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" Epistemological genocide " is sometimes also called " Epistemicide " is overlooked when discussing systemic oppression. Epistemological genocide is the systematic erasure of Indigenous ways of knowing or being. It also refers to the process of destroying existing knowledge systems that are considered "non-dominant" within a society. For example, Indigenous ways of knowing and/or being are erased in favor of white and/or Eurocentric ways of knowing/being. Unfortunately within the animal sector, epistemological genocide is extremely common. When looking at concepts such as but not limited too, "One Health" we see the underpinnings of Indigenous knowledge in terms of animal health being interconnected with human health. Yet the "One Health" movement is severely lacking in Indigenous representation. The reason for this can be oversimplified as ongoing epistemological genocide towards us Indigenous peoples. Regardless of how uncomfortable it may be for some, there is an ongoing epistemological genocide occurring within several animal sectors but I especially see it at its worse within veterinary medicine. I cannot count the amount of times I am in a wide variety of animal-oriented spaces where the phrase "human-animal" is mentioned. This is a fairly regular occurrence for me to encounter this phrasing. I do not always have the literal time or mental/emotional capacity to interrupt this phrasing. However, when I can/do, I remind people that within my culture there is no dichotomy ... View Discussion

Would love to see more talks from Indigenous and/or Nomadic peoples since it is well known that many animal sectors are built off of Indigenous epistemologies without actual representation from our peoples occurring. I.e. - Indigenous wisdom is used but our peoples are erased. ------------------------------ Melinda Trueblood-Stimpson Founder; scientist Ludar Animal Behavior OH ------------------------------ View Discussion

We're looking to revamp how we track food distributed through our pet food pantry and would love to hear what's working for other shelters. Are you using spreadsheets, shelter software, paper logs, or a hybrid system? Have you found any tools or processes that are especially efficient for front desk or volunteer staff? Any lessons learned or things you'd do differently if you were starting over? Thanks in advance for sharing what's working (or not!) for your organization. Amber #PetSupportServices* ------------------------------ amber francisco ------------------------------ View Discussion

Following too as shipping to Hawaii can be prohibitive. Have found decent hard-shell carriers in Amazon for around $12 retail, in the past. ------------------------------ Denise Bouey Director of Animal Outcomes Maui Humane Society HI ------------------------------ View Discussion

We hope to see you on the first Maddie's Community Conversation of the new year on Monday, January 5, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET for "Get Them Out, Even for a Little" a conversation with Shonyae Johnson and Lulu Ochoa. The presentation shows how structured enrichment programs, like playgroups, pack walks, short term fostering, and tandem walks, can transform shelter operations and positively impact the dogs in your care. Through success stories like Blossom, Whisper, Cookie, and Millie, it demonstrates how getting dogs out of their kennels regularly cuts down on stress, helps with behavior issues, and increases their chances of adoption. For dogs who aren't quite ready for group play, the presentation covers other options that work better for them. It also gets into the operational perks, like speeding up daily routines and cutting down how long animals stay at the shelter. A big piece of it is about giving staff the confidence and tools to run enrichment programs on their own, by adding the into the daily routine. Enrichment programs aren't just extra work, they're essential care. People who attend will leave with practical next steps, including taking a fresh look at current foster and enrichment programs, getting staff trained up on handling and playgroup management, getting more volunteers involved, setting up ways to track progress, and building enrichment schedules that actually work with day-to-day operations. This session is especially relevant for ... View Discussion

First time posting here! Can't wait to get involved with this community. I am a coordinator of a bully breed rescue in Indiana. We are a medium sized foster-based rescue. This year, our win was reorganizing our structure and improving communication amongst fosters, volunteers, and adopters. As I am sure you are all aware, animal welfare is very emotional and we have had some struggles with emotions getting in the way of what is best for the animals. But this year, we have been able to delegate tasks better, increase our volunteer pool, and better support our fosters through better communication and clear protocols. This year alone we have rescued 157 dogs and have 204 adoptions! We are still working on things daily but glad to have a community like this one who understand the struggle and have the same passion! Heres to another year of saving pups! ------------------------------ Lydia Stiving Athletic Trainer University IN ------------------------------ View Discussion

One win I'm proud of from this past year came from a period of real challenge. After feeling disheartened and disengaged for a time, I realized I couldn't control everything around me, but I could control how I showed up. Instead of trying to do more, I became more intentional, setting small, targeted goals that felt manageable and meaningful. That shift made a powerful difference. I ended the year helping support a focused fundraising campaign that raised over $16,000 in just one week. Beyond the number itself, the win was rediscovering momentum and purpose. That experience reignited my excitement and directly inspired my newest focus, "Too Big To Ignore," a campaign centered on advocating for larger dogs who are often overlooked. What began as a response to struggle became renewed clarity, impact, and direction, and that's a win I'll carry forwar ------------------------------ Deanna McCarty Volunteer - Foster Yucaipa Animal Placement Society CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Stephanie, Highly recommend checking out Animal Farm Foundation's fantastic resource library. They have took kits specifically for this topic, among many other phenomenal resources I believe you will find very informative. Good luck! https://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/resourceslibrary/ ------------------------------ Michelle Grimes | CPDT-KA, LVT, CVT, Elite FFCP-V, FFCP-T Animal Control Officer #275 Keene Police Department Bureau of Special Services 400 Marlboro Street Keene, NH 03431 P: 603.357.9815 ------------------------------ View Discussion

Following cause I'd love to know as well. Right now we use the cardboard carries for about $5 a piece ordered off of amazon ------------------------------ roy forster Director Happy Life Animal Rescue NY ------------------------------ View Discussion

Muni shelter here; we are aiming to remove breed labels in 2026. I need some feedback from other municipal shelters who currently do this. A few questions.. When did you start removing breed labels? When do you label a breed? Do you use mixed/unknown? What pet program do you use? (Chameleon, etc) What sort of feedback from the community did you receive? Picture of a cutie chicken just for funsies. No clue why I attached another picture..sorry bout it. :p #AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement) #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms #Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice #BreedLabels #RemovingBreedLabels ------------------------------ Stephanie Jackson Public Information Officer Louisville Metro Animal Services Louisville, KY ------------------------------ View Discussion

I hope this works out! Do you have a socials post anywhere that can be shared on other platforms? Good luck!! Thank you for your work. ------------------------------ Stephanie Jackson Public Information Officer Louisville Metro Animal Services Louisville, KY ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi everyone! Pennsylvania is looking to take big steps toward overcoming breed discrimination in housing practices! A new insurance bill introduced by Representative Kathleen Tomlinson, known as Mac's Law (House Bill 1515), is aiming to prevent insurance companies from discriminating against homeowners based on the breed of their dog. This is a huge step forward in the battle against out-dated and discriminatory practices known as Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) that make stable housing less achievable for people and their pets. The bill is currently in PA's Housing and Community Development Committee and is expected to be introduced to PA's House of Representatives soon! If you are a PA resident, make sure to contact your representative and show your support for this. #LawsandPublicPolicy ------------------------------ Michael Steinfeld Humane Action Pennsylvania Volunteer ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Everyone, I'm new to this so hoping I did everything right. Amber Eby of Maddie's Fund suggested I post this opportunity from my company, Daily Kibble. We support the shelter / rescue community through giveaways and have donated nearly $40K in cash and pet products over the last 5 years or so. Right now our Spread the Love giveaway is running through the end of January and we are giving away a $1,000 cash donation to the winner's favorite animal rescue / shelter. And the winner will also receive a $100 Chewy gift card for their own use. It is free to enter. The only requirement is that the winning rescue / shelter must be a 501C3 charitable organization. Here is a link to the Daily Kibble "Scoop" announcing the giveaway for more information and a link to the entry form. https://www.dailykibble.com/scoop/112525.shtml Good luck to everyone and know that we appreciate the work you do for the rescue / shelter community. Terry Miller Daily Kibble terry@dailykibble.com #FundraisingandDevelopment ------------------------------ Terry Miller President Daily Kibble, Inc. WA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hello! Hopefully I am posting in the correct topic. I'm trying to help our shelter and operations team with some research for recommendations on wholesale cat carriers (hard shell only, no cardboard). We sell them in our lobby for adopters to take cats home, but the place we previously ordered (Phillips) no longer carries them. They have searched Petco, Chewy, Walmart - but the prices are around $21 a carrier. Does anyone have any recommendations on wholesale places to look for cat carriers that shelters and vet offices might be ordering from? Thanks in advance! #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms ------------------------------ Von Young Director of Communications and Marketing Fredericksburg SPCA ------------------------------ View Discussion

