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We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, April 20, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET for "Uncovering Insights on the Latest in Shelter Medicine Research," a conversation with Drs. @Chumkee Aziz , DVM, @Emily McCobb , DVM, and @Petra Cerna , PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), Dipl. ECVIM-CA, DABVP (Feline), MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats). Behind the scenes, more and more scientific research is being done to advance the understanding of our industry's complex issues. This evidence-based information can offer important contributions when it comes to updating industry practices and policies, but often it's hard to find time to sort through or access new research. Today's meeting serves to bring some of these new findings directly to shelter and rescue leaders and staff. Join 3 veterinary and shelter medicine researchers, who will share out tidbits regarding shelter medicine research, focusing on practical updates that can be incorporated in shelter operations and programming. This session is ideal for a doptions and foster staff & volunteers, veterinary professionals (vets, techs, support staff), and operations & programs directors - but all are welcome. 🔑 Key Takeaways: How we manage and treat FIP cases affects length of stay, spay/neuter timing, and flow; practical protocols and foster‑based care can keep cases manageable. Spectrum of care is evidence‑based medicine that matches plans to real shelter resources, helping teams save ... View Discussion

Thank you for that feedback, Debi. I am so glad to hear that the tools resinated with you. Thank you for sharing the example of Pudge and how your organization was able to support the extended family that was trying to help him. You make such a good point about how emotional distress affects our decision making. I really appreciate your feedback! ------------------------------ Shoshana Mostoller Director of Programs My Dog Is My Home ------------------------------ View Discussion

That's so great, Rose! And that's funny, I basically just tried to answer all the questions I get asked doing feasibility studies. Thanks for sharing it-Maddie's is the best and I am so grateful to them too. ------------------------------ Sara Pizano ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thanks to the 118+ 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 @Maria DeLeon , CDBC, Dog Behavior Consultant, Smart Hünd @Amber Eby , Senior Grants Specialist, Maddie's Fund Question of the Day: What's your favorite social media platform and why? Grant Giveaway Winners March Maddie's Community Conversations Giveaway Winners of $2,500 each Jasmine Torralba, Freckles and Tomcat Rescue, Billings, MT @Kirstin Tanner , Humane Society of Marion County, Ocala, FL "Thank you for this opportunity! This past year alone, our volunteers & fosters contributed over 25000 hours which has made a huge impact on the level of care, and enrichment we're able to provide. <3 https://www.facebook.com/HumaneMarion#" - Kirstin Tanner @K. D. Thompson , The FIDO Foundation, Omaha, NE "The Fido Foundation exists to preserve and strengthen the bond between people and their dogs. Our mission is to ensure that individuals-regardless of background, circumstance, or resources-are able to keep, care for, and be reunited with their dogs. We are committed to eliminating barriers and biases that prevent families from staying together with their pets. We're more than an animal organization-we're a community movement dedicated to breaking down barriers in pet ownership, ... View Discussion

You are so welcome Tausha! ------------------------------ Sara Pizano ------------------------------ View Discussion

What an amazing resource! Thank you so much Dr. Pizano and Maddie's Fund! This will be so helpful in my collaborations with community partners. ------------------------------ Tasha Haug Homeward Animal Shelter ------------------------------ View Discussion

I would contact United Spay Alliance. They are a national group. They should have resources for spay neuter. www.unitedspayalliance.org ------------------------------ Beverly Paladinetti Philanthropy Chair Purrfect Peaches Cat Rescue Douglasville, GA www.purrfectpeaches.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

Holy smacks, everything in this reply hits in the right space. What I'm having difficulty with is having enough funding to start building that educational awareness and show our community that sterilization is the answer to the overpopulation problem. Unfortunately, where I am, TNR or just spaying and neutering any animal is unaccessible to many because of costs and the lack of knowledge. Where it is accessible is to tribal members on our local reservations, but if you're not either living on one of our reservations or a member of the band, you'll have to drive over two hours to get low cost spay/neuter services. We do have one program about an hour away that does low cost spay/neuter but it fills up within a few hours and you have to meet their financial requirements. I know the educational awareness will take years, I know our area will continue to have an overpopulation issue for many years. I'm in this for the long haul because I want to make an impact, even though it might be just a handful of people at first, it's a long road up here in the north, but with just the ideas and support from the responses on this thread, it makes me feel more hopeful and lights that fire. Thank you, everyone. ------------------------------ Maria Plattner Director Forest Felines MN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Stacy, Just wanted to share this screenshot. When is the next TNR class? ------------------------------ Maria Plattner Director Forest Felines MN ------------------------------ View Discussion

That is good to hear. When we did TNR work at the cat rescue I worked at out of state, it was paid time for all of us and we didn't have volunteers or property owner's doing the trapping. I have been doing one-on-one training with each person that needs TNR assistance or has a stray they need trapped and then utilizing our small network to get the cat transferred to me. It's worked out well so far. Thank you for that explanation! ------------------------------ Maria Plattner Director Forest Felines MN ------------------------------ View Discussion

ASPCA Pro appears to be working on a Feline Risk Assessment but it's been listed as 'Coming Soon' for quite some time. Hopefully, it will be available soon. https://www.aspcapro.org/behaviorpathway ------------------------------ Sara Post Operations Director Feline Rescue Saint Paul, MN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi, thank you for sharing this-your project is incredibly impactful, and I really appreciate the prevention-based approach. Focusing on keeping pets out of the shelter system in the first place is so important, especially given how overwhelmed many shelters are right now. One of the biggest gaps I see in return-to-owner efforts is not necessarily access to microchips, but education and follow-through. Many pets are microchipped, but the information is outdated or never registered. I also think when your pet is microchipped, which ever agency or vet should have their contact number and the owners. This way, if the owners contact information is outdated; the vet, clinic, agency, etc. information does not change Your focus on education alongside access is key, because without that piece, even well-intentioned programs can fall short. I also really like the idea of 24/7 public scanning stations. Where I live, I know of one-shelter that has a public scanner out front to check and see if the "found animal" is microchipped. One thing that could make this especially effective is ensuring they are paired with clear, simple instructions and possibly a direct connection to support (even a QR code or hotline). Many people want to help a found pet but feel unsure about what to do next, so reducing that uncertainty is huge. From a trauma-informed perspective, I think your project also has a lot of value in reducing stress for both pet owners and the public. When someone loses a pet, it ... View Discussion

Thank you for sharing this toolkit-this was extremely insightful. One of the biggest takeaways for me is how clearly it highlights that owner surrender is often tied to personal crisis situations such as housing instability, illness, or financial hardship, rather than a lack of care for the animal. I really appreciated the emphasis on shifting language and approach. Using phrases like "seeking help" instead of "giving up a pet," and asking open-ended questions, creates a more supportive and less judgmental environment. That shift alone can reduce shame and help build trust between the public and shelters. Another important point in the toolkit is recognizing staff reactions, biases, and moral distress. It made me realize how critical self-awareness is in these interactions. If staff are overwhelmed or operating from assumptions, it can unintentionally escalate situations instead of helping resolve them. The idea of reframing-asking "what else may be true?"-is a powerful way to approach each situation with empathy rather than judgment. I also think the focus on accessibility and communication is key. Many people may hesitate to reach out for help because they fear being judged or don't know what resources are available. Creating a system that is not only compassionate but also clearly communicated and easy to navigate can make a significant difference in both preventing surrenders and improving outcomes when surrender is necessary. Overall, this toolkit reinforces that ... View Discussion

I really appreciate this discussion because community involvement is honestly one of the biggest factors in whether TNR efforts succeed or fail. It's not just about trapping and fixing cats-it's about building awareness and trust within the neighborhood. One of the most effective ways to get people involved is by making TNR feel accessible and non-intimidating. A lot of people want to help but assume it's complicated or that they're not qualified. Breaking it down into simple roles-like reporting colonies, helping with short-term recovery, or even just donating food-can make a big difference. It gives people a way to participate without feeling overwhelmed. Where I live, we have a SNIP bus that works directly with the public and prioritizes TNR cats. Standby lines can be long, but when cats are brought in using humane traps, they are typically accepted first thing in the morning. Programs like this highlight how important it is to connect the public with accessible resources, because the support systems do exist; but people need to be aware of them. I also think education plays a huge role. Many people still turn a blind eye to what's happening in their neighborhoods, often because they don't fully understand the issue or realize they can be part of the solution. Explaining how TNR reduces overpopulation, nuisance behaviors, and shelter intake can help shift perspectives and encourage involvement. I also think there is room for stronger community-level support and accountability. ... View Discussion

