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We primarily rescue stray and in-need dogs from the South and transport them to the Northeast. Our win this year started with tagging two sweet stray dogs. After a short time, the foster said that the two are bonded. They won't go ------------------------------ Tammy Fabian Executive Director Friends For Life Animal Rescue ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Tanya, Thank you for watching my presentation, and welcome to the community! I completely understand wanting to be cautious to avoid stepping on people's toes; those feelings are common when you're new. However, if you're eager to grow and have shown a desire to get involved and learn more, I hope the people around you encourage and support you to do exactly that. Wishing you the best as you continue finding your place in the community! ------------------------------ Ehani Hunter Shelter Outreach Veterinary Assistant San Diego Humane Society ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Jennifer! I'm so sorry people weren't the friendliest to you when you first came into the field, but I'm really glad you chose to stay. One thing I constantly focus on is "What purpose do I want to serve?" and "What can I get out of this experience?" What I've learned is that every new path, every step outside your comfort zone, is a step toward growth. ------------------------------ Ehani Hunter Shelter Outreach Veterinary Assistant San Diego Humane Society ------------------------------ View Discussion

We (wife and I) have been fostering a 17 pound mixed-breed all-white dog for 2 years. He came to us at about 1.5 years old so he is probably 3.5 to 4 years old now. This poor guy is the most traumatized dog we have ever fostered. He has made progress, but, it is VERY slow. His first foster had her cancer return and there was need of a quick shuffle of Griff over to us so she could care for herself (and she beat the cancer again!). She was an inexperienced foster and let the rescue group move her along the rehoming "conveyor" to the point that Griff was adopted by a single older male who returned him the next day saying "Get this dog out of my sight". Once we saw Griff's personality, we were especially surprised the group or the foster would even have considered him adoptable. He had both health and behavioral issues that were nearly overwhelming and obvious. When we received him, the skin on the outside of his penis had been sliced-though with the penis sticking out of that new hole. We never got a reasonable explanation for how or when that happened. Our vet took care of that problem the very next day (this was around 2 years ago). He has a mild seizure about every 6 months. He's been on anti-seizure meds for 2 years under our care, but they still happen about one time every 9 months or so. He lays down, rolls onto his side, stiffens, but is not fully rigid. He's calm and remains calm once he can sit and walk. The immobility phase of the seizure is over in about 2 or ... View Discussion

Wow 2025 has been a year. My family and I adopted a rescue/neglected dog back in May from the Belmont County Hoof and Paw rescue. My coworker is a member of this organization and a few months ago explained that the shelter had rescued 8 severely neglected/abused horses and needed volunteers to help feed, walk and show them love. Without hesitation my family and I became volunteers and started to care for the animals (horse's, dogs and cats) at this farm. We have since became members of this organization and donate time and feed as often as we can. Upon doing so we fell in love with two of the horses and have adopted them. They reside at the farm, but we provide all the time and funds we can, when we can. We assist in care of the rest of the animals and help with farm chores after work and school. Our goal for this rescue and from here on out is to devote our time and love to any animal in need and those that are placed in our path and spread the word to others that just because an animal has been rescued does not mean they can't love again. Julie, the owner/creator of this organization receives donations to help feed the animals but mostly covers the cost on her own. Julie and the committee have voted myself in as secretary for the organization and I would like to contribute to this rescue for as long as possible and with an open heart. I want to make people aware it's not always about money but more love and trust. ------------------------------ Alinza Morris LPN Belmont County ... View Discussion

One of our biggest accomplishments here at AniMeals is that we are on track to distribute over 10,000 pounds of pet food to community members in need! All of the food that we distribute is donated by community members and local companies. It is incredible to see the community show up so consistently. We are also very proud to say that we have adopted out over 300 cats so far this year. We vet and interview our potential adopters very thoroughly to ensure that our cats are going to safe and happy home, so it is a huge win for us to have found so many loving homes for our little buddies. ------------------------------ Spencer McNamara Development Associate AniMeals MT ------------------------------ View Discussion

That is amazing! I think a lot of organizations get caught up in numbers of animals vs the quality of care they're providing. We are in our first year as well and we've funded 10 cases in 8 months. Some may say that's small but we've given out over $4k in grants to families who otherwise would have went into severe debt, surrendered the animal or faced euthanasia for emergencies that could be fixed. Keep leading with your heart - you're filling a gap that decreases suffering and that's what is most important in my opinion. Feel free to reach out as well, I'm happy to see if we can be of resource for you in any way! ------------------------------ Maria Putnam Founder/CEO All About the Animals Foundation ------------------------------ View Discussion

This past year I Picked up a kitty that was extremely sick. I named him Mattie he was 16 with severe stomatitis and upper respiratory. Sadly Mattie was too far gone and we had to say goodbye. I have started a hospice program in his name in hopes of no seniors get left behind since a lot of rescues will reject them. This year I have placed 7 senior cats none of whom stayed in our care for more than 72 hours. My seniors are vetted and we wont prolong life if suffering. I am hoping to grow this program and give it a real name in honor of Mattie. Thinking about 7 cats all were rejected by different rescues/shelters in my area now have safe spots at homes makes me incredibly proud. Might not seem like a large number but that was 7 more lives saved! ------------------------------ Rachel Aune Board Member Friends of Mobile animal shelter AL ------------------------------ View Discussion

Looks great!!!! ------------------------------ Brooke Smith Animal Health Manager Saving Grace Humane Society Roseburg ------------------------------ View Discussion

We are having all the same issues. Everything we do is deleted. Animals we no longer have had since 2023 are relisted. If we did not do 80% of our adoptions through Petfinder, I would get rid of it. I wish they would just fix it. ------------------------------ Vanessa Cruz President For Pet's Sake Rescue MS ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you. I will look into rescuegroups.org. I have not heard of them until now. ------------------------------ Vanessa Cruz President For Pet's Sake Rescue MS ------------------------------ View Discussion

It has been AWFUL. I didn't think they could make it worse than it was, but I should've known. I still constantly get logged out or get various error pages. It takes forever to load still. There's now also a delay in removing animals from the active list after marking them as adopted. You can't type in dates anymore because it pre-populates it with a date that you can't delete or overwrite unless you use the datepicker. I can't reorder photos and when I upload multiple photos PetFinder randomly decides which one will be the first photo, so now I can only upload a single photo. I submitted a support request and was basically told "it works for me, so tough luck." I so want to stop using it all together, but since it's still one of the most popular ways of searching for adoptable pets I feel like we'd be doing a disservice to our animals by not listing them there. ------------------------------ Sam Maurice Humane Society of Jefferson County Jefferson WI https://hsjc-wis.com ------------------------------ View Discussion

I think they meant rescuegroups.org which has the ability to export to a large number of sites, including Adopt A Pet and PetFinder. It's free, and they also have a free API so we're able to list our pets directly on our site instead of embedding an iframe that we have no control over. We've been using it for years, however once PetFinder started having issues with exports we stopped exporting and started maintaining those listings manually since it was literally taking days for animals to be added or removed, an issue PetFinder has been "working on" for over a year at this point. ------------------------------ Sam Maurice Humane Society of Jefferson County Jefferson WI https://hsjc-wis.com ------------------------------ View Discussion

