Animal Welfare Professionals

Hello everyone!

I'm thrilled to share that I'll be your host for the upcoming season of Community Conversations, starting August 4, 2025! If you have not registered for the new season, please make sure to register via this new Zoom registration page. 

I can't wait to be in community with all of you (almost) every Monday as we continue learning, growing, and supporting one another in this work we care so deeply about. There are some exciting updates this season to help make our time together even more impactful.

✨ What's new?

• Fresh faces joining me as co-hosts
  

• Call topics and key takeaways announced in advance to help with planning for you and your teams
  

• More discussions on Maddie's Pet Forum to keep the conversation flowing
  

• A chance to win up to $10,000 monthly via our grant giveaway for joining live or on-demand.
  
  

💬 What's staying the same?

• Thought-provoking speakers and meaningful conversations
  

• A supportive, inspiring community that's growing stronger with every session
  

• Same time and place: 11 am PT/2 pm ET via Zoom

Community Conversations are more than just a meeting-it's a space to connect, collaborate, and imagine new possibilities for pets and the people who love them.

Let's build this space together! Please use this thread to:

• Introduce yourselves - Where are you joining us from and what does community mean to you?
  

• Suggest future call topics
  

• Recommend speakers or presenters
  

• Share any ideas that would make this season even better
  
  

If you would like to make a suggestion more privately, please feel free to email me at CommunityConversations@MaddiesFund.org

So excited to be on this journey with you! 

Sheila (and Ziba) 

#EducationandTraining

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Sheila Kouhkan
Senior Education Specialist
Maddie's Fund
CA
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10k a month?  Are the grant availability increasing this next season?

I'm Diana Kelley, founder of Healing Horse Touch Company, in Kenneth, MN. 

Although we are not a shelter, we have several rescued cats in our family and provide safe spot to a few feral cats in their journeys. 

Fang and Spice were both found next to a dumpster at a local gas station.  It was near Halloween.  Fang is a beautiful black cat and there were people wanting to catch and kill him (or try to hit him with their car)!  Spice put 30 puncture marks on her rescuers arms when caught.  She was so full of anxiety she could not tolerate being near any of the other cats and spent several months isolated in our three season porch before she warmed up to anyone.  We weren't certain if she had been spayed or not until she had 7 kittens... sigh.  She and all the kittens were altered as soon as possible.  We were able to find homes for several of the kittens, but some have made their way back to us (the family's circumstances changed).  Between all of these and a few more, we currently have 10 barn cats that stick around.  They provide us with daily cuddles and keep the rodent population down.  Though, I did see a mouse run across the driveway...

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Diana Kelley
Executive Director
https://HealingHorseTouch.com
Kenneth, MN United States
Discover Healing, Connection, and Renewal through Horses.
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Hi Sheila (and Ziba),

How wonderful that you will be hosting and bringing on new faces this season! I so appreciate the thoughtful intention the MF team is bringing to this work. 

I look forward to connecting with new and existing members.

Allison Cardona

UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

Los Angeles, CA

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Allison Cardona
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Sheila! So excited to see more of Ziba and of course to learn more about the speakers you'll have.  Thank you for continuing to build this space for an opportunity to connect and collaborate with animal well-being folks. 

Ivy Ruiz

UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

Visalia, California 

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Ivy Ruiz
Outreach Specialist
UC Davis, Koret Shelter Medicine Program
CA
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Hello Sheila (and Ziba),

If you are still looking for future speakers, and you think people would be interested to learn about what Cowboy Cat Ranch and our Feline Research Center do, I would love to join you during one of the future Community Conversations. If you want to learn more about our nonprofit, please have a look at www.cowboycatranch.org or send me an email (bol@cowboycatranch.org). 