In 2025, we've had some incredible milestones that we're so proud of. First, we secured a new donor relationship that generously sponsored the spaying and neutering of 38 cats, helping us continue our mission for animal welfare. One of our biggest achievements this year is breaking ground on a brand-new shelter-after decades of fighting the county for animal welfare laws and resources, we're finally creating a safe haven for animals in need. To top it off, we successfully spayed and neutered 1,000 animals in our town alone, making a significant impact on controlling the pet population and improving the community's overall animal welfare. It's been a year of progress and growth, and we're excited to continue these efforts in the future! Our town is a rural low income county where most residents suffer with poverty so resources are limited and our animals aren't given the proper care. This is huge for our town! ------------------------------ Monda Wooten Director Dade County Pet Project GA ------------------------------ View Discussion

That must be difficult to have to rotate doctors half the year temporarily. They do that at pet stores up here where I am, they have petco and pet VIP vets travel to different pet stores to help with vaccinations. But the surgery aspect must be a little more difficult to plan and with Dr schedules and pets. Good luck and hope this upcoming year. I am not sure if they do that service where you are but it could potentially be a networking opportunity for you, to help you and your clients out and have them a pay a fee to set up clinic there. ------------------------------ Kristen Thrasher Owner Dog Space MA ------------------------------ View Discussion

At For Love of Dog where I volunteered for over 20 yrs, we use private Facebook groups & there haven't been any issues. One group is for 'Alumni', a second for Fosters/Volunteers. Sounds like that is what Julie Beatty is doing w/ different names 🙂. We chose not to mix the groups. Foster/Volunteers bring up issues that may not be appropriate for adopters/alumni. The latter group is looking to engage w/ other alumni and/or meet up & in general share with other alumni. A couple have formed "subgroups" on their own which are not part of the rescue. The Alumni group does share info on training, grooming etc & ask Qs. Fosters/volunteers share concerns or ask for help w/ a behavior etc. as well as assess dogs so the right fit is found for each particular dog. They will also ask for help when they need a temp place when they have to leave for vaca or other travel. A group I co-admin with in Alabama use private FB groups as well. One for volunteers/fosters & the Rescue group for everything else including alumni. As Julie said, be curious as to what other groups use especially if they are all volunteer as we are. ------------------------------ Laurie Methven Volunteer Twin Counties Humane Society Virginia ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

Happy New Year to ALL Maddie's Participant's, so glad to hear you are doing "GOOD WORK"! My success this year is, I, only worked parttime and spent the extra time earning & learning about Grants & Funding, "IT'S WORKING, Greene Animal League has a TRIPLED the numbers of getting the Grants for FREE SPAY/NEUTERS, from my lovely State of TN, we are running at top speed with my "deep discounts" clinic and my "super-duper scheduler", Ms. Sheri Maloney, NO WAIT times, a rabie shot is only $10. Greene Animal League is a small Volunteer Operated 501c3....When you say FREE SPAY/NEUTERS, people come out of the woodwork....Please consider giving us funding to continue at this rate...My VISION is my MISSION to see it to FRUITION, FREE SPAY/NEUTERS....Thank you, Mary Murray, LadywiththeHuskies, PROOF4PETS, Greene Animal League & https://greene ------------------------------ [Mary Murray] LadywiththeHuskies [Founder, CEO and President [Greene Animal League [Greeneville, TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Excellent advice. I will be sharing this! ------------------------------ Lisa Kitchens Pet Central Helps! ------------------------------ View Discussion

We have only used private Facebook Groups. We currently have one group for our fosters and one for our adopters, which has made it really easy to keep communication organized while still building community. I am curious to hear what other people use! ------------------------------ Julie Beatty Grants Coordinator Ziva Dog Rescue ------------------------------ View Discussion

Beginning with the world-changing pandemic of 2020, the United Nations has established December 27th as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness. Even half a decade later, it is very important for us to remain informed on local outbreaks and observed outbreaks in places we plan on travelling to. Stay safe by masking up and/or staying up to date with vaccinations, which is free with most insurance plans in America. You can read more about how to protect yourself and others by reading the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guide. View Discussion

My cat has always been notorious for doing this. If I give her canned food with chunks of meat in gravy, she only eats the gravy and leaves the chunks behind. When I give her cat jelly food, she does the same, licks all the jelly and leaves the chicken shreds in the bowl. WHY??? whats the best way to get her to eat the entire meal? Even though cats are carnivores but are doing this.....😩 #CommunityCatManagement ------------------------------ Amelia Brooks Animal Welfare Coordinator Happy Tails Animal Rescue CA ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

2025 was a tough one for our clinic. Our doctor left in June and I have been unable to hire a replacement. I have been able to keep the clinic doors open by playing musical vets with rotating relief doctors. I'm proud of my staff for rolling with the punches and adapting to so many different personalities and surgical preferences. I also started back to school in the fall semester to pursue my dream of becoming a veterinarian. I'll be 50 something by the time I graduate, IF everything goes as planned. I'm proud of myself for not giving up, even though personally and professionally this year was harsh. ------------------------------ Dara Edmonds Executive Director Central Florida Community Pet Clinic ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi, I saw your post regarding volunteer orientation and timing. Your information and some of the replies are helpful. Could you add any specifics about the type of documentation you review with volunteers and require them to agree to and sign-off on before volunteering? We currently have an application and a liability waiver. We just made a photo/model release which we have used at events but have not added it to our Volunteer platform. Could you suggest any other documents you require volunteers to agree to / sign-off on before volunteering? Are some of these documents included in a volunteer handbook? It seems some groups may include items in a volunteer handbook rather than as stand-alone documents. Here is a long list of items I have seen suggested. We want to make it a simple yet comprehensive process. I would appreciate any suggestions or examples you might offer. Approved Volunteer Application (we have in VOME) Assumption of Risk & Liability Waiver (we have in VOME) Volunteer Agreement – What do you include in this? Code of Conduct Confidentiality Agreement Media Release Volunteer Rules (signed & initialed) Emergency Contact Information Minor Volunteer Consent & Waiver (if applicable) (we have this in VOME) Thank you. Cindy Piper Volunteer Team Fresno T.N.R. Email: cpiper@fresnotnr.org ------------------------------ Cindy Piper Volunteer Team Fresno T.N.R. CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous Our shelter is located in a more affluent area of the country, and we are seeing seniors of the community coming to our shelter for financial resources. It has come to the point where the services are demanded, rather than offered. Do you have any models of programs that outline how senior pet assistance funding works? #AccesstoCare #PetSupportServices* View Discussion

Keeping Volunteers/Fosters Engaged Starts With Connection I've been fostering for over seven years, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's this: Rescues don't just run on donations; they run on people. Most people understand that animal rescues are volunteer-driven. What's less understood is what volunteers, especially fosters , need in order to stay engaged, supported, and willing to keep saying "yes" when the next dog needs help. We foster because we love the animals. But love alone isn't always enough to prevent burnout. Volunteers need to feel connected , valued , and purposeful . When that happens, they stay. When it doesn't, even the most dedicated foster can quietly step away. Connection Is Not Complicated - It's Consistent One of the simplest and most meaningful things a rescue can do is check in . A short text every couple of weeks: "Hey, just checking in - how are things going? Do you need anything?" That message matters more than many realize. Most fosters, myself included, buy our own supplies, manage our own schedules, and handle the day-to-day challenges without complaint. We don't expect everything to be provided. But knowing that someone is thinking about our foster dog and us goes a long way. It says: You're not alone in this. We Need to Feel Like We're Serving a Purpose Fosters don't need constant praise, but we do need to know our work matters. We're opening our homes. We're rearranging our lives. We're saying ... View Discussion

Pet costume contests are such a fun way to celebrate pets and their personalities! For logistics, having a clear registration window and numbered entry system makes the event run smoothly. Categories like "Funniest," "Most Creative," and "Best Theme" tend to engage both participants and the audience. Adding a showcase of pets in themed outfits can inspire attendees brands such as Supreme Dog Garage offer a wide range of stylish and comfortable pet clothing that could spark ideas; you can visit here to see designs that might work well for costumes. A quick runway walk or short trick demonstration for each pet keeps things lively, and having judges from different groups ensures fairness. Prizes don't need to be extravagant gift baskets or pet goodies make winners feel celebrated. And don't forget to encourage group entries; they often bring a lot of charm and creativity to the contest. Capturing photos of each costume helps with post-event sharing and building excitement for future events. ------------------------------ ralph brook Dog wear Dog wear CO ------------------------------ View Discussion