As of now, everything that we have gone in and corrected has been deleted. What rescue group are you posting on? We are looking for social media groups. Someone mentioned checking out Reddit. I am unfamiliar with Reddit in that capacity. I will be doing a lot of research. We will be focusing on Adopt-A-Pet for now as well. ------------------------------ Vanessa Cruz President For Pet's Sake Rescue MS ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hello all, I recently started a new role at a municipal shelter that allows volunteers under 16, but only if a parent is actively supervising and participating. We often get inquiries from school-aged children who want to help the shelter but are either too young to volunteer independently or can only commit to a short period of time. When they come in groups, I can have them and their parents sign a one-day volunteer waiver and lead a group project, such as making enrichment items. I also encourage students to organize school fundraisers and then offer them a tour when they come in to deliver the donations. However, I'd like to expand the range of options I can suggest. I'm especially unsure what to offer individual children who can't volunteer with a parent or classmates. Because I'm required to directly supervise them at all times, I can't have them do on-site tasks unless it's part of a larger group activity. What options do you offer for children volunteers, off-site ways to help the shelter, or for single-day volunteer opportunities? #PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration) ------------------------------ Anastasia Peterson Volunteer Coordinator Hayward Animal Services CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Survey: Help Shape the Future of Animal Welfare The ASPCA is conducting its 2025 National Shelter Survey to better understand the current landscape of sheltering organizations across the country. Your insights will help us identify service gaps, staffing challenges, and opportunities to improve animal welfare nationwide. We're seeking responses from shelter and rescue professionals across the U.S. The survey takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, and covers topics such as intake practices, access to veterinary and behavioral care, staffing, and community engagement. By completing the survey, you'll be entered for a chance to win one of 75 $100 Amazon Gift Cards! Take the Survey Your voice matters. Help us build a stronger, more informed animal welfare system. Thank you for your dedication to animals and the communities you serve! #AccesstoCare #AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement) #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms #Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment #CaseManagement* #CommunityCatManagement #CommunityPartnerships* #DataandTechnology #DisasterRelief #EducationandTraining #FosterPrograms #FundraisingandDevelopment #LawsandPublicPolicy #MarketingandSocialMedia #Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization #OrganizationalManagement #PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration) #PetSupportServices* #Rehoming #ReturntoHome(LostPetReunification) ... View Discussion

Any animal foster parent could do this. Love it! Thoughts? #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms ------------------------------ Paula Vergara volunteer grant writer/content developer A Home of Their Own Animal Rescue Bethesda MD ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you so much for that presentation! I am fairly new to the animal rescue community although I've cared for animals my entire life. I am still trying to find my place and my strengths while volunteering. If I just pushed a little outside of my comfort zone I probably could find my place quicker but I am so nervous of stepping on toes or pushing too hard. ------------------------------ Tanya Dorman Volunteer Lakeshore Animal Friends MI ------------------------------ View Discussion

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 11am PT / 2pm ET for "New Insights in Parvo Care" a conversation with Drs. @Chumkee Aziz , @Lucy Fuller , and @Biana Tamimi . This panel discussion will examine the use of Elanco's Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody (CPMA) therapy in animal shelter settings, featuring insights from veterinarians who have implemented CPMA on the ground in cats and dogs. Panelists will discuss the practical considerations, including resource allocation, staff training, and the impact of CPMA on high-risk populations. They will share real-world experiences with treatment protocols, decision-making around patient selection, and how CPMA fits into broader parvovirus management strategies. The session will emphasize key outcomes, lessons learned, and practical recommendations to support shelters considering this therapy. This session is especially relevant for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, veterinary professionals (vets, techs, support staff), and behavior staff & volunteers - but all are welcome! 🔑 Key Takeaways: CPMA has the potential to shorten the treatment duration, which is especially valuable for the behavioral wellbeing of young animals. Early recognition of parvovirus is essential for initiating CPMA therapy promptly, which may lead to improved outcomes. Effective use of CPMA in shelters depends on clear protocols for patient selection, staff ... View Discussion

I'm sharing information about The Cat Conference 2026 - The Community Cats Podcast since it may be of interest to some of you. This online conference features presentations from Adopt a Pet, Orphan Kitten Club, Tompkins Foundation for FeLV Advocacy, Kitty Cat Cafe and Adoption Lounge, Neighborhood Cats, International Cat Care, and the University of Tennessee's Program for Pet Health Equity . For a limited time, registration is just $50 and will give you access to the live event, recorded sessions afterward, speaker slides, handouts, and more. Use code TCC26EB at checkout to receive the discount. Early bird discounts end at midnight on December 25, 2025. ------------------------------ Claire Schuch Associate Director for Research University of Tennessee, Knoxville NC ------------------------------ View Discussion

We are a small organization with not much funding so looking back at the year I think we had 2 big wins. First was adopting out one of our long term residents. She is finally in a good home after coming to us with such a tragic past. Second is we have really been working on our fundraising and have done better this year than past years. Puts a nice foundation to build on in the future. ------------------------------ Amy Letizio Volunteer Great Lakes Humane Society MI ------------------------------ View Discussion

Great session! Thank you. I come from a Mass Communications and Math background and worked in marketing and customer service for nearly 10 years before joining the animal welfare community. In my previous positions, I worked with all types of people and learned to adapt to who I was working with. Coming into the animal welfare community, people were very cold which caught me off guard because everyone I knew, spoke to, or worked with any type of animal were great with other people. I quickly learned not all animal people are people people. It was an adjustment and I questioned many times if I made the right change, but I love animals and wanted to help my community more. Many years ago, I heard a presentation where they said "Get uncomfortable to get comfortable" and that resonated with me. This helps me grow as I strive to improve myself to help others, I understand that it won't always be easy or "comfortable" but it will help me grow and achieve the things I need to, to later make life/work easier/simpler and comfortable. ------------------------------ Jennifer Vasquez Director of Development Rio Grande Valley Humane Society Harlingen TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Cassie, I agree! Over the last year, I've also taken this approach, and it's led me to so many new opportunities that have widened my knowledge and boosted my confidence. I'm also big on the "why not give it a try" mentality. If I love it, great; if I don't, on to the next adventure. ------------------------------ Ehani Hunter Shelter Outreach Veterinary Assistant San Diego Humane Society CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you for the timely reminder. Annual flu vaccination is an important preventive measure that protects not only individual health but also the well-being of our entire pet-inclusive families. When people stay healthy, they are better able to care for their pets, maintain stable routines, and avoid disruptions that can impact veterinary visits, housing stability, or overall family functioning. From a One Health perspective, human influenza prevention strengthens community health. It reduces strain on medical providers, supports continuity of care for both people and animals, and limits the ripple effects illness can have on employment, transportation access, and household stability-all key social determinants of health. Resources from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases provide clear, evidence-based guidance on why vaccination remains essential each season (National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, 2024). Public health agencies including the CDC also emphasize that early vaccination helps reduce transmission risk before gatherings, travel, and holiday activities ( CDC, Seasonal Influenza Guidance ). Protecting yourself helps protect your family, your pets, and the broader community. There is still time this season to get vaccinated and support a healthier environment for every member of your household. ------------------------------ T' Fisher, Director of Operations Program for Pet Health Equity ------------------- ... View Discussion

Our win for 2025 was renovating our community cat room. This room holds 20-25 cats on average waiting for their forever homes after they have been fully vetted. This renovation's focus was to give our cats more space to climb, hammocks to sleep in, vibrant colors, and replaced all the cat trees with washable materials to help maintain a clean/sanitary environment. We did it all in one day with a wonderful team! All our Board Members physically participated to make this happen. ------------------------------ Vanessa Cruz President For Pet's Sake Rescue MS ------------------------------ View Discussion

