When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities.
The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to take a look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue organizations across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently.
Maddie’s Fund hosts an hour-long Zoom call twice a week. While these calls started out as a response to COVID-19, it’s grown into so much more. These calls are a safe place to discuss uncomfortable topics, all while sharing a common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.
We invite you to join us in continuing these collaborative and enlightening conversations!
- Mondays, 7am PT/10am ET https://zoom.us/j/607482466
This call is primarily for shelter workers, volunteers and rescue organizations - Fridays, 8am PT/11am ET https://zoom.us/j/700788578
This call is primarily for executive directors and animal welfare leaders
August 3, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: KjAg^7h&
Meeting Links & Resources
- CARE.org barriers to adoption PSA
- Confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Animals in the United States
- The Covid-19 Eviction Crisis: An Estimated 30-40 Million People In America Are At Risk
- Deconstructing the Spay/Neuter Debate
- Greater Good Foster contact
foster@greatergood.org - Human Animal Support Services (HASS)
Facebook Group
Main webpage
Working Groups - HSUS Animal Sheltering Adopters Welcome Manual
- Million Cat Challenge 5-part kitten management webcast series
- Million Cat Challenge: Navigating Anesthetic Drug Shortages in Shelters After COVID
Registration link - People Are Animals, Too - two podcasts
For more on how to prepare for the eviction crisis with Abby Volin,Paws Opening Doors
How to remove barriers to communicating with people
August 3, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 9awt4#==
Meeting Links & Resources
- The Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association: A profession in Crisis - DEI in veterinary medicine video
- CARE.org barriers to adoption PSA
- New Nike ad
- Compassionate Lifesaving: Taking Care of You and Your Team (2-part talk)
- Ensuring Accountability Around Life and Death Decisions - panel discussion at AmPA 2020 with Sarah Aguilar, Emma Davenport, Tawny Hammond, Erin Olsen and Lee Ann Shenefiel
- Feline Foster worksheet: Get Started with Our Foster Program in a Box - from Sarah Aguilar
- Happiness Chemicals and How to Hack Them - graphic
- Identifying Barriers for Potential Fosters
- Kitten Intake Decisions in Animal Shelters webinar on August 6, 2020 with Kate Hurley, DVM and Hannah Shaw (the Kitten Lady) Register
- Merritt Clifton article The Academic Impostor Behind the Pit Bull Hysteria (2016) – from Davyd
- Steffen Baldwin’s arrest (news item in Marysville Journal Tribune) – from Kristen
- US COVID-19 data tracker (CDC map)
July 27, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: N?h0.HqP
Meeting Links & Resources
- 7 Guiding Principles (foster programs) by Kristen Hassen-Auerbach
- American Bar Association TNVR report - report on legal issues with TNR
- Assessing a Person’s Request to Have an Animal as a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act
- Best Friends’ Key Legal Issues to Consider (Community Cats)
https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/key-legal-issues-consider
https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/community-cats-public-policy-and-legal-issues - The Best Practice Playbook for Animal Shelters, by Dr. Sara Pizano
- Community Development Block Grant
- Community Foundation of Mendocino County, CA
- Forbes Article on CARES 7/26/20
- Home-To-Home: Rehoming Programs: A proactive approach to serving your community while reducing intake - webinar
- Home to Home website
- Human Animal Support Services (HASS)
FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/humananimalsupportservices
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/humananimalsupportservices/ - Million Cat Challenge
- National Low Income Housing Coalition
Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/25/texas-eviction-protection-expired-what-you-should-know/ - Pasco County, FL Leave Them Be Community Cat Program
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFZu0ECsDrE - Rachel Wertheimer research survey impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on accessibility of veterinary care for unowned animals in the care of shelters, foster-based rescues, and humane societies
- Stay Home and Foster
- VIBE: Value Inclusion, Belonging, and Equity for all from Carin Taylor, Workday Chief Diversity Officer
July 20, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: *V%8?XgB
Meeting Links & Resources
- COVID Control Strategies – Maintaining Safety During Re-Opening and Beyond webcast - from Julie Levy
- COVID communication/documents/screening/training for employees - from Melanie Sadek at Valley
Humane Society (msadek@valleyhumane.org)
Anyone who has written documents, please email them to Kristen (Kristen.hassen@pima.gov) - COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool – from Mandy Evans
- COVID-19 Spay/neuter and Vaccine Preparedness Guide - webinar on re-opening of spay/neuter clinics with Dr. Elizabether Berliner, et. al.
- The COVID Symptom Study has revealed six distinct ‘types’ of COVID-19 – from Kristen Hassen
- Flattening the kitten curve while spay/neuter is on hold – webinar with Dr. Julie Levy, Aimee St.Arnaud, Hannah Shaw (The Kitten Lady), Marla Browne
- Greatergood.org – foster page
If you are a shelter or rescue in need of foster volunteers, please complete the form located here. - Home To Home program – from Mandy Evans
- Human Animal Support Services (HASS)
FaceBook page
Instagram page
Bobby Mann’s email address: Bobby.mann@americanpetsalive.org - The Ins & Outs of Perception: Crafting the Culture and Brand of Your Organization Webinar on your brand and culture. It speaks to how the public perceives the shelter - from Mandy Evans.