Warm regards,

Sebastiaan 

Cat Cowboy on Sebastiaan's lap after he enjoyed some silver vine

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Sebastiaan Bol
Founder & Executive Director
Cowboy Cat Ranch
TX
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I registered after I listened to the August recording of why pets come into shelter. How do I get signed up for the monthly drawing? Thanks

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Leslie Dye
Treasurer
National German Wirehaired Pointer Rescue
OH
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Hi Leslie! Here's the link and details: Maddie's Fund Monthly Giveaways:  Now you can enter for a chance to win up to  $10,000!  Enter here for a chance to win CA$H.  Open to all who are watching live or on-demand! Be sure to enter each week you attend! You must be registered in Maddie's Pet Forum to enter. 

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Shelly Thompson
Director of Operations
Maddie's Fund
San Francisco CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-20-2025 10:56 AM
From: Leslie Dye
Subject: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

I registered after I listened to the August recording of why pets come into shelter. How do I get signed up for the monthly drawing? Thanks

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Leslie Dye
Treasurer
National German Wirehaired Pointer Rescue
OH
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I can't wait to listen to what everyone has to say this is exciting I am an animal lover and want to learn all I can I have a wonderful protector in my dog I love her so much she worth my time and effort.

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Judy Francis
Hospitality worker
No organization
TN
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Conversation suggestion:  It would be great to have a conversation about negative change management and ways to overcome this very common issue

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Brooke Crozier
Executive Director
Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue
FL
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Aloha, Sheila! I would like to suggest a topic/speaker.

For more than 25 years an amazing volunteer counselor, Rosemary Grigg, has hosted a Pet Loss Suport group for the Hawaiian Humane Society. It met in person until COVID. Despite Rosemary's love of seeing people in person, it has remained virtual as we realized that we were reaching a larger audience by allowing people to participate from beyond our shores. We also expanded from one meeting per month to two last year. From what we've been able to determine, this program is unusual and I think participants in Community Conversations may be inspired to consider how something similar might benefit their own communities. 

Steph

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Steph Kendrick
Hawaiian Humane Society
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Hello, my name is Drew and I've been enjoying eating up loads of great information about industry standards and programs. One topic I'm really struggling to find information on is what programs are being used to try to end the stray dog epidemic. Including data-based outcomes would be amazing as well. I have read that CNVR is being used outside of the USA, but is that being used inside of the USA? Has it been successful? What are the challenges? What are alternative programs? I would really love if this topic was addressed. If you have a course on it that I didn't see, I would love to know the name of the course so I can sign up! Thank you.

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Drew Domalick
Volunteer - Adoption Center Volunteer Trainer and Animal Care Specialist
Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary
WI
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I would love to see something on why people dump animals, whether at a shelter's gate or otherwise, and how we can change this. I know there are various reasons, steep surrender fees, fear of judgment, etc. This also ties in with shelter intervention programs, the goal being to keep animals out of the shelters, but how do we bridge the gap so people don't feel like their only option is to abandon their pet(s), animals they found but can't keep, or "accidental" litters, etc.?

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Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
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This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I think that in todays situation people dump the dogs because they have no other option. Rescues are over capacity as well as shelters. Posting online doesn't bring adopters either. 

I'm a rescue. I have currently a foster for over 3 years.  It's a dog that i don't see him being adopted ever. I contacted sanctuaries and most didn't even bothered to respond. This is not an aggressive dog although the impression he made and his color and size making people uncomfortable around him. 

I'm at the end of my rope. I know that a shelter  is a death sentence for him. But i want my life back. 

Can we talk about options for that type of dogs wether it's a privet person struggling or a rescue. 

Original Message:
Sent: 10-01-2025 09:32 PM
From: Johanna Spielman
Subject: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

I would love to see something on why people dump animals, whether at a shelter's gate or otherwise, and how we can change this. I know there are various reasons, steep surrender fees, fear of judgment, etc. This also ties in with shelter intervention programs, the goal being to keep animals out of the shelters, but how do we bridge the gap so people don't feel like their only option is to abandon their pet(s), animals they found but can't keep, or "accidental" litters, etc.?