I'm not sure if this is what you were looking for but our biggest win is creating Ninja's Woof Haus and getting our 501c3! We are opening doors in January and it's been exhausting, exciting and overwhelming as we get ready to intake our first dogs! We learned so much about the giant undertaking of starting a rescue and about ourselves and who we want to be within the rescue. Our team has been phenomenal! ------------------------------ Nicole Poell President Ninja's Woof Haus WA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thanks to the 99+ 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 @Debra Olmedo , Director, Patitas y Palabras Sheila Kouhkan, Senior Education Specialist, Maddie's Fund Question of the Day: What's something you are looking to finish up this year - either at work or in your home life? "Our impact report" - Christy Schilling "We are working on our transitioning our low-cost spay & neuter clinic to a free-will donation based clinic!" - Meagan Koehler "Management experience" - Elkie Wills "Balance" - Melissa Fitzgerald "Clean up my emails" - Shelley Joaquin "Getting lockers for our pet retention program for our clients to p/u during non-service hours." - Kaila Rosenberger " Finishing my microbiology course!" - Ehani Hunter " Continue to get as many animals as possible adopted out." - Ernest Hagan "Secure in-kind donors for our upcoming gala." - Rachel Rothman "We've completed a TON of projects over this last year. Near-term we're launching a low-cost community clinic - in the middle of a soft-launch right now - to provide more services to our community to those persons who aren't able to access veterinary services due to cost. Our hope is to both provide necessary preventatives, and then to educate and refer to community GPs as much as possible." ... View Discussion

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous Hi It's been a nightmare. Destroyed something that worked so good. Since they gone down the hill, adopt a pet got so much better, and we also post on rescue group and it's being distributed to many many other websites. Still, we're sorry about losing Petfinder. View Discussion

Our big win for this year, even with all the setbacks and roadblocks, was completing our 1st large building to house medium and large sized dogs. Our primary building construction volunteer said, "let's get it done", and he did. Not only did he complete the interior, but he also built the solar panel stand and hung the exterior unit of our mini split system. And that's not all. He also finished the interior build-out of the back half of our 2nd large building (additional dog housing)! We ran out of insulation and T-11 to finish the front half, or it would have been completed but a win is a win! ------------------------------ Kathy McCloskey President Paws, Claws, and Hooves Animal Rescue & Sanctuary Snowflake AZ ------------------------------ View Discussion

I would like to start by personally "leaning into the uncomfortable" has been a model I have tried to embrace the last few years. In doing so can lead to increased competence, greater adaptability (through decreasing fear, increasing confidence, and creating resiliency), expand your perspective and create new opportunities. Even when there are setbacks are troubles, it is party of the learning and growth that likely will come in handy later down the road and make you even stronger as obstacles in life are inevitable. Very few things in life are permanent, so why not give it a try, you might even surprise yourself! ------------------------------ Cassie Boyle CAP Clinic Supervisor St Vincent de Paul Phoenix AZ ------------------------------ View Discussion

That's a great holiday safety reminder for all of us that it's not just about what we bring into our home. Well-intentioned friends and extended family can unwittingly leave things around that can cause problems. ------------------------------ April King Volunteer and Board Member Kotor Kitties +1 206 407 5336 http://www.kotorkitties.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

We are very proud to have worked on our training materials including implementing clear SOP's, training binders, and starting on Phase training that will more clearly train each employee so we are all working off of the same information! While this may seem small, we have gone through several supervisors/managers of late and protocols have gotten cloudy in our shelter. This has already helped immensely in allowing us to offer consistent information to citizens and our staff. ------------------------------ Cassandra Padilla Supervisor, Pet Support Dallas Animal Services TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Grateful for the opportunity to share my experience with everyone! Stepping out of my comfort zone has helped me better understand the challenges within the sheltering system and has motivated me to remain in this field. I'm committed to collaborating with others to strengthen our system and confront these challenges together. ------------------------------ Ehani Hunter Shelter Outreach Veterinary Assistant San Diego Humane Society CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Things looked bleak for us 6 months ago: Two beloved community cats had died, one of advanced kidney failure and the other simply didn't wake up after anesthesia A personal tragedy struck one of our 3 board members Tensions had grown among our 3 international partner groups Lack of goal setting (causing some of our tensions with partners ) led to a decline in funding and in the number of spay-neuter surgeries. This fall a sense of renewal arose from several changes we had no control over, such as government monetary policy. That provided a needed boose that led to confronting some of the intra-group tensions, setting new goals without participation of our partner groups, and turning attention to cultivating individual donors with the following recent success: Our first true "campaign", for Giving Tuesday, blew past our original goal AND our revised goal. We ended up raising just shy of $8,000! Our partner vets will spay our 16,000th cat this week We'll still top 2,500 sterilization surgeries this year So it was definitely a roller-coaster year for us, but we're entering 2026 with renewed optimism. Wishing everyone here a relaxed and joy-filled holiday season, ------------------------------ April King Volunteer and Board Member Kotor Kitties +1 206 407 5336 http://www.kotorkitties.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

Well said! We all slip into autopilot sometimes, and it's easy to forget that our work directly impacts other teams. That's why learning how to collaborate is so important for keeping everything running smoothly! ------------------------------ Ehani Hunter Shelter Outreach Veterinary Assistant San Diego Humane Society CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thanks to our speaker, @Ehani Hunter - and everyone who joined us today! We would love to hear from you in response to today's reflection question: How might stepping outside your comfort zone lead to personal growth and broader impact? ------------------------------ Sheila Kouhkan Senior Education Specialist Maddie's Fund CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

A big win for us was our fundraising! It was an area we focused on a lot this year, and we saw our hard work pay off, which was very encouraging for us! ------------------------------ Danielle Chassen Board Member, Lead Development Newborn Kitten Rescue AZ ------------------------------ View Discussion

We've been seeing the same challenges. One product we've consistently had good results with is NexGard Combo. We use it here at PBHSN on both our shelter animals and in our public-facing clinic, and it has continued to perform really well for us. It's been effective at keeping our population flea-free, and because it's a combination product, it helps simplify care for both staff and pet owners. Given your concern about cost, it may also be worth exploring whether the manufacturer offers nonprofit or bulk-purchase pricing. ------------------------------ Rachel Rothman Donor Relations Coordinator Patty Baker Humane Society Naples FL ------------------------------ View Discussion

Bryan, Thank you for your response. I found your insights extremely helpful-particularly the reminder to emphasize to the veterinarians we approach that our goal is not to compete with or take away their clients. Rather, we exist to serve individuals who otherwise lack access to veterinary care due to financial limitations. Too often, without affordable options, these pet owners are left facing heartbreaking decisions such as surrendering their animals or, in some cases, euthanasia. Moving forward, we will be sure to incorporate this perspective into our outreach. Additionally, we will actively encourage those who utilize our clinic to seek ongoing and advanced veterinary services through the partner veterinarians who support and collaborate with us. Thanks much Paul Barthel Paul Barthel is a business owner, contributing author, speaker, as well as the founder of Animal Humane Advocacy . His published work focuses on the fair and ethical treatment of animals. His latest novel, Greatest Canines , is slated for early 2026 release. ------------------------------ Paul Barthel Founder Animal Humane Advocacy IL ------------------------------ View Discussion

Consider this your reminder to make sure you get your flu shot this year! If you haven't already, now is a great time to do it so you're protected before you see friends and family this holiday season. Flu shots are an easy way to protect yourself and those around you! If you need any information or resources to share at work or online, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases has some great content at this link: https://www.nfid.org/theres-still-time-getvaccinated-to-help-fightflu/ ------------------------------ Kaitlyn Andres, MS, MPH Research Associate Program for Pet Health Equity University of Tennessee, Knoxville ------------------------------ View Discussion