Our non-profit has 5 staff members, 4 of whom are veterinarians. Context can play a significant role in what the team feels is the best decision for any patient. For example, organizations have developed separate vaccination guidelines for shelter medicine as opposed to owned pets. We aren't harming the animals by choosing one protocol over another, we are just balancing risks and benefits contextually. Context is just as important in trying to determine the perfect age and method to sterilize an animal which may in individual cases be a little different than what is the best organizational policy. In our foundation we try to an adopt an evidence-based approach to medicine. Balancing all the factors and based on the available evidence, our medical team overwhelmingly favours early S/N and gonad removal as being aligned in terms of the overall best interest of our individual patients and our community at large. ------------------------------ Ursula Hendel Founder Granos de Arena ------------------------------ View Discussion

I came on mid-year after a long hiatus, and immediately began work to improve the culture of my organization. It has been a struggle at times but everyone is happier which in turn is improving everything else because people are working better together. We've also worked to improve how we work with other orgs and to approach collaboration with a spirit of gratitude. I consider these huge wins that will pay long term dividends for the animals. For 2026 I am encouraging finding small wins--1% better--to increase our capacity to save more cats. That is my starting point for getting everyone to believe we can achieve more. ------------------------------ Kelly Ford President Partners for Pets WA ------------------------------ View Discussion

This past year Audrain Humane Society Pet Pals Foster Program totaled nearly $60,000 in Veterinarian expenses to provide care for many hard rescue cases, foster animals and those that were adopted through the Mexico Animal Shelter. Although our volunteers host fundraising events, accept monetary donations and write for local community grants, the costs are ongoing. I'm interested in how other organizations found ways to reduce their veterinary costs. Below are some of our success stories. Thank you for taking the time to provide suggestions. AUDRAIN HUMANE SOCIETY PET PALS FOSTER PROGRAM audrainhumanesociety.org Reflecting on Our Year: Stories of Hope and Healing Dora came to Pet Pals when another rescue helped out with a hoarding situation and had more than they could handle. Dora's new forever family wrote the following. "In February, we adopted little Dora from the Rescue Me site and drove all the way from Maryland just to add Dora to our family." Dora is an 8-year-old Chihuahua who lived her entire life in a wire cage outside before being surrendered. She came to Pet Pals with an awkward gait from walking on wire for so long, a heart murmur, and a terrified spirit. Slowly, she came out of her shell, began to walk correctly, and grew stronger every day. Today, Dora is a happy girl living in Maryland with her new mom and Chihuahua siblings. Peaches & Miko Jo are two puppies that by grace came to Pet Pals. We had a scheduled transport for four other ... View Discussion

A constant goal of the Audrain Humane Society Pet Pals program is to rescue, provide veterinarian care and place animals in foster and/or adoptive homes. Here are some of our success stories from 2025. AUDRAIN HUMANE SOCIETY PET PALS FOSTER PROGRAM audrainhumanesociety.org Reflecting on Our Year: Stories of Hope and Healing Dora came to Pet Pals when another rescue helped out with a hoarding situation and had more than they could handle. Dora's new forever family wrote the following. "In February, we adopted little Dora from the Rescue Me site and drove all the way from Maryland just to add Dora to our family." Dora is an 8-year-old Chihuahua who lived her entire life in a wire cage outside before being surrendered. She came to Pet Pals with an awkward gait from walking on wire for so long, a heart murmur, and a terrified spirit. Slowly, she came out of her shell, began to walk correctly, and grew stronger every day. Today, Dora is a happy girl living in Maryland with her new mom and Chihuahua siblings. Peaches & Miko Jo are two puppies that by grace came to Pet Pals. We had a scheduled transport for four other puppies coming from Warsaw, Missouri. As our transporter headed to the meeting point in Marshall, a woman reached out about three puppies sitting on the side of the highway. Tragically, one puppy had already been hit by a car and killed. The other two were sitting by their sibling, waiting for help. We didn't have a foster lined up, but we couldn't ... View Discussion

I believe in hysterectomys and vasectomies. The problem is that vets refuse to leave the ovaries when you ask them too because if any other vet does a ultra sound in the future they will see the ovaries and might think that they are tumors or that the animal hasn't been spayed and then charge the owner a bunch or worse scare the owner with misinformation. The problem with vasectomies is that the male dog doesn't look neutered and then the owner is judged by other people and vets. Also if the vasectomy isn't done correctly with the complete removal of the vas deferens then the dog could heal and the tubes could heal and then the dog would be able to still make babies. This has happened with humans many times and can just as eaisly happen with dogs unless it is taken into account during surgery. Also if these dogs are brought into the shelter the vet there will probably cut them off later instead of looking for a tattoo or indication that the dog had a vasectomey. The hormone imbalance by removal isn't great but it is what prevents male dogs from being aggressive markers so if you don't fully remove the balls it won't adjust their attitude, which is why a lot of people get their male dogs neutered in the first place. And just a reminder I am for these procedures but I also see the "what if" aspect. I hope we can see a change in the future maybe not neuter male dogs until they are 9 months or older or something like that. But if we made hysterectomies normal by leaving the ovaries ... View Discussion

A win I am celebrating for this past year is the number of successful adoptions that have happened at the rescue. Also the number of street cats that were at deaths door that we were able to save through trapping and medical treatment. We also were able to trap and fix almost all the adult cats and some of the kittens in a colony across the street. Still working on trapping more, in an attempt to stop the constant kitten brigade we see every spring. ------------------------------ April Cannizzaro CEO San Diego Last Chance Ranch CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

The cost of unblocking is extremelyhigh. My baby Luther started getting crystals this year at the young age of 2. I brought him in and they catheterized him and flushed his bladder but it inflammed his ureter. It happened again a week later on a weekend so I brought him to the Universities emergency room hoping for the latest tech to help him. Several thousand dollars later they did essentially the same thing, only they left the catheter there for 2 days. I picked him up shaking, terrified, and exhausted. Then 2 weeks later it happened again. I had his bladder flushed again. During this time I changed his food I had him on pain meds and I even tried antidepressants that I heard had worked for another lady's cat. The fourth time it happened I put him to sleep. He was suffering and in pain and it broke me. I'm crying as I type this but I know it was the right choice because he couldn't go on with that daily pain. But he was my best friend and was there for a lot of rough times with me. I wish you all the success with this program because it will save cats and the people who love them. ------------------------------ April Cannizzaro CEO San Diego Last Chance Ranch CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi. We are a small nonprofit with a growing need for volunteers. Our group started a basic volunteer program that included an application and volunteer waiver a few months ago. We use Vome for volunteer scheduling. I would like some examples of on boarding steps that you include, required paperwork, and a volunteer handbook. We are just starting some in person orientations. Here are some items I have seen suggested in Volunteer Packet. The Volunteer Intake Packet includes: Approved Volunteer Application (we have in VOME) Assumption of Risk & Liability Waiver (we have in VOME) Volunteer Agreement – What do you include in this? Code of Conduct Confidentiality Agreement Media Release Volunteer Rules (signed & initialed) Emergency Contact Information Minor Volunteer Consent & Waiver (if applicable I'm trying to determine which of these items are necessary. Could some of them be included as part of a volunteer handbook and sign off through that process ? Do some of them need to be stand alone documents? I would appreciate any suggestions or examples you could send our way. Regards, Cindy Piper Volunteer Team Fresno T.N.R #CommunityPartnerships* #PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration) ------------------------------ Cindy Piper Volunteer Team Fresno T.N.R. CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

