Foster Friday everyday! Creating a community culture that values pet fostering

November 5, 2024

This post was originally published in 2019.  If you're interested in growing your animal shelter or rescue organization’s foster program, creating a community culture that values fostering is critical.  One of the easiest ways to begin doing this is to bring foster care into the conversation as much as possible in your organization's communications. Talking…

Boost your animal welfare organization’s return-to-owner rates with Animal Care Officers

October 8, 2020

When trying to boost your animal welfare organization's return-to-owner (RTO) rates, Animal Care Officers (ACO) can play big role. Adam Ricci, Vice President of the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), and Director of Operations at Palm Valley Animal Society in Edinburg, TX, shares how animal welfare organization's field officers can help increase RTO…

Supporting Renters With Pets During COVID-19

Abby Volin and Sarah RosenbergOctober 8, 2020

As more renters find themselves on the brink of eviction, the animal welfare field is girding for a deluge of surrenders. But there's still more that can be done to keep people with pets together safely in their homes.

How Saving Sunny integrated animal services into their community

October 1, 2020

Saving Sunny Inc., a dog-based animal welfare organization in Louisville, Kentucky, has been transforming the model of the animal sheltering system since 2010. Their efforts aim to make animal services part of their community's social service, much like the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) initiative strives to do. Co-Founders, Maureen Kennan and Kelsey Westbrook, shared their…

Supporting Both Ends of the Leash

Geraldine D'Silva, Janet Hoy-Gerlach, Aimee St.Arnaud and Derrick PrioleauSeptember 23, 2020

Learn how a private veterinary practice is partnering with human health care and social workers in unique ways to support people and their pets.

#HassInAction: Dallas Animal Services gets creative to provide additional services to their community

September 3, 2020

Dallas Animal Services (DAS), a Tier 1 pilot shelter in the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) coalition, has recently created a few exciting tools that shows HASS in action. In this guest post, Leah Backo, Public Information Coordinator, shares three HASS examples to spark some inspiration for other animal welfare organizations.  Created a COVID-19 pet…

Million Cat Challenge: Going Home

Dr. Sara Pizano, DVMSeptember 3, 2020

Learn how to take your matchmaking game from the adoption floor to the worldwide web.

Maddie Talks: Aha Moments

December 2016

Million Cat Challenge: Foster Greatness

Dr. Sara Pizano, DVMAugust 20, 2020

If you'd like to recruit, train and onboard volunteers quicker, better, faster, then grab your foster coordinators and a seat in this action-packed webinar now.

Million Cat Challenge: Support for Kittens in the Field

Julie Levy, Kristen Hassen-Auerbach, Heather Kennedy and Nick LippincottAugust 13, 2020

Find out what field officers, volunteers and fosters are doing to give kittens the best chance of survival while streamlining operations and expanding safety nets outside shelter walls.

Million Cat Challenge: Kitten Intake in Animal Shelters

Kate Hurley DVM and Hannah Shaw (the Kitten Lady)August 6, 2020

In this session, we discuss new intake philosophies and management models that prioritize kittens' safety, community engagement & keeping feline families together.

7 ways your animal welfare organization can build community programming to keep people and pets together

July 15, 2020

Below is the second post in a series featuring Gateway Pet Guardians and their progressive approach to animal sheltering aimed at keeping people and pets together. In the first post in this series, we shared an overview of how they operate and how they've pivoted since COVID-19 hit. This post focuses on tactical ways your organization…

Why it’s important to empower your community to help lost pets

June 25, 2020

What do people do when they find a lost dog or cat? In the city of Austin, many of them attempt to find the owner themselves. And, it's often done with zero or little intervention on their behalf.   Mark Sloat, Program Manager of Austin Animal Services shared the Found Animal data from October 2019 through March 2020 during a…

Million Cat Challenge: COVID Control Strategies - Maintaining Safety During Re-Opening and Beyond

Linda Jacobson, DVM, Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, Jennifer Murphy and Phil Nichols, RVT, CAWAJune 24, 2020

Re-opening shelters and services brings the risk of COVID-19 resurgence. This webcast will provide a roadmap for reopening that can be customized for shelters and clinics everywhere.

Million Cat Challenge: Flattening the Kitten Curve While Spay/Neuter is