals in need,' and engage community members, shelter staff, and volunteers to solve problems together.

Nuts and Bolts of Large-scale Cat and Dog Foster Programs

Kelly Duer, Monica Frenden, Regan Goins and Lorian EpsteinMarch 2019

Learn from experts the details of setting up and implementing a large-scale foster program.

Save Lives in Space Crises

Michele Figueroa, Christi Metropole and Faith WrightMarch 2019

Learn how to not end lives due to temporary space shortages by pulling other levers that will decrease the pressure that you feel.

Scrutinize and Market the Euthanasia List

Clare Callison, Canine Lifesaving Advisor, Maddie's^® Lifesaving AcademyMarch 2019

This talk explores why it's important to understand exactly which animals are dying in your municipal shelter and how to let people help you get them out alive.

The Modern Municipal Animal Agency

Sarah Aguilar, April Moore, Lee Ann Shenefiel and Mark SloatMarch 2019

Learn how modern shelters develop targeted neighborhood programs that serve the larger community's desire to be no-kill while serving the public safety needs of specific areas.

Social Science: Informed Animal Welfare

Katy Loughney, Economic Impact Advisor, University of Denver's Institute for Human-Animal ConnectionMarch 2019

This talk covers research aimed at connecting animal welfare policies and programs to human and community health.

Effective Negotiation Skills and Techniques to Achieve Lifesaving

Saskia Boisot, MD, Founder of the No Kill Shelter Alliance and Co-Founder of Save More Kill Less, and Paula Powell, Director of Animal Services, El Paso Animal ServicesMarch 2019

Know when to stand your ground, when to compromise, and most importantly, how to communicate effectively so that people want to help you achieve your goals.

Save Rate: Upward Bound - Exceed the 50% Benchmark - panel

Marc Peralta, Sgt. Karl Bailey, Michele Figueroa, Teresa Johnson, Jose Ocano and Cheryl SchneiderMarch 1, 2019

This lively panel discussion will shed light on the experiences of the expert leaders who brought their communities past a 50% live release rate.

Keynote: The Transparent Shelter, Building Trust with Your Community

Kristen Auerbach, Director of Pima Animal Care CenterMarch 2019

In this session, no-kill leader, Kristen Auerbach, will tackle two separate but important topics in order for you to be one with your community.

Key Performance Indicators: Resources, Responsibility and Results

Ellen Jefferson, DVM and David MeyerMarch 2019

In this fundamental session, join Dr. Ellen Jefferson and David Meyer as they explain how to prioritize goals and benchmark against them all along the way so that you can achieve success.

Build Team Resilience - panel

Rebecca Guinn and Ed JamisonMarch 2019

Join this presentation and get the insider tips on how to cultivate a team of resilience and how to build strong teams that will rally around you.

Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2

Maggie Lynch, Development Director, Austin Pets Alive!March 2019

What do you need to raise funds effectively as you grow your organization?

Get Them on Your Team: Engaging and Leveraging Activists to Reach Your Goals

Ellen Jefferson, DVM, Executive Director, Austin Pets Alive! and Kristen Auerbach, Executive Director, Pima Animal Care CenterMarch 2019

This session will teach you skills to help you view activists as partners and to inspire them to work with you, not against you.

Maddie's^® Lifesaving Academy: How Austin is Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders

Lisa Ward, Director of Education, Maddie's Fund and Jessica Powers, Maddie's Director of Education, American Pets Alive!March 2019

Success stories from students of Maddie's^® Lifesaving Academy and how apprenticeships are helping shape tomorrow's animal welfare leaders.

Municipal Shelter Leadership: Getting and Starting the Job - panel

Sarah Aguilar, Marian Cannell, Jordan Craig and Mike KavianiMarch 1, 2019

Join this session for expert tips and tricks and leave with a strong understanding of how to apply for, land and start a leadership position at a municipal shelter.

Dr. Michael Blackwell is on a mission is to improve access to veterinary care

March 19, 2019

HSUS Animal Care Expo in New Orleans, LA, will soon be upon us! One important topic of conversation will be access to veterinary care, and there will be two sessions with Dr. Michael Blackwell that will tackle this important topic. His mission is to improve access to veterinary care, especially for families with limited means.…

Access to Veterinary Care: A National Family Crisis

Dr. Michael Blackwell and Dr. Susan KrebsbachThursday, February 21, 2019

The lack of access to care is the most significant animal welfare crisis affecting owned pets in the United States. Learn more about this important issue in this webcast.