That is wonderful, Aliyah! Please reach out if you have any questions! ------------------------------ Shoshana Mostoller Director of Programs My Dog Is My Home ------------------------------ View Discussion

Yes, we are volunteer-ran. I have one volunteer who is basically "full-time". I work at a full-time job, as do most of my other volunteers. We rely heavily on the colony caregivers do the trapping and transporting, and it's worked great so far. We provide all the equipment and training, they trap the cats and take them to the appointment we've scheduled for them. We have a vet who is an hour's drive from us who gives us a discount. We are also very rural, so it's not easy to get things done! We're attending a community health fair in a couple of weeks, where we will educate about TNR, and we'll be selling some t-shirts and necklaces. We'll also have a big "DONATION JAR" front and center. If you could find one person among your volunteers who is outgoing and has the flexibility to attend community events, it could be a big benefit in a lot of ways. I wish I had someone who could work on grants full-time for me! ------------------------------ Amy Zavala President Shadow Cats 806 TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Maria; In collaboration with Neighborhood Cats we just recorded an updated session in February 2026, below is the link to access the recordings and take the certification. Feel free to reach out with any questions. https://communitycatscentral.thinkific.com/courses/how-to-build-a-tnr-movement Community Cats Central How to Build a TNR Movement - From the Backyard to the Front Led by the team behind NYC's groundbreaking community TNR program, this workshop teaches practical strategies to mobilize the public, train and support new trappers, build volunteer networks, and gain community buy-in. Includes resources, a digital certificate, and one year of recording access. View this on Community Cats Central > Let me know ------------------------------ Stacy LeBaron Head Cat The Community Cats Central Warren VT 978-239-2090 ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Kendall, Thank you so much for posting this! Are there any upcoming webinars on this? Or a link to the recording of the past one I could watch? ------------------------------ Maria Plattner Director Forest Felines MN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Stacy, Thank you so much for that information! I'll look into the Community Cats Central. I have spoken to a representative of MNSNAP and our closest humane society and they are not able to help for a lower cost than the place we go to that is 2 hours away. We have connected with other shelters and rescues in our area but we are still working on reaching out to the ones we find. Thank you for everything! ------------------------------ Maria Plattner Director Forest Felines MN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Amy, I have one vet that will do two neuters or one spay a week that will give us discounted rates, otherwise I'm driving about 2 hours away to get them sterilized at a low cost (we are very rural). Are you volunteer ran? Myself and our 4 other volunteers work full-time as well and it's hard to balance, doable because we believe in the cause but I do worry about burnout. Our area has meetings like that but it's typically during the day so it's hard for us to get to go. I will dig deeper into that. Thank you so much for that idea. I attended the zoom meeting with Maddie's fund yesterday, it was about social media and it was so helpful. I needed to hear that there are more like minded people out there. Thank you. ------------------------------ Maria Plattner Director Forest Felines MN ------------------------------ View Discussion

CARE does an online Kitten Shower during the month of April. We use the Amazon gift registry and also link to the donation page on our website. We've had very good response and will continue. We may offer a Dog Days online event in the summer. ------------------------------ Joan Cunningham Board Chair Chatham Animal Rescue & Education NC ------------------------------ View Discussion

those are some awesome ideas. I'm thinking about having like a kitten shower when we do our prevention fest in July. ------------------------------ BJ Adkins Founder/Director Animal-Angels Foundation Pinson, AL bjadkins@animal-angels.org animal-angelsfoundation.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you for your kind words, BJ! And just wanted to add that in 2015 when the ASPCA and others started to highlight owner surrenders who just needed temporary help to keep their pets, it was a huge turning point for me. It was both humbling and heartbreaking that I was too busy judging people for surrendering and never thought to ask how we could help them keep their pets. I'm so grateful that as an industry, we now focus on Safety Net and Access to Care with models like the Open Door Veterinary Collective. All the best to you! ------------------------------ Sara Pizano ------------------------------ View Discussion

Here are some ideas: Name a litter of kittens for a fundraiser! Bottle Baby Feeding Demos! Sponsor a foster starter kit! Host a foster bootcamp sign up during kitten shower! Connect with local pet stores for kitten season supply dirves! Kitten coloring pages for kiddos! Raffle Basket Giveaways! ------------------------------ Jennifer Webber The Humane Society of Hobart, Inc. ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you so much, Sarah and Maddie! This guide is an absolute game-changer for anyone in animal services! For non-profit shelters like ours, free, comprehensive, and authoritative resources like this are invaluable. It's perfect for daily operations, staff training, and even communicating with municipal leaders, and it answers so many of the questions we get asked all the time. I've already downloaded it and shared it with my entire team. This is such a fantastic resource-thank you again! ❤️ ------------------------------ Rose mauve 无 无 ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

This guide is saying something that I think a lot of us in this space have been circling around for a while. The system was designed around reaction, not prevention. Sara puts it right up front. What jumped out at me is the data on field services calls. Only 19% resulted in shelter intake. That means 81% of the time, the answer was not a shelter. It was something else. And in too many communities, that "something else" doesn't exist in any structured way. She also references the LA study where 77% of people who surrendered cited cost as the reason, and many had no idea resources were available. That's not a family problem. That's an infrastructure problem. I just posted a separate thread about the coordination gap in animal welfare, and this guide reinforces the same conclusion from the shelter operations side. We're all arriving at the same place: the resources often exist, the connections between them don't, and prevention has to become a funded function, not a side project. Worth the read if you haven't seen it yet. ------------------------------ BJ Adkins Founder/Director Animal-Angels Foundation Pinson, AL bjadkins@animal-angels.org animal-angelsfoundation.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

I want to ask a question that I think it's one this community is uniquely positioned to answer. Last month I was talking to a shelter intake coordinator in another state. She told me about a family that surrendered their dog because they couldn't afford a $200 vet bill. Standard story. Happens every day. Except there was a vet clinic four miles away with a sliding-scale program that could have covered it. A trainer across town was doing free behavioral consults for families at risk of surrender. A food bank two miles from the family's house had just started distributing pet food alongside human food. None of them knew about each other. None of them knew the family existed until the dog was already in the system. That's not a resource problem. That's a coordination problem. And I keep running into it everywhere I look. We have shelters that are full while rescues thirty miles away have open foster homes. We have families making six phone calls trying to find help and giving up after the third one goes to voicemail. We have trainers, groomers, vet clinics, boarding facilities, food banks, churches, and housing navigators who all interact with the same families we're trying to reach, and almost none of them are connected to each other in any structured way. I started thinking about how every other service sector handled this same problem. Healthcare had patients showing up at hospitals with no medical history, test results that didn't follow them between clinics, medications ... View Discussion

We do a Kitten Shower each year and we have had the most success with a drive up Kitten Shower in front of our rescue. We have partnered with businesses and tried other places, but the drive up option seems to work best for people. We set up a table and bins for donations and then give gift bags and treats to those who donate. We receive so many donations for our kitten fosters! Kitten season came really early this year, so we are thankful for donations. We also share our Amazon wishlist with all the kitten supplies so people can donate. Good luck and thanks for all you're doing! ------------------------------ Stefanie Schmidt Animal Welfare Specialist Hearts Alive Village NV ------------------------------ View Discussion

One specific action I can take in the next 48 hours: I can create and post a short, impactful video highlighting the mission of LC'S Foundation, showcasing our partnership work, community impact, and vision for expanding grooming education and animal welfare support locally and globally. This can include a clear call-to-action for support, whether through donations, partnerships, or awareness. Biggest barrier until now: The biggest barrier has been time and structure. Between running LC'S Detroit Pet Salon, mentoring, and building partnerships, social media has not had a consistent strategy or dedicated focus. I've been doing the work, but not always capturing and sharing it in a way that reflects the full impact of what LC'S Foundation is doing. I have to do better or being someone on to possibly help, but I'm not sure where to look, maybe a volunteer? Any ideas?. ------------------------------ Tonya Smith Founder LC'S Foundation Michigan ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hey Everyone - I'm new here. I live in Philadelphia and am eager to transport Philly-based cats to shelters with capacity. All of the rescues that I work with in Philly (PAWS, Stray Cat Relief Fund, PURR, etc. are in desperate need of fosters - we truly just don't have anywhere for the cats to go and I want to help free up some space!). I would love to hear from any Philly-based feline non-profits that need volunteer help and any shelters that have capacity, particularly those in the Northeast that are within 1-day driving distance from Philadelphia. Thanks everyone! 😻 #TransfersandTransport ------------------------------ Annie Bennett Volunteer Various Cat Non-Profits in Philadelphia PA ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

