We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 11am PT/2pm ET for a conversation on "Investing Your Energy in the Right Foster Program" with @dana eldred, Executive Director of Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control.
Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom.
Fostering is something that nearly every organization does, but putting your efforts into what is successful (and first, figuring out what is successful) makes all the difference. Whether you have a paid foster coordinator or a dedicated volunteer team helping out, offering a variety of foster programs can contribute to higher adoption rates, good PR for your org, and happier shelter dogs. This presentation will focus on a municipal shelter and focus on medium-large breed dogs, but there will be plenty to take away and think about applying to your own organization.
This session is ideal for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, behavior staff & volunteers, field services & animal control officers and veterinary professionals, - but all are welcome!
🔑 Key Takeaways:
• Potential fosters should not be treated any differently than potential adopters. If your adoption process allows same-day adoptions after a brief conversation (and it should if you follow the Adopters Welcome manual), then it should be that easy for a foster to take home an animal for the first time. Support vs. Screen!
• More fosters than you think will take on the simple burdens like providing food, a crate, or toys for their foster animal. Focus any funding you have on positive reinforcement trainers, behavior help, emergency medical, and routine medical.
• Day trips are a gateway drug :)
Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be awarding up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter to be in the running each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly grant awards entry form.
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#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms
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Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie’s Fund
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