The Yellow Brick Road: A Map to Fundraising Oz

Don Jennings, Consultant, Humane NetworkOctober 2018

This talk will put your feet on the path to practical and sustainable strategies that even the busiest nonprofit group can use (wizard not included).

Crazy Awesome Customer Service for Animal People

Sue Cosby, Director of Lifesaving Programs & Partnerships, Petco FoundationOctober 2018

Learn how to integrate great customer experiences into everyday interactions, developing not just a customer relationship but creating supporters, donors and even advocates.

Hills, Hollers and Humane Officers

Chelsea Staley, Executive Director, Kanawha-Charleston Humane AssociationOctober 2018

How a shelter in poverty-stricken Appalachia inspired change in the unlikeliest of places, and how you can, too.

How to Help People Resolve Some Common Behavior Problems and Keep Their Pets

Kelley Bollen, MS, CABC, Owner and Executive Director, Kelley Bollen ConsultingOctober 2018

This talk reviews the most common behavior problems in dogs and cats and provides practical advice that can be shared with the pet owner to help keep pets in their homes.

Leadership Requires Attention

Gina Knepp, Animal Care Services Manager, Front Street Animal Shelter, City of SacramentoOctober 2018

Leadership takes a special skillset and mindset. How your staff and volunteers are managed is but one key to success. It takes courage, hard work and creativity but the pay-off is well worth every effort.

Leadership - The Who, How, What and When

Susanne Kogut, President and Executive Director, PetCo FoundationOctober 2018

In order to create a lifesaving community, our leadership needs to create a workshop of possibilities...the who is you, the how is together, the what is a positive attitude and the when is now.

Saving More Lives with Best Practices

Cynthia Delany, DVM, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program; Supervising Shelter Veterinarian - Yolo County Animal Services; Executive Director - California Animal Shelter Friends, Inc.October 2018

This talk discuss how you can save more animals while emphasizing welfare (both for the animals, yourself and your staff) by following best practices.

Find out if your community is no-kill with Best Friends interactive map

January 3, 2019

How many states are no-kill? One, and it’s Maine, according to data shared by Best Friends Animal Society.  With an interactive map created by Best Friends, you can see how close or how far a community and state is on its way to becoming no-kill. Data can be sorted by state and on a more local…

Lifesaving Webcast Series: Accelerate your Lifesaving: How to go from 50 to 90 (Percent Live Release Rate) Really Fast

Dr. Kim SandersThursday, December 6, 2018

Learn how to implement lifesaving programs that will take your facility from a save rate of 50% to over 90% in a very short period of time.

Accessible Veterinary Care: Service Learning Programs to Help Animals & People

Emily McCobb, DVM, MS DACVAA, Clinical Associate Professor, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University December 2018

This talk discusses the Tufts at Tech program and other aspects of Tufts Community Medicine that bring students from multiple training programs together to help community members access veterinary care and other services for pets.

An Evidence-Based Look at Compassion Fatigue: Diagnosing the Doctor and Healing the Healer, Part 1 of 2

Brian A. DiGangi, DVM, MS, DABVP, Senior Director, Shelter Medicine, ASPCADecember 2018

This presentation continues the deep dive into the research behind compassion fatigue among animal caregivers and offers methods for managing stress.

Creating a Culture of Philanthropy

Jill Beckwith, Chief Philanthropy Officer, EmancipetDecember 2018

This presentation discusses the importance of creating an organization-wide culture of philanthropy that extends beyond the development team

Evolution of the Animal Welfare Movement

Jim Tedford, President and CEO, The Association for Animal Welfare AdvancementDecember 2018

In this presentation, you will hear thoughts on how animal welfare is changing, from a veteran in animal welfare.

Effective Communication for Staff and Volunteers, Part 2

Susan Britt, Senior Director of Shelter Training, Interim Director of Operations, ASPCA December 2018

This interactive workshop on honing communication skills in the shelter (or any) workplace continues from Part 1.