First, thank you to Terry and Andrea for the important work they are doing in their community to support pets and their owners. As I listened and watched the videos they shared, I kept coming back to how the work we are all doing as it relates to our fur friends is so connected to how much we are putting ourselves out there to build relationships with people in the community needing support. Continuing to educate ourselves so we can refine our own practices in our lanes of expertise is invaluable to providing support, but also being well connected with ALL of the support organizations in our community so we have more to offer pet owners as next steps when and if needed. After all, we are ambassadors of support to more than just our fur friends. Each time I attend a Community Conversation, I consistently hear that we are all committed to promoting compassion and offering vital assistance to vulnerable members of the community and their companion animals. This just fills my heart. At the core of what our organizations do, we are all working to help keep pets and their owners together, which is so important because pets often provide a critical source of emotional support, comfort, and stability to people experiencing hardship. ------------------------------ Patti Denny BCAR Volunteer Big Canoe Animal Rescue ------------------------------ View Discussion

Big Canoe Animal Rescue is celebrating several small wins building to more collaboration and openness to new ideas for expanding the rescue in the near future. We have worked hard to go out into the community and have conversations with local businesses in order to grow partnerships that are supportive of BCAR's success, including moving toward a new shelter building in the next 1-2 years. What we've brought back from these conversations has been better than a bucket of gold! We have been able to bring back direct quotes of support for our volunteers and board members so they can know how much BCAR's work is appreciated and supported in the North Georgia Mountains. We aren't the only game in town, so getting to hear all of the ways BCAR stands out as an organization that does great work is so motivating. BCAR Board members have been open to the reviewing and refining the shelter budget so that we can work to improve the efficient use of funding and eliminate unnecessary waste. This conversation has ultimately brought us to the space of making sure our overall rescue goals are still relevant, abandoning goals that don't support the overall mission and redirecting resources to new goals that support all of our dog and cat fur friends as the number one priority each day. Our fundraising efforts have been good so far and have already built to some strong momentum as we head into the new year. We have also had a lot of good new interest from volunteers in wanting to help with ... View Discussion

I truly appreciate the knowledge that was given. What kind and beautiful hearts. My take aways were benefits we need to acknowledge are: to be sure we announce our appreciation of volunteers (possibly shout out on FB or other social media), the sense of belonging is one I hadn't thought of (let the volunteers know they are part of our small yet determined pack) and of course that their co-workers (4 legged and 2legged) are the most amazing creatures! ------------------------------ C Hayes volunteer ARK of McCurtain County OK ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hello Kendra, Thank you for sharing! I appreciate your comment. Best wishes! ------------------------------ TERRYL Daluz President LOVING PAWS INC CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Did you know when kitten suckle on the nipple or mom they move their eras as they suckle . That is how you know that they are drinking well ------------------------------ Sara Badri President and founder Precious Pet Rescue TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Virtually all "recipes" for homemade diets available on the internet have been found to be nutritionally deficient, if not dangerous, so I would strongly caution against moving away from commercial diets. Cats are not tiny people! Plus, by the time you purchase all the fresh, high quality ingredients and supplements required to prepare a balanced diet, I would expect the cost would be higher than for most commercial diets. In addition to pet food pantries that typically offer both wet and dry food when available, many shelters get prescription diets donated regularly by owners whose pets have passed away from their ailments. Often those prescription diets are not appropriate for the general population of pets in the shelter. If you have a diagnosis of a specific health condition or recommendation for a prescription diet from your veterinarian, you might reach out to your local shelters and see if they have those products available through their pet food pantries or other programs. ------------------------------ Rachel Powell DVM Director of Surgery Greenhill Humane Society Eugene, OR ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Amelia: I don't want to discourage you from making homemade food, but please realize that it's important to have a diet balanced in vitamins and minerals, especially if this is something that your cat may enjoy long-term. At the very least, that includes incorporating a vitamin and mineral supplement; I used to use one called Rx Essentials, if that company is still in business (it was a powder that was very easy to mix into soft food). I don't know if you can access a veterinary nutritionist via the Internet, but that's also worth looking into. Best wishes to you and your cat! ------------------------------ Kirsten Cianci, VMD Palmetto Animal League Ridgeland, SC 29936 =^..^= ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Paul, I have been doing this type of work with a few different organizations through the years. In each one we did meet some resistance from local vet communities, but I think the one thing that helped us the most is we never really took on true "clients", and only served as a basic resource for those really in need. The only clients we probably had long term were ones who truly could afford basically no care at all, and those were ones the local vets had already agreed they would not want or take on as clients anyway. Another thing that I think helped earned their trust is I never referred to any of the local vets as "high cost" or trying to just rob clients or things like that. Many of the folks that have come in to our clinics have talked with me about how outrageous their local vets prices were and that we were the ones that truly cared because we were working with them and doing things at prices they could afford. I politely kind of shut down that thinking at the start, explaining that this was really not the case at all, and that those vets would love to be able to do things for free or at a reduced cost, but they cannot survive that way. I explain the only real reason that we can help people at the prices we can is because we, as a non-profit, have access to income and revenue streams that those practices do not (donations, grants, etc.) If we could not access those, then our prices would likely be just as high or close to it. That seemed to help a lot of people ... View Discussion

This is a really interesting question because I never really thought about it until now; I think the one thing is just watching and listening with intention - I think a lot of folks don't know what resources are available or what the longer-term impacts are in these situations. Appreciate the conversation. ------------------------------ Kendra Swindler Grants Lead RESCUEDohio OH ------------------------------ View Discussion

We celebrated 10 years with our rescue this year which is huge! Our work will continue strong and we're looking forward to the next 10! ------------------------------ Kendra Swindler Grants Lead RESCUEDohio OH ------------------------------ View Discussion

The shift that made a big difference for us was getting a veterinarian that is an HQHVSN specialist. She can come to our facility during the day and do 30 spay/neuter surgeries. Due to this positive change, we have also been able to implement public spay/neuter for cats. We'll be adding dogs soon! It feels good to help the community in this way. Lisa Kitchens Executive Director Pet Central Helps! ------------------------------ Lisa Kitchens Pet Central Helps! ------------------------------ View Discussion

What is the foster 50? ------------------------------ Lisa Kitchens Pet Central Helps! ------------------------------ View Discussion

In the first month of the year we had two devastating floods (thankfully neither of which reached our animals) that wiped our our humane education room, public restrooms, our back dog kennel hallway and ceiling, as well as the entirety of our administrative offices. Even with strong financial and emotional support from our community, it took over 6 months to complete all renovations and get the shelter back to sort-of working order. I'm happy to report that we had a successful summer filled with summer camps, birthday parties, free microchipping clinics, and many, many adoptions. We even had our longest resident, a dog named Skeever, find his forever home after being here for nearly 8 months. We maintained our live release rate at 97% or above even without having an on-site veterinarian since just before the January floods. Despite needing to outsource the majority of our procedures (spay and neuter being the most), we are still managing to keep our costs low as possible and stay strong to find the nearly 1,500 pets that will pass through our doors by the end of this year find their home. It's been a crazy year for us buy we're staying strong for our nearly 60th year of operation! ------------------------------ Bailey Evans Grant Writer Animal Allies Humane Society MN ------------------------------ View Discussion