- Removing Barriers to Pet Adoption with Best Friends Animal Society podcast – from Mandy Evans
Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yumfido1BGY or http://peopleareanimalstoo.com/2020/07/episode-27-removing-barriers-to-pet-adoptions-with-best-friends-animal-society/ - San Francisco SPCA COVID-19 updates and policies - from Irene Chansawang - sharing best practices in adoption, transport, intake and spay/neuter protocols with the California Dept. of Public Health to guide 300+ California shelters through this time.
July 13, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 0s.33HI6
Meeting Links & Resources
- 2020 Cornell ASPCA Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Conference
- Cat Games!
From the ASPCA Cornell Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Conference
Laurie Gaines, BSc, DVM , Kingston Humane Society
- Cat Fishing
- Game for Cats
- Paint for Cats
- YouTube for Cats - CNBC Eviction News Story
- TheEviction Lab at Princeton University
- The Future of Volunteers in Sheltering Webcast
- Look for the Good
Music by Jason Mraz - Temporary Pet Guardians
Animal Welfare Association's Program
July 6, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 6E@b=m#G
Meeting Links & Resources
- Austin Animal Center re data on found pets and RTO, Mark Sloat’s presentation
- Best Friends’ blog, by Julie Castle about the future of sheltering
- COVID-19 References
- Coronavirus Tracker
- COVID-19 Recovery Toolkit
- COVID Control Strategies: Maintaining Safety During Re-Opening and Beyond, webinar with Dr. Julie Levy and Toronto Humane Society
- COVID-19 Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic Preparedness Guide
- Johns Hopkins Corona Virus Resource Center - GreaterGood.org to find for foster caregiver volunteers
- Home-home.org
This website is branded for your own organization and community so those who do need to rehome their pet are linked directly with those looking to adopt.
Home To Home webinar from Mandy Evans - to provide more details on how you can have a program - Human Animal Support Services (HASS)
- NextDoor.com - hyper local app
- Rehome.adoptapet.com
- TNR guidance on safe practices while social distancing
Juine 29, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 4n=+oy7w
Meeting Links & Resources
- ASAP Outcomes, by Rachel Jones and Jennifer Handlin, Pima Animal Care Center
- PowerPoint
- Full flowchart
- ASAP Dog Foster Form
- ASAP Dog Adopter Form - Best Friends’ Town Hall 2019 National Data Set
- National Data Set
- 2025 Goal - COVID Control Strategies - Maintaining Safety During Re-Opening and Beyond
Million Cat Challenge and Toronto Humane Society webcast on managing COVID-19 - HeARTspeak.org by Caitlin Quinn
Templates for PSAs, photos, other graphics - Home-To-Home: Rehoming Programs: A proactive approach to serving your community while reducing intake - webinar
- HSUS 2020 Animal Care Expo
- Maddie's Pet Forum
- Pet Harbor – find lost dogs
- Pima Animal Care Center:
- Trello board for foster care
- How-to Trello board video
June 22, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 7Q#9G3q8
Meeting Links & Resources
- COVID Control Strategies - Maintaining Safety During Re-Opening and Beyond – webcast with Drs. Linda Jacobson, Julie Levy and panelists from Toronto Humane Society
June 24, 12n Pacific/2pm Central/3pm Eastern - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion reading/viewing
- A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
- De-stigmatizing ‘Owner Surrender’ by Kristen Hassen-Auerbach
- Great Speeches by Native Americans, by Bob Blaisdell
- I Can't Breathe: A death on Bay Street, by Matt Taibbi
-The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity, by Kwame Anthony Appiah
- Me and White Supremacy, by Layla Saad
- Shelter Strategies: Resources for Examining Systemic Inequity, reading list by Jyothi Robertson
- Gateway Pet Guardians
- Good News Network - study
June 15, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 1a&0$^kF
Meeting Links & Resources
- Best Friends’ webcast with Julie Castle and James Evans from CARE (Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity): Moving Beyond with CARE, with a list of resources:
- The Black Man's Dog: The Social Context of Breed Specific Legislation in the Animal Law Journal, by Ann Linder, 2018
- Oakland Animal Services (example of a shelter that separated from police department)
- Out magazine
- Project Implicit: Complete a self-test for implicit bias (15 min)
- The Sniff, blog on racism in the rescue movement
- Ten ways to create change in an animal welfare organization, by Sue Cosby Jennnings
June 8, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 2Y!5$.JS
Meeting Links & Resources
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion reading/listening/viewing list
- 13th, by Ava DuVernay (Netflix documentary)
- 3 Ways To Practice Non-Optical Allyship & Actually Be Useful, by Mia Mercado
- 5 Questions an Anti-Racist Organization Should Be Able to Answer, by Anonymous
- 158 Resources to Understand Racism in America, by Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, June 4, 2020
- Anti-racism reading list compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein in May 2020
- Beyond Cages: Animal Law and Criminal Punishment, by Justin Marceau
- Code Switch, podcast on NPR
Uncertain Hour
Higher Learning - Comb the Roots, podcast by Ally Henny
- Dangerous Crossings: Race, Species, and Nature in a Multicultural Age, by Claire Jean Kim
- Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond
- The House I Live In, A film by Eugene Jarecki, Independent Lens (PBS)
- How to be an Anti-Racist, by Ibram X. Kendi