Engaging the Community: How to Make Your Organization a Vital Presence in Your Community

Bonney Brown, President and Founder, Humane NetworkDecember 2018

In this presentation, learn how to get the word out about your organization, develop strong relationships, ways to create memorable communication and how people become engaged, the pitfalls to avoid, and things you can do right away.

How to Make Your Board More Effective for Your Organization and More Rewarding for Board Members

Bonney Brown, President and Founder, Humane NetworkDecember 2018

This presentation helps address many common challenges and concerns and how to transform the board into a more effective high-functioning group.

Influencing Local Policy

Jill Beckwith, Chief Philanthropy Officer, EmancipetDecember 2018

This presentation offers a step-by-step process on forming strategic relationships with policy makers to help inform their decisions.

The Role of Public Health in Animal Sheltering

Jeanette O'Quin, DVM, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor, Shelter Medicine and Veterinary Public Health, Ohio State University College of Veterinary MedicineDecember 2018

This presentation discusses how sheltering practices in the U.S. are impacting public health internationally, in particular Ethiopia.

Transports Make Me Nervous!

Holly Putnam, DVM, Director of Operations and Outreach, Shelter Outreach Services, Ithaca NYDecember 2018

This presentation discusses best practices of transport programs and other tips to help minimize risk, while maximizing lifesaving.

What's Next? Improving Welfare in Your Community with Limited Resources

Carolyn R. Brown and Jocelyn KesslerDecember 2018

This workshop helps you to identify the needs of your community and discover how to maximize your resources and incorporate affordable and accessible preventive and basic veterinary care into your organization.

Million Cat Challenge: Albuquerque Case Studies Going Big With Community Cat Programs

Desiree Triste-AragonThursday, October 25, 2018

Learn how the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department partnered with Petsmart Charities and Best Friends Animal Society to drastically reduce euthanasia and intake of cats and kittens coming into the shelter. Learn more about how the program works and how you can replicate it in your community.

Million Cat Challenge: Believe in Saving Lives

Karen SheppardThursday, October 11, 2018

How changing communication approaches, implementing strong programs, and the power of belief all came together to save cats' lives in Huntsville's municipal shelter.

So, You Want Some Money? How to Apply for Maddie's Fund^® Innovation Grants

Kelly Clardy and Amber EbyThursday, September 20, 2018

Do you have questions about Maddie's Fund^® Innovation Grants?

During this informative webcast, you will hear a brief overview of the Innovation Grants, Maddie's Fund Grant Portal, and the application process.

Study: Nonprofit spay/neuter is good for people, pets and communities

September 18, 2018

No one wants to see pets born who will end up homeless or unwanted. But in areas where veterinary practices are already facing a tough economic landscape, the opening of nonprofit spay/neuter clinics can feel threatening. Are those fears realistic? A new study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association suggests the…

LifeLine Animal Project's Pets for Life Program

August 31, 2018

AVMA article lays out ways private practice veterinarians can help save homeless pets

August 21, 2018

A new article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association says private practice veterinarians have the power to help end pet homelessness and euthanasia in their communities. Relations between private practice veterinarians and shelters/rescue organizations experience challenges in many communities. However, the influx of younger veterinarians combined with the explosive growth in the number…

Louisville shelter teams up with local police to get dogs out into the field… and adopted!

May 3, 2018

Looking for ways to get your shelter’s dogs out into the community so they can get seen by more potential adopters? Consider partnering with your local police department! That’s what Louisville Metro Animal Services (LMAS) did after Stephanie Jackson got back from the Maddie’s® Medium and Large Adult Dog Foster Apprenticeship at Pima Animal Care…

Maddie's Idea Lab: Saving Lives and Spreading Good Ideas

Sheila Segurson D'Arpino, DVM, DACVBMarch 2018

Maddie's^® Idea Lab supports the implementation and assessment of innovative ideas that have a high likelihood of advancing lifesaving of dogs and cats, the utilization of foster care for dogs and cats or animal welfare leadership. Come to this lecture to find out what we've learned and how these ideas are saving lives.

Overcoming Obstacles: Wisdom of the Warrior with David Meyer

David MeyerMarch 2018

How can you better motivate the public to take the actions you need them to take? David Meyer shows you how to use the subtle principles of Jiu Jitsu to build support and overcome obstacles in all aspects of life in this presentation.