A big win for me this year was turning an idea into something real. My husband and I self-taught ourselves how to develop a 10-acre property from raw land - permitting, grading, stormwater, and all - to support The Good Stay , a nonprofit providing temporary care for dogs during family medical crises. It's been hard, humbling, and incredibly rewarding to build something with our own hands that will serve others. ------------------------------ Amber Lewis Director The Good Stay MD ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi everyone, My husband and I are in the process of launching The Good Stay , a nonprofit in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, focused on providing temporary care for dogs when their owners are facing a serious medical crisis (hospitalization, extended recovery, or a critically ill child in the home). Our mission is to prevent dogs from being surrendered during these difficult moments and to reunite families once recovery is possible. We purchased and are developing a 10-acre property for this purpose. The site includes multiple outdoor play yards, wooded areas for structured walks and decompression strolls, and a fully constructed 52-car parking lot. Everything on the property to date - from planning and permitting to grading, stormwater management, and site development - has been completed and funded entirely by my husband and me. We are self-taught in this process and have learned how to develop the land hands-on, step by step. We're now at the point where outside assistance is needed to complete the final phase and begin serving the community. Our current funding goal is $250,000 , which would allow us to: Build out the temporary stay kennels Install water and septic infrastructure Complete remaining construction and open operations We're reaching out to this community to ask: Has anyone here launched or scaled a similar nonprofit or animal welfare project? Are there grants (local, state, federal, or private foundations) you'd recommend ... View Discussion

Start by taking 5 to 10% of every unrestricted donation and putting it into the reserve. $25 a month put into that reserve is a win. $25 a month put into that reserve is a win. Instead of asking donors to fund medical expense, have them fund a reserve for when you are rescuing new cats take $10-$15 off of every adoption donation and put that into reserve Take a portion of every unexpected donation and put it in there. Take a portion of every unexpected donation and put it in there. Be transparent… Tell people you're trying to create that reserve for emergency funds for the future to keep you going ------------------------------ Lynn Mulhern Director Community Cat Foundation CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

This is a much more complicated issue than the OP's post would suggest, both in terms of population management and individual animal health. I second everything Dr. Langlois said and there are many other considerations in addition to the ones he raises. I am presenting two lectures on these topics at VMX in January...come and hear more about this discussion if you'll be in Orlando! But, those of us in the animal welfare/sheltering world ESPECIALLY need to NOT be messaging that S/N is bad for dogs or cats while shelters are drowning in unwanted pets and the free-roaming populations of dogs and cats are exploding around the world. There is no settled causative effect between any specific health problem and traditional S/N at any age (correlation is not the same as causation), especially in mixed breed dogs. Conversely, a number of negative behavioral and life-threatening health effects of leaving gonads in pets are extremely well-documented. As a note, most competent veterinary surgeons are capable of performing vasectomy, hysterectomy or any other of the proposed "novel" gonad-sparing procedures (the long-term health impacts of which are completely unstudied at this time...same with HRT). We actively choose to provide traditional S/N (gonadectomy) because we believe it is in the best interest of both individual animal health and population management. This is not a "vet training" issue. ------------------------------ Rachel Powell DVM Director of Surgery Greenhill ... View Discussion

I'm setting up an online community for our rescue's dog adopters/fosters/volunteers to connect. People will use it to share pictures & updates among their dog's littermates' families, coordinate meeting up for training/hiking/playing, recommend dog professionals in their area (groomers, trainers, vet) or dog products they like, maybe trade off petsitting. So I want it to be functional for both online communication (posting video, commenting/chatting), but also allow people to locate members of our rescue family nearby so they can cultivate in-person relationships as well (so maybe a map that people can choose to add their dog to and see which dogs are in their area?). Any recommendations on a forum that would work well for keeping our rescue family connected and supported and be, of course, free or very inexpensive? Bonus points if it's relatively-easy to set up and run from my end and allows for sub-groups to form (so, for example, the adopters of puppies from a particular litter might want to be their own subgroup, or maybe adopters/foster/volunteers from a particular zip code want to meet up at someone's pool for regular swim dates). I don't want to use Facebook. I'm looking at BFF or MeetUp maybe? Thanks for any suggestions/recommendations! Thank you! #DataandTechnology #MarketingandSocialMedia #PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration) ------------------------------ Julie Hall Oracle Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Inc AZ ---------------------------- ... View Discussion

Greene Animal League would like to do a "special shoutout/nominate" to Ms. Sheri Maloney, the "go to gal" scheduler/liaison at the Judy and Doug Lowry S/N Clinic, Washington County, TN. Ms. Sheri Maloney has enabled Greene Animal League's S/N goals to triple and no wait times. This is fabulous, we need to keep going at this pace, top speed, which is where the grant funding would be used to continue our performance, that our community so desperately needs! The demand in our area is very high, so yes, we need as much S/N funding as possible! Included is a photo of Mercy, submitted by my client, Ms. Amy Justice stating her view of our operations. It is my VISION to be my MISSION to see it to FRUITION! FREE SPAY/NEUTERS...Thank you, Mary Murray, LadywiththeHuskies, PROOF4PETS, Greene Animal League & https://greeneanimalleague.org ------------------------------ [Mary Murray] LadywiththeHuskies [Founder, CEO and President [Greene Animal League [Greeneville, TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Great question! We will be sure to ask our Community Conversations speaker and will answer on Maddie's Pet Forum if we don't get to this topic on the call. ------------------------------ Sheila Kouhkan Senior Education Specialist Maddie's Fund CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

So looking forward to working with you, Miguel!! ------------------------------ Alison Gibson Media Projects Manager Maddie's Fund ------------------------------ View Discussion

This is not a question easily answered, and I suspect will be a topic of much debate over the next 5 years or so. The data that has been collected is not complete in many areas, and those studies that have been done have had some flaws in their methodology or conclusions pointed out. Perhaps in another 5 years or so there will be a true study done representative of a true variety of the pet population giving some more clear answers. There was a slight push/movement years ago to vasectomize male feral/stray cats instead of neutering them, with the theory being that they still would mate females but not get them pregnant while then bringing them out of heat. It never really caught on to my knowledge for a variety of reasons (I think the unwanted behavioral characteristics still being there the number 1 reason). There are also other interesting issues that arise from considering just hysterectomies or vasectomies. Yes, a vasectomy does spare the hormone production that helps in maturation of the body, but it also leaves intact some unwanted and often undesirable secondary behavioral characteristics (many of which can be a leading reason why animals are surrendered to shelters or rehomed). Is the trade off worth it? Hysterectomies would spare the dog or cat the loss of hormones, but what other effects would we be looking at (increase in mammary masses, heat cycles, behavioral changes, etc.). I know some studies have said that they don't see a real increase in mammary tumors, ... View Discussion

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous Under Money Mindsets for Animal Organizations, I would be interested if you addressed the topic of building a "reserve fund" for small non-profit rescues. We are totally funded by contributions (no government contracts) and have been trying to set aside funds to build a reserve, with modest success. What are some strategies and proven ideas for creating a reserve? We are not into "wills and bequests" but are considering promoting that option to our donor base. We do have a brokerage account to accept gifts of securities, contributions from RMDs and do promote that regularly. Thanks! (TN-based cat rescue organization) View Discussion

I would submit that this is a next level issue and that first we need to focus on the systemic problems in our locales that are causing pet over population such as poorly educated or low income individuals and work on general access to spay/neuter as a low cost service. Once we have addressed the foundational reasons for these issues we can start looking at things like this, but right now most shelters do not have the time or money to worry about this, mine included. We have a 400 person waitlist for s/n due to how prohibitively expensive it is in this area(Asheville, NC). ------------------------------ Elsa Enstrom Helpline Coordinator Asheville Humane Society NC ------------------------------ View Discussion

I love this question! I started a non profit called FLUTD Fighters Foundation to pay for emergency unblocking and treating cats with urethral obstruction. We provide the funding when owners cannot come up with the high cost of treatment. We have saved 50 cats since May 2025. I am incredibly proud of how much we have done in such a short time. 50 cats we prevented from being euthanized or ending up in the local shelters. 50 families that got to keep their beloved fur baby. I am thankful to have been able to be a part of that. ------------------------------ Michelle Stange Veterinarian FLUTD Fighters Foundation TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

The beginning of 2025 marked a season of change for our rescue/clinic. We had several key staff members move on to tackle new challenges and adventures. We accepted that our rescue numbers would be lower this year as we add new staff members and begin training/acclimating to their new roles. We lost our HQHV surgeon, Adoption Center Manager, Dog Manager, and Operations Manager this past year to retirement, medical concerns, and several other very reasonable, understandable life changes. We entered the season of change with positivity and optimism for fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm about our mission. Our new team is young and had very little experience in their new roles but they are mighty!! Just yesterday I realized that we have already surpassed last year's rescue numbers and are on track to have the second best year in our twenty-year history. I'm incredibly proud of our new, young team!! ❤️ ------------------------------ Tanya Jonda Executive Director One Of A Kind Pet Rescue OH ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

