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Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

  • 1.  Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 07-23-2025 08:15 AM

    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

    ------------------------------
    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 07-24-2025 03:15 PM

    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...



    ------------------------------
    Diana Kelley
    Executive Director
    https://HealingHorseTouch.com
    Kenneth, MN United States
    Discover Healing, Connection, and Renewal through Horses.
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 07-28-2025 08:00 AM

    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



    ------------------------------
    Allison Cardona
    ------------------------------


  • 4.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 07-28-2025 03:07 PM

    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 



    ------------------------------
    Ivy Ruiz
    Outreach Specialist
    UC Davis, Koret Shelter Medicine Program
    CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 08-04-2025 01:08 PM

    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



    ------------------------------
    Sebastiaan Bol
    Founder & Executive Director
    Cowboy Cat Ranch
    TX
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 08-20-2025 10:57 AM

    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



    ------------------------------
    Leslie Dye
    Treasurer
    National German Wirehaired Pointer Rescue
    OH
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 08-26-2025 12:10 PM

    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. 



    ------------------------------
    Shelly Thompson
    Director of Operations
    Maddie's Fund
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 08-25-2025 08:16 AM

    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.



    ------------------------------
    Judy Francis
    Hospitality worker
    No organization
    TN
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 09-10-2025 11:56 AM

    Conversation suggestion:  It would be great to have a conversation about negative change management and ways to overcome this very common issue



    ------------------------------
    Brooke Crozier
    Executive Director
    Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue
    FL
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 09-15-2025 12:30 PM

    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



    ------------------------------
    Steph Kendrick
    Hawaiian Humane Society
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 09-15-2025 12:40 PM

    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.



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

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 10-01-2025 09:32 PM

    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/
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 10-02-2025 03:32 PM
    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


  • 14.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 10-02-2025 04:34 PM

    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.



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

    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 10-04-2025 07:29 AM

    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.



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

    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: Come Be in Community With Us - Community Conversations '25-'26

    Posted 10-09-2025 09:07 AM

    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.



    ------------------------------
    Jennifer Vasquez
    Director of Development
    Rio Grande Valley Humane Society
    TX
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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