Hello! We are very excited to introduce The National Cat Behavior Helpline providing no-cost, phone-based cat behavior assistance to help keep cats in homes & out of shelters. We urge shelters & rescues to refer potential cat surrenderers to us as well as cat adopters & fosters who need assistance! Attached is our flier to provide to your staff. If you have questions, please contact the Helpline founder, Matt Wildman, at felinehelpline@gmail.com or (347) 938-7692. (More info on Matt is below.) Additonal informaton: We ask shelter/rescue staff to provide us with the contact information of the client as we've found that it is easier to connect with clients if we reach out to them. We will contact the client within 24-48 hours. We can provide assistance for any type of behavior issue, including aggression. We will provide ongoing support until the behavior issue is resolved. When requested, we will follow up with the shelter/rescue about any case. If you would like to also volunteer on the Helpline, you can take Humane World for Animals' free, self-paced online Cat Behavior Counselor Course . Graduates of the course will receive addtional training and can then begin volunteering on the Helpline. Matt Wildman is a cat behaviorist who served for four years as the resident cat behaviorist at Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States). During that time he created a variety of educational resources for the animal sheltering ... View Discussion

Hi everyone, I'm Natalia, founder of Hope Paws Support Fund – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. I want to connect with all rescues that can pull from Riverside Shelter in California . Why? Because we have dogs in need – including pitties – and we are trying to save them. Currently we have Baby Boy , a 4-year-old white and tan Pit Bull Terrier mix, 45.6 lbs. He is a sweet dog who deserves a second chance. But Baby Boy is fighting a tough battle. He has been diagnosed with Valley Fever , a serious but treatable condition that will require long-term medical care (often a year or more). He also has: Non-weight bearing on one back leg Underweight (BCS 2/9) Lab abnormalities that need monitoring https://24petconnect.com/RVSDPublic/Details/RVSD/A1903134 24petconnect Details: A1903134 I am a male, 45.60 lbs, white and tan Pit Bull Terrier mix.... View this on 24petconnect > Let's build a network together. If your rescue can pull from Riverside – or you know someone who can – please comment or message me. I would love to connect to help Baby Boy and other at-risk dogs. We all want the same thing: to save more dogs. Thank you! 🐾 #CommunityPartnerships* #PetSupportServices* #TransfersandTransport ------------------------------ Natalia Boiko Hope Paws Support Fund EIN: 41-4118400 | 501(c)(3) ... View Discussion

It's that time of year for the Jordan's Way tour. For anyone who doesn't know about it, Kris Rotonda goes around the country doing Facebook live fundraisers for animal shelters, in the name of his nonprofit, Jordan's Way. He's super energetic and creates a ton of hype, and at this very moment he's looking for the country's longest stay dog. Sounds really great, right?! WRONG! There are several very concerning issues: The IRS revoked his 501(c)3 He never registered with the state of Florida He uses his illegal nonprofit to get donations to fund his tour He apparently charges the shelters $250 up front and takes 25% of the funds raised (so I've heard) If he shows up and isn't happy with the amount of people there, he will get irate, cuss people out, and cancel right on the spot. You can see this for yourself in a video posted on the Jeanette Hunt-Blair Animal Shelter Facebook page from late January. It's extremely disheartening, I know; all this information is verifiable. If anyone here is, or is contemplating, talking to him about coming to your shelter, I beg you to please discontinue any talks and relationship with him. You're putting yourself, your shelter, and your reputation in danger by working with him #FundraisingandDevelopment ------------------------------ Sincerely, Johanna Spielman Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/ ------------------------------ View Discussion

Diversity Month is an annual observance in April dedicated to recognizing, appreciating, and celebrating the differences and commonalities among people, fostering inclusion and understanding. Celebrate Diversity Month was established in 2004 by ProGroup Inc. and Diversity Best Practices to extend diversity awareness beyond the workplace and into broader American culture. Since then, it has been adopted by schools, universities, government agencies, and private companies across the US. It has also gained international traction, for instance in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia ( source ). What Does Diversity Mean in One Health? Through the lens of One Health, diversity can be social, biological, environmental, and cultural. When we think about species and ecosystems' biodiversity, loss of diversity weakens ecological resilience. The same can be said for social and cultural diversity; when we include different perspectives, our organizations and communities are stronger. One Health often brings together multiple sectors, but not all voices are equally represented. Diversity in family structures includes acknowledging multi-species families and recognizing pets as part of our family when providing services and care. Diversity includes acknowledging cultural differences in how people relate to ... View Discussion

Announcing (drumroll please), The Go-To Guide for Animal Services ! This guide is a high level summary resource for all things animal welfare and relevant for both non-profit and municipal leaders and is free #ThankstoMaddie ! It can be found on the Team Shelter USA website at teamshelterusa.com/guide, downloaded and shared. There's lots of current links to information about each topic and I addressed all the questions I am asked when doing operational consults and feasibility studies so here are the answers! Did I say Thank you Maddie??? #EducationandTraining ------------------------------ Sara Pizano ------------------------------ View Discussion

The CNY SPCA is hosting it's second kitten shower in about 2 weeks. Here is our facebook event - https://www.facebook.com/events/1447659153809988 We did the event last year, here is the recap post - https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GfgaDSEV5/ I'm happy to share additional info on what we did and our plans for this year if you need some more info! ------------------------------ Danielle Strout Volunteer CNY SPCA NY ------------------------------ View Discussion

For us, we have found that posting 2 fun TikTok/Reels a week is a great balance to any other posts we may need to get out. The real key is making sure that your brand voice is consistent, do what feels authentic to you! A mixture is great because it allows for those that support your work follow along and respond to any urgent pleas, while also giving those who prefer more light hearted things to enjoy. Our audience stays engaged with our fun and silly content, but also respond just the same when we post about more urgent needs because they know what to expect from us through our consistent presence. ------------------------------ Arpisara Hangtagool Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications Operation Kindness Humane Society TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

At minimum, I suggest at least 3 times a week, once per day! You don't want to oversaturate your page because things get lost. Sometimes we post a couple times a day if we need to get more information out that has more of an urgent time frame. Posting everyday is not necessary for a successful platform, it's consistency that is the most important! As you grow, you may find that you have to post more often and that's great! But 3 times a week is a good rule of thumb. Instagram and Facebook stories are also incredible for community engagement! We post daily on our stories. There's no limit to how many stories you can post. ------------------------------ Arpisara Hangtagool Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications Operation Kindness Humane Society TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you so much for having me! It was such an honor to be a part of this conversation and share some insight into making everyone's digital presence more effective so we can all continue impacting more lives! ------------------------------ Arpisara Hangtagool Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications Operation Kindness Humane Society TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Unanswered question from the chat: "How do you balance staying fun and playful such as through trends but also maintaining the urgency of needing donations, fosters, adopters? We worry that we will seem all over the place and not authentic by the mixture of types of content." - @Katheryn White ------------------------------ Community Conversations Community Conversations Committee Maddie's Fund CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Unanswered question from the chat: "What are your suggestions on how frequently to post? How many times a day/week?" - Shelley Joaquin ------------------------------ Community Conversations Community Conversations Committee Maddie's Fund CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thanks to our speaker, @Arpisara Hangtagool - and everyone who joined us today! We would love to hear from you in response to today's reflection question: What is one specific action you can take in the next 48 hours to move your organization's social media presence forward - and what has been the biggest barrier stopping you from taking that step until now? ------------------------------ Sheila Kouhkan Senior Education Specialist Maddie's Fund CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