Hi April, I am not a shelter or currently a rescue, but love your idea, and had a similar idea. Would love to stay updated on the development of this. :) Wishing you and all much success with this. ------------------------------ Cindy Lee Foster NA TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you for bringing up this (controversial??) topic. We are harming many of our canine companions by preforming traditional S/N at a young age and stripping them of much needed hormones. Creating responsible owners won't happen overnight, but we can pressure the Veterinary community to step up and learn techniques to perform OSH and vasectomies, AND educate themselves in providing HRT for animals already S/N in a traditional manner. ------------------------------ Dolores Matthys Founder Pawsitive Souls OR ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hello! My name is Michelle and I am an emergency veterinarian in Austin, Texas. I have started a 501c3 non profit called FLUTD Fighters that provides funding to under privileged owners of cats experiencing urethral obstruction. Our mission is to allow the owner to obtain the emergency, life-saving treatment their cat needs to prevent euthanasia or surrender of the cat and keep their family together. We pay for unblocking, hospitalization, cystotomy and perineal urethrostomy surgery if needed. We initially received a large one time donation and have raised some other funds, but after saving 50 cats since May 2025, we need funding to be able to continue at this rate through the upcoming years. We see 4-5 blocked cats a day at our EC and can literally have 2-3 a week that need FLUTD Fighters assistance. We have gotten cats referred from San Antonio and surrounding areas and I foresee word getting out even further as this is such a needed service. Most of the donations have come from veterinarians and vet staff. It has taken such a pressure off of all of us to not have to euthanize an otherwise healthy cat, that we all pitch in money to be able to continue to save these cat. While this is great, it obviously is not a long term solution for all of us to keep funding. Does anyone have any ideas on grants-get a grant writer? Is it worth it? How to tap into the local veterinary and client community-does putting up jars with pictures asking for donations work? I tried a donation ... View Discussion

Amazing!! I'm so glad to have decisions validated by actual science! Also great to hear about the USDA approval. Thanks, Dr. Aziz! ------------------------------ Lucy Fuller Chief Veterinary Officer Charleston Animal Society SC ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Trina, This sounds like a common situation many of us face. It might pay to spend a day (maybe in shifts) sitting, watching, and speaking to any feeders who show up. about how you're trying to help them through TNR. Leafletting or posting signs explaining the process, and why you need to work with them to schedule the feedings is also very helpful. If people understand you don't want the cats to starve, you just need to schedule the feeding so that they'll be hungry for catching, and go to surgery with empty tummies, they're usually happy to help. If they have a trust issue--that you won't return the cats--offer to start with 1 or 2 cats, and then discuss doing more when you bring them back. With any luck, at least one of those cat feeders will develop a passion for tnr, and become part of a trapping team or network! If you have a plan to foster/socialize the kittens, ask them if they agree it would be the best plan. Would they want to adopt them once socialized? Give folks some feeling that you're acknowledging their role with the cats, and their attachments. And for the cats that are friendly, carriers are an easier way to go than traps. You should definitely offer your help to the building manager, so that they don't repeat the mistake of releasing cats abandoned after move-oputs or evictions. If people know there are humane options, they will usually listen and take the humane route. Scheduled feeding also addresses concerns of attracting ... View Discussion

Info about: full USDA approval of CPMA and questions regarding thawing and refreezing CPMA: First, CPMA also now has full USDA approval and a new brand name: Trutect (anivovetmab). Second, I checked in with an Elanco vet re: the thawing / refreezing question for CPMA and wanted to share their written response below: Proper storage of CPMA is in a deep freezer or within the freezer box in a freezer portion of a fridge / freezer combination unit. To help with conversations where a customer has inadvertently stored a CPMA carton in a freezer (non-deep freezer) without the freezer box, there is a little more information: CPMA has undergone freeze / thaw testing. This includes placing the product at ambient temperature for 20 minutes then refreezing. This was repeated 10 times with no impact to product potency noted. Reminder that regular freezers (not deep freezers) undergo freeze / thaw cycles throughout the day resulting in CPMA storage temperature to be out of guidelines. Every freezer has a different frequency of freeze / thaw cycles it undergoes, but in general it's 2-3 freeze / thaw cycles a day. Reminder – freeze / thaw testing gives us information about product potency and does not include administering the product to animals. While we can make conclusions regarding potency with this data, we can't speak to the safety or efficacy of improperly stored product. That will be at the veterinarian's discretion if they want ... View Discussion

I'm a grant writer and would love to help you find some funding to help your cause! Please message me if you're interested. Thank you for trying to help these poor cats. ------------------------------ Bailey Evans Grant Writer Animal Allies Humane Society MN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Awesome, Lisa! Thank you for advocating for your community folks doing the hard work! <3 ------------------------------ Ali Peterson Content & Clinic Coordinator Clinic HQ & First Nations Vet OR ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi, I am creating a mobile game app to raise money to help fund rescues and send free food, treats, beds, litter, items, money for medical care, ect to shelters for the cats. Right now we have the website mostly built and I need to get shelters involved. Normally shelters would register themselves but since I am just creating the website at the moment I need some shelters for starters. Meaning I would input the initial info and once the website is up and active you can go in add cats and adjust info. What I need is: Shelter name photo of one of your adoptable cats your logo if you have one phone number for public email for public website for public address for public (office is fine if you dont have a main shelter) The website will direct people to your website when they find a cat they want to adopt. Hopefully you have adoption protocol on your website. If you don't have a website they can reach you by phone or email to adopt. The one requirement is cats must be up for adoption. If you know any other shelters/rescues wanting to join please feel free to forward my email and info to them. Thank you, April Cannizzaro 619-200-5967 San Diego Last Chance Ranch #FundraisingandDevelopment ------------------------------ April Cannizzaro CEO San Diego Last Chance Ranch CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi, I am creating a mobile game app to raise money to help fund rescues and send free food, treats, beds, litter, items, money for medical care, ect to shelters for the cats. Right now we have the website mostly built and I need to get shelters involved. Normally shelters would register themselves but since I am just creating the website at the moment I need some shelters for starters. Meaning I would input the initial info and once the website is up and active you can go in add cats and adjust info. What I need is: Shelter name photo of one of your adoptable cats your logo if you have one phone number for public email for public website for public address for public (office is fine if you dont have a main shelter) The website will direct people to your website when they find a cat they want to adopt. Hopefully you have adoption protocol on your website. If you don't have a website they can reach you by phone or email to adopt. The one requirement is cats must be up for adoption. If you know any other shelters/rescues wanting to join please feel free to forward my email and info to them. Thank you, April Cannizzaro 619-200-5967 San Diego Last Chance Ranch ------------------------------ April Cannizzaro CEO San Diego Last Chance Ranch CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Anyone who knows me knows I loathe cold weather. Unfortunately, unless I pack up and move to the tropics, winter is here to stay. While I’d much rather spend my days outdoors in the sunshine, this time of year is all about preparing for the colder months ahead. For people, staying warm, hydrated, and active goes a long way. Short walks, warm layers, and a bit of sunlight—when you can catch it—help boost mood and energy. Pets need similar care. Make sure they have a warm place to rest, limit time outside on very cold days, and wipe their paws after walks to remove ice, salt, and chemicals. It’s also smart to keep winter essentials on hand: extra blankets, pet-safe deicers, and updated ID tags or microchips in case snow or storms cause disruptions. With a little attention and a lot of love, I have heard that winter can be a safe and cozy season for you and your pets. Stay warm out there! View Discussion

Oh I love these types of trainings! So important, especially for officers. If you need any additional testers, please let me know. I would be happy to join or if you prefer assign an officer. Thanks! ------------------------------ Rachel Ide Animal Services Director Young-Williams Animal Center TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Thank you so much ------------------------------ Amelia Brooks Animal Welfare Coordinator Happy Tails Animal Rescue CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

There is :) You can see all the stories here: https://heroicyarns.com/story-menu/ All the stories are meant to be all-ages, so would definitely work for 4th and 5th graders. If you see anything you like, you can message me through the Contact page at the website and we can discuss how to get the files to you in a printable version for you. I'm also always looking for new story topics so if there is a topic you don't see there let me know and I can think about story ideas. Thanks for your interest! ------------------------------ Jason DeGroot Creative Director Heroic Yarns TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Jason, is there a way to see a preview of the stories? Would they be good to hand out when doing educational training to 4th and 5th graders on pet care and treatment? ------------------------------ Carol Bridges President Winding River Paws for a Cause NC ------------------------------ View Discussion

