Animal Welfare Professionals

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

Domestic Violence situations, do they work with those families or people?

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

Domestic Violence situations, do they work with those families or people?

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

Thanks to our speaker, @Garrett Parsons- and everyone who joined us today! 

We would love to hear from you in response to today's reflection question: If this kind of program isn't in your community yet, who could work together to make it happen, and what challenges might they face?

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

Unanswered question from the chat: 

"Are there any organizations like yours (AMAZING!) in Arizona? Muppet is Crisis Response K-9 so we see families torn apart on the daily. How could we reach out to an incredible organization like yours?" - @JENNIFER POTTER

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

Unanswered question from the chat:

"How do you find good volunteers?" - @Azure Belcarris

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

Unanswered question from the chat: 

"How large of an area do you serve?" - Niki Hitt

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

Unanswered question from the chat: 

"For Homeless Shelters that don't allow pets and also only allow people to stay in the shelter part of the day, do you provide a day care service during the part of the day the person is staying at the homeless shelter?" - @Drew Domalick

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

Updated 10/06/25 at 2:34 pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand!

Enter here for a chance to win the October Community Conversations giveaway after watching live or on-demand.

Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie's Fund. 

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AccesstoCare
#CommunityPartnerships*
#EducationandTraining
#PetSupportServices*

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

Updated 10/06/25 at 2:34 pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand!

Enter here for a chance to win the October Community Conversations giveaway after watching live or on-demand.

Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie's Fund. 

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AccesstoCare
#CommunityPartnerships*
#EducationandTraining
#PetSupportServices*

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

Updated 10/06/25 at 2:34 pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand!

Enter here for a chance to win the October Community Conversations giveaway after watching live or on-demand.

Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie's Fund. 

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AccesstoCare
#CommunityPartnerships*
#EducationandTraining
#PetSupportServices*

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Sheila Kouhkan
Senior Education Specialist
Maddie's Fund
CA
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Thank you so much for the great presentation and information provided. You are doing amazing work! I'm watching the on-demand because I had a meeting with a potential sponsor on Monday. Late to the party, but glad I was able to watch. 

Last year, we worked with a Girls Scout who was completing her senior project, I believe it's called the Golden Eagle Award. I could be very wrong on the name, but she is a bright young lady who also saw this as a need in our community. We got together with the local food pantry. Since they don't allow animals inside, we worked with them to provide pop-ups to keep by the front door to allow those unhoused individuals to place their pets in these kennels while the pet parents were able to eat. Both pet parent and pet were able to enjoy the A/C during the warmer months and the warmth during the colder months. The food pantry is only a day shelter, but this allowed pet parents to keep their pets close. There was an incident recently were an unhoused pet parent left their pet in a kennel, hidden while they went to find resources and people on social media thought this pet was abandoned in a kennel and left to suffer. Some of our volunteers heard about this and provided resources for the pet parent.

I honestly don't know if there is a place for the unhoused to go at night. When people contact us to let us know they need to surrender their pet, we try to ask how we can help them keep there pet. We are a shelter/rescue with the majority of our pets in foster care and don't have a lot of space to house the pets onsite. If it's pet food they need, we help with as much as we possibly can. If it's medical care, we try to do as much as we can and we provide additional resources for them. We have worked with other rescues to help fundraise to get pets the help they need to keep them with their families. Yes, the pet breed and weight limits are a big factor in people needing to surrender their pets. I wish we could build a community for their unhoused to live with their pets in a nice area that they can be proud of instead of having to sleep on the ground under expressways.

Updated 10/06/25 at 2:34 pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand!

Enter here for a chance to win the October Community Conversations giveaway after watching live or on-demand.

Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie's Fund. 

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Keeping Families and Pets Together," a presentation by @Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Director of Found House.

Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.

This session is especially relevant for return to home and intake prevention staff, field services staff, and animal control officers - but everyone is welcome!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet 

Don't forget! $10,000 in grants each month! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. If you have not re-registered for the new season, please do so today. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AccesstoCare
#CommunityPartnerships*
#EducationandTraining
#PetSupportServices*

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