- How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood, by Peter Moskowitz
- Intersectionality Matters, African American Policy Forum podcast
- Leaning in and Listening - Diversity and Inclusion in Animal Welfare, Best Friends’ Podcast, Episode 16
- The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander
- Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon, by Bronwen Dickey
- Pod Save the People - podcasts
- Race Forward, podcast
- Racism as Zoological Witchcraft: A Guide to Getting Out, by Aph Ko
- Scene on Radio: Seeing White series, podcast
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning, by Jason Reynolds
- St. Louis International Film Festival documentaries
- So, You Want to Talk about Race? By Ijeoma OluoTaking Action to be Actively Anti-racist
- TED Talk - The Danger of a Single Story, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- There’s a growing trend to defund the police. Here’s what that means. Scott Andrew, CNN
- This Book is Anti-Racist, by Tiffany Jewell
- Waking Up White, by Debby Irving
- Where We Stand: Class Matters and Killing Rage, by Bell Hooks
- White Fragility, by Robin DiAngelo
Other links/resources
June 1, 2020 Meeting Recordings
Access Password: 5b$7#7R1
Meeting Links & Resources
- 2019 Pima Animal Care Center – Safety Report
- 5 Ways to Show Up for Racial Justice Today – KQED (PBS station in San Francisco) cultural blog
- Empowering Fosters to Market Their Pets from Foster Care – webcast with Kelly Duer
- Getting Foster Dogs Adopted: 5 Tips for Foster Coordinators - blog by PACC foster coordinator Rachel Jones
- House Rabbit Society - for information about RHDV
- USDA: NC pug never contracted COVID-19
Poll #1
Poll #2
Poll #3
Poll #4
May 18, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 9C+7+shk
Meeting Links & Resources
- American Pets Alive!
1. The shelter provides emergency medical care and short term housing for animals with urgent needs.
2. The public can reach the organization quickly and easily using remote technologies like text, phone and web chats.
3. Volunteers are engaged in ever area of the organization, includinf field and outreach services.
4. Telehealth services are available for animal caregivers considering surrender, and foster and finders of animals who may be sick or injured.
5. Animals that physically enter the shelter have outcome pathways identified before or at the time of intake, so the in-shelter length of stay in reduced drastically.
6. The vast majority of pets are housed in foster homes, rather than shelter kennels, and most foster pets are aopted directly from foster homes.
7. Animal caregivers can access pet support services, including housing, medical and behavioral support, as well as fod and supplies to keep the human-animal family together.
8. Animal services personnel operate as trained case managers, helping people keep their pets, providing resources and support to struggling pet owners who needf to rehome the animals.
9. The organization operates a comprehensive loose pet reunification service to successfully send most roaming pets home without them having to enter the shelter system.
10. Human social services, rescue groups and other community partners work closely with the animal services organization, recognizing people and their pets as a family unit. - Best Friends’ COVID-19 S/N Clinic Guide
- The Future of Animal Sheltering: Elements of the Animal Social Services Coalition Model - webinar
- Human Animal Support Services (HASS)
- Working group sign-up form
- FaceBook page
- Instagram page
- Email: hass-project@americanpetsalive.org - How Much is Enough? What to Expect from Your Foster and Volunteer Coordinators – American Pets Alive! blog by Kristen Hassen-Auerbach
- Keeping Families Together: Pivoting Community Programming to Support People and Pets During COVID-19 – webcast sponsored by PetHub
- N.A.C.A. New Membership Fees
- Rehoming Programs: A proactive approach to serving your community while reducing intake - webcast
May 11, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 1L&1*0=u
Meeting Links & Resources
- The 24Pet® ShelterWatch Report: COVID-19 Impact
- Austin Animal Center found dog and cat data
- FieldHaven's Kitten Sitter Program
- Finding Rover – facial recognition to find homes for pets
- Keeping Families Together! – American Pets Alive! Webcast
- The Kitten Lady – webinar series for foster caregivers
Kitten Lady: Feral Felines and Kittens Found Outdoors webinar - Missing Animal Response Network - tips and facts to use in communities to help people find lost pets or find owners of found pets.
- Overcoming Adoption Barriers Research: Executive Summary – Best Friends’ study
Poll #1
Poll #2
Poll #3
Poll #4
Poll #5
May 4, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 1N+J#PP%
Meeting Links & Resources
"The best shelter is a humane community.”
- 11 Guiding Principles of the Animal Social Services Model
1.The shelter serves as an emergency room and short-term crisis response center for pets.
2.People can immediately reach the shelter via remote technology, including texting, e-mail and telephone.
3.Remote and telehealth services so non-emergencies can be served outside the shelter.
4.Adoption, foster, or rescue outcomes for most pets scheduled prior to or at the time of shelter intake.
5.Case management approach to serving all animals, emphasizing the connection between animals and people who care for them.
6.Maddie’s Fund® Foster-centric model implemented, so up to 90% of pets in shelter custody can be housed in foster.
7.Pet support programs offer resources to allow most people to keep their pets.
8.Expanded role of animal control and field services addresses the root causes of animal issues in the community.