This is so incredible! Thank you for sharing, Shoshana. I introduced this concept to my team at the shelter and they were so excited to learn more. I can't wait to take them through some of the resources in this toolkit :) ------------------------------ Aliyah Moore Digital Media Specialist Humane Society of St. Lucie County FL ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi everyone - a couple of weeks ago there was a great discussion around trauma-informed owner surrender. I wanted to share a toolkit that I created with staff from a municipal shelter in Virginia Beach about how to create a trauma-informed owner surrender program at your shelter. I am attaching the toolkit to this post. Please reach out to me with any questions or suggestions. Thanks! #EducationandTraining ------------------------------ Shoshana Mostoller Director of Programs My Dog Is My Home ------------------------------ View Discussion

We have used a lot of 3rd party fundraisers in the past year. I would say of all of them combined (6-8) we raised around $2500 total. Not a lot, but we wanted to give something to our supporters instead of our usual donation ask. The best part is we did everything virtual and very little work on our end, aside from social media posts and answering questions. We do tshirts/sweatshirts, flower and fruit & vegetable bulbs and seeds, Pampered Chef, Rada Cutlery and a wine fundraiser. We have talked about a 5K or other race time event, but there are so many in our area, it would be hard to find a date that wasn't a conflict. I love the fashion show idea! May have to try that! ------------------------------ Kristen Streeter Board member Leia's Hope Canine Rescue IL ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hello Katheryn! New Hope (foster program) from Santa Fe Animal Shelter in Santa Fe, NM here! :) We hosted our 2026 Spring Kitten Shower at a local coffee shop and called it a "Rise & Shine" kitten shower. We had interactive stations including 1. Make a flour ring around "abandoned" kittens (stuffed animals), 2. Bottle-baby kit building and a "Stimulating practice" station that were held outside the coffee shop. The stimulation station was cool because we used mini plastic water bottles to mimic a kitten and poked a hole in the lid, then covered the bottle with a blanket. People could "stimulate" the "kitten" and actually have water come out. Since we can't take vulnerable neonates offsite to an uncontrollable environment, we had to be creative haha. We held the event from 9-11am, but should have had it from 10-12pm instead to capture more people who were finishing with breakfast. In the past though, we've partnered with local Breweries who brewed special "milk stouts" for us and gave us part of those proceeds! Those are popular because who doesn't love kittens and beer all in one! Our biggest barrier is getting fosters out to our events. Many of our fosters are "homebodies" and would rather focus on the animals then attend events with people. We also find other attendance from volunteers, and the general public to be lower than we hope for. And while we advertise for donation collection of needed supplies at the events, we find most of our donation success to happen ... View Discussion

April is National Garden Month , a time to celebrate the many benefits that gardens bring to our lives. Whether it’s a backyard full of blooms, a few containers on a patio, or even a small windowsill herb garden, gardening offers a chance to slow down, connect with nature, and nurture something meaningful. Gardening can also happen indoors, making it accessible for people who live in apartments or areas without outdoor space. Gardening can be a wonderful way for people and their pets to spend time together. For people, gardening can reduce stress, encourage gentle physical activity, and create a sense of accomplishment. For pets, time around plants and outdoor spaces offers new sights, smells, and enrichment. Many dogs enjoy exploring the garden or relaxing nearby while their person works in the soil. If you garden with pets in mind, there are a few simple ways to make the space enjoyable and safe for everyone: Choose pet-safe plants and avoid varieties that may be toxic to animals. Create shaded resting spots where pets can relax while you garden. Use pet-safe gardening practices , such as avoiding harmful pesticides or fertilizers. Add enrichment , like a digging corner for dogs or a sunny perch for cats. Gardens—indoors or outdoors—can strengthen the bond between pets and their people. The shared routine of watering plants, tending flowers, or simply sitting together among the greenery can create calm moments of connection. ... View Discussion

Thank you for those suggestions, Stacy. Maria, I'm in a situation similar to yours. I've had a TNR program for 2 years, but not a lot of local help. Do you have a vet who knows what you are doing and is willing to give you discounted rates? As far as the community, I'm very active on social media, and that's how I've managed to find some other like-minded people to pitch in. I sign up for every community event this area has, and I talk to anyone who will listen at these events. I also give them handouts about TNR. I do a lot of pics and videos, and I make them FUN. I want people to see how rewarding this work is. I'm having discussions with the city council members in my town about adopting a "community cat program". I'm also developing a relationship with local Animal Control. There are probably more people out there who are like you than you realize, the challenge is finding them and getting them motivated to make some big changes. ------------------------------ Amy Zavala President Shadow Cats 806 TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Regarding the KMR suggestion, I'd like to share some data on costs and health risks. High Hidden Costs: Tiki Cat cat food is very expensive. Moreover, a diet high in moisture (wet food) is crucial, but switching directly to kibble for under 8-week-olds is dangerous. Urinary tract issues and kidney stones are common risks, and vet bills for these can be catastrophic for our shelter. KMR is the standard. Recommended by both the ASPCA and Best Friends, KMR mimics the milk of a mother. Kittens under 8 weeks lack the enzymes to digest starch. Forcing them into kibble can cause severe hypoglycemia, dehydration, and even death. Taking that risk just to save on formula is medically irresponsible. ------------------------------ Rose mauve 无 无 ------------------------------ View Discussion

Our shelter uses Shelter's Choice for our formula, although we did use KMR previously. Just what we have provided in their kennels and excluding our syringe feeding process, kittens under 6 weeks will get a bowl of regular wet kitten food, a bowl of wet food mixed with some formula to make gruel and kittens under 8 weeks get what we call kitten crushed food, which is just dry kitten food that has gone through a food processor to break it into smaller pieces, and a bowl of water. Kittens 6 weeks and older get just regular wet food, crushed kitten food, and a bowl of water. Like Marnie said, you should try to be consistent with the food you are offering unless the cat is not eating what is being offered. Tiki cat is great but I worry that it would not be a sustainable option to have consistently. If the reason for it is just because of the size of the pieces, it might be better to do what our shelter does and get a food processor. It is against protocols at our shelter to mix wet and dry food. To my knowledge it is mostly because the two differ in how long they are good for when exposed to air so mixing wet and dry would make the dry no longer edible much sooner than it would on its own. I thought I had read about it in the ASV guidelines but looking through just now I must've made that up or saw it somewhere else. It can be ok to mix in the home in a much more individualized environment but it does not seem like the best option for a shelter/rescue. For credibility, my shelter ... View Discussion

Hi Maria, Thank you so much for starting up a cat organization to help with TNR and Community Cat support. This is the best group to get ideas etc. It sounds like the first step is trying to build your group with more people who are like minded about cats and want to help. If it seems appropriate I would post in your local neighborhood social media that you are looking for volunteers to help buildout a TNR program and fundraise to help support this program. At Community Cats Central we offer monthly TNR certification workshops that you can require folks to take(it is only $10) to get certified and then can access benefits like access to traps, ability to help with spay/neuter and transport to appointments, trapping etc. You can define those benefits. It will save you a lot of time if people aren't willing to do a 2-3 hr virtual training then you know ahead of time that they aren't really going to be a committed volunteer. In terms of fundraising- I always say it takes 4 people fundraising to support 1 person trapping. Check out Get Fully Funded - they have some great resources etc. I am not sure what your spay/neuter costs are and what volume you are at but check out: https://mnsnap.org/community-cats/ . You might want to reach out and connect with other groups in the state to share and collaborate. I hope this is a helpful good start. Reach out if you need anything. ------------------------------ Stacy LeBaron Head Cat The Community Cats Podcast Warren ... View Discussion

Hi! Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood, Oregon is running a kitten shower right now. They're on Facebook @catadoptpdx ------------------------------ Sincerely, Johanna Spielman Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/ ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Emily, Thank you so much for your email. I would not worry about adding water instead of milk to the wet food. Nurseries like the large ASPCA kitten nursery in NYC don't dilute formula at all with the rational that mother kitties don't give babies a transition food so they don't do it at their nursery with great success. We know that kittens, when they wean, tend to suck their food as they learn to chew, so the diluted formula is easier for them to transition on. When you are weaning kittens, always add a probiotic. Some formulas have a built in probiotic that would be beneficial for kittens during this time. My advice would be to make a gruel with something like breeders edge or shelters choice, but I know that people opt out of gruel all together with success. What worries me the most is not having a stable food source for weaning kittens. Their nutrition is so important as they wean. I haven't found anything better than Royal Canin's Mother and Babycat for this. I have heard great things about Tiki Cat but haven't used it. It is not recommended to use different foods as their GI systems develop. The National Organizations get their information on neonates from the shelter medicine programs. We just launched a guide that will be helpful to you with the shelter med programs. I have attached it here. https://kittencollege.aflip.in/livinglibrary Hope this is helpful! Marnie Russ ------------------------------ Marnie Russ Founder, Program ... View Discussion

