Contact:
Sharon Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Communications
925.310.5458
fletcher@maddiesfund.org
Pleasanton, CA, August 22, 2024 – Twenty-three national animal welfare organizations came together for the 2024 Open Arms Challenge. The goal of the Challenge was to encourage animal shelters, rescue organizations and organizations working to keep people and pets together to pilot new approaches that increase inclusivity for new adopters and volunteers, and provide a welcoming environment for all community members. In total, 107 organizations received a total of $500,000 in grant prizes.
For the month of April 2024, 243 participating organizations across the United States embraced inclusive policies; including but not limited to translation of materials into multiple languages; reducing lengthy adoption applications; creating new partnerships with organizations outside of animal welfare; and removing barriers to adoption, foster and volunteering. These amazing efforts resulted in the adoption of 11,052 dogs and cats, support of 20,973 volunteers and keeping 69,539 animals in their home and/or community during the Challenge period!
"We are honored to be part of this collaborative effort and we are inspired by the innovative ways organizations are keeping pets and people together,” said Nadia Oseguera-Ramon, California Program Manager, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, California for All Animals. "The Open Arms Challenge encourages us all to rethink who is being excluded through policies and processes and find new, culturally responsive ways to engage our communities—whether that means translating materials or actively building trust with Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) community members. Ultimately, this work benefits not just animals and their families, but also the dedicated shelter staff who support them every day.”
"The love of a pet should not be a privilege. As an industry, we need to stop looking for reasons to say ‘no’ and start saying ‘YES!’,” said Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Executive Leadership Team member, Maddie’s Fund®. "It’s amazing what can happen when we believe people when they say their home is ready for a dog or cat instead of combing through it, looking for hazards. We celebrate each and every one of the participating organizations who did just that!”
The changes made to programs and processes varied from organization to organization. For some, it was as straightforward as providing literature in multiple languages or returning voicemails in a timely manner. Others started having open and honest conversations with adopters instead of requiring lengthy, written adoption applications, undertook bias training, or focused on neighborhoods where adoption events were not previously held.
"Michelson Found Animals is proud to support the Open Arms Challenge and congratulates the participating organizations on their impactful work,” said Brett Yates, CEO, Michelson Found Animals. "This initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration in animal welfare. By investing in programs that promote inclusivity and accessibility, we're taking significant strides toward a future where every animal has a loving home.”
Below are just a few of the winners, view the full list to see if your local organization made it!
Overall Effort: $5,000
- Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Alexandria, VA
- Beautiful Hearts Rescue, Shell Lake, WI
- Bitterroot Humane Association, Hamilton, MT
- Buster's Paw Prints, Red Bluff, CA
- Cabot Animal Support Services, Cabot, AR
Processes are equitable and inclusive: $2,000
- Bartholomew County Humane Society, Columbus, IN
- Cat by Cat Inc, East Amherst, NY
- City of Saginaw Animal Services, Saginaw, TX
- City of Santa Rosa Animal Control, Santa Rosa, NM
- Feral Freedom Northern California, San Martin, CA
Customer success is ensured through customer service: 2,000
- Austin Humane Society, Austin, TX
- Darlington County Humane Society, Darlington, SC
- February Star Sanctuary, Knoxville, MD
- Frankie & Andy's, Winder, GA
- Humane Society Elkhart County, Bristol, IN
This Challenge is funded by Adopt a Pet, California for All Animals, Life of Riley, Maddie’s Fund® and Michelson Found Animals Foundation and in collaboration with American Pets Alive!, ASPCA, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, Best Friends Animal Society, BISSELL Pet Foundation, The Community Cats Podcast, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), Cuddly, Greater Good Charities, HeARTS Speak, Humane Society of the United States, JVR Shelter Strategies, Maddie's® Million Pet Challenge, National Animal Care and Control Association, Petco Love, Petfinder Foundation, PetSmart Charities and Shelter Animals Count.
About the quoted Challenge Funding Partners:
About California for All Animals
Through expert-led training, grants, and a network of shelter teams passionate about implementing best practices that serve pets and their people, we’re creating a humane-hearted California powered by kind communities, with deep respect for the diversity of the human and animal experience.
California for All Animals exists to unite and amplify the work of California animal shelters to achieve our shared goal of matching every animal in need with the right outcome through the right care, delivered in the right place and at the right time.
About Michelson Found Animals Foundation
Michelson Found Animals Foundation, a division of Michelson Philanthropies, is a leading animal welfare nonprofit that believes people and pets are better together. Generously funded by Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson, Found Animals operates a range of catalytic grants, impact investments, operating programs, and education an advocacy initiatives that share a common goal: to champion pets at every point they intersect with our society. Found Animals has helped more than 7 million pets since it was founded in 2005. Learn more at foundanimals.org and michelsonphilanthropies.org.
About Maddie's Fund
Maddie's Fund® is a family foundation established in 1994 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield and is the fulfillment of a promise to their inspirational dog, Maddie. She provided them much joy from 1987 – 1997 and continues to inspire them today.
The Foundation has awarded over $265 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, pioneering shelter medicine education and establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S.
Maddie's Fund proudly offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities for bold ideas, learning resources and access to collaborate and share innovative solutions. The Foundation invests its resources in a commitment to keeping pets and people together, creating a safety net of care for animals in need and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility. #ThanksToMaddie.