Topics



 


About Topics:

Topics are used on Maddie's Pet Forum to help categorize discussions and resources which makes all content easily searchable. Members of the Animal Welfare Professionals community must select at least one topic when creating posts or when adding files to the Resource Center. Members are also encouraged to follow topics of interest to curate the notifications you receive in your Personalized Digest emails.

On your profile, there are two areas related to topics: "Topics I Follow" and "Observed Topics".
To follow topics of interest, click on the "+ Add a Topic" button to reveal the list of 25 Animal Welfare topics. This is the most direct way to ensure you receive the content you're most interested in.
Reveals list of animal welfare topics to follow
Topics that have an asterisk * next to them mean that they are a specific Human Animal Support Services (HASS) Element. These have recently been added to better support the members of the HASS Learning Community and you do not need to be a HASS project participant in order to post to these topics.

As you interact with discussions and resources in the Animal Welfare Professionals Community, the system performs calculations based on your actions (such as reading, favoriting, liking and commenting on content) to automatically promote content you're interested in in your Personalized Digest email. These are shown on your profile as your Observed Interests. You can easily remove any of these interests by clicking on the gray x next to the topic name. 

All Animal Welfare Topic Discussions

  • Discussion

    This is amazing thanks for sharing. ------------------------------ Lisa Burn Co-founder/VP Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary Myakka City, FL https://farmhousesanctuary.org ----------------------- See More

  • When I was handling intakes at the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society these were often very hot topics: Cat Aggression, Litter Box issues and Multi Pet Household Challenges for me. I would become the See More

  • I still think this would be very cool to offer to the community! Agreed, if priced right On Thu, Apr 16, 2026 at 10:39 AM Anonymous Member via Maddie's Pet Forum wrote: This message was posted by a See More

  • Hi John, This is an amazing resource! We are a shelter/foster/adoption agency that piloted a s/n wellness clinic last year, and immediately found that our (limited) appointments were filling up within See More

  • I look forward to watching the recording (I can't make the live time). Thanks! ------------------------------ Shelly Thompson Director of Operations Maddie's Fund San Francisco CA ------------------ See More

  • We are reaching out in hopes of finding a compassionate, dedicated individual who truly loves cats to take over an existing rescue that has meant so much to us and to the animals it serves. Over time, See More

  • #AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement) #CommunityPartnerships*

  • yes would be interested if priced right ------------------------------ roy forster Director Happy Life Animal Rescue NY ------------------------------

  • Discussion

    Hi Shoshana, I so much agree! During very intense moments at my clinic, I have announced a few times that, "I am going to stress cry. I am okay, and can still work, but there might be tears." When I've See More

  • Discussion

    Thanks for that question, Audrey. We believe that having the skills to handle tough conversations in a trauma-informed manner will lead to increased job satisfaction and readiness. You bring up such a See More

  • Handouts from this webinar: Presentation Slides (attached below) New Strategies of Canine Post-adoption Support https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1232 No Callback required https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10888705.2025.2572615 See More

  • The recording is now ready! If you'd like to earn a certificate of attendance for continuing education credit for RACE, CAWA or NACA, please view this recording on Maddie's University: https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/maddies-insights-fur-ever-starts-now-supporting-dogs-and-adopters-post-adoption-on-demand See More

  • Discussion

    Thank you! This could be very helpful. ------------------------------ Samantha Polen Executive Director T-Town TNR, Inc. Tulsa OK https://www.ttowntnr.com/ ------------------------------

  • Discussion

    I got teary reading this, it's so powerful. I am wondering what doing the intake experience is like for those doing the intake with this informed approach? It's the heroic professional who can be present See More

  • This is fantastic! I can't wait to learn all about this! Audrey ------------------------------ Audrey Summers Volunteer Homeward Bound OR ------------------------------

  • Omg that is an amazing idea!! So simple! How come I did not think of that!! ------------------------------ Tonya Smith Founder LC'S Foundation Michigan ------------------------------

  • Hi , that is a great idea!!! ------------------------------ Tonya Smith Founder LC'S Foundation Michigan ------------------------------

