Animal Welfare Professionals

2025 was a year of connection, celebration, and shared learning here on Maddie's Pet Forum. Our weekly community conversations continued to serve as a consistent, engaging space for industry-wide conversation and collaboration. We also carried forward the celebration of Maddie's Fund's 30th anniversary with prizes and special giveaways along the way to help organizations support their programs. As we take a look back at the discussions, resources, contributors and grant winners from 2025, we're reminded of the power of community. Thank you to every member who took the time, energy and care to make to help make Maddie's Pet Forum a growing resource for animal well-being.

Forum Activity Highlights

• 26K New Members Joined Maddie's Pet Forum
• $51K in Funds Awarded to Active Members
• 815 New Discussion Threads Created
• 3.5K New Replies to Discussion Threads
• 412 New Resources Added to the Resource Library
• 50K+ Downloads of Resources

Most Popular Discussions

• "Medical Protocols Tailored for Kitten Care in Shelters and Rescues (Camp Maddie: Kitten Edition)" Posted by Dr. Julie Levy
• "No fee or low adoption fees yay or nay?" Posted by Krystle Woodward
• "Grants, Grants, Grants" Posted by Megan Whitworth

Most Popular Resources

• Kitten Foster Program Emergency Chart, Fading Kitten Syndrome, Levels of Emergency for Foster - Longmont Humane Society - Shared by Shelby Bundy
• Trauma-Informed Owner Surrender Tips for Staff and Clients - Shared by Shoshana Mostoller
• Canine Behavior Adoptability Guidelines - Asheville Humane Society - Shared by Jennifer Walter

Most Popular Weekly Community Conversations Threads

• Community Conversations - 08/18/2025 - The Real Reasons Pets Enter Shelters and How to Change the Story
• Community Conversations - 08/25/2025 - Coupled Up: Matching Pets and People Through Barrier-Free Adoptions
• Community Conversations - 09/22/2025 - Not Just In and Out: Why the Next Generation of Community Clinics Looks Different

Top Contributors

• @Stacy LeBaron, The Community Cats Podcast
• @Lisa Burns, Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary Inc
• @Laurel Wilton (She/Her), Nebraska Humane Society
• @Kim Jackson, For The Puppies Foundation Inc

Monthly $3K Grant Giveaway Winners

• January 2025: @Tyrone Pierce,  Maryland Hospital, MD
• February 2025: @Mary Garcia, Spring Branch Rescue, Richmond TX
• March 2025: @David Diaz, Santa Barbara Animal County Services, Santa Barbara CA
• April 2025: @Monica Bennion, Clowder 9 Ranch, Buhl ID
• May 2025: @Rachel Powell, Greenhill Humane Society, Eugene OR
• June 2025: @Melinda Trueblood-Stimpson, Ludar Animal Behavior, OH
• July 2025: @Sarah Hoadley, Paws in Middle Georgia Animal Rescue Warner, Robins GA
• August 2025: @Dina Li, Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Bethel CT
• September 2025: @Drew Domalick, Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary, Green Bay WI
• October 2025:  @Holly Skalak, Ruff Start Rescue, Princeton MN
• November 2025: @Julie Beatty, Ziva Dog Rescue, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia
• December 2025: @Bryan Langlois, Spay/Neuter Save Network, Rome PA

Quarterly $1K Grant Winners

• January - March 2025: @Alyssa Rodriguez, Cat Guardians TNR & Rescue, Salinas CA
• April - June 2025: @Rose Cigna, Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, East Hanover NJ
• July - September 2025: @LaTonya Smith (She/her), LC'S Foundation, Detroit MI
• October - December 2025: @Paula Vergara, A Home of Their Own Animal Rescue, Bethesda MD

Maddie's Fund 30th Anniversary Winners

• January 2025 - Share Your 2025 Goals: @Wendy Montanez-Ortiz, Gatos Borincoon, MA
• February 2025 - How Are You Supporting Pets and People in Your Community?: @Elaine Edington, Genesee County Animal Control (GCAC) and Shelter Animal Donations (SAD), MI
• March 2025 - How Is Your Organization Engaged in Co-Sheltering Initiatives?: @Shelby Schulz (She/Her), Kentucky Humane Society, KY
• April 2025 - Celebrating Maddie and the Pets Who Inspire Us: @Latonya Sassee Walker, Sassee Cats, Brooklyn, NY
• May 2025 - Everyday Leadership in Animal Well-Being: @Melina Lavullis, Lionel's Legacy Senior Dog Rescue, CA
• June 2025 - Share Your Kitten Season Stories: @Yeni Rivas, Sugar Land Animal Services, Sugar Land TX
• July 2025 - Spotlight on Shelter Medicine: @Carol Williams, Animal Rescue Alliance, Inc., GA
• August & September 2025 - How has online learning helped you grow?: @Leilany Velasquez, Luck's Rescue, Dade County GA
• October & November 2025 - Share your end-of-year fundraising strategies!: @Nancy Kaniewski, Just Giants Rescue Inc., IL

#DataandTechnology

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Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Maddie's Fund
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Thank YOU, Maddie's Fund, for the support, resources, connection, and networking!  The entire world of animals, and the people that support them, are benefited by all the work you do!  We are so very grateful for the grant award this year, and are proud to share our End of Year report.  Humble as it may be, you helped us make a difference in the lives of many animals in 2025.

https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/17455f875bd301bbadeffbf6bb8ed2bb8945e77c202601.pdf.html

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Monica Bennion
Clowder 9 Ranch
Buhl, ID
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Thank you!! I truly enjoy these webinars! I appreciate your support as well . 

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Tonya Smith
Founder
LC'S Foundation
Michigan
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