We're a nonprofit organization ( Animal Humane Advocacy ) that has successfully hosted low-cost vaccination and wellness clinics for years, serving pet owners who otherwise would not have access to basic veterinary care. Our longtime veterinarian, who generously supported this work, is now retiring, and we are seeking a new licensed veterinarian to partner with us so these critical clinics can continue. That said, we'd genuinely appreciate insight from others in the animal welfare and veterinary communities. From your experience, have you encountered veterinarians who view nonprofit clinics as a threat to their business? If so, how have you successfully addressed that concern and built trust and collaboration? If you are a veterinarian-or know one-who believes access to care and private practice can coexist, we would love to connect. Collaboration, not competition, is the goal. Thank you for your insight, experience, and referrals as we work to keep this essential service available to our community. Paul Barthel Author/Founder Animal Humane Advocacy #AccesstoCare #Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization #PetSupportServices* ------------------------------ Paul Barthel Founder Animal Humane Advocacy IL ------------------------------ View Discussion

What a lovely way to celebrate what Paddles has taught you! Thank you for sharing that :) For me, I have learned so much from so many animals, it is hard to choose what to share…. so I will share a recent experience fostering a blind kitten named Syrita. This little one was found in Texas as a baby kitten with a terrible eye infection in both eyes. By the time she was found and got very care it was too late to save her eyes, and she had a double enucleation surgery as soon as she was able to undergo anesthesia. I took her in as a foster kitten, hoping I could teach her life skills in a safe and happy environment. What I found was that she taught me more than I could ever teach her! We took the first few days to get to know one another, and build trust in her new environment. Since she is blind, I engaged her other senses to help her learn her surroundings and build confidence. I focused first on her sense of smell, then engaged hearing and touch as the sensory basis for her training. Routine and predictable movements definitely helped her feel safe and happy as she acclimated to her new space. I learned the importance of ritual from my doctoral work in Anthrozoology, and this was extremely helpful to build a solid predictable routine for Syrita. I made sure she always felt secure and in control of her environment. I helped her navigate small spaces at first, and as she grew confident we expanded her world. I did a planned introduction process for her ... View Discussion

A simple option that works for many older cats is boiled chicken or turkey mixed with a bit of the cooking broth so it stays soft. Some people add a small amount of pumpkin or mashed sweet potato for fiber. It helps to blend everything lightly so it is easier to eat. Rotating in canned sardines in water once in a while gives extra flavor and usually keeps picky cats interested. ------------------------------ Daniel Burr Operations Manager Little Ones MA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Slack works well for quick updates, although channels can get messy without clear naming. A shared Google Calendar helps a lot with volunteer schedules and Zoom calls since everyone can see what is coming up without digging through chats. One thing that helped our group was keeping one single Google Drive folder with simple subfolders and using pinned posts in Slack to link the most used documents so people don't hunt for files every time. ------------------------------ Daniel Burr Operations Manager Little Ones MA ------------------------------ View Discussion

A dog named Willow taught me patience in a way nothing else ever did. She came in terrified of everything, she froze if someone walked too fast or raised their voice even a little. Progress happened in tiny steps, like her taking food from my hand or choosing to sit next to me instead of hiding. Watching her change reminded me that slow progress is still progress, and that some animals just need time and space before they can trust again. ------------------------------ Daniel Burr Operations Manager Little Ones MA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Landlords often mix up ADA rules with housing rules, so some of this happens because they are looking at the wrong law. Housing decisions follow the Fair Housing Act, and that act treats emotional support animals differently from service animals. Most places will only back off once the tenant gives the proper FHA documentation, not an ADA style letter. Tenants usually solve it by sending a simple written request for accommodation along with the ESA letter in the exact format the housing office expects, and keeping everything in writing helps a lot if the landlord pushes back. ------------------------------ Daniel Burr Operations Manager Little Ones MA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Most people here mix dry food with a bit of wet food since it keeps things simple and the pets usually eat it without drama. Shops like PetSmart and Petco have plenty of options, and the local supermarkets carry the common brands too. Online delivery through Chewy is popular because it arrives fast and saves carrying big bags around, so that might help if you are still settling in. ------------------------------ Daniel Burr Operations Manager Little Ones MA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hiii 🐶 So heartwarming to see everyone's responses! I'm very proud to share that this year our biggest accomplishement is that we built a wall! It doesn't seem much but it now allows our dogs to run freely and safely. To add a little bit of context, we are Pawsitive Sanctuary , a rescue shelter founded 5 years ago from the ground up by a Punjabi-Canadian animal lover. We are giving free treatement and spaying/neutering to any animal in distress and wevare not taking care of more than 425 dogs daily (and 5 cats!) Where we live the amount of road accidents and cruelty towards street dogs is astonishing and our numbers of rescues is increasing rapidly ( we receive more than 80 calls a day to signal animal in distress..). That's why we decided to expand our shelter and buy the land next door 🥳 We used the money we had left to build a small wall all around it so now our injured and paralyzed dog can run (with the help of their little wheelchairs). Next year's challenge will be to raise funds to continue the expansion of the shelter , but for now we are happy to celebrate this victory! Thank you for taking the time to read us, I wish all the shelter a very pawsitive new year 💙 - Manon on behalf of our team and our rescues 🐾 * Here is Aashi, our superhero shelter manager and our puppies enjoying their new space ------------------------------ Manon Cazenave Volunteer Pawsitive Sanctuary WI ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

What do you feed your pets in Chicago?? I mean dogs & cats who don't work! Do you use dry food, tins, pouches, or a mix? Or any dog/ cat food online options available? Or buy from the supermarket or pet shop? Thanks (i'm looking for picky eaters… and not sure I can find the same options here in this city…) #PetSupportServices* ------------------------------ Amelia Brooks Animal Welfare Coordinator Happy Tails Animal Rescue CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you!! You are absolutely right!! ------------------------------ Tonya Smith Founder LC'S Foundation Michigan ------------------------------ View Discussion

We are a rescue out of Mississippi. We heavily rely on Petfinder to market our adoptable pets to be transported to adopters in the Northeast. Ever since the Purina merger (over a year ago), Petfinder has been glitchy. We pay staff to post these profiles that are often wiped, reset, or our staff spend an hour just trying to stay logged in and are constantly kicked out. Update in Petfinder that occured 12/2/2025: Adopters must now click on a box at the very bottom of the filters to be able to see any pets that are not in that local area. We spend 10+ hours weekly listing our animals for transport adoptions. Most rescues/shelters that do transport adoptions are in high-kill/overpopulated areas. Most people are not going to see this filter square midway down the page. What else is everyone seeing with this new Petfinder update? Any input? #MarketingandSocialMedia ------------------------------ Vanessa Cruz President For Pet's Sake Rescue MS ------------------------------ View Discussion

In 2018 we had to shut down our TNR program but we were able to restart it again in 2024. This year we are celebrating a huge achievement, we more than doubled the number of cats TNR'd, from 487 in 2024 to 1,060 in 2025. Excited to see what we can do in 2026. ------------------------------ Brooke Smith Animal Health Manager Saving Grace Humane Society Roseburg ------------------------------ View Discussion

