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Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

  • 1.  Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 09-30-2025 01:29 PM

    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
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 11:49 AM

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



    ------------------------------
    Tonya Smith
    Founder
    LC'S Foundation
    Michigan
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 01:57 PM

    Yes! We partner with the local DV shelters and advocacy groups. 



    ------------------------------
    Garrett Parsons
    Pet Support Director
    Found House Interfaith Housing Network
    OH
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-31-2025 01:27 PM

    I loved what the speaker said about male dogs and the public view on getting them neutered.  I deal with that mentality often.  I have unfortunately dealt with some homelessness and their pets trying to get them S/N and trying to find temp housing to take them with their family pet.  Often times I find the pet is their leash on continuing to move forward.  



    ------------------------------
    C Hayes
    volunteer
    ARK of McCurtain County
    OK
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 12:00 PM

    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?



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



  • 6.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 12:12 PM

    In my community I know of one organization that has this is place, but I would love to try and get something like this going one day, it takes more than one organization to do this. The more organizations with this type of support, would benefit so many more lives. I think the biggest challenges would be the funding /support. 



    ------------------------------
    Tonya Smith
    Founder
    LC'S Foundation
    Michigan
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 12:11 PM

    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



    ------------------------------
    Community Conversations
    Community Conversations Committee
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 01:57 PM

    Check out the Arizona Pet Project if you have not heard of them! 

    https://azpetproject.org/



    ------------------------------
    Garrett Parsons
    Pet Support Director
    Found House Interfaith Housing Network
    OH
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 12:12 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

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



    ------------------------------
    Community Conversations
    Community Conversations Committee
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 01:58 PM

    Great question! Since we are close to the University of Cincinnati, a lot of volunteers come from there. Generally, they don't have intensive animal handling experience, but are able to commit to a weekly, consistent shift, which makes our lives easier. 

    Since we are fairly low capacity, it only takes 3-4 volunteers per shift to care for 5-8 animals at a time. It's very manageable for them to complete in 2 hours. We are about to partner with the local vet tech program!



    ------------------------------
    Garrett Parsons
    Pet Support Director
    Found House Interfaith Housing Network
    OH
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 12:13 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat: 

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



    ------------------------------
    Community Conversations
    Community Conversations Committee
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-07-2025 11:28 AM

    We primarily serve Hamilton County, which has a population of close to 900 thousand people. We also serve a handful of surrounding counties. 



    ------------------------------
    Garrett Parsons
    Pet Support Director
    Found House Interfaith Housing Network
    OH
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 12:14 PM

    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



    ------------------------------
    Community Conversations
    Community Conversations Committee
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-08-2025 07:18 AM

    Great question. We don't offer any type of day care service for animals because there aren't any organizations in our area that are set up that way. The only shelters would be the cold shelter in the winter, which is only open at night. There are warming centers for daytime use in the winter, but those are fortunately pet friendly. 



    ------------------------------
    Garrett Parsons
    Pet Support Director
    Found House Interfaith Housing Network
    OH
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-06-2025 10:04 PM

    Thanks to the 124+ people and paws who joined us on today's Community Conversations call! The recording is now available to watch on-demand. Below you'll find a recap of today's call and the resources shared. 

    Call Recap

    Welcome from hosts


    Question of the Day: If your organization could add just one new resource to help families in crisis keep their pets, what would it be?

    • "DV emergency boarding" - Penny Paich-Caraway
    • "Foster safety net program" - Christy Schilling
    • "A veterinarian dedicated to our outreach team." - Steph Kendrick
    • "Crisis fostering" - Mike Moore
    • "24/7 emergency care" - Ann McCague
    • "Immigration defense attorneys" - Diana Cruz
    • "Provide transportation to veterinary care if they don't have it." - Mary Beth Bell
    • "Add a room to DV shelter so family and pet can stay together." - Sue Webb
    • "Breeder take back" - Montana Hayes
    • "A mobile unit for our vets to use when treating the pets of the unhoused instead of doing it out of the back of their cars." - Roxane Fritz
    • "A low- and no-cost 24-hour vet facility... and we are in the process of planning to build one next door to Sol Dog Lodge!!!!" - Mary Flores
    • "I would say when humans pick up food, we have it there for the pets as well." - LaTonya Smith


    September Grant Winners

    National Updates

    • The Association of Professional Humane Educators (APHE) is seeking dynamic speakers who possess expertise in the fields of animal welfare, education, mental health, social science, community engagement, and more to present at our 2026 conference, Rooted in Empathy: Branching out in the Bay, in Oakland, CA (April 29-May 1). For more details and to submit a proposal, visit Association of Professional Humane Educators - Call for Speakers 2026
    • Texas Unites is accepting speaker proposal submissions! Submit speaker proposals here. 
    • Join the United Spay Alliance Conference this weekend if you care about spay/neuter and increasing access to care and capacity at the! It's Sat and Sun from 10:00AM-5:00PM ET and you can get all the details here. 
    • The Humane Society of Skagit Valley in Burlington WA now has a 90% live out comes, putting them at "No Kill" 2025 year🎉
    • Maddie's Community Conversations Giveaway:  Now you can enter for a chance to win up to  $10,000!  Enter here for a chance to win.  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. 
    • Maddie's Pet Forum Monthly Giveaway: Maddie's Fund® is giving away a $3,000 grant each month to one lucky Maddie's® Pet Forum member. You'll automatically be entered to win each month when you start a new discussion, reply to a new post.  https://maddies.fund/mpfmonthlygiveaway.
    • We would love to hear from you! Have an idea for Maddie's Community Conversations? Interested in hosting? Have a topic or speaker you would like to hear from? Let us know on Maddie's Pet Forum via the Community Conversations Suggestions discussion thread. Or, you can contact us directly by emailing CommunityConversations@maddiesfund.org.
    • The celebration continues on Maddie's Pet Forum! In honor of Maddie's Fund's 30th anniversary, we're giving away $1,000 every other month, for engaging on a special anniversary-related post on Maddie's Pet Forum beginning August 1, 2025. Simply comment on this thread during October & November and you will be entered to win. #ThanksToMaddie  


    Presentation: Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Highlights from the Chat

    • "If you are working with homeless or those facing homelessness, our foundation is national and assists those economically disadvantaged with emergency veterinary costs. We have a high priority of keeping pets with their families and empowering responsible ownership. I'm always open to speak with organizations to see if we can be of resource. More info is on our site - www.theanimalsfoundation.com" - Maria Putnam
    • "A major benefit to being in the nonprofit space is we can cooperate rather than being competitive! I love that about our industry." - Drew Domalick
    • "Fantastic program and great presentation, Garrett!!! Thank you!!!" - Mary Flores
    • "Can't help the pets without helping the people." - April Williams



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



  • 16.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-07-2025 11:50 AM

    Thank you for bringing attention to this important issue. Housing insecurity shouldn't force families apart, human or animal. Strengthening collaboration between housing and animal welfare programs is key to keeping families together and protected.



    ------------------------------
    Dailene Galdoen
    NA
    No organization
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-09-2025 08:48 AM

    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.



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



  • 18.  RE: Community Conversations - 10/6/2025 - Keeping Families and Pets Together

    Posted 10-10-2025 01:12 PM

    Thanks for all of the work that you do, Jennifer! it will take all of us to create the types of supports that need to exist. Best of luck with all of your work in Texas! Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. gparsons@foundhouse.org 



    ------------------------------
    Garrett Parsons
    Pet Support Director
    Found House Interfaith Housing Network
    OH
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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