Venturing Past 90: Who are the Last 10% of Dogs and How Do You Save Them?

Mike Kaviani and Marian CannellMarch 2018

What should your shelter/community expect when you're ready to push past 90%? Come learn about "the last 10 percent", and the programs that are saving the dogs that have historically been deemed unsaveable.

Tips for working with local lawmakers on animal issues

March 1, 2018

What is the single biggest mistake animal advocates can make when trying to work with lawmakers on animal issues in their communities? Ryan Clinton, who helped make Austin, Texas the largest no-kill city in the U.S., says this: “It’s for advocates to go to their city hall, make a presentation, be roundly ignored, and conclude…

How a Heroes and Hounds program can help your long-stay dogs get adopted

February 8, 2018

Did you know that having veterans work with long-stay shelter dogs is a win-win for both veterans and the dogs? That's exactly what Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley (HSTV) discovered when they launched their Heroes and Hounds program, pairing veterans with at-risk dogs who need a little special attention to get ready for adoption.…

How to ‘sell’ policymakers on innovative adoption fee promotions

October 24, 2017

Many people in animal welfare have seen other communities have success with innovative pet adoption promotions including fee-waived or reduced-fee adoptions, and would like to try implementing them in their city. Sometimes that’s as simple as announcing a promotion, but municipal shelters may find political and administrative policymakers aren’t easily brought on board. Jeannette Peters…

#FeelGoodFriday: How a prison dog training program revolutionized lifesaving and changed lives

October 13, 2017

It’s hard to imagine that a story set in a prison is going to make you feel good, but this one will. In 2014, Karma Rescue in Southern California started Paws for Life, a training program at California State Prison – Los Angeles County. It was one of the first such programs for inmates serving…

Beauty in chaos: The inspirational on-the-ground support for Hurricane Harvey affected animals

September 7, 2017

If you've paid attention to the news or our social media since Hurricane Harvey hit, you're likely aware of some of the awe-inspiring actions from shelters, rescue organizations and volunteers in the affected areas. After assessing the needs and committing $1 million to support those helping the animals, we sent a few of our own…

MaddieTalk: How a shelter partnered with local vets to save orphaned kittens

August 17, 2017

Can a partnership with local veterinarians save orphaned kittens’ lives? You bet, when they’re moved from foster care to local veterinary practices, where they’re provided with love, socialization and care. That's what the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin (HSSW) did, and they share how you can, too, in our latest MaddieTalk: Vet Pets! "We were struggling…

Resources to save shelter cats’ lives

August 8, 2017

The Million Cat Challenge is a partnership of Maddie’s Fund®, the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida, and the ASPCA®, formed to help shelters save the lives of 1 million more cats. It is based on five key initiatives which bring forward those approaches that have…

What is the Role of a Veterinarian in Animal Shelters? Editorial

Richard Avanzino2017

Shelter veterinarians need to do far more than spay/neuter.

Collaboration in the Animal Welfare Community

Tom GeroyJanuary 2018

Animal welfare organizations come in many shapes and sizes, each with its own mission, approach to addressing animal welfare issues, and varying resources.

Shelter medicine changes everything for influenza cats in New York City – and beyond

March 21, 2017

When hundreds of cats in the New York City Animal Care and Control shelters tested positive for avian influenza last year, everyone involved set their only goal — saving the cats’ lives. That was a goal they reached, thanks to shelter medicine and the power of collaboration. “The NYACC did not want to euthanize a…

The kitties went down to Georgia – and their lives were saved!

March 14, 2017

Madi R. Hawkins, Director of Habersham County Animal Care & Control in Georgia, loves cats. She especially loves being in charge of a shelter that’s committed to saving them — even though it hasn’t always been that way. “The polices in place when I first started, especially in regards to feral cats, were heartbreaking,” she…

Getting to No Kill: How Austin Did It

Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Ryan ClintonJanuary 2017

Hear the presenters review the decisions that were made, the communication used, the committees that were formed, the work that was divided up and the strategy that brought the City of Austin to no-kill.

Got community cats? Best Friends has a book for you – free!

