What has motivated you at work or as a volunteer lately? 

We just came back from the Best Friends Conference and I was so inspired to hear about all the great work we are doing as a movement across the country.  Hearing success stories from other organizations makes me want to keep moving forward for the animals, not just in my community, but across the nation.

Working with a dedicated, compassionate and wonderfully fun team of people who individually and collectively keep saying "YES!"

It is inspiring to see shelter medicine included in the academic process. Educating students about the needs of shelters and the animals they take care of. Students who join the shelter club, give up Sundays to work at spay day and graduate to seek jobs in shelters. HOW FAR WE HAVE COME!

Helping in postop care and catching a complication, and then saving the dog's life!  The Best Friend's conference was truly inspirational!!!!!!  No Kill 2025!

The BFNC was incredibly enlivening and helpful for the wonderful dogs we rescue. Thank you Maddie’s Fund for your commitment to rescues and shelters!

#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

Oh, wow...good question.  I'm motivated by the fact that we were able to help get 3 states off the list of 9 that don't have a pet friendly housing option for DV survivors.  I was also able to recently help our RedRover Responders volunteers at a R.A.M. health clinic (human health and spay/neuter clinic)...folks sat overnight to get themselves and their pets healthcare.  That's some real dedication! 

My dogs.

So, I was really inspired by the Million Cat Challenge reveal at the HSUS Expo earlier this summer.  It inspired me to re-commit to helping our partner shelters increase their feline live release rate.  There are still so many saveable (if not perfectly healthy and socialized) kittens and cats that don't make it out, or spend too long waiting for rescue or adoption.  We pulled 9 kittens and 7 dogs from a partner shelter just the other day.

At work it's been motivating to see this forum come to life!

As a volunteer, this time of year is super busy for the founder of the rescue and she's usually gone for days at a time teaching search & rescue. She's really depended on us crew members to fill the huge void while she's away so it's been awesome to see everyone step up and dedicate even MORE time to care & love on the horses. 

I also put my visiting from California nephew and nieces to work at the rescue and loved teaching them about the work that is done there, how important it is to give back to your community and have them be around and meet their first horses 

#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

Having an open conversation with volunteers regarding some of the core challenges of saving/housing at risk behavior dogs.  Developing and communicating a process to help them (AND US!) get ahead of deadline dogs.  It's been challenging to get to this point, but I think the level of trust has jumped tremendously and we are at a point where we can have productive, respectful discussions with all the people at the table.  

We are working to change the state law in Oregon to provide a more reasonable pathway for stray and lost cats in jurisdictions without stray cat ordinances. We haven't done legislation before, so there's a learning curve, but we're getting help from different partners who are experienced with that side of things. It's going to impact a lot of lives and it's exciting to undertake a new adventure!