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous At the risk of being cast into the pit of shame for not recommending Hills or Royal Canin...I'll offer my two cents. Our formerly blocked 9-year-old male eats Wysong Uretic Dry kibble and Purina Pro Plan Urinary Wet. Coming up 2 years blockage-free and doing very well. Excellent skin, coat, poops, and weight, and I can get these from Chewy at a fraction of the cost of the veterinary diets. I second Judith's recommendation of a fountain. Water intake is crucial. You can also add a little water or HydroCare to the wet food, and maybe add in a couple of high-moisture lickable treats like Churu or Delectables. View Discussion

I just went back to your question and I see you say UTI. That's bacterial. You might wanna add D-Mannose to the cats water. It is a sugar that the body does not metabolize. It's great for humans as well. Cats can't taste sweet anyway, so they wouldn't notice it. It has no flavor, but it coached the urinary tract and keeps the bacteria that causes a UTI from latching on. There are herbs for urinary tract support as well. You could check chewy.com or other pet store for a tincture or supplement. They can help you avoid the antibiotic cycle. I hope you find a solution that works. ------------------------------ JUDITH PEARSON President The Dixon Animal Protection Society NM ------------------------------ View Discussion

It really depends on the issue. I have two cats on special diets one is on Royal Canaan SO the other is on Hills science diet KD. The one on SO had the most amazing Krystal load, the vet had never seen anything like it. He's our little miracle cat that shouldn't be alive at all. He's had some interesting challenges, but he's a healthy six-year-old. The other cat on the KD is an orange tabby and they can be predisposed to uric acid crystals. So did your cat have crystals? What kind that will determine what kind of food. If he's just not drinking enough water, you might try a fountain, but go glass or stainless steel not plastic. Cats tend to drink more from a fountain than they do from a bowl of water. And the fountain has a motion sensor so it's only on when the cat is near. I would discuss it with your veterinarian. See what they think. ------------------------------ JUDITH PEARSON President The Dixon Animal Protection Society NM ------------------------------ View Discussion

I'm currently taking orders for my book "Shelter Dog Rides Again!" at heroicyarns.com The book contains 7 stories that focus on responsible pet ownership in a fun and silly way. I'm hoping they can be used at shelters for education and outreach so if you're interested in using any of the stories in some way, I'd love to hear from you. #EducationandTraining ------------------------------ Jason DeGroot Creative Director Heroic Yarns TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

Your ears must have been ringing! We have a dog that is coming up on her 3rd holiday season in the shelter :( I am trying to figure out any new avenue we can to promote her. We are working on a new approach to her bio and as soon as I have that listing I will send it your way! Thank you so much and happy holidays! ------------------------------ Alycia Norton President PALS of PAWS in Saginaw County MI ------------------------------ View Discussion

The United Nations describes International Human Solidarity Day as a day to: celebrate our unity in diversity remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals including poverty eradication a day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication For this year's observance, the theme for International Human Solidarity Day is "Solidarity for Sustainable Development: Uniting Communities for a Shared Future." Around this time, the UN highlights their United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme for opportunities to get involved with human solidarity work. How do you find ways to get involved in your own community? What are some recent or memorable volunteer initiatives that you have been a part of? View Discussion

My 3 years has had urinary issues in the past, and I want to switch to a diet that supports urinary health. What's the best cat food (especially wet food) that will help my cat stay hydrated and avoid flare-ups? #CommunityCatManagement ------------------------------ Amelia Brooks Animal Welfare Coordinator Happy Tails Animal Rescue CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Well, I am NOT "Superwoman" but staying "on top of my game" is IMPERATIVE...I did/do the work for the GRANTS & "matching donations", the students job is to do the work for FREE COLLEGE. In my book, it is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY to know what your LOCAL and STATE Programs are offering and how to implement them into your program...You want to build leaders, start them when they are formidable, make them WANT to learn from you! Be like me, start "thinking outside the box", UNSTOPPABLE ENERGY and CONTAGIOUS, make your 2026 goals to be SUCCESSFUL, not settling, be better than you were today!....Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a quick photo of my Holiday Happiness, giving away FREE SPAY/NEUTERS! Mary Murray, LadywiththeHuskies, PROOF4PETS, Greene Animal League & https://greeneanimalleague.org ------------------------------ [Mary Murray] LadywiththeHuskies [Founder, CEO and President [Greene Animal League [Greeneville, TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

I converse regularly with a "HEALTH" advocate and touching on the topic of pets, it is said to be a healthier option for a K9's and/or Feline's to have a hysterectomy and/or vasectomy! This method eliminates growth and hormone issues, torn ACL's and other ailments from aging, etc! I believe this to be TRUE, however, since us humans, have let the pet over-population get "out of control", we are stuck with early Spay/Neuter, if any at all? We should NOT be making spay/neuter the only standard, yet what are our options, and what are your thoughts? By now, I would think our technology is pretty advanced, if so, I haven't heard much about it and its pro's and con's as entering as an alternative to society! Are we even headed in that direction, anywhere? Hmmm..... #AccesstoCare #CommunityPartnerships* #DataandTechnology #EducationandTraining #FieldServicesandPublicSafety* #LawsandPublicPolicy #Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization #OrganizationalManagement #PetSupportServices* ------------------------------ [Mary Murray] LadywiththeHuskies [Founder, CEO and President [Greene Animal League [Greeneville, TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Folks! My name is Miguel Ruelas (he/they), Community Resources Manager at Pasadena Humane and I'm thrilled to kick off 2026 by joining Sheila as your Community Conversations co-host for January. We've got some pinch hitters in this months lineup: ✅ Get Them Out, Even for a Little ✅ Money Mindset for Animal Organizations ✅ The Business Behind Lifesaving I'm excited to dig in with you all-share space, swap ideas, and keep pushing our field toward more intentional, community-rooted work. If there's something on your mind or a topic you want to bring into the mix, drop it here! See you on the calls! Miguel #CaseManagement* #CommunityPartnerships* #Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts #Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice #PetSupportServices* ------------------------------ Miguel Ruelas Community Resource Manager Pasadena Humane Society CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Vanessa - What a wonderful story. Arlove is lucky to hae found you. Here are some links to medical grants you can apply for just in case you are not aware of them. Read the requirements carefully because not all cases qualify for funding. https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/grant-information/# https://americanhumane.jotform.com/form/240244829861158 https://www.bowwowbuddies.com/apply-for-grant/ https://www.onyxandbreezy.org/grant-application-faqs.html https://www.grantinterface.com/Opportunity/Catalog/Index?urlkey=petfinder Petfinder grants are closed until 2026, but they do have some good opportunities. One stipulation is you must list your available dogs on their website. Petfinder can be a bit of a pain to navigate, once your dogs are listed, it's worth the aggravation to be able to apply for grants. Good luck and thank you for stepping up for Arlove. ------------------------------ Nancy Kaniewski Donation Coordinator Just Giants Rescue, Inc. ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Hali - What a wonderful story. Here are some links to medical grants just incase you were not aware of them. Read through each one carefully because not all cases qualify for funding. If needed in the future, I hope you get one. https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/grant-information/# https://americanhumane.jotform.com/form/240244829861158 https://www.bowwowbuddies.com/apply-for-grant/ https://www.onyxandbreezy.org/grant-application-faqs.html https://www.grantinterface.com/Opportunity/Catalog/Index?urlkey=petfinder Petfinder grants are closed until 2026, but they do have some good opportunities. One stipulation is you must list your available dogs on their website. Petfinder can be a bit of a pain to navigate, once your dogs are listed, it's worth the aggravation to be able to apply for grants. Good Luck and keep doing the good work. ------------------------------ Nancy Kaniewski Donation Coordinator Just Giants Rescue, Inc. ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Daniel. We are really excited about this project. When it is complete, it will consist of 7 learning modules. Mental Health within the Animal Welfare Profession Building Personal Resiliency Effective Communication How to Communicate with a Family in Crisis How to Support a Family in Crisis Addressing Biases and Inclusion in Animal Welfare The Heart Behind the Work: Coping with Loss in Animal Welfare ------------------------------ Candice Hinkle Assistant Director Program for Pet Health Equity Knoxville, TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