October 18, 2016

Community cats: If you’ve got them, Best Friends wants to help. They’ve written a book covering everything from the ABCs to the rocket science of community cat management, and they’re giving it away as a free download! Topics covered include: The history of the TNR movement The importance of leadership Who in your community is…

When it comes to saving animals’ lives, think collaboration not competition

August 17, 2016

Do you ever find yourself trying to come up with new ideas or wishing you had another "you" in your position at your shelter or rescue? Someone you can bounce ideas off of, share experiences with, and even learn from? Believe it or not, you can! How? By connecting with those in your same position…

Expert Coalition Building: Collaboration for Top Results, Part 1

Arlyn BradshawJuly 6, 2016

Learn how three leading agencies are breaking live release rate records - and how you can, too.

Expert Coalition Building: Collaboration for Top Results, Part 2

Kathleen TothJuly 2016

Hear about a vision of a common purpose that is quickly strengthening collaboration among diverse groups - and saving more lives than ever.

Expert Coalition Building: Collaboration for Top Results, Part 3

Tracy RoddomJuly 2016

Forming coalitions is no easy task, learn how three leading agencies are breaking live release rate records - and how you can, too.

Maddie Talks: Aha Moments - Inspirational Speakers Getting it Done

May 2016

Getting the Most Out of Shelter Medicine

Dr. Cristie Kamiya and Carol NovelloDecember 2015

Shelter veterinarians are a powerful source of experience, knowledge, training and insight that can guide animal shelters to improvements in every area of animal care. This webcast will take a comprehensive look at the benefits of giving a veterinarian a policy-making role in shelter operations.

Getting to No-Kill, Different Communities, Different Models NKLA: Los Angeles, California

Brenda Barnette, Francis Battista, Aimee Gilbreath, Marc PeraltaJuly 17, 2015

What is the "secret sauce” that created No-kill Los Angeles’ rapid success? Come learn how Best Friends’ NKLA initiative formed public/private partnerships, created a strong coalition, and broke through misconceptions to save many more lives in L.A.

Getting to No-Kill, Different Communities, Different Models - Austin, Texas

Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Tawney HammondJuly 17, 2015

As the largest no-kill city in the country, Austin Texas, knows how to turn things around. Find out how they did it!

How to Win Friends and Influence Lifesaving through Coalitions and Alliances

Barbara Brown, Francis Battista and Arlyn BradshawJuly 17, 2015

Learn how to leverage allied and rival organizations toward a common goal. You can accomplish great things with the strength of active, united coalitions, find out how in this presentation!

Alternatives to Intake: When the Shelter Isn't the Answer

Wiley Stem, IIIApril 2015

What if your city wanted to stop euthanizing community cats in the shelter, and decided to try something bold? And what if all the animal control officers, rescue groups and community members came together to make it work?

Assessing Your Community to Save More Animals' Lives

Bonney BrownMarch 2015

Do you know what's needed to save the lives of more animals in your community? The answer to that question begins with understanding what already exists in terms of resources, as well as the major issues facing homeless pets in your area and the people who work to help them.

Rescuing Dogs from the Euthanasia List

Palmer NeuhausFebruary 2015

Fifty percent of the dogs in Austin, Texas were dying in 2008 when Austin Pets Alive! began saving lives. The rescue team had merely one- to two-hours to go through the euthanasia list, choose animals and save them before their time was up. Learn how the rescue team evaluated and chose dogs.

The Value of Teamwork: Shelter Managers, Staff and Volunteers

Michael and Pam Kitkoski February 2015

Volunteers are a necessity for rescue and shelter organizations working to achieve no-kill. Volunteers must be treated as partners, offering meaningful work and appropriate autonomy. But even in an atmosphere of mutual accountability, conflicts with both staff and volunteers can arise.

Everybody Wins: Learn How to Change the Way Animal Groups and Veterinarians Work Together

Christie KeithAugust 2014

Have the words "veterinarians are only in it for the money" crossed your mind or lips? If you volunteer or work for an animal rescue group, have you ever passed up pulling a treatable pet from a shelter because you weren't sure you could find affordable treatment? If you run a shelter, have you ever wondered why local veterinarians don't want to participate in your programs?

Community Cat Advocacy through a Lawmaker's Eyes: Tips from Jennifer Fearing

Jennifer FearingAugust 2012

Maddie's Institute spoke with Jennifer Fearing, California Senior State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, about how learning to see the community cat issue through a lawmaker's eyes can lead to success.