9.Shelter provides self-rehoming support services to assist owners in safely rehoming their own pets when keeping them is not an option.
10.Volunteers and community partners are engaged to assist with every program component.
11.Fewer pets in shelter means staff positions can be reallocated to assisting with pet support, foster, stray reunification, and other animal social services programs. - Find foster caregivers
- Found Foster Protocol for Chameleon
Poll #1
Poll #2
Poll #3
Poll #4
April 27, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- American Association of Equine Practitioners Safety Net Program to Help Horse Owners in Need
- ASPCA’s The Right Horse Initiative national campaign to increase horse foster
- The Best Practice Playbook for Animal Shelters, by Team Shelter USA, LLC (Dr. Sara Pizano)
- COVID-19 Spay/neuter and Vaccine Preparedness Guide - webinar on re-opening of spay/neuter clinics
- Pet rehoming programs
www.frontstreetshelter.org
https://home-home.org/
https://www.crispchicago.com/ - Start with Why, by Simon Sinek shows that the leaders who’ve had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way — and it’s the opposite of what everyone else does.
Poll #1
Poll #2
Poll #3
Poll #4
April 20, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- American Pets Alive! The Future is Here: Ten Steps Shelters Can Take Now to Build Better Animal Services
- Animal Social Services Prototype Interest Form
- Balancing The Two Ninety Percentiles In Human And Animal Welfare: 90% Social Distance With 90%+ Shelter Lifesaving – article by Dr. Ellen Jefferson
- Community Cats Podcast – with Dr. Bob Weedon, DVM, MPH, Kathi Daniels, Jane Guiliane, Bryan Kortis
- COVID-19 Guide for Residential Property Managers
- "I video chatted with a cat and now she’s mine.” – article about virtually meeting pets
- Tomahawk Live Trap has 10% off traps through 2020 using code MCC2020
April 13, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- Two webinars about megestrol acetate
A Cat Contraceptive Option During Covid-19
Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs
An Emergency Contraceptive Option for Cats During COVID-19 Delayed Surgery
Maddie’s Fund® - Before You Get Your Puppy, by Ian Dunbar
- Flattening the kitten curve while spay/neuter is on hold – webinar with Dr. Julie Levy, Aimee St.Arnaud, Hannah Shaw (The Kitten Lady), Marla Browne
- More pets are in foster homes than ever before! Now what? Blog by Kelly Duer
- One Health Conference
- One Welfare
- Pet Owners: What's Your Pet Emergency Plan if you are sick with COVID? – webinar
- Redefining Animal Sheltering – AmPA! Webcast with Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Kristen Auerbach
- Shelter Animals Count
April 6, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- Animal Welfare Daily Digest eNews
- AVMA SARS – CoV-2 in Animals
- CDC Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and Equipment
- HometoHome This website is branded for your own organization and community so those who do need to rehome their pet are linked directly with those looking to adopt. Having all adoption agencies in your community join will create a system to decrease the number of animals entering the shelter.
- How I Met My Dog shelter matching tool and rehome platform
- Humane Rescue Alliance COVID-19 Update
HRA Preparedness Guide - The Illinois Dept of Agriculture - pet food pantries
- Pima Animal Care Center Guide
- Rehoming
- Safe food for your pet www.balanceit.com and www.petdiets.com
- USDA Statement on the Confirmation of COVID-19 in a Tiger in NY
Dr. Weese, Worms and Germs blog - University of Florida COVID-19 Resources
How to make alternate PPE and sanitizers
March 30, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1
- AmPA COVID-19 Animal Shelter Preparedness
- Center for Disease Control COVID-19 and Animals
- DIY mask patterns
Bunch of videos here
Mask pattern meeting N95 standards - Intake & Handling of Known COVID-19 Exposed Animals
- Safe way to unload groceries
- Veterinary Funding Assistance Programs (FARS)
- Webinar: Spay/Neuter in the COVID Era
- Why must we suspend spay-neuter surgery during the pandemic - From Steve Gentilella
March 23, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- American Pets Alive! COVID-19 Preparedness Guide
- American Pets Alive! Shelter and Rescue COVID-19 Response Survey
- Best Friends’ Shelter in Place Guidelines sent to the Municipal Leagues and International Municipal Lawyers Association disaster list serve.
