May 9, 2017
Contact:
Sharon Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Communications
925.310.5458
fletcher@maddiesfund.org
Pleasanton, CA, May 09, 2017 -- Maddie's Fund®, a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals, has just launched Maddie's® Pet Assistant (MPA), an app to help foster caregivers and adopters with enhanced support for questions and challenges after bringing a pet into their home, while providing valuable insights to shelters and rescue organizations.
The first-of-its-kind app gives foster caregivers and adopters the opportunity to submit questions, photos and videos and take surveys. Via submitted surveys, the shelter or rescue organization can gather valuable information about how the pet is doing in their foster or adoptive home. If a caregiver reports a concern in a survey, they receive an immediate email response and app notification, crafted by shelter medicine veterinarians and behaviorists, to educate them and help resolve the issue.
Maddie's® Pet Assistant has been in Beta testing during the past year at Nevada Humane Society. "Thanks to Maddie, this tool has helped us significantly increase our level of support for our adopters and foster caregivers - and they're so appreciative of it," said Kiska Icard, Chief Executive Officer at Nevada Humane Society. "Along with enhancing our customer service and adoption experience, we've gained valuable data about pets' behavior and health in a home environment that's leading to more lives saved."
Lars Rabbe, Chief Information Officer, Maddie's Fund, said, "Harnessing the power of technology as a lifesaving tool is incredible. This app will help animal welfare organizations learn how to keep adopted pets in their new homes and foster pets settle into their temporary homes."
This app will make its debut at The Humane Society of the United States Animal Care Expo this week. Shelter and rescue organizations in attendance will have the opportunity to demo the app. "We are excited to launch this innovative tool that will help animals succeed in their journey beyond the shelter, while providing foster caregivers and adopters much-needed support," said Dr. Sheila D'Arpino, Director of Research, Maddie's Fund.
Maddie's Fund has expanded the beta testing to more shelters, and has received significant interest from over 25 organizations eager to use the app. Learn more.
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.