We use email and text as our sole methods of communication, unfortunately. I have worked with several small, foster-based rescues previously, as well as one shelter, and have definitely preferred slack. Unfortunately, the shelter I am at currently, most of the volunteers are opposed to downloading a new app. My last shelter used Trello to post behavior information and updates about specific animals, and volunteers could comment on them and provide feedback that was viewable by other volunteers. I absolutely loved that, and am hoping to convince volunteers to at least try a similar "forum" style communication. ------------------------------ Anastasia Peterson Volunteer Coordinator Hayward Animal Services CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Terry, thanks for your lovely comments! I keep my eye on the ball, stay on top of my game and stick to my goal..."It is my VISION to be my MISSION to see it to FRUITION"!....Look at ALL the resources available, at hand, that can be turned into "opportunities"! You want SUCCESS instead of settling...This VISION also helps in your "creative writing skills" for GRANTS and developing a Volunteer Platform! , Because of my 4 Siberian Huskies & 2 German Shepherds......OK, onto FUNDING....ALWAYS TRY to get the Endowments & ALWAYS,..put extra funding in High Yield Savings Accounts, if your Organization is running low, you can ALWAYS just pull the interest funding without touching the Principal Amount! High Yield Savings Accounts : be careful which ones you chose, make sure NO FEES, NO CHARGES, NO TIME LIMITS, ALWAYS STAY LIQUID, make sure there is an Emergency Fund(s) and make sure your Organization has a Successor on Record, in case, something happens to CEO & CFO...Giving you some of my best, Mary Murray, LadywiththeHuskies! YES, I LOVE MY LIFE, Knowledge is Power! ------------------------------ [Mary Murray] LadywiththeHuskies [Founder, CEO and President [Greene Animal League [Greeneville, TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hello, The right to have an emotional support animal as an accommodation is federally protected for eligible individuals under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), and many states additionally have state level legislation that protects this right in housing. ESAs are *not* recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), although there is often confusion about this. An ESA is not required to be with their human at all times; in fact, the person with an ESA has no right to bring them into public spaces (like a person with a service animal does as service animals are recognized under the ADA). Your patients who are eligible for an ESA as a housing accommodation under the FHA and are facing discrimination re: their right to have an ESA can reach out to: their state chapter of Disability Rights https://www.ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies/ the National Fair Housing Alliance https://nationalfairhousing.org/report-discrimination/ a state or local fair housing rights organization the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (although, due to the massive staffing cuts and changes, they may have a faster response with one of the above) https://civilrights.justice.gov/ Thank you for advocating for your patients!! Don't hesitate to reach out if I can be of further help. See also our web page on esas: https://opendoorconsults.org/social-work-hub/emotional-support-animals/ and the 2004 DOJ/HUD memo which is still in effect for more guidance: https://ohac.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Fair-Housing-Reasonable-Accommodation-Joint-Statement-2004-3.pdf ... View Discussion

Excited to be a new contributor to the forum! We are excited to have finally invested in a formalized CRM system to better track our grants, donations and generous supporters. This is already making a huge difference in the management of our giving campaigns and grant asks. A big win for 2025! ------------------------------ Sara Scoville-Weaver Grants Manager Everglades Angels Dog Rescue FL ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi everyone! I wanted to start a conversation about something that often gets overlooked: the lessons animals teach us, who quietly reshape how we work, collaborate, or think about sheltering. Most of us have that one animal that changed the way we do things. Who is that animal for you, and what did they teach you? For me, it was Paddles. I found him tied to the gates at one of our yards on a July morning in 2024. I had only been at the shelter about four months, and he was one of the first animals I had ever seen dumped. His skin was raw, cracked, and bleeding from what we later learned were severe allergies. We never found his owner. Paddles ended up with a long-term foster who ultimately adopted him and gave him the safe, comfortable life he deserved. This dog changed so much about the way I view sheltering. He arrived in horrible shape, and we spent a significant amount of money and time on his treatment. It became painfully clear that the person who left him there simply didn't have the resources to care for him-and instead of asking for help, they tied him to a fence overnight. Working here has definitely hardened me in some ways and made me more pessimistic about people's intentions. This was one of those defining moments. But the lesson Paddles taught me is that people often don't ask for help, even when they desperately need it. If help isn't easy, accessible, and judgment-free, many will choose silence over reaching out. And because of that, it's on us ... View Discussion

Thanks @Anja Shull ! Have you sent this to Feral Feline Friends of East TN and all the other caretakers CAIT ( @Jaime Norris ) works with? @Julie Levy and @Kate Hurley , would you please pass this along to your army of Feline Friends across the country? I will post this to our AAWA members forum as well. Please share the results with us here. ------------------------------ T' Fisher, Director of Operations Program for Pet Health Equity ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thanks @Kaitlyn Davis ! Thank you for this powerful reflection and for connecting World AIDS Day and International Day of Persons with Disabilities through the lens of inclusion and health equity. Your point about how stigma - rather than the conditions themselves - drives so many disparities is such an important reminder of where real change is needed. From a One Health perspective, your post also highlights how interconnected these issues are. When communities reduce stigma, expand access to care, and create supportive social environments, we're improving not only individual health but also the broader social and environmental conditions that allow everyone to thrive. Absolutely pets are facilitators of inclusion. It's something we often overlook, but companion animals can play a meaningful role in reducing isolation and supporting the well-being of people living with disabilities - or anyone facing chronic illness: Pets can help build confidence in public spaces, whether through emotional grounding or physical assistance. They spark natural, low-pressure social interactions that can help counter the hesitation or discomfort others may feel. And on a larger scale, they remind us of the value of supportive, empathetic relationships - something that translates directly into how we build more inclusive communities for people living with HIV/AIDS as well. A small but meaningful addition, inspired by accessiBe's work: when ... View Discussion

Our win this year is reaching and maintaining a 90% or higher live-release rate since this summer. We struggled a lot this summer, with an overwhelming number of dogs and cats coming into the shelter every day. Things didn't slow down for us until October. We have finally started getting more adoptions, return-to-owners, and TNR cats released. Plus, we have a new rescue coordinator who is helping us to send around 15 dogs a month to rescues up North! ------------------------------ Lauren Rider Grant Coordinator Care Humane Society AL ------------------------------ View Discussion

Do you trap cats for the purpose of trap-neuter-return (TNR)? You are invited to take part in a voluntary survey about the motivations and limitations of cat trappers. The survey takes approximately 10–12 minutes to complete. The results of this study may inform how animal welfare organizations, veterinary teams, and community members understand and support people involved in TNR. You must be 18 or older to participate. tiny.utk.edu/eKkyn If you would like this information in an email to share with your organization, or if you have any questions, please contact me at ashull2@vols.utk.edu . ------------------------------ Anja Shull Student University of Tennessee TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

A "pet-only zone"! I love that and will use it!! Thanks Dr @Tyrone Pierce ! ------------------------------ T' Fisher, Director of Operations Program for Pet Health Equity ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thanks Dr Pierce! We had a dog, Cocoa, that ended up with Pancreatitis because Aunt Nicole thought it was cute he would eat the ham she brought out of her hand. She did it behind our backs because she knew he did not get any "people food". Needless to say after he spent a couple of days in the hospital, Aunt Nicole learned her lesson when she had to pay the vet bill. ------------------------------ T' Fisher, Director of Operations Program for Pet Health Equity ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you for the response ------------------------------ April Cannizzaro CEO San Diego Last Chance Ranch CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Great reminder! Oral health is one of those things that's easy to overlook until it becomes a problem - for both people and pets. At our organization, we always encourage regular dental checkups and share basic guidance on brushing pets' teeth and choosing safe dental chews. It really does make a big difference long-term. Also, for anyone curious about cosmetic or supplemental dental options, checking Instasmile reviews can be helpful for understanding what people like (or don't like) before trying anything new. ------------------------------ Tyrone Pierce Veterinarian Maryland Hospital MD ------------------------------ View Discussion