Hello! This is my first post on Maddie's Forum! I am meeting with management on Tuesday to talk about our kitten feeding protocols. Some history/need to knows: We are an open intake shelter, and take in any and all animals that come through our doors. We are starting to swing into kitten season! We currently do not buy kitten food, and rely solely on donations for kitten wet and dry food. A majority of the kittens we intake are under 8 weeks of age. In the past, we have mixed wet food with KMR for kittens under 8 weeks of age to create gruel to help pack on calories and wean orphaned kittens. Now the upcoming conversation with management: Our operations director no longer wants to use Meat Milk (KMR mixed with wet food) for kittens that are weaned. She believe it is, in her words, "It is not ideal nor a health standard and will mess with the GI system development." Her solution is that kittens should always have wet food/water slurry with dry kibble mixed in, and wants kittens 5-7 weeks of age to get Tiki Cat Baby Cat because they "can not fit the other kitten kibble in mouth." My concerns: A majority of the kittens we get in, we have no information other than the location they are found, their sex, and the age we assign them by the development of teeth and body. We do not know if they are properly (or at all) weaned, nor their past reliability on a food source. They are generally underweight, have parasites and any other issue an orphaned kitten might have. ... View Discussion

Hi everyone! I wanted to introduce a project I recently launched and open the door for feedback from this community. I'm the founder of The Reunite Tonight Project, a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit (out of Chesapeake VA) focused on preventing lost pets from ever entering the shelter system when possible. Our mission is simple: Because every pet deserves to find their way home. We're working on a three-part, prevention-based model: • Community microchip education to help people understand why and how to properly register chips • Free microchip access through vouchers (we cover the cost directly with participating clinics) • 24/7 public microchip scanning stations placed in neighborhoods so found pets can be identified and returned home quickly-especially after hours The goal is to reduce intake, shorten stray hold times, and take some of the pressure off already overwhelmed shelters and animal services teams. As we continue to grow, I would really value insight from those of you working directly in animal welfare: Where do you see the biggest gaps in prevention or return-to-owner efforts right now? What would make a program like ours genuinely helpful (not burdensome) to your day-to-day work? Are there any common pitfalls or unintended consequences we should be thinking about early on? We want to build this with the community, not just around it, and make sure what we're creating actually supports the professionals ... View Discussion

Hi Ms. Katheryn, Our shelter had a fun kitten and puppy shower last year where we partnered with a local brewery who was gracious enough to allow us to host one there. They offered to make a special drink and donate some of the proceeds. We had stations where people could assemble bottle feeder kits in one area and another area where people made different enrichment toys out of pieces of fleece blankets. The enrichment items were catnip empanadas (a few pieces of fleece tied together and stuffed with some catnip), cat wands, pompoms, easter eggs with some cat treats inside (similar to dog wobblers), and some small snuffle mats for puppies (made out of pieces of bath mats with fabric woven into them). One of our volunteers baked some cookies as well. Good luck with the shower! I hope it's a lot of fun! ------------------------------ Mireya Ramirez Behavior Team Member Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society NM ------------------------------ View Discussion

Katheryn, this is a fantastic idea. We're planning our first Prevention Fest for July here in Central Alabama and we're absolutely borrowing this concept. A kitten and puppy shower fits perfectly with what we're building. We'd love to hear what works and what doesn't as you plan yours, and we'll share back what we learn from ours. Good luck with kitten season in Texas. ------------------------------ BJ Adkins Founder/Director Animal-Angels Foundation Pinson, AL bjadkins@animal-angels.org animal-angelsfoundation.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Jenna, We netted about 15K. One third from signups, one third from individual donors, and one third from business sponsorships. We got our local K9 officers involved in a "battle of the badges" and that raised a significant amount of donations. We used TerraRunning.com to host the signups and donations. They are expensive ($1200), but they took care of all the signups and then did the timing for the runners. So we didn't have to create a separate web page or track signups or a separate donation page. Most importantly, we had a race director who put on a 5K previously, so she had all the ideas of how to set up, and we did all the behind the scenes work. We will make this an annual event. Hope that helps! ------------------------------ Renee Milner Nonprofit Board Member Animal Shelter Alliance of Rhea TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

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We toyed with several names and came up with Run for the Rescues. Other shelters and humane societies are also doing 5Ks and coming up with cute names. Now that we've done one, we get lots of ads for others, of course! ------------------------------ Renee Milner Nonprofit Board Member Animal Shelter Alliance of Rhea TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Really informative post - I didn't realize how similar the spread is to human flu. It definitely makes you think more about things like dog parks, boarding, and even shared toys. From my own experience, I started being more careful after reading about canine flu - I shop for my dog on Chewy and noticed they actually have a lot of hygiene-related products (like disinfectant sprays, separate bowls, etc.), which helped me be more proactive. ------------------------------ Tyrone Pierce Veterinarian Maryland Hospital MD ------------------------------ View Discussion

Great reminder, thank you for sharing this! I learned this the hard way with my dog - he once got into a bag and almost chewed on some medication I dropped. Since then I've been super careful about keeping everything out of reach. Also, from my own experience using products from Petlab Co , I've become a lot more mindful about what goes into my pet's system overall - even "safe" things should be stored properly and used correctly. ------------------------------ Tyrone Pierce Veterinarian Maryland Hospital MD ------------------------------ View Discussion

Our shelter currently takes our therapy dogs for visits (which is always a huge hit) but we have even been talking about how to incorporate kitten season into the mix this year. One idea is that if we had a litter of bottle baby kittens at a shelter who have not yet secured a foster home and are stable enough to travel, we could bring them and have the sweet seniors care for the kittens for a few hours. It would not only help out the shelter staff who are beyond stretched thin and feeding kittens every few hours is not feasible, but it would provide an educational angel for the senior visits. We haven't acted on this yet, but we are noodling it around as an idea! ------------------------------ Katheryn White Adoption Counselor/Grant Writer PAWS Shelter of Central Texas TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

I've grew up in a small rural town in northern Minnesota where cats were a dime a dozen. I've always been a cat person since I was a little girl and not many people understood it. When I moved and started working at a cat rescue out of state, I felt like I was with my people. Now, being back home in the town I grew up in, it's still the same- dime a dozen. I recently started a cat rescue after finding yet another frozen dead cat in a colony I help with. We're a registered nonprofit for community cats/feral cats/strays that need to be trapped. We have a TNR Program and our website has educational information that I made to be shared and printed- whatever to get the word out. But no one is interested in that- they just don't want the cats. I just trapped and brought a cat in that had been living in horrible conditions with its eye hanging from the socket for months and others are pretty nonchalant about it because it's a cat. Our TNR Request list is at 139 within just 6 days and within 40 miles from our location, but no one wants to donate to help with the TNR services. I'm stuck- I want to continue to TNR, continue to help the ones that have nowhere else to go but my community isn't interested and I can't continue to pay for everything myself. Any ideas on how I can get my community to change that dime a dozen mindset so we can continue to make an impact? #CommunityCatManagement ------------------------------ Maria Plattner Director Forest Felines MN ------- ... View Discussion

🎉 We have our winners! 🎉 Congratulations to @enzo Dirienzo , our February 2026 winner, and @Audrey Summers , our March 2026 winner! 👏👏👏 Please check your email for instructions on how to receive your $50 gift card , or reach out to us at cpfw@utk.edu. Thank you both for being part of our community! ------------------------------ T' Fisher, Director of Operations Center for Pet Family Well-Being ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

Hi. We're in a similar situation. We're a cat Sanctuary in a poor area. Hopefully someone will have some ideas for us. ------------------------------ Bre Hoffman Administrative Director Special Little Whiskers Kitten Rescue IL ------------------------------ View Discussion