- Best Friends’ COVID-19 Resources
- CharityHowTo – free educational webcasts
Fundraising in the Time of Coronavirus: How to Manage and Modify Your Fundraising Coronavirus and What You Need to Know About Postponing and Cancelling Events
Coronavirus and Nonprofit Grants: Tactics and Strategies to Help You Adapt
Maddie’s Fund® COVID-19 Emergency Foster Care Resources - Maddie's Fund® COVID-19 and Emergency Foster Care Resources - webcast
- Maddie’s Fund® Foster Caregiving Marketing Guide
Six Guidelines for Marketing Your Foster Pet blog
Pima Animal Care Center video on marketing pets from foster care - Maddie’s® University Emergency Foster - online course
- Philanthropy.com
Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak: A Curated Guide to Help Nonprofits 4 Ways to Engage Major Donors During the Covid-19 Crisis - State of Illinois stay at home order - rescues and shelters on page 5
August 7, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: v!c6W8by
Meeting Links & Resources
- Animal Sheltering Adopters Welcome Manual (will be updated + webinar is being produced)
- Best Friends Professional Development Symposium: Reaching New Heights in Contemporary Animal Services
Presented in Partnership with Southern Utah University (SUU)
September 16–17, 2020 - Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson (Oprah’s Book Club)
- Confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Animals in the United States
- The Covid-19 Eviction Crisis: An Estimated 30-40 Million People In America Are At Risk
- Dallas Morning News op ed: "I once called ‘clear the shelters’ a feel good gimmick - here’s what changed my mind”
- Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Theory, developed by E.M. Roger
- Finding Rover - enroll your organization here
- Give Me Shelter: The Foreclosure Crisis and Its Effect on America’s Animals by Stacy A. Nowicki Ph.D. (Stanford Journal of Animal Law and Policy)
- Human Animal Support Services (HASS):
https://www.humananimalsupportservices.org/
Bobby.mann@americanpetsalive.org
Working groups:
https://www.humananimalsupportservices.org/workinggroups - Impact of the Economic Recession on Companion Animal Relinquishment, Adoption, and Euthanasia: A Chicago Animal Shelter's Experience
- Maddie’s® Instructor Summit - How to onboard new volunteers during COVID
- Million Cat Challenge/Royal Canin webcasts hosted by Maddie’s Fund: 5-part kitten management series
Thursdays, Aug 6 - Sept 3 - University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine – Open Adoptions
July 31, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: M3B7bf@K
Meeting Links & Resources
- Best Friends’ Town Halls
- CARE.org barriers to adoption PSA
- Congressman John Lewis' essay posted in the NY Times on the day of his funeral
- Eviction / housing crisis links:
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/30/what-its-like-to-be-evicted-during-the-coivd-19-pandemic.html
On hunger
How animal welfare organizations across the country are preparing for the effects of the housing crisis – Maddie’s Fund’s Chew on This blog
Keeping Families Together During the Eviction Crisis: Three Things Animal Shelters Should Do Now
People are Animals, Too podcast with Mandy Evans and Abby Volin on the upcoming eviction crisis. - Finding Rover application (PetCo)
- Home-Home.org webinar on the rehoming platform
- Human Animal Support Services (HASS):
FaceBook page
Webpage - Humane Rescue Alliance virtual adoption info and webcast
- HSUS 2020 Animal Care Expo video recordings
Register to watch - HSUS virtual Taking Action For Animals (TAFA) September 19-20
- Maddie’s® Instructor Summit Facebook events
- Million Cat Challenge/Maddie’s Fund® 5-part kitten series Aug 6- Sept 3
- The Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association - new group committed to increase DEI in veterinary medicine.
- National Geographic article on dog testing positive for COVID-19 and dying of cancer
- Track the economic impacts of COVID-19
- US COVID-19 data tracker (CDC map)
July 17, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 4R^^8!4=
Meeting Links & Resources
- Adisa Group's Peer-to-peer foster program
from Heather Cammisa: email heather@adisagroup.com for any questions - Volunteer Engagement Workshop: 2-4pm Monday 7/20
- AAWA free Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training Package
- Community Cats Podcast
from Stacey LeBaron
- Feline Leukemia Day July 18, 2020 10am-5pm ET.
- We have 6 tremendous speakers including Dr. Levy, Monica Frenden, Heather Kennedy, Danielle Case, Brit Fox Hover, Diane Denessen. For more details go to www.communitycatspodcast.com - COVID communication/documents/screening/training for employees from Melanie Sadek. If you are interested in getting those materials as a reference, please email me. msadek@valleyhumane.org
- COVID Control Strategies - Maintaining Safety During Re-Opening and Beyond Webcast
from Julie Levy - The Eviction Lab at Princeton University
from Cole Thaler
- Eviction Lab page with COVID info on each state
- Eviction Lab Misses the Mark - ShelterForce
- Please 'like' Paws Between Homes on Facebook - Greenville Animal Care's fire department Partnership / Chip Scanning Video
- Human Animal Support Services (HASS)
- https://www.humananimalsupportservices.org/
- Bobby.mann@americanpetsalive.org
- Working groups
- Foster working group
- Integrating Animal Services with Public Health working group - HSUS Animal Care Expo July 22 - 24, 2020
- Petco Foundation grant: Apply Here
If you're already registered, log in. If not, click 'create an account.' - Rachel Wertheimer research survey
Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on accessibility of veterinary care for unowned animals in the care of shelters, foster-based rescues, and humane societies
Poll 1: What percent of your animals are in foster right now? (60 respondents of 176)
| 6.67% | 10% or less |
| 23.33% | 11-25% |
| 23.33% | 26-50% |
| 26.67% | 51-75% |
| 16.67% | 76-100% |
| .33% | Other (such as, I don't have animals in our care) - please comment in the chat area |
Poll: What is Your Role in Animal Welfare? (103 respondents of 169)
| 38.83% | Executive Director |
| 23.31% | Executive leadership/management |
| 8.73% | National organization leadership |
| 6.80% | Shelter Medicine leadership/Shelter veterinarian |
| 22.33% | Other (please comment in the chat area) |
July 10, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 5I*!q.DV
Meeting Links & Resources
- 2020 Cornell ASPCA Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Conference - free this weekend
- Advocacy 101: Strategies for Challenging Discriminatory Dog Laws – webinar with Kim Wolf
- Austin Monitor – news items from Faith
Updated: Travis County extends moratorium on evictions until July 25
City evaluates rental assistance program, prepares for round two - Best Friends’ Town Halls
Humane Animal Control Manual - C.A.R.E. Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity
- Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City book by Matthew Desmond recommended by James Evans
- Human Animal Support Services (HASS):
https://www.humananimalsupportservices.org/
Bobby.mann@americanpetsalive.org - July 30 ASPCA Behavior Roundtable
- Panleukopenia FAQs
- Paws Opening Doors works with animal welfare organizations and tenants nationally.