Last year I learned the hard way how important holiday pet safety really is. After all the celebrations, my dog ended up getting sick because a visiting relative left some food and wrappers where he could reach them. It was a stressful couple of days, and ever since then I've been super careful about keeping decorations, leftovers, and trash out of his way during the holidays. I also try to prep ahead so the season is less chaotic - and honestly, organizing everything (including my own stuff like my BlueChew subscription reminders) helps me stay on top of things and keep the environment safer for my pup. Sticking to routines, giving pets a quiet space, and keeping an eye on what guests bring in has made a huge difference for us. ------------------------------ Tyrone Pierce Veterinarian Maryland Hospital MD ------------------------------ View Discussion

Great reminders - the holidays can be so chaotic for pets, and it's easy to overlook the little things that keep them safe. I always set up a "pet-only zone" with their bed, toys, and a baby gate so they can escape the noise when guests come over. I also double-check travel plans ahead of time, and sites like PetsWelcome are super helpful for finding pet-friendly places if you're on the road. Keeping things festive and safe definitely takes a bit of planning, but it's always worth it! ------------------------------ Tyrone Pierce Veterinarian Maryland Hospital MD ------------------------------ View Discussion

I was formerly a Peer Coaching Recovery Supervisor for a Residential Treatment center (6 yrs.). I brought one of my 3 dogs to work nearly every day as it was found to be therapeutic. However, residents were not allowed to have their own pets with them. I haven't looked into data and/or science about having a pet w/a resident. Our program which is probably not that different then others consisted of not just individual counseling but a lot of stuff in groups. Additionally, residents had 'jobs' like setting tables, harvesting veges etc. There usually isn't a lot of 'down' time & I would think it wouldn't be that combatible w/ caring for a dog as well & what if there was more than one? After the first week or so, we started taking them off campus in a van. If they were staying more than a month, they had to start asking for rides to meetings & finding a sponsor. The latter to get residents acclimated to the 'real' world & learning to ask for help. Average stay was 55 days. I was on the Board of another treatment ctr. & it was similar tho' going off campus was not as frequent & treatment was only 30 days. Where the pets were allowed w/residents in your instance may have been transitional living which we had as well & pets were allowed. Visitation was one day a month w/family &/or friends and dogs could come visit then. Don't know if this helps at all. Good luck. ------------------------------ Laurie Methven Volunteer Twin Counties Humane Society Virginia -------------------- ... View Discussion

Two important observances have taken place this week: World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 st and International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3 rd . Today, I'm combining them for a reflection on respect and inclusion and to raise awareness of groups that are affected by health disparities! Globally, about 41 million people live with HIV and 1.3 million people acquire it annually. There were about 630,000 HIV related deaths in 2024. The World Health Organization is promoting initiatives to end AIDS by 2030. In order to do this, they say that they need "sustained political leadership and international cooperation". Over the last year, the United States has decreased their funding for international programming and research. The U.S. government has also decided not to commemorate World AIDS Day this year. In the early days of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and often still today, there was widespread societal stigma aimed at those with this disease- with people sometimes referring to them as "dirty" or believing they deserved to get it because of their behavior or choices they make. While a day of awareness won't end the spread of HIV/AIDS, it could help to reduce the stigma and discrimination that perpetuate health disparities that those living with the disease face. We can all help to achieve the WHO's goal of ending AIDS by 2030 by combatting discrimination when we see it and voting in support of funding for international initiatives ... View Discussion

A WIN for us in 2025, I would have to say was being a part of the FOSTER 50 and focusing on our foster program. Over the week of Thanksgiving, we decided to have our floors re done. In order to do that, all of the animals needed to be out of the building. Our newly appointed Foster Coordinator was able to place EIGHTEEN animals into foster homes for the week. Several of them turned into adoptions.....along with our longest resident of 469 days! That was a BIG WIN! ------------------------------ Stacy Pyrek President t Project hope animal rescue IL ------------------------------ View Discussion

Such a great question! We've been so busy this year making progress in several areas that I haven't been able to participate with Maddie's as much as I'd like to. I hope to get back to it in 2026! Our biggest wins: Board of Directors restructuring - We had several ineffective and difficult Board members that were preventing us from moving forward in many areas and made an unwelcome environment when trying to attract new Board members. We now have an active, talented and results-driven Board and hope to add a few more members in 2026. Low-Cost Community Dental Program - We have developed a low-cost dental program targeting financially challenged owners of cats and small dogs. The cost of living in the Denver, CO area is high and routine extractions are unaffordable for many households. We hope our program allows pet owners to get treatment faster, delaying suffering and reducing future complications. Grants - Due to the ineffective Board of the past and a small staff, this was an overlooked area for a few years. We now have a renewed focused on researching and applying for grants. We hope the extra funding we receive can offset expenses that have risen due to the high cost of living and local economy. ------------------------------ Jenna Ricci Volunteer Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue CO ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Augusta, That's a really important question, thanks for bringing this up! At the Program for Pet Health Equity, we have some research underway to see how pets support the recovery journey of the people that they live with. We are looking at this in sober living communities where pets are allowed, as well as with those in out-patient substance use disorder treatment who have pets at home. Unfortunately, we don't have any data that is ready to share yet, but we are eager to get answers to these questions! There is very little that has been published so far on this topic, but here is what I can share with you: https://journals.lww.com/cja/Fulltext/2023/06000/Recognizing_the_Role_of_Companion_Animals_in.2.aspx - This commentary published in the Canadian Journal of Addiction includes a few theories and preliminary data points regarding pets and recovery: Th ey report that "the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction included a question on its 2018 national recovery survey and found that 88% of Canadians identified their relationship with animals or pets as an important support in their recovery, and 44% found this relationship to help in continuing their recovery from addiction". They also share that over small qualitative studies they conducted, participants spoke of their pets in positive and supportive ways. SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) identifies the four dimensions of a life in recovery as "purpose, community, ... View Discussion

@Laurel Wilton (She/Her) ! Thank you!! I neglected to add the registration link but it's there now :) And yes, you are correct, we post the recordings or at least a link to them a day or so after each Insights and Maddie's Monthly Behavior and Foster Connection. ------------------------------ Alison Gibson Media Projects Manager Maddie's Fund ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi @Julielani Chang , Oops! I forgot to add the registration link. It is https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister Thanks for posting! And registering :) ------------------------------ Alison Gibson Media Projects Manager Maddie's Fund ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi @Augusta Farley (She/Her) , You can find the recording on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/e4OS0FJ7YO8 If you'd like to earn .5 ceu (CAWA and NACA), watch it on Maddie's University here: https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/doors-wide-open-social-work-guidelines-in-animal-welfare-settings-on-demand I am not a vet or researcher, but I posed your question to chatgpt and Gemini, and this is what came up: "Short answer: there isn't solid science supporting the blanket idea that "a pet staying with the patient is incompatible with successful treatment" for alcohol/drug use or mental/behavioral health. In fact, there is growing, but still mixed, evidence that animal-assisted interventions (AAT/AAA) can support treatment in some settings, while other contexts require careful management of risks. The presence of a pet is not universally good or bad-it depends on the setting, the patient, the pet's temperament, and how well risks are managed. Evidence for Animal-Assisted Therapy in Treatment Settings The scientific literature demonstrates that animal-assisted interventions (AAI) can enhance treatment outcomes across various clinical populations. Studies have documented significant benefits for hospitalized psychiatric patients, including those with mood disorders, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia 1 4 . For psychiatric inpatients specifically, research shows: Reduced anxiety and depression : Patients receiving animal-assisted ... View Discussion