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Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
------------------------------

I was a little confused by your post, but I think you were saying that you foster for a rescue. You could try to talk to the rescue to see if they could find another foster for him. Maybe even offer to foster a more adoptable dog.

Another option is to try to work on the behavior. If the dog is reactive to other dogs, is there a way you can help socialize him to make him more adoptable?

You seemed to have picked up a negative sentiment about the dog over the 3 years. The dog may be stressing you out, and if so, he may be picking up on that negative energy. A foster dog and a foster need to be a right fit for each other, so maybe he just isn't a good fit for you at the moment. There might be someone else out there willing to give him a fresh start. When fostering, communication with the organization is key, even (and I'd say especially) if the sentiment is negative. I wish you the best and hope the situation gets rectified.

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Drew Domalick
Volunteer - Adoption Center Volunteer Trainer and Animal Care Specialist
Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary
WI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-02-2025 07:26 AM
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

I think that in todays situation people dump the dogs because they have no other option. Rescues are over capacity as well as shelters. Posting online doesn't bring adopters either. 

I'm a rescue. I have currently a foster for over 3 years.  It's a dog that i don't see him being adopted ever. I contacted sanctuaries and most didn't even bothered to respond. This is not an aggressive dog although the impression he made and his color and size making people uncomfortable around him. 

I'm at the end of my rope. I know that a shelter  is a death sentence for him. But i want my life back. 

Can we talk about options for that type of dogs wether it's a privet person struggling or a rescue. 

Original Message:
Sent: 10-01-2025 09:32 PM
From: Johanna Spielman
Subject: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

I would love to see something on why people dump animals, whether at a shelter's gate or otherwise, and how we can change this. I know there are various reasons, steep surrender fees, fear of judgment, etc. This also ties in with shelter intervention programs, the goal being to keep animals out of the shelters, but how do we bridge the gap so people don't feel like their only option is to abandon their pet(s), animals they found but can't keep, or "accidental" litters, etc.?

------------------------------
Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/

Hi Sheila, 

I'd like to speak/present on dog adoption decision-making again, but we'd likely target Spring 2026 for that so I can share updates and insights from my ongoing dissertation, if the data collection's completed by then. I'm also working on future adoption program designs to piggyback on the recommendations in my 2023 call, so I'll be open to a presentation or panel call on that too.

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Lawrence Minnis
George Mason University
DC
------------------------------

Hello! I'm really excited for this opportunity. I've watched a few in September and I'm trying to make every single one for October. We could do so much with this, as everyone could. We are working to host spay/neuter clinics for our community and offer services for those families who can't afford to alter their pets, but they became pet parents out of the goodness of their hearts when someone abandoned those pets near their homes. We have a humane population of 1.4 million in our region. Texas Tribune estimated 750,000 to 1 million stray cats and dogs in our region. About 10 animals shelters, most with intake limitations and only 89 veterinarians for our region. Our region population is comparable to the states of Maine and New Hampshire, but their have 1200+ veterinarians. Many community members want to alter their pets, but we don't have the resources to do so. This money would make such a huge impact for our region. Thank you for creating this opportunity for shelters/rescues and other animal welfare organizations.

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Jennifer Vasquez
Director of Development
Rio Grande Valley Humane Society
TX
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Hi Sheila, 

Introduce Yourself: My name is Alexa, and I'm the Managing Director of Cat Connections NYC, a foster-based nonprofit cat rescue in New York City. We're a brand-new group - we received our nonprofit status in 2025 - so we're still learning, growing, and building our foundation.

Suggested Topics: 

• How to run a successful foster-based rescue without slipping into hoarding risks?

• Smart budgeting and operational planning for rescues - how to meet financial goals, avoid debt, and still help as many animals as possible?

• Volunteer recruitment strategies for foster-based rescues - since it's often harder without a physical facility?