Abby Volin's email: avolin@pawsopeningdoors.com
https://www.pawsopeningdoors.com/education/
https://www.pawsopeningdoors.com/preparing-for-the-covid-eviction-crisis/ - People Are Animals, Too podcast Removing Barriers to Pet Adoptions with Best Friends Animal Society
- Pima Animal Care Center’s 11 Action Steps to create a workplace that is safe and welcoming of everyone
- Translate 50 to 60 written materials and all PACC signage into Spanish.
- Create a PACC DEI mission statement and values.
- Create and disseminate a survey to staff and volunteers about how PACC can become a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization.
- Create a public-facing survey for PACC customers about their experience at PACC
- Start a learning and resource library at PACC and share trainings and relevant information with staff on an ongoing basis.
- Go area by area to review barriers in documents, policies and practices.
- Using staff break room board to ask "How can PACC become a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization?” and share feedback with all staff via e-mail and in the group.
- Use a cultural humility framework to focus on ourselves, not just a learning of the ‘other.’ Self-reflexivity very important.
- Definition of cultural humility and PC non-discrimination policy shared visually and posted in functional areas.
- Identify external organization to help us develop training materials and conduct staff and volunteer DEI trainings.
- Conduct focus groups with different groups of staff to get input in smaller group setting without a manager present.
- Volunteer, Foster and new staff DEI training and expectations written in orientation manuals and in videos. - Rehoming from Mandy Evans
- Home-Home webinar
- US Dept Housing and Urban Development - from Jyothi Robertson
Assessing a Person’s Request to Have an Animal as a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act
June 26, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 6z!6e.5O
Meeting Links & Resources
- 5 Insider Lessons to Nail Your Next Virtual Event
- American Pets Alive! Weekly summit with Maddie’s® Lifesaving Instructors
- Best Friends’ Strut Your Mutt Application for Network Partners
- Director, Broward County Animal Care and Adoption – job opening For any unofficial information, Dr. Sara Pizano will be glad to speak with you drpizano@teamshetlerusa.com or 954-401-8785 (Sara Pizano)
- "Communicating in a Divided America” – AAWA webinar
- "How to Market in a Downturn” - Harvard Business Review article (2009) that speaks to the mistake of businesses slashing marketing budgets
- PetHealth The 24Pet® ShelterWatch Report – COVID-19 Impact
- Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com
- Rehoming Programs: A proactive approach to serving your community while reducing intake - webcast
June 19, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 1f%&1!3Q
Meeting Links & Resources
- American Pets Alive! blog: The Future of Helping Dogs by Gina Knepp
- Animal Sheltering Adopters Welcome manual
- Humane Animal Support Services (HASS)
- Kalief Browder story on Netflix
- Million Cat Challenge: COVID Control Strategies - Maintaining Safety During Re-Opening and Beyond – Maddie’s Fund webcast
- Shelter Strategies: Resources for Examining Systemic Inequity From Jyothi Robertson
- Why organizers are fighting to center black trans lives right now
June 12, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 2d+RK5I5
Meeting Links & Resources
- Animal Care Expo July 22-24 online
- Best Friends webcast 6.11.2020 Moving Beyond Bias with CARE with James Evans, President, CARE.org and Julie Castle, CEO Best Friends
- Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity - CARE.org
- Finding Rover (facial recognition app for rehoming lost pets)
- Greatergood.org list of 80k+ fosters who want to foster – contact to add your shelter as a resource if you need more fosters.
- https://stayhomeandfoster.org/ is the Greater Good foster volunteer page - Pet Smart Charities Grants
- Supporting and Engaging Foster Caregivers During COVID-19 – Maddie’s Fund® webcast
June 5, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 6K#T&zm*
Meeting Links & Resources
- Anti-Racist Organizational Change: Resources & Tools for Nonprofits
- Anti-Racism Resources for White People: a collection of books, podcasts, videos, and articles
- Animal Welfare Workers for Social Justice Facebook Group
- Article on white privilege (Yesmagazine.org)
- Beyond Cages, Animal Law and Criminal Punishment by Justin Marceau.
- C.A.R.E Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity
- Compassionate Badassery group
A free 5 day e-course on understanding racialized trauma and how it impacts society by Resmaa Menakem. - Gabrielle Chapman, gchapman@humanesociety.org - offering DEI training and support.
- People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond
- Pets for Life: Introduction to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Animal Welfare led by Gabbi Chapman, PFL Senior Analyst, Social Justice and Amanda Arrington, Pets for Life Director
- Pets for Life’s Sustainability Guide - Chapter that breaks down specifically four levels of racism in our field as well as some ways to approach racial equity through the way we provide services and programming — including having community input.