If you click the drop down at the top of the page that says "Events" there should be an option that says "Maddie's Insights Webcasts". There you can find the link to register for these monthly webcasts, they are usually over zoom. You can add them to your calendar and if you're registered you will get an email reminder about the webcasts before they happen. You aren't obligated to join every time and it is free. They also have other webcasts that you can register for, I personally love the behavior webcasts, that you can find under the same "Events" drop down menu. I believe that they also always have the recorded webcast posted afterwards, so you can still watch it whenever you just can't ask questions live. ------------------------------ Laurel Wilton Feline Welfare Supervisor Nebraska Humane Society ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you Alison for this post. I can't wait to attend. Will there be a registration for this webinar?I love all of the resources that Maddie's are offering. I joined Maddie's conversations on Monday, behavior workshop on wed. but I am not aware of Maddie's Insights. Is this something I need to sign up for to register. Thank you. ------------------------------ Julielani Chang The Life of Kai: Compassion Connections Inc. Davis CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hello LaTonya, I totally agree and applaud you! Our work builds bridges and makes a major impact! Keep doing what you're doing! ------------------------------ TERRYL Daluz President LOVING PAWS INC CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hello Mary, That is amazing! This sounds like an outstanding program! I am always interested in finding ways to work with our youth. To be able to combine grooming is a great idea. I will look into it. Thank you! ------------------------------ TERRYL Daluz President LOVING PAWS INC CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi all, I work with a volunteer-based animal rescue in Maryland as a Grant Writer/Content Developer. It's a relatively new rescue (foster-based), which started in February, 2024. We use a communication platform called SLACK to communicate updates, ask questions, share ideas, and schedule Zoom calls. It's a great program, but I was wondering what others use. We also rely on Google Drive to store documents, which can get kind of hairy, digging through multiple files to find information. Also, do you have regular Zoom calls with staff/volunteers, and how are they structured? Do you keep a calendar for these? Thank you. #PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration) ------------------------------ Paula Vergara volunteer grant writer/content developer A Home of Their Own Animal Rescue Bethesda MD ------------------------------ View Discussion

This year, our work in a small Texas coastal town reminded us that progress happens in time - not all at once. We committed to realistic, meaningful goals, focusing heavily on expanding spay and neuter access for pets in our underserved community. Even when confronted by heartbreaking cases of neglect and cruelty, we stayed grounded in the belief that every small step forward creates lasting change. One of our most unforgettable moments was reuniting a dog with his grieving owner. Her husband had passed away earlier in the year, and the dog - his beloved companion - had been stolen from her backyard. After months of searching, the dog was placed in foster care with our organization, we were able to locate the owner. We were able to bring her safely back home. Witnessing that reunion reminded us why we do this work: reunifying a family, restoring hope, and reminds of us of why we continue to help. Every success proved that our work matters. And every animal we helped reaffirmed our commitment to keep moving forward. ------------------------------ Jessica Wade Director Bay Area Pawsitive Support TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

As a groomer and business owner, my impact doesn't just come from picking up my tools, it comes from picking up the pets and people who need someone to care. Grooming, for me, has never been just a service. It's a calling. It's a way to restore comfort, dignity, and love to animals who can't speak for themselves. Also, a way to build a relationship with the owner and the pet. It also is a good time to educate the owner about grooming without judging, but showing them what the pet requires, they walk away feeling empowered. When a pet is matted, uncomfortable, or overlooked because their family can't afford grooming, or pet owner has passed on and now the pet is with family who have never had a pet. Or LIFE has just decided to LIFE. I feel that in my heart. I see the fear, the pain, the confusion and or embarrassment . And I know that with patience, gentleness, and time, I can give that pet relief and a fresh start. I've held pets that were breaking inside and watched them transform the moment the weight of their coat and their stress was lifted. They were like new pets, refreshed and ready for a great start. Through LC'S Detroit Pet Salon and LC'S Foundation, I make sure finances never stop a pet from getting the care they deserve. Whether it's offering free or low-cost grooming, partnering with the Michigan Humane Society, or stepping in for cruelty cases and families in crisis, I show up because every animal deserves to be seen, touched gently, and treated with kindness. ... View Discussion

I'm so glad this is being asked - 10 Lives has had a tough year with some really tough and weird medical cases - including 3 (possibly 4) cases of congenital rickets in a litter of kittens and 2! cases of Atresia Ani. It can be easy to feel bogged down and sad in the face of these tough cases so our wins include: Helping over 600 cats and get fixed this year. As a little organization, this is NO JOKE! Finding forever homes for over 100 cats! Starting some incredible new partnerships - including recruiting a veterinarian for our board, meeting an incredible grant making org through this forum, and partnering with some awesome companies like Pacagen and 10th Life Window screens. Growing our behind the scenes volunteers and recruiting new folks into this work. When we first started it was many "vets" who love the work but getting new excited fresh faces has been wonderful. ------------------------------ Farrah Goff President 10 Lives Rescue NY Inc NY ------------------------------ View Discussion

Check out the Shelter PALS website for the compounding guidelines template and compounding requirements checklist here: https://www.sfspca.org/about/advocacy/#shelter ------------------------------ Jennifer Bennett Director of Shelter Medicine Access to Care UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Davis CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thanks to those who attended and listened to our conversation! We had a few outstanding questions that we promised to get back to and provide resources for from the chat conversation during the live. Posting those here for our guest speakers to chime in on @Jena Valdez @Carissa Jones @Ginger White and posting resources and links below: 1. Could you share how to mix/chart ttdex? And the regulations about it? 2. Can a compounding check list or protocol be written up and shared with participants (me) for DKT, kitty magic for spay clinics. 3. What are the regulations for in shelter use compounds drugs. 4. Where to look up compounding rules, documentation needed. Reinventing the wheel.. ------------------------------ Jennifer Bennett Director of Shelter Medicine Access to Care UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Davis CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Our foundation opened our emergency grant programs in June of this year and so far we have awarded $3,900 to economically disadvantaged families. We have prevented five cases from economic euthanasia, assisted with four emergency surgeries, covered the costs for seven cases needing critical diagnostics and supported ten families with maintaining economic mobility with estimates ranging from $2,000 - $5,000. It is a big win overall for all we have accomplished in the past 7 months of having 501c3 status and now operating in seven states, but the biggest win for this year would be the conversations with grateful owners. No feeling compares to knowing you helped an animal and their family breathe easier. Veterinary medicine is a very hard field to work in, especially emergency/specialty, but it truly is those moments that make it all worth it. The veterinary professionals we've had the pleasure of working with have shown an immense of gratitude for our resources as well and have greatly helped expand our mission! We look forward to 2026. ------------------------------ Maria Putnam Founder/CEO All About the Animals Foundation ------------------------------ View Discussion

Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Join us in January as we share insights into how allowing animals to exercise choice, such as initiating or avoiding touch, can reduce stress and support more positive interactions. Our speaker is Dr. @Amir Sarrafchi , a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Thursday, January 8 at 12n Pacific for one hour Sign up here : https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister Understanding and respecting an animal's signals during interactions can significantly enhance their welfare and improve the human-animal interactions. In this presentation, Dr. Amir Sarrafchi will discuss his research on how dogs respond behaviourally when allowed to choose or refuse human contact. Drawing from his work on animal agency and consent, Dr. Sarrafchi will explore how these concepts can be practically applied in everyday animal care, shelter environments, and adoption programs. The session will translate research findings into simple, effective strategies that caretakers, trainers, and shelter staff can use to promote consent-based handling and improve welfare outcomes. Learning Objectives • Recognize behavioural indicators that reflect a dog's comfort or discomfort during human interaction • Understand the importance of agency and consent in enhancing animal welfare and fostering a more humane relationship between humans and animals ... View Discussion