• Advocacy discussion: Is it realistic to push for legislation that would reduce veterinary costs for the general public, and can rescues/shelters unite to support such a bill?

Speakers: Honestly, I'm here to learn and make connections - and hopefully make friends - so I'm very open to any experienced rescuers, nonprofit leaders, lawyers, or community organizers who can guide new groups like ours.

Ideas: Since this is just after the first call, I don't have many suggestions yet. I'm still taking everything in. For now, I'm excited to keep learning and participating.

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Alexa (Aleksandra) Kyler (Slomska)
Managing Director
Cat Connections NYC
Penfield
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Would love to see more talks from Indigenous and/or Nomadic peoples since it is well known that many animal sectors are built off of Indigenous epistemologies without actual representation from our peoples occurring. I.e. - Indigenous wisdom is used but our peoples are erased. 

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Melinda Trueblood-Stimpson
Founder; scientist
Ludar Animal Behavior
OH
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Hi, I'm a little late to the party! I'm Laurel from the Nebraska Humane Society. I would love if we could get someone who is IAABC certified as a shelter affiliate or consultant (or one of each!) and talk about their experience with certification, how it has benefited them, and how their community or their own shelter has benefited from having someone with that certification available. It would be cool to have one cat specific and one dog specific to get both sides and see how they differ. I think it would be beneficial for anyone who is interested in wanting to follow that path as well as knowing where to find people with this certification for consulting with their shelter!

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Laurel Wilton
Feline Welfare Supervisor
Nebraska Humane Society
------------------------------

Hi Sheila and community,

I'd love to suggest a future Community Conversations topic around the role of storytelling in increasing adoption visibility for shelter pets-especially long-stay or harder-to-place animals.

As a storyteller and creator currently developing an AI-assisted tool inspired by real rescue advocacy, I've seen firsthand how emotional storytelling can help people stop scrolling, connect, and take action. One long-stay dog I helped advocate for through storytelling has since been adopted.

I'd love to explore a conversation around questions like:

• What makes an adoption story emotionally compelling?

• How do shelters balance storytelling with limited staff time?

• Can tools or workflows help shelters tell more pet stories efficiently without losing authenticity?

I believe this could create a valuable discussion for shelters, rescues, and animal welfare teams working to increase pet visibility and adoptions.

Thanks for considering!
- Serena Brown

https://memejjandfriends.com/adopt-a-heart

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Serena Brown
author creator
MeMe JJ and Friends, LLC
GA
------------------------------

A speaker suggestion for a future Community Conversations slot:

Laurie Lawless, Shelter Behavior Integrations.

Laurie has spent over a decade building Pathway Playgroups, a model that threads playgroup observation through every department of the shelter from intake to medical to adoption to foster. Her work makes a case the field has been slow to absorb: playgroups are prevention work, not enrichment. They prevent behavioral euthanasia. They prevent inaccurate adoption matches. They prevent returns at 60 days. They prevent length-of-stay creep. And they prevent staff burnout.

I wrote about her work along with Dogs Playing for Life and the Shelter Playgroup Alliance in a recent piece for The Shift to Prevention (shift.animal-angelsfoundation.org). The three organizations have built the operational playbook for what I think of as the second half of prevention. The half that happens between intake and outcome, inside the shelter walls.

A Community Conversations session with Laurie would give the audience something concrete: how to redesign an intake-to-adoption pathway so the dog the adopter meets is the same dog who walks into the home.

laurielawless.com

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Join The Shift To Prevention.

BJ Adkins
Founder/Director
Animal-Angels Foundation
Pinson, AL
calendy.com/animal-angels
bjadkins@animal-angels.org
animal-angelsfoundation.org
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Hello! I'm Grace, a volunteer from Ludar Animal Behavior,  and I'm joining from Virginia. I personally would especially love a topic on diversity in the animal sector. I know Mel from LAB that I'm in has a lot of great thoughts on this and many extensive topics they could bring to the table on the matter, too.  Sadly, it's becoming more prevalent than ever in ourlittle  corner of the world wide web that there are a lot of struggles happening in the animal sector that largely, at their core, are born from beliefs that need to be formally challenged. A talk on diversity could start bridging the gap that is happening. 


