This resonates deeply. We've been building foster rescue management software (Furball Rescue) specifically for organizations making this transition - where animals are distributed across foster homes rather than centralized in a facility.
The medical tracking challenge is real. When a foster has a dog on heartworm treatment with three Immiticide injections spaced weeks apart, plus a recheck test, the coordinator needs visibility into that timeline without calling or texting every foster. We built medical protocols that auto-schedule those events and surface what's due across all animals in care, regardless of which foster home they're in.
The communication piece is equally critical. Fosters need to feel like essential partners (love that framing), not an afterthought. That means giving them direct visibility into their animals' profiles, the ability to log notes and upload photos, and notifications that respect their preferences - email, text, or both.
Sorry I missed the live session - is a recording available? Would love to hear how Austin Pets Alive! approaches the workflow side.
- Dave Charlton, Furball Rescue (furballrescue.com)
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Dave Charlton
Founder
Really Small
NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-12-2026 01:09 PM
From: Kelly Duer
Subject: Creating a Foster-Centric Medical Clinic: April 2026 in Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection
On Thursday, April 2, 2026, join Maddie's® Monthly Foster Connection at 12pm PT/3pm ET. Jordana Moerbe, Director of Lifesaving Partnerships and Medical Care at Austin Pets Alive!, will be discussing how animal shelters can shift from a kennel-centric medical model to a foster-centric clinic that effectively supports animals living in foster homes.
Register for the session so that you can receive notifications about upcoming webcasts and participate in discussions after the webcast.
Webcast Description:
In this discussion, we will review how animal shelters can shift from a kennel-centric medical model to a foster-centric clinic that effectively supports animals living in foster homes. As more shelters place 50% or more of animals in foster care, clinics must adapt their infrastructure, staffing, communication, and workflows to serve both people and pets. The discussion emphasizes guiding principles such as prioritizing quality of life, valuing foster caregivers as essential partners, transparency in decision-making, and treating foster care as a core organizational function.
Jordana is a founding member of Austin Pets Alive! with nearly 20 years of experience in animal welfare innovation. She established the nation's largest foster-centric medical clinic-treating 7,500+ cases annually-and now serves as the Director of Lifesaving Partnerships and Medical Care. In this role, she bridges medical expertise with logistics, overseeing both the Medical Program and the APA! Transport Program. A national consultant in disease management and operational efficiency, Jordana specializes in building sustainable transport pipelines and medical protocols that maximize live outcomes. She lives near Austin with her family and a lively collection of farm animals and pets.
#FosterPrograms
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
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Kelly Duer
Senior Shelter Solutions Specialist
Maddie's Fund
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