Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)

    Posted 02-10-2025 06:23 PM

    Hi All,

    Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition is coming up quickly!  I was honored to be asked to speak with this amazing group of experts as we all work together to prepare for another kitten season.  I'll be presenting my session "Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact" at 11am Pacific on March 4th. If you haven't already, please register for the live event at https://maddies.fund/CampMaddieKittenRegistration

    You can learn more about my session and the full event here:  Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition - Maddie's Pet Forum

    I am happy to answer any questions you may have and can't wait to see everyone next month!

    Marnie


    #EducationandTraining

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    Marnie Russ
    Founder, Program Administrator
    Kitten College
    VA
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  • 2.  RE: Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)

    Posted 03-04-2025 02:15 PM
      |   view attached

    I have uploaded the presentation.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you for tuning in!



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    Marnie Russ
    Founder, Program Administrator
    Kitten College
    VA
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  • 3.  RE: Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)

    Posted 03-07-2025 11:52 AM

    Marnie Russ's session from Camp Maddie Kitten is now available to watch on-demand! 

    If you would like to earn continuing education credit, head over to Maddie’s University to watch the recording. Earn 1.0 CAWA CE from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, 1.0 NACA CE from the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA), and 1 hour of RACE CE credit from the Registry of Approved Continuing Education: https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/camp-maddie-kitten-edition-kitten-college-small-program-huge-impact-on-demand

    Bring your questions to the follow-up live question and answer session on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM PT! 



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    Maddie's University
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 4.  RE: Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)

    Posted 03-14-2025 11:45 AM

    I will be posting questions that came up during the Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition live show.  We have a list of questions that will be addressed at the Q&A next Tuesday so please be sure and join us there.

    One viewer asked:  I must be behind in the times, but this is the first I'm hearing that feeding newborns every 2 hours is not the proper way to feed them. Can you elaborate on that please? 

    Yes.  Historically we tend to overfeed neonatal kittens.  The guidelines are outlined here:

    https://www.sheltermedicine.com/library/guidebooks/guide-to-raising-unweaned-underage-kittens&fbclid=IwAR0zNiA0c15L_di03axUhOMH6DPC11Fz03kIpOhM7h0vvwk2osnFRb5iCvU

    Allowing the kittens to tell us when they are hungry does not stress their GI systems and also takes the work off of fosters who won't foster because they don't want to wake up every two hours.  This is for healthy kittens.  When kittens are compromised, your vet will give you an ideal feeding schedule.



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    Marnie Russ
    Founder, Program Administrator
    Kitten College
    VA
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)

    Posted 03-14-2025 12:02 PM

    Another Quetion:

    I am the foster coordinator at a new shelter that just opened up in our community in September of 24. We are still finding the best route to navigate things best. Is there a good software that you use to keep track of your foster families and a place where you can "post" afoster in need? I have looked into Doobert but have had much trouble navigating the webstie.

    We have historically used Facebook to alert fosters when we need them to take kittens.   We are actively searching for other options.  I know that some shelters have a google group that they use.  We will post options on you "Kitten College Community" page.



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    Marnie Russ
    Founder, Program Administrator
    Kitten College
    VA
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)

    Posted 03-14-2025 12:22 PM

    Another question:

    What are ways to run a volunteer/foster program without a director? To make this be something that won't fall apart easily.

    Most of the kitten colleges are run by foster coordinators with little reliance on a Director.  The program is scaleable to work with any size organization.  You can reach us at: info@kittencollege.org if you want to discuss your organizations needs.



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    Marnie Russ
    Founder, Program Administrator
    Kitten College
    VA
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)

    Posted 03-14-2025 12:26 PM

    Another question:

    Can you also elaborate more on the drag queen/tiny kitten bingo? Drag queen shows are popular in my community.

    We simply called it Drag Queen/Tiny Kitten Bingo and we had foster kittens in kennels as people entered.  Guests didn't touch the kittens but fosters were on hand to bottle feed.  Once the drag show started, the kittens went home.  



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    Marnie Russ
    Founder, Program Administrator
    Kitten College
    VA
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  • 8.  RE: Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)

    Posted 26 days ago

    Unanswered question from 3/4/25 event: 

    "What is your foster onboarding process like?" - @Anessa Amaya

    This varies by shelter/rescue - we share them on the Kitten College Community Page on Facebook and will have more info there soon.  If you are on Facebook please join the group.  People ask questions and everyone responds. Join the group here

    You can also view the Foster Learning Path on Maddie's University for resources including courses, documents, templates and more. Included in that collection is the Foster Caregiver Onboarding Collection. 

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    Marnie Russ
    Founder, Program Administrator
    Kitten College
    VA
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)

    Posted 26 days ago

    Unanswered question from 3/4/25 event: 

    "We already have a foster program in place for our shelter, but I'd love to get something like the kitten college for our shelter, but we're small and I'm only one person. Any advice on how to start something like this as a one (wo)man show basically?" - @Liz Gonzalez

    We work with the smallest of programs.  Please email us at:  info@kittencollege.org and we will set up a call with you.



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    Marnie Russ
    Founder, Program Administrator
    Kitten College
    VA
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Kitten College: Small Program, Huge Impact (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)

    Posted 26 days ago

    Unanswered question from 3/4/25 event: 

    "We struggle with finder fosters being difficult to reach, not making appointments, being picky with adopters come adoption time. Not sure how to make finder fosters effective for us and not turn into a burden." - @Kelsey Strahle

    There is a vast collection of foster resources in Maddie's University that address many of your concerns. Check out the Foster Collection at this link: https://university.maddiesfund.org/foster-collections

    You can also contact National Kitten College at info@kittencollege.org.



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    Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
    Maddie's Fund
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