Public health really hits home when you think about how it connects all parts of our lives-not just people, but our pets and the environments we share. Clean water, safe housing, access to food-those things don't just impact human health, they shape the well-being of entire households, including animals. When one part of that system is off, everything feels it. That's why this kind of work matters so much. It's not abstract-it shows up in everyday life. It's making sure families (and their pets) can stay healthy together, that neighborhoods are safe places to live and walk, and that the air and water we all rely on are actually safe. Also love the idea of "Flood the Feed"-it's such an easy, tangible way to help people see how public health connects to their daily routines in ways they might not have thought about before. Excited to see how people bring this to life this week! ------------------------------ T' Fisher, Director of Operations Center for Pet Family Well-Being ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and perspectives in this thread-your insights and real-world stories are incredibly valuable in helping clarify what can often feel like a confusing space. To help ground the discussion, there is no single federal certification or registry requirement for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). However, there are clear federal guidelines about who can write an ESA letter and what makes it legitimate. Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), an ESA letter must come from a licensed healthcare professional who is currently treating the individual for a mental or emotional disability. This can include licensed mental health professionals, physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, or other qualified clinicians. The key requirement is that the provider has personal knowledge of the individual's condition and can determine that the animal provides therapeutic benefit. The most widely cited federal guidance comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which issued formal clarification in 2020. That guidance emphasizes: Documentation must come from a licensed provider acting within the scope of their practice Online "certificates" or registrations alone DO NOT qualify Letters should reflect an established therapeutic relationship , not a one-time transactional evaluation You can review the official HUD guidance here: 👉 ... View Discussion

Hi Susan! It truly takes a village in the world of animal rescue & advocacy. Our area although has other rescues surrounding within the counties aren't set up to house animals for the length of time that we are seeing. Many of us in our area have attended a few city meetings addressing the issue of overpopulation to the mayor of one of our larger municipalities and sadly nothing ever comes of it, but we still continue to fight the fight and advocate for our animals. We opened after fully understanding that what is needed in between the larger rescue/shelters are other smaller rescues to help take some stress off the shoulders of the larger organization groups. We have a lot of "Open Intake" groups or groups that even though they may not necessarily be open intake they have contracts with municipalities where no matter how little space they may have to accommodate they still end up taking from our city's Animal Control. We know and understand it's not their doing but the dogs that have been kennel sitters for years constantly being over looked hit hard with myself and my staff and we wanted to make a change. Like you guys we are smaller so we have the advantage to be more choosey with who we take but at the end of the day if there is a dog we know will benefit from being here vs your typical facility we will do our very best to try and help. ------------------------------ Megan Hrinko Director of Operations PAW PAW CANINE RESCUE & RECOVERY PA --------------------- ... View Discussion

Hi Bryan! Thanks so much for you response! We currently have a vet but we are also open to partnering up with whoever also shares in our mission and similar core values. Where our rescue differs is that the dogs that we bring in are already spayed/neutered HOWEVER depending on the dogs we bring in they may or may not have active medical issues. I appreciate the kind words and we would love to team up! ------------------------------ Megan Hrinko Director of Operations PAW PAW CANINE RESCUE & RECOVERY PA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Megan, Very cool to see what you have started there. I'm with the group Spay/Neuter Save Network in Rome, PA. Part of our mission is to help out local rescues with basic vet care needs at a reduced price. You may already be set with vet care for your crew (which is great), but if we can be of any help with anything you may run into needed (Spay/Neuter, Dental, Radiographs, and some other things on a case by case thing) please feel free to reach out. You can reach me at Spayneutersavevet@gmail.com or at DrBLanglois@gmail.com. Welcome to the area!!! Bryan ------------------------------ Bryan Langlois Medical Director Spay/Neuter Save Network PA "Greatness is a title never to be self imposed" ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Ann, this is wonderful. A simple therapy dog reading/chat group or pet-and-reminisce session works great, easy to run solo and very meaningful for seniors. 💙 ------------------------------ Otilia Girjoaba Care Director Loving Adult Family Home Bothell ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

When I sold my condo in 2021 I was seeing a therapist in person and he jumped through hoops with the apartment complex I was moving into. I later found out that they could not legally ask some of the questions that were on the form. When I moved to NM, the first place I moved into asked me to sign a declaration that my cats are ESAs no doctor letter needed. When I was ready to move from there, I started looking at privately owned properties. I found that many owners were very ill informed and/or lying. My current place I turned in the letter from my therapist here. That was two years ago. They haven't asked for a new one. I now use a telehealth service since it's near impossible to good providers that accept my insurance. I'm not sure how that will work when I do need a new letter. One thing I would like to suggest is do your research before need the letter. Check the state, county and city requirements and limitations. Learn what can and can't be asked. If the owners give you grief, move on to the next place. Talk to your provider about the details. ------------------------------ Alexia Lauria Cat Volunteer Albuquerque AWD Shelter NM ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hey there! With kitten season already started (and about to gear up in full force here in Texas) we are about to have our very first kitten shower. We are still in the planning stages so I would love to hear what has worked and hasn't worked for other shelters or rescues who have hosted one for their community. Thank you! #EducationandTraining #FosterPrograms #FundraisingandDevelopment ------------------------------ Katheryn White Adoption Counselor/Grant Writer PAWS Shelter of Central Texas TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

We do a "Dog Days of Summer" fundraiser which is a combination of a fun summer BBQ and an adoption event. We get a local restaurant to cater the event so that it does not cost us anything, we have tons of pools set up everywhere for the dogs (and even humans if they want) to sit and splash in, and then have tons of dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens for adoption. We sell tickets to this event and find that our community loves it. We also have a silent auction with lots of donated items from local businesses for people to bid on. We usually raise $5k+ and have multiple adoptions. Plus, the staff, volunteers, fosters, and community have a great time bonding! ------------------------------ Katheryn White Adoption Counselor/Grant Writer PAWS Shelter of Central Texas TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Yes, that's exactly what we're seeing in early conversations. When you replace "pit bull mix" with "4-year-old dog, completed basic obedience, no damage history in two previous rentals, current on all vaccinations, $0 in documented property damage," the conversation changes completely. The data backs it up too. PIHI research shows 74.7% of pet-owning renters cause zero property damage, and of the ones who do, 88% is under $250. Breed labels tell a landlord nothing about how an animal actually behaves in a rental. A verified profile with real behavior data, training records, and rental history gives them something they can underwrite. We're building the Pet Resume into our AWRN platform so any partner in the network can generate one from verified records instead of relying on self-reported information. The landlord gets real data. The family gets past the breed restriction. The pet stays home. Still early, but the landlords we've talked to respond to numbers a lot faster than they respond to "please give my dog a chance." ------------------------------ BJ Adkins Founder/Director Animal-Angels Foundation Pinson, AL bjadkins@animal-angels.org animal-angelsfoundation.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

Good morning, Diane! Not a silly question at all. "Complementary" just means it works alongside what you already use, not instead of it. So yes, it works the same way with Sparkie. Think of it this way: Sparkie tracks what happens inside Orange Street Cats. The AWRN connects you to what's happening outside your four walls. If a family in your area needs help keeping their cat and you don't have the right resource, the network routes that family to a partner who does. If a stray comes in and someone three counties over reported a lost cat matching that description, the system makes that connection automatically. Your data stays in Sparkie. The AWRN adds a layer on top that lets you coordinate with other organizations, receive and send referrals, and see what's happening across the network. You don't have to learn a new system for your internal operations. You just gain visibility and connections you didn't have before. Some organizations also choose to use the AWRN as their primary platform if they want everything in one place. That's an option too. It just depends on what works best for your team. Short version: Sparkie is your filing cabinet. The AWRN is the phone line between you and every other organization in the network. And if you ever want one system that does both, that door is open. Hope that helps! Happy to walk you through it anytime if you want to see what it looks like. BJ ------------------------------ BJ Adkins Founder/Director Animal-Angels Foundation ... View Discussion