This is a great initiative! Focusing on biases and inclusion in animal welfare is so important for improving outcomes for animals, staff and communities. ------------------------------ Daniel Jack Marketing My Company Site CA ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Julie - Getting your kittens in PetSmart is HUGE. Congrats on that. ------------------------------ Nancy Kaniewski Donation Coordinator Just Giants Rescue, Inc. ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hi Connie - I'm sorry to hear about you losing your part-time job. Do you have a donation/fundraising team? There are so many different ideas to help ease the burden of running a non-profit and financial worries. Some examples are: you can start an internship for your Sanctuary for high school and college students that includes collecting resumes, interviews, and teacher recommendaiton. The students would volunteer for a minimum one year commitment (or whatever time frame you deem appropriate) and work side by side with and under the supervision of your current volunteers. They can do social media posts, manage your website, help with the day-to-day operations, stuff like that. It gives them real world expeience while easing the burden of your volunteers. Once that commitment is fulfilled, they can use you as a reference for college/job applications. You can also utilize the junior high and high school students to conduct donation drives for your most needed items. ABC Fundraising has scratch cards you can use to raise money. I believe each card raises $200 for your organization. In the Chicago area, a popular trend is bars and restaurants doing in-house fundraising where we get a percentage of the proceeds during a specific time frame. We have to do all the marketing for the event, but it's a pretty easy couple hundred dollars. My rescue is planning a dog wash fundraiser in 2026. There are several public dog wash facilites and one has agreed to allow ... View Discussion

Situation in Cedar Glen - 🐈 🐈‍⬛ Update 🚨 One of the pregnant moms had her kittens last night !! We do not know where she had them- Somebody came and fed the cats We can NOT trap them when they are NOT hungry !! We showed up with 3 trappers and 7 traps to full cats !! These poor babies will now have to spend another night on the street … -------------------- We were dispatched to do a cleaning on a unit in the area and stumbked upon this bad situation in Cedar Glen, CA 92321. I've tried to make this post public but its a private group so it won't work- I was told an eviction took place here with a cat person and lots of cats were abandoned inside the unit- The landlord opened the door and let all the cats out !! Approximately 55 cats my cleaning company has been told.. There are kittens 4 have been found froze to death- 3 Pregnant cats who just gave birth 2 weeks ago Majority of these cats are "friendly" We are helping catch them with traps to re-home them.. Have found a couple homes for a few of the cats so far but many cats still remain HOMELESS .. I have purchased several traps, lots of food, shelters for them, large catios for those willing to help foster these cats while I get them spayed/neutered- These cats are running around everywhere… The cats need help!!! Not sure what to do except keep trapping and get them spayed/neutered with the money I make cleaning homes, businesses, windows, anything I can to get these cats safe- not ... View Discussion

Thank you, its defiantly a little learning curve and i am so thankful I found this forum which so much information; truly helpful and inspirational. We have setup a PayPal donation link for Arlove: https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=25PE5E9PKREDW ------------------------------ Vanessa Robertson President Wrinkles & Wigglebutts Rescue Inc AZ ------------------------------ View Discussion

Vanessa, bless you for taking on such an enormous challenge. What a sweetheart she is. Thank you and keep up the faith. Have you done a gofundme campaign? ------------------------------ Carol Bridges President Winding River Paws for a Cause NC ------------------------------ View Discussion

In September 2025, Wrinkles & Wigglebutts Rescue stopped being a dream and became a little family with paperwork: our 501(c)(3) was approved, we seated our board, and we confirmed a veterinary partner here in Bullhead City, AZ. In October we pulled our first rescue, Arlove (Short for Our Love Bug), a French Bulldog Mix from a California shelter. She looked so miserable and infected that we sprang into action. About six years old, found as a stray with three pups and pregnant, she clearly had been bred too many times. She also arrived with bilateral cherry eye, severe allergies and a skin infection, major ear damage and infections in both ears, spine discomfort, and cage sores. The shelter had just aborted her pregnancy, and she was in rough shape. We paid $383.96 that day to stabilize her. Most recently, we put $506.69 on CareCredit to finally get her skin under control-and it gave her something small that felt enormous: an itch-free morning. If you've watched a dog wake up scratching herself raw, you know what that means. The road ahead-for our rescue and for Arlove-is real. Pre-op diagnostics are $615–$676.50; cherry-eye repair and medications are $1,690–$1,859 (total $2,305–$2,535.50). After surgery, the everyday work continues: daily ear medication and cleaning, monthly allergy injections, long-term skin management, and possibly future ear surgery if her canals don't stay healthy. We'll say the quiet part out loud to people who understand: dogs like Arlove are hard to ... View Discussion

Beta Testers Wanted: New PPHE Module for Animal Shelter Professionals (in collaboration with Open Door School) PPHE, in collaboration with Open Door School , is inviting animal shelter and animal welfare professionals to participate in beta testing for our upcoming learning module: Biases and Inclusion in Animal Welfare . This module is designed with the real-world experiences of shelters and rescue organizations in mind , exploring how bias can show up in daily operations, policies, and interactions-and how more inclusive practices can strengthen outcomes for animals, staff, volunteers, and the communities you serve. We are seeking a limited group of up to 25 beta testers to review the module and share feedback before its wider release. 🔹 Who should participate: Animal shelter staff, leadership, volunteers, and partners are especially encouraged to apply. Others working in animal welfare, One Health, public health, or related fields are also welcome. 🔹 How to sign up: Please email @Candice Hinkle at chodges1@utk.edu, if you are interested in participating. Your insights will help refine this module and support more inclusive and effective animal welfare practices. We appreciate your interest and support. ------------------------------ T' Fisher, Director of Operations Program for Pet Health Equity ------------------------------ ... View Discussion

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous Anon due to it being a secret! Our rescue is coming up on a very large change soon and it means possibly us growing and purchasing a building for our cats. Some of the board says yes some say no some are quiet. I hope to pitch the idea of it with some actual numbers soon so if you have a facility can you please answer our questions: What ongoing costs surprise you the most? What was your timeline from the idea or opening the doors? Did you do a capital campaign? If so, what worked? Would you recommend campaigning before or after securing a property? Does a nicer facility help increase your volunteers fosters donors or cause more stress on them? If we are nervous is that a red flag or normal? What would you tell a rescue looking to do this to avoid? What is one mistake you made that you would redo? #FundraisingandDevelopment View Discussion

Good morning, all! While this may not seem like a very big deal, but our biggest goal for 2025 was to be prepared and in compliance with the new NYS Companion Animal Standards Act that went into effect 12/15/25. I am happy to report that we were able to officially adopt our complete Policy and Procedures Manual that covers every required topic. Are there still a couple of areas that need tweaking? Absolutely! But, should we have our first visit tomorrow, we are ready. Phew. ------------------------------ Diane Metz Board of Directors, Volunteer, and Foster Mom Orange Street Cats, Inc. Albany NY ------------------------------ View Discussion

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous Aren't there a number of auto manufacturers in Alabama....in fact isn't Mercedes Benz in Tuscaloosa? Why not find the right person at the plant and see what MB is willing to do for you. Even if it isn't a outright donation, they may be willing to deeply discount such a van and put the need on their social media platforms (NA headquarter for MB are in Atlanta). View Discussion

When I looked at this report I immediately compared my own data + calls -- if anyone else has done this I would love to do a direct comparison! Please let me know :) ------------------------------ Rachel Ide Animal Services Director Young-Williams Animal Center TN ------------------------------ View Discussion

Good morning @Teagan H , Is this open to other pets like rabbits and pigs? I sent you an email with our longest residents. Thank you ------------------------------ Lisa Burn Co-founder/VP Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary Myakka City, FL https://farmhousesanctuary.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

This is awesome. I just nominated one of our local Spay and Neuter clinics, Southwest Florida Spay and Neuter Services. They are doing amazing things in our community. ------------------------------ Lisa Burn Co-founder/VP Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary Myakka City, FL https://farmhousesanctuary.org ------------------------------ View Discussion

Julie, that is a big deal. We are very much the same a rural small Foster based Rescue. Without a shelter or central location other than my house, and I can only keep so many animals and it's inconvenient to have people just show up and it's loud because I have 10 foster dogs. So it's not a good set up at all for cat adoptions. Like you, we partner with a local pet store. For us it's Petsense by tractor supply and the manager used to manage Petco in Santa Fe but he has a whole lot more control in his current position and it's closer to us. The manager actually lives in our community. I don't know what we would do with all the kittens we had this year as we adopted dozens out through Petsense. And I am glad these retailers are available to you and us. I hope they know what a difference they are making. Congrats on the partnership and the adoption opportunities. It's so different for our small Foster based rescue groups. Keep up the good work. ------------------------------ JUDITH PEARSON President The Dixon Animal Protection Society NM ------------------------------ View Discussion