Thank you so much! Look forward to trying to join my first calls! I finally have internet that can handle it.  

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Grace Vagary
Volunteer
LAB
VA
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Managed Intake getting a bad rap came up on a current call (6/8/2026)

I was in the open intake shelter for 3 years working on a community cats program and I noticed there was a lot of confusion with intake staff, both in person and on the phones. I suggested in the chat that  the bad rap about managed coordinated intake can be improved by consistent staff training and auditing to be sure it's being implemented well. Also, improved communication with the public about how it works. So just adding it here as a suggestion for a call at some point. :) 

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aine doley
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Please have a session on the impact of the screw worm on animals in Texas, especially the current position on obtaining health certificates to transport Texas cats and dogs to other states.  We are from Arkansas but there are concerns that this epidemic will migrate to Arkansas.  In fact, to get a HC on a Texas animal to go to Arkansas, a permit must be filed with Arkansas before the animals can cross the state line, due to the screw worm outbreak. 

This topic was just discussed at a national vet conference, and the National Dog Kennel Clubs are sending out communications to their members (that take dogs across state lines for dog shows).

Thanks!

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June Thomas
President
Coalition of Animal Rescue Transporters, FKA Central Arkansas Rescue Transport
Little Rock
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Great suggestion, June

1

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April King
Volunteer and Board Member
Kotor Kitties
+1 206 407 5336
http://www.kotorkitties.org
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2026 11:07 AM
From: June Thomas
Subject: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

Please have a session on the impact of the screw worm on animals in Texas, especially the current position on obtaining health certificates to transport Texas cats and dogs to other states.  We are from Arkansas but there are concerns that this epidemic will migrate to Arkansas.  In fact, to get a HC on a Texas animal to go to Arkansas, a permit must be filed with Arkansas before the animals can cross the state line, due to the screw worm outbreak. 

This topic was just discussed at a national vet conference, and the National Dog Kennel Clubs are sending out communications to their members (that take dogs across state lines for dog shows).

Thanks!

------------------------------
June Thomas
President
Coalition of Animal Rescue Transporters, FKA Central Arkansas Rescue Transport
Little Rock
------------------------------

Amazing timing - Best Friends will have a seminar later today that will include a discussion on the Screwworm issue:

Dr. Becca Boronat, a member of the Best Friends National Shelter Medicine team, will be joining [today's] previously scheduled webinar, Expanding Transfer Partnerships Using Data and Technology, to briefly address new world screwworm and take questions during the Q&A. Organizations actively transferring animals to/from Texas and New Mexico should plan to attend to learn about health certificate recommendations. Register now to join on Thursday June 18, at 4pm ET / 3pm CT.

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June Thomas
President
Coalition of Animal Rescue Transporters, FKA Central Arkansas Rescue Transport
Little Rock
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2026 11:07 AM
From: June Thomas
Subject: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

Please have a session on the impact of the screw worm on animals in Texas, especially the current position on obtaining health certificates to transport Texas cats and dogs to other states.  We are from Arkansas but there are concerns that this epidemic will migrate to Arkansas.  In fact, to get a HC on a Texas animal to go to Arkansas, a permit must be filed with Arkansas before the animals can cross the state line, due to the screw worm outbreak. 

This topic was just discussed at a national vet conference, and the National Dog Kennel Clubs are sending out communications to their members (that take dogs across state lines for dog shows).

Thanks!

------------------------------
June Thomas
President
Coalition of Animal Rescue Transporters, FKA Central Arkansas Rescue Transport
Little Rock
------------------------------