Holly - My team and I would be happy to give you a demo of GetBuddy. It's free, and it's currently the fastest-growing rescue management system in the U.S. How we differentiate: • Free forever: No hidden costs and volume-based restrictions • Post once, publish everywhere: send your pet data to your own website, GetBuddy.com, Petfinder, and Adopt a Pet • Unified application inbox: keep every application in one organized place so your team stays aligned and responsive • Foster portal with full medical visibility: fosters can log in, see medical history, add care notes, and update photos • Medical and vaccination tracking:store unlimited documentation and setup vaccine schedule reminders • Adopter support post adoption: GetBuddy Includes a free virtual care system that helps new adopters with any types of questions around behavior, training, and health for their pets. This drives down time that the rescue needs to spend answering questions, as well as lowers return rates. • Full database export: your data stays yours • Modern, mobile-friendly system: built to reduce busywork and help teams move faster We built GetBuddy Pro because we believe good rescue software should not be a luxury product. Rescues and shelters should be able to access powerful tools without subscriptions, surprise fees, or paying more as they grow. The goal is simple: save time, reduce duplicate work, and let teams spend more time helping animals and people. If anyone here ... View Discussion

Good morning, BJ! Once again, you amaze me. I am not a particularly tech person, so please forgive this if it is silly. May I ask, what does "complementary" mean when you're talking about the listed platforms? And we at OSC use Sparkie as our animal management tool. Is the tool you discuss complementary in the same way to Sparkie? Thank you for all you do! ------------------------------ Diane Metz Board of Directors, Volunteer, and Foster Mom Orange Street Cats, Inc. Albany NY ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi everyone, I'm the Volunteer Director of a rural nonprofit organization in East Texas. Our community is made up largely of low-income households, with a significant number of senior citizens living on fixed incomes. We've tried several fundraising efforts, including "$5 Fridays" to help cover veterinary expenses and a charity sweepstakes giveaway. Unfortunately, due to regulations (we've been established for less than three years), we're not eligible to host raffles or live auctions at this time. We currently have about 600 followers on Facebook, but we've struggled to gain consistent support and engagement when it comes to fundraising within our community. At the same time, we are in the process of applying for grants to launch a pet food pantry and a spay/neuter assistance program-both of which are greatly needed in our area. I would truly appreciate any suggestions, ideas, or strategies that could help us improve fundraising efforts and community involvement. Thank you in advance for your support! ------------------------------ Jorea Mcnamee Director Panola County Dog Rescue TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Megan, Your framing of "rehab and rehome" for the overlooked dogs really lands. The long-stay, reactive, and resource-guarding dogs are exactly the ones who fall through most systems, and building a place that's intentionally small enough to meet them at their own pace is the kind of work that sticks with anyone who's loved a tough dog. A few fundraising ideas that tend to work well for rescues in your shape: Sponsor a piece of the agility course. Break the course into named components - jumps, weave poles, tunnel, A-frame - and let donors "buy" a piece at different price points with a small plaque or a dog's name on it. $25 gets a jump, $100 gets the tunnel, $500 gets the A-frame. It turns a big abstract goal into small concrete asks that are easy to share on Facebook, and people love seeing their name (or their own dog's name) on something real. Small rescues often get the full course funded this way in 60–90 days. Story-based monthly giving around your long-stay residents. Pick one overlooked dog a month - the reactive one, the resource guarder, the one who's been waiting two years - and tell their full story with photos and a rehab progress update. Ask for $15 or $20/month to sponsor their care. Monthly giving is the holy grail for small rescues because it's predictable, and sanctuary-style dogs have the deepest, most tellable stories in the rescue world. A handful of small monthly sponsors per dog adds up fast and keeps supporters emotionally invested in ... View Discussion

BJ, this is exactly the right framing - better than I'd have articulated it myself. Rescue management software (Furball Rescue included) takes care of animals once they're already in the system. AWRN is working on the much harder problem of the animals who shouldn't have had to enter one at all, and the hand-off moments between organizations where animals fall through the cracks today. Prevention-layer infrastructure is something the field badly needs. The registry I mentioned on the other thread (furballregistry.com) was built with the same instinct from a different angle - a free, chip-keyed lookup that works anywhere, so an animal's medical history can follow them regardless of which management system a rescue runs. I'd welcome being one of the nodes in the federation layer you're describing. Strongly agree the ecosystem is better when downstream tools feed and draw from shared upstream infrastructure rather than each trying to own the whole stack individually. Grateful you're building this. Dave ------------------------------ Dave Charlton Founder Really Small NC ------------------------------ View Discussion

Jumping in even later than Dave, and from a totally different angle. Most of this thread is about rescue management software, which organizations absolutely need. But I want to name something the thread has not touched: every system mentioned here manages animals after they have already entered the system. Intake, foster, medical, adoption, reports. All downstream. At Animal-Angels Foundation we are building the layer upstream of all of it. It is called the Animal Welfare Resource Network (AWRN), and it is not a rescue management platform. It is a shared prevention infrastructure that connects shelters, rescues, vets, landlords, and community partners so that the cases that should never have become intakes never do. Pet Help Desk triage, Bridge crisis support, bidirectional lost and found matching, Pet Resume, landlord partnerships, Crisis Radar. We do not replace Shelterluv, Buzz, AnimalsFirst, Furball Rescue, or any of the other tools in this thread. We feed data upstream of them so they see fewer preventable intakes. We are also building a registry federation layer that queries multiple microchip registries in parallel (starting with Dave's furballregistry) so that when a partner runs a stray intake or a lost alert, they get one unified answer instead of checking five places. Complementary to every platform above, competitive with none of them. If prevention-first infrastructure is something your organization is thinking about, or if you want to plug your existing management ... View Discussion

Our shelter is looking at revamping our packets we provide to community members who are looking to: Rehome their pets Need assitance with vet services needs assistance with food finding pet friendly housing and so on.... Does anyone have something similar? We want to see what others are doing. Thanks in advance, Amber #CommunityPartnerships* #PetSupportServices* ------------------------------ amber francisco ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you for sharing this! Hope to see a bunch of new faces in upcoming trainings 😊 ------------------------------ Kaitlyn O'Neel Veterinary Social Worker Open Door Veterinary Collective ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

Jumping in late on this thread - adding another option for anyone searching. Furball Rescue (furballrescue.com) is a cloud-based rescue management system built specifically for foster-based rescues. Browser-based, works on any device, multi-tenant SaaS with each organization getting their own isolated database (no cross-contamination with other orgs' data). A few things rescues specifically asked for that we built and most competitors don't have: Foster portal with full medical visibility - fosters log in and see their animals' complete medical timelines (vaccines, tests, meds, scheduled tasks), add care notes, update photos. Most "foster portals" in other systems hide the medical info. Public intake request queue - a public-facing form anyone can use to report a stray/surrender, with urgency levels, triage workflow, and one-click conversion to an animal record. No other system captures the moment before intake. Organizations as fosters - foster placements can go to kennels or boarding facilities, not just individuals. Important for breed rescues with partner facilities. Foster matching with workload awareness - scores available fosters on size/age/medical compatibility AND flags fosters who need a break (consecutive placements, recent difficulty). Deterministic and transparent - you can see exactly why a foster scored the way they did. Medical protocol templates - define "Puppy Protocol" or "Adult Intake" once, apply to any animal, ... View Discussion

Hi Sara, Thank you for jumping in here with the resource list. Your 2025 data is doing real work for us in landlord conversations and our upcoming apartment association talks. The 74.7 percent zero-damage number is the single most useful stat we have for flipping mindset. Looking forward to our April 16 call with you and Ross. We have a lot to walk through on the AWRN side and how we can feed data back to PIHI. BJ ------------------------------ BJ Adkins Founder/Director Animal-Angels Foundation Pinson, AL bjadkins@animal-angels.org animal-angelsfoundation.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi McKenna, Thank you for this, and for pulling out the piece about landlord mindset. That is exactly where the work has to happen. You can have all the data in the world, but if the belief is still "pets equal risk," nothing moves. Here is what we are seeing on the ground. The reframe that lands with landlords is not about pets at all. It is about turnover, vacancy, and who pays for both. Pet-inclusive units renew at 80 percent versus 65 percent for pet-restricted ones, and 70 percent occupancy in tight markets. That is the sentence that gets their attention. Once they are listening, the 74.7 percent zero-damage number from PIHI's 2025 data does the rest. We lead with their pain (turnover cost, vacancy loss) and let the research carry the rest. You nailed the Pet Resume idea. That is exactly the concept. A verified profile that replaces breed labels with real data on behavior, training, health history, and rental history. It sits next to credit score and landlord references as a third data point. A responsible dog owner with a quiet, trained pet and a clean rental record should not be locked out because the chart says "pit bull." We are building it as part of our Animal Welfare Resource Network so any partner shelter, vet, or landlord can pull a pet's verified profile through the platform. On reaching landlords, a few things are working for us. One, go where they already are. Apartment associations, property management meetings, landlord networking groups. A 20 minute ... View Discussion