Hey neighbor, I'm in Rockwall, TX! Preventing that many surprise kittens is a huge win!! ------------------------------ Monica Portillo Capture Volunteer Duck Team 6 TX ------------------------------ View Discussion

We are excited that we were able to get 60 elusive dogs off of the streets into safe, loving homes this year! Duck Team 6 is a small organization in the Dallas area made up of 100% volunteers. Our capture team has about 5 volunteers. The dogs we capture are so elusive that even animal control is unable to catch them. When we receive a request about a scared street dog, we immediately look for a foster and rescue, because we do not take any dogs to shelters. While we look for a foster and rescue, we set out a locked trap, food, and a trail camera to monitor when the dog comes and simultaneously get them conditioned to eating at the back of the trap. Once we find a foster, a rescue, and the dog is eating out of the back of the trap, we set a capture date. On capture day, we unlock the trap and sometimes wait for hours for the dog to come. Once the dog gets in the trap, we take them directly to the foster's house. Sometimes it might take several capture day attempts before we are successful. Most cases from the day of the request to getting into the foster's home takes several weeks and many times, even several months. While 60 captures may seem like a small number, to those 60 dogs their lives have completely changed for the better! Additionally, most of the dogs we capture are intact. So, each one taken off the streets prevents unplanned litters, another win! Attached is one the 60, Elsie! ------------------------------ Monica Portillo Capture Volunteer Duck Team 6 TX ... View Discussion

Hi everyone! I am Ali with Clinic HQ ! This year, we launched the Snippy Awards , a virtual award ceremony celebrating high volume, non-profit clinics. Maddie's Fund has generously sponsored our Frontline In Focus award, and is now open to submissions! Here's the simple part: All you have to do is submit a photo. One photo. No long application. No clinic size requirements. It takes less than five minutes. See eligibility here ! Here's an example: We also have three awards that are sponsored by Clinic HQ that can be won by an Induction Tech, Veterinary Assistant or Veterinary Technician that works at a non-profit clinic . The $ for those individual awards go directly to the employees or volunteers , and we are hoping to give that a little holiday boost to make your support staff feel appreciated for their hard work. Scroll down to the bottom of the nominees page , there is a description for each of those awards + eligibility. Nominate your clinic buddy and they could win $1,000! See the forms for awards here: Induction Tech Veterinary Assistant Veterinary Technician Good luck and cheers! We are truly honored to celebrate the often unsung heroes of HVHQSN. With gratitude, Ali Peterson #CommunityPartnerships* #FundraisingandDevelopment #MarketingandSocialMedia ------------------------------ Ali Peterson Content & Clinic Coordinator Clinic HQ & First Nations ... View Discussion

This probably won't seem like a big deal to many of you in light of the fantastic accomplishments I see in this thread, but as a very small, foster-based rescue, we're pretty thrilled that we finally managed to get enough volunteer coverage to have our kitties in a Petsmart habitat. We accomplished this by partnering with another small local rescue to share the space and the volunteers needed. This has led to an increase in adoptions for us, which we are extremely pleased about, as we have struggled with adoptions because of not having anywhere that people could just come browse and meet several kitties at once. ------------------------------ Julie Sims Kudzu Cat Alliance Cobb County GA ------------------------------ View Discussion

When animal control finds a pet in need of grooming they reach out to our organization and we network with a number of groomers to see which one has space and will give us a discount so we can get pet groomed instead of removed from home just because of low financial issues at this time. On Wed, Dec 17, 2025 at 1:51 PM Debra Leckrone via Maddie's Pet Forum < Mail@maddiesfund.org > wrote: Pet grooming is part of an animal's wellness. We offer pet grooming as part of senior program (PCAP - Pet Care Assistance Program) hsdcohio.org... Animal Welfare Professionals Post New Discussion Post New Discussion via Email Manage Profile Re: Community Conversations - 12/1/2025 - Accessible Pet Grooming Services for Underserved Populations Reply to Discussion Reply to Discussion via Email Reply Privately to Author Reply Privately to Author via Email Dec 17, 2025 10:50 AM Debra Leckrone Pet grooming is part of an animal's wellness. We offer pet grooming as part of senior program (PCAP - Pet Care Assistance Program) hsdcohio.org/senior-pet-care We have another program we started this year (PACT - Pets and Children Together) for low-income families with children under the age of 18. This program also includes pet grooming as a service we provide for these clients hsdcohio.org/pact ... View Discussion

Pet grooming is part of an animal's wellness. We offer pet grooming as part of senior program (PCAP - Pet Care Assistance Program) https://hsdcohio.org/senior-pet-care/ We have another program we started this year (PACT - Pets and Children Together) for low-income families with children under the age of 18. This program also includes pet grooming as a service we provide for these clients https://hsdcohio.org/pact/ Thank you to the speakers for hosting this important subject. ------------------------------ Debra Leckrone ------------------------------ View Discussion

Shelter Animals Count, in partnership with the National Animal Care & Control Association , has released a first-of-its-kind analysis of field services data, offering insights into the work animal control officers carry out every day. Using data from Shelterluv , this report breaks down more than a year of field activities into four core categories – Quality of Life, Public Safety, Welfare, and Other – and highlights how officers respond to the needs of their communities. Findings in the Report Most Calls Are About Everyday Community Concerns Quality-of-Life incidents made up 60% of all activities. These include stray or roaming animals, barking complaints, community service requests, and overpopulation concerns. Stray and at-large animals alone accounted for more than half of these calls, yet only 19% ultimately resulted in shelter intake. A third were resolved through services or education without any legal action – evidence that officers spend much of their time addressing community issues through support rather than enforcement. Public Safety Remains a Central Responsibility Public Safety incidents represented 22% of all activities, and the largest share of these ( 37% ) involved assisting first responders. Reports of stray aggressive animals, including those near school property, made up 29% of activities , with bite-related calls close behind at 22% . Outcomes reflect the unpredictable nature of public safety ... View Discussion

This past week, we had a transport scheduled from our shelter in southeast Alabama to New Jersey. We work with a driver we hire for these once-a-month trips. It's a 30+ hour drive each way, and we typically transport around 15 dogs at a time. These transports are critical to reducing euthanasia and increasing our live release rate. Unfortunately, this trip did not go as planned. The driver left our shelter in the afternoon, and about three hours into the trip, our transport van broke down in the middle of nowhere in Alabama. Our Director immediately stepped in. She drove to a nearby shelter to borrow their van, drove to the location where our van was stranded, transferred the dogs, returned them safely to our shelter and back into kennels, then drove the borrowed van back to the other shelter before finally heading home. She didn't get home until 7:00 AM. Best Friends Animal Society stepped up and paid for us to rent an amazing Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to make the transport later in the week. Our Foster Coordinator and Rescue Coordinator drove all 15 pups to their new homes and many have already been adopted. The van that broke down is a 2017 model, and over the past few months we have spent thousands of dollars attempting to repair it. It has required multiple tows, and this time had to be towed from a very remote area. Thankfully, a community partner was able to tow it back for us, saving us from extremely high towing fees. At this point, we still don't even know what is ... View Discussion

The 2025 holiday season is in full swing, and a big part of that is gift giving! While shopping for toys for little ones can be fun, it can also be stressful because we want to keep our kids and pets safe. Prevent Blindness America has deemed December Safe Toys and Gifts Month as a way to share best practices and things to keep in mind when giving toys and gifts. Here are a few suggestions: First and foremost, make sure the toy is appropriate for the age and skill level of the child receiving it. There is usually information on the packet to help you make that decision. Avoid toys that have little pieces that "shoot out" or are designed to come off. These can be dangerous for kids and pets alike as they are often curious and put things in their mouths. (Parents will probably thank you too!) If you are gifting a scooter or skateboard, think about including a good quality helmet with the gift as well. When buying crayons, markers, or paints look for ones labeled non-toxic. If you want to make certain that a toy is safe, you can look for an "ATSM" label which indicates that the toy passed a safety inspection from the American Society for Testing and Materials standards. Finally, no matter what toys or gifts come into the house, it's always best to supervise your children and pets as much as possible around new items. Would anyone like to share ways that they keep their kids and pets safe around the holidays? References: ... View Discussion