- "Recruiting for Board Diversity”
- #SpayTogether (Humane Society of the US)
- The Sniff for Dog People Recognizing and Dismantling Racism in Animal Rescue
- University of Wisconsin PFL/DEI resources
- "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh
- Vu Le Non Profit AF
"Racism results in not only a discrimination of the potential owners, not only of the communities, but it makes us, black people and people of color, very leery of working within the organization, so instead we do our own thing. When we don’t see many faces like our own as volunteers, staff or board members, we know what to expect – more of the same. We deal with racism on a daily basis, so we don’t want more of it. There is a lot of work to do and the people affected by racism are the experts and should be the ones sharing and speaking and being listened to.”
-Joanna Falber, Stubby’s Heroes, Atlanta, GA
May 29, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 0k&0%wk8
Meeting Links & Resources
- Entrepreneur finds pet microchip problem unsolvable VIN News Service
- Human Animal Support Services Executive Committee Update and Q&A – recording
- Lost2Found text message series (videos from Front Street Animal Shelter – City of Sacramento)
- People Are Animals, Too - podcast on how to stay resilient during COVID-19
- Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV)
- Recommended Rabbit Standard Operating Procedures for Shelters/Rescue Facilities due to Emergence of RHDV2
- USDA NC pug never contracted COVID-19 – WRAL news item
Poll #1
Poll #2
Poll #3
Poll #4
May 22, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 6M&Z^7#?
Meeting Links & Resources
- Adisa COVID-19 Survey Results National survey on the impact of COVID-19 on animal organizations (humane societies, municipal animal services, conservation, sanctuaries, and zoological facilities) from April 2-16, 2020.
- American Pet’s Alive! Ten Considerations Before Reopening Spay/Neuter Operations
- The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement: 2020 Conference Program
- Best Friend’s COVID-19 Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic Preparedness Guide
- Ideas for Safely Offering Spay/Neuter and Wellness: Q&A session – Maddie’s Fund® webcast
- PetCo Foundation Innovation Showdown
- Shelter Animals Count national database
- Working Group Interest Form – sign up form
May 15, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 7b.^%&9T
Meeting Links & Resources
- American Pets Alive! The Elements of the Animal Social Services Model
- CBS News Coronavirus leads to a spike in pet adoptions (May 13, 2020) with Lisa LaFontaine, CEO Humane Rescue Alliance
- CNN: What happens to the pets left behind when their owners die from coronavirus (foster and adoption stories)
- Faunalytics: Companion Animal Issues: What We Can Learn From The 2008 Recession
- The Future of Animal Sheltering: Elements of the Animal Social Services Coalition Model - webcast
- Oak Park (IL) News: Adoptions soar at Animal Care League
- Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Domestic Cats – New England Journal of Medicine study
- Working Groups List (Google form)
Poll #1
Poll #2
May 8, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 7b.^%&9T
Meeting Links & Resources
- The American Association of Feline Practitioners - guidelines recommending that cats with FeLV or FIV be entered into adoption programs. The guideline also states there is no medical reason for these cats to be held back from in-store adoption programs.
- American Pets Alive! Guiding Principles of an Animal Social Services Model
- Austin Animal Center Found Animal Report - Mark Sloat from Austin Animal Center shares AAC’s tool for found pets: an option for residents to hold onto a found pet and look for the owner.
Data and graphs from Mark’s presentation:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1npPWdRA8BW0DVVsCqbJ7FPDl-mJFsvuL2A0gpIJ3lIk/edit?usp=sharing
Austin Animal Services Community-Based Reunification – PowerPoint slides (PDF format) - Best Friends’ National Virtual Super Adoption (May 27-31)
- Petco Foundation Pledge to Save Pet Lives
- The 24Pet® ShelterWatch Report: COVID-19 Impact
May 1, 2020 Meeting Recording
Access Password: 2h#W1545
Meeting Links & Resources
- Best Friend’s COVID-19 Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic Preparedness Guide
- Doobert is launching FosterSpace on June 1. Texting will be integrated, so you can mass text fosters and they can text you back, etc. All from one dashboard!
- Energizeinc.com Betsy McFarland has a 30-minute video offering tips and examples for engaging volunteers during the pandemic
- HeARTspeak.org - marketing templates and resources•Home-to-Home Animal Adoption – direct home placement
- PetCo Foundation Foster and Adopter Webinars
- The Humane Society of the United States – 2 videos that shelters can customize with their own logo/info
1)Advice to pet owners about how to prepare for their pets
2)How to manage children and pets during Stay at Home orders. NACA also created a great infographic that pairs nicely with the video about children and pets
April 24, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- Best Friends’ COVID-19 Resources / Town Halls
- Broward County Animal Services (Florida) - Director position open
- Community Cats Podcast COVID-19 Pop-Up Panels covering the topic of spay/neuter during COVID-19
April 25, 2020 Panelists - Ruth Steinberger (Spay First), Audrey Garrison (Operation Catnip), and Karen Kraus (Feral Cat Coalition).