  • Hi :) When reactive dogs are confronted with their triggers at every turn in the shelter setting, how do we make progress? Join us for a Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection webcast with Lindsay Echito See More

  • RE: Pet health

    Posted by: enzo Dirienzo, 2 days ago
    Discussion

    Yeah, this is actually a great topic to talk about - pet health and prevention is something a lot of people overlook until there's a problem. From what I've seen, the basics really make the biggest See More

  • Hi everyone, I wanted to share something we've been working on that may be helpful for organizations navigating equipment upgrades and facility improvements. We've been hearing from many shelters and See More

  • We are excited to share a new University of Tennessee press release highlighting our Access to Behavior Care Research Project, made possible through the generous support of Maddie's Fund®. 🔗 Read See More

  • Discussion

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous Hello, I know that this is an old thread, but I was wondering if this is something that people would be interested in. I have an idea for See More

  • Discussion

    I am so glad that you find it useful, Kathleen! Please reach out if any questions come up! ------------------------------ Shoshana Mostoller Director of Programs My Dog Is My Home ------------------ See More

  • Discussion

    Thanks for this reply, Monda. You are exactly right that the reasons that there are systems that make large dogs harder to keep and place that have nothing to do with the owner or the shelter. When we See More

  • I've spent the past year having the same conversation with shelter directors, foster coordinators, and rescue leaders. Data lives in five different systems. None of them talk to each other. Lost pet reports See More

  • Hi Abby, I think writing it into policy would be the best place to start. Include in your foster contract that fosters may need to stay overnight or for a few days at the discretion of your veterinary See More

  • Hi! Participant who complete the Cat Behavior Counseling Course do receive a certificate acknowledging completion. ------------------------------ Matthew Wildman Employer 1 ------------------------ See More

  • Discussion

    I created this handout because of the multitude of questions I always got about spaying pregnant cats. Please feel free to use however you like. Two of these images fit on 8.5x11 paper. We also post in See More

  • Discussion Thread

  • Bravo you and everyone else here for making the world a better place! Thank you! We started EscaRosa Trap-Neuter-Return group on Facebook for our two counties. It's a support group for TNR. Feel free See More

  • This is amazing! Thank you so much for posting this information m, it is going to save so many cats! ------------------------------ Maria Plattner Director Forest Felines MN ----------------------- See More

  • Discussion

    Wow, this is great, thank you for the wok in putting it together to share, ------------------------------ Kathleen Miller CEO/Founder Hawaii SPCA HI ------------------------------

  • This is amazing and is going to help so many rescues and people! Thank you for sharing! ------------------------------ Stefanie Schmidt Animal Welfare Specialist Hearts Alive Village NV ------------ See More

  • hello Matthew Again, great resource I was wondering if maybe you could contact me about possibly working together to implement this as part of the software that we are creating called the animal welfare See More

  • Discussion

    Thank you for sharing this. I had heard one story before about him and always wondered if it was a "one off" or if that is what he is really like. Hearing multiple people share the same type of story now, See More

  • Woah! This is such a cool intake diversion resource. We get so many calls from people needing to surrender their cat due to behavior even though they do not want to. It is these conversations that break See More

  • Discussion

    So many amazing ideas. Thank you everyone! We will for sure try a few of these out! ------------------------------ Katheryn White Adoption Counselor/Grant Writer PAWS Shelter of Central Texas TX - See More

  • Discussion

    This is such a great reminder, especially when you look at how differently people react to rehoming depending on the size of the dog. There's a real adoptability bias at play that we don't always acknowledge. See More

  • I started as my shelter's Cat Foster Care Coordinator back at the end of October 2025, so I am still learning the nuances of the position. I have a few fosters who have been around for a long time that See More

  • Discussion Thread

  • Discussion

    We built a web page that actually helps you set up a rescue startup budget. When you outgrow it, it should port into QuickBooks. If you have any problems with it or anything, then let me know, because See More

  • Debi, you wrote so eloquently and with such compassion about your experience and insight. I wish everyone could read your story. ------------------------------ Augusta Farley ----------------------- See More