Brittany - to be clear, is Petpoint charging you for the integration to Petfinder? ------------------------------ Ryan Howard Founder, GetBuddy.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhoward/ ------------------------------ View Discussion

Generally speaking the biggest red flag you see with emotional support animal letters being marketed is the promise of a high rate of acceptance (ie, taglines that state "over 90 percent of applicants are approved!), physicians who will write letters after only seeing you for one single appointment without establishing a long term treatment plan or relationship with the patient, and above all the biggest red flag of course is misunderstanding of the law. Most places advertising fraudulent letters will encourage ESA owners to take their animals into non-pet-friendly spaces and take advantage of the protections afforded to disabled service dog handlers. A reputable physician knows the laws that protect ESA's, knows the difference between an ESA and a psychiatric service animal who has been task trained to mitigate the symptoms of a person's disability, and encourages their patient to abide by local and federal laws. They will also be able to help their patient combat access issues and breaches of the Fair Housing Act accordingly. Other "red flags" include encouraging the person to purchase tags/vests/leashes with "ESA" on them, ID cards and certificates for the animal, etc. Anything with the words "certified" or "registered" on it should make you run for the hills immediately. Not even service dogs are beholden to certifications or registries within the United States. Knowing the laws in place protects people, their animals, and their wallets. ------------------------------ Kylie ... View Discussion

BJ, thanks so much - this is exactly the kind of response I was hoping for. AWRN sounds great. The two systems sound complementary: AWRN as the rich profile for animals within a participating network, and the registry as a lightweight, chip-keyed lookup that any vet or shelter can hit without being part of any network. Different shapes, different strengths. The registry is chip-keyed by design, so unchipped animals aren't in it - but an integration where AWRN's matching layer queries the registry (and optionally publishes back) could still help a lot once animals get chipped and move between organizations. Happy to connect. The API is documented at furballregistry.com/Home/ApiDocs - I'd welcome feedback on what would make integration easier. Feel free to email me at dave@furballrescue.com . Dave ------------------------------ Dave Charlton Founder Really Small NC ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hey ya'll, Looking to see if anyone has any placement criteria policies they'd be willing to share for cats. It seems really easy to locate criteria for dogs to determine placement or euthanasia decision pathways but as far as I can tell there is nothing for cats. Our shelter uses the attached policy to monitor welfare for dogs, review critical events, and determine placement considerations. We utilize the CARS framework for quantifying risk to help eliminate some of the bias/emotion from the classifications and focus on objective observations. The only thing I've found regarding classifying cat behavior is ASPCA's Feline Spectrum Assessment which, near as I can tell, simply determines feral vs social. We've run in to a number of bitey cats lately displaying behaviors that are at times unpredictable but when the policy was written for placement considerations it did not directly include cats and I feel like there is an addendum necessary. #AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement) #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms #Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment #FieldServicesandPublicSafety* ------------------------------ Matt Montes, CBCC-KA Behavior and Training Specialist Rancho Coastal Humane Society Encinitas CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi McKenna, This is a great conversation, and you make a great point about addressing landlords' mindsets around pets in housing and how we can get the pet-inclusive housing message to them effectively. At Pet-Inclusive Housing, we provide data, research, reports, resources, and actionable tools that illuminate the path to more pet-inclusive rental housing for many housing stakeholders, including landlords. We have resources like Breed ≠ Behavior , Mythbusting Statistics , Making the Case for Pet-Inclusive Policies , and many other tools to help in conversations with landlords about the benefits of pet-inclusive housing policies and how to implement them. All of our free resources for animal welfare organizations , pet owners , and housing providers are available at petsandhousing.org . You can also access all of our reports, including our Pets & Housing Data 2025 Edition and 2021 Pet-Inclusive Housing Report , at petsandhousing.org/pet-inclusive-housing-reports/ . Please feel free to utilize and share our free reports and resources - we only ask that you cite us 😉 All the best, Sara ------------------------------ Sara Maria Muriello Senior Program Manager Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative, Michelson Found Animals ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

you're most welcome hopefully it gives you the information that you were looking for. ------------------------------ BJ Adkins Founder/Director Animal-Angels Foundation Pinson, AL bjadkins@animal-angels.org animal-angelsfoundation.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you for the guide! ------------------------------ Michelle Van Dusen Board Member Outsiders Farm & Sanctuary GA ------------------------------ View Discussion

They do! ------------------------------ Rachel Powell DVM ASV Board of Directors Director of Surgery Greenhill Humane Society Eugene, OR ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi John... Oh my goodness, this topic is very timely for me, but from a different angle. I'm still relatively new to the whole "cat rescue/foster" thing - I've been doing TNR for about 5 years (have done about 75 cats), have taken 12 indoors, and care for a colony on our property of about 20. I'm now getting myself set up as a formal nonprofit rescue & sanctuary; so, I'm slightly seasoned but still have a lot more to learn. Through all of the cats & kittens that have come across our property, we've managed to informally adopt about 15 cats, mainly to family, friends, and friends of friends...word of mouth, basically. Last December, we were contacted by a friend (I'll call him D) of someone we had adopted to the previous year. Long story, but D ended up taking two 6 month-old brothers, and my husband & I drove them to him 5 hours away as D doesn't drive because of a visual impairment. When we went over his adoption forms, we noted that D listed his reason for adoption was for emotional support animals. I was totally caught off guard with the situation, it came out of the blue. There were no guidelines - or any information at all - out there to guide me on how to help, as he requested of me. Having family with physical & mental issues, I was actually able to help him kind of from a mom angle, but I felt that there should have been someone who I could talk to with about D's situation. I didn't feel comfortable asking him certain questions outright, and I ... View Discussion

Hi there, I appreciate this post because I have also not often heard this issue talked about within the animal rescue realm, although it is certainly a prominent factor. As a foster-based dog rescue located in Colorado-specifically in places that have been heavily impacted by housing markets due to their popularity and cost, such as Boulder-we rely on the housing market to guarantee that we have enough fosters to care for our dogs. This being said, housing instability or conflicts are one of the largest issues we face when trying to secure reliable, safe households to care for our French Bulldogs while they recover from the surgeries and intensive medical care. Individuals may love the idea of fostering one of our pups, but their apartment complex may not allow it, forcing them to turn down our request to temporarily house a dog in need. What really stood out to me in your post is how much the facts contradict what landlords have been led to believe. The concept that pets create elevates risk within a house feels deeply ingrained in both the system of housing rentals and society as a whole, although after reading your post, it seems as though the majority of renters with pets are actually considered responsible, not high risk. This means that if this concept was not an issue, then there may be more renters who could help foster our dogs. For instance, we base whether or not one is allowed to rent in the first place on their credit score, and their past renting ... View Discussion

Updated 4/13/26 at 1:18 pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand! Enter here for a chance to win the April 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, April 13, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET for "Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack," a conversation with @Arpisara Hangtagool , Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications for Operation Kindness. Building a social media presence from scratch can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. This hands-on session will equip you with the tools and confidence to launch and grow an engaging online community, regardless of budget or experience. You will explore profile optimization, content strategy and scheduling tools designed to streamline team collaboration. The session also features a practical Canva walkthrough. Guiding participants on using the easy tools and templates to create eye-catching graphics that amplify their organization's mission and connect with supporters. This session is ideal for those ready to build a purposeful social media presence, no prior experience required. Leave with a clear, actionable starter pack and the know-how to post with purpose and make a lasting impact online. This session is ideal for m arketing & communications staff, shelter operations staff, and ... View Discussion

Really interesting to hear about the pet resume system you're testing! Have you found that landlords are more open once they see verified behavior/health info instead of just breed labels? Curious to follow your results. ------------------------------ Rose mauve 无 无 ------------------------------ View Discussion