April 27, 2020 Panelists - Dr. Jeff Young (Rocky Mountain Vet), Dr. Sara Pizano (Team Shelter USA), Aimee St. Arnaud (Best Friends Animal Society) and Anna Murrin (Metro Denver Cat). - COVID-19 Spay/Neuter and Vaccine Preparedness Guide – Maddie’s Fund® Million Cat Challenge webcast with Dr Elizabeth Berliner from Cornell University, Dr Cynthia Karsten from UC Davis, Dr Jen Bolser from HSUS, Natalie Corwin from Pet Community Center TN, Gina Clemmer from Clinic HQ and Aimee St.Arnaud from Best Friends Animal Society.
- The Humane Society of the United States Rock the House for Animals - virtual benefit (4/30)
- HSUS Communications Task Force: a PSA that you can put your logo on and share via social that outlines recommendations for pet owners during COVID-19
- National Spay/Neuter Rebound - Regional funders for spay/neuter may contact Dr. Julie Levy at levyjk@ufl.edu
- University of Wisconsin Temporary sheltering of pets exposed to COVID-19 and recommendations for care
Poll #1
Poll #2
Poll #3
April 17, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- Animal Social Services Prototype Interest Form
- Community Cats and Coronavirus Pop-Up Panels
Spay/neuter in the age of COVID-19
April 18 – Panelists: Karen Little(Alley Cat Advocates), Bryan Kortis(Neighborhood Cats)
April 20 - Panelists: Kathi Daniels(Spay Illinois), Bryan Kortis(Neighborhood Cats), Dr. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH(TLC PetSnip), Jane Guillaume(People for Animals) - Found Animals free community resources for reuniting pets
- Greatergood.org and Chewy - large food donations
- Healhousecall.com for shelter vets, free front porch house calls for pets in foster care
- HSUS Animal Sheltering Corona Virus Shelter Kit
- Tomahawk offering 10% discount on traps for the rest of the year using code MCC2020
April 10, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- AmPA Shelter Preparedness Guide under "Closed Shelter Protocol" – from Ellen Jefferson Foster and virtual adoption protocols and links to adoptions from foster and curbside adoptions.
- American Pets Alive! Redefining Animal Sheltering blog
- An Emergency Contraceptive Option for Cats During COVID-19 Delayed Surgery – Maddie’s Fund® webcast
- Animal Welfare Daily Digest
- ASV COVID-29 Legislation sheet
- Best Friends Vet Access
- Boston Globe: Chelsea, City of the working Latino immigrant, emerges as a hotspot
- Community cats and coronavirus pop-up panel
This Panel features Susan Richmond of Neighborhood Cats to talk about how to use social media fundraising successfully during coronavirus. - El Paso Animal Services Transport video shows how to deliver an animal safely - from Holly Sizemore
- Leadership Through a Crisis webcast
- Maddie's Fund® Pet Foster Stimulus Grant
- New York Times hot spot tracker
- Pet Health Community: Steve Zeid on Animal Welfare Management and Technology Pet Health Community
- Systematic Review for Animals & Food - about the virus and domestic animals
- Worms and Germs blog by Dr. Scott Weese
April 3, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- A Doctor Explains How to Make the Safest Face Mask (video)
- The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement : Pima Animal Care Center’s Safety Fliers in Spanish for your team to help communicate social distancing
- AVMA Interim recommendations for intake of companion animals from households where humans with COVID-19 are present
- Best Friends COVID-19 Resources (transport)
- Best Friends Kindness Cards
- Best Friend’s Fundraising resources: non-profits can apply for some of the small business loans
- CARES Act / Paycheck Protection Program
- Healthy pet food
https://secure.balanceit.com/recipegenerator_ver4/index.php?rotator=EZ
and
https://www.petdiets.com/ - Jessica Dolce: Coping with Stress During COVID-19 webcast
- PPP info specific to non-profits
- University of Florida PPE & Sanitation Alternatives for Animal Shelters
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Temporary sheltering of pets exposed to COVID-19 and recommendations for care
- UW Shelter Medicine Program Q&A with Dr. Sandra Newbury on new recommendations and protocol for sheltering COVID-19 exposed pets
March 27, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- AmPA! Shelter and Rescue Support FaceBook group (Monday meetings)
- 6 Guidelines for Marketing Your Foster Pet – Chew on This blog
- Maddie’s Fund® Foster Caregiver Marketing Guide
- Maddie’s Fund® Nationwide Fostering Study (emergency fostering study)
- PetPoint app for emergency foster one-day events (Palm Valley Animal Society Dog-n-Dash)
March 20, 2020 Meeting Recording
Meeting Links & Resources
- Maddie’s Fund® COVID-19 Emergency Foster Care Resources
- Maddie’s Fund® COVID-19 Emergency Foster Care Resources - webcast
- Maddie’s® University COVID-19 Emergency Foster – online course
- 911fosterpets.com - If your organization needs foster caregivers
- American Pets Alive! Shelter and Rescue COVID-19 Response Survey
- Democracy Now: "Coronavirus Capitalism”: Naomi Klein’s Case for Transformative Change Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
- GreaterGood.org Stay at Home and Foster - how shelters can get food distribution in their state
- PetSmart Charities COVID-19 Relief has committed up to $1M to support direct impacted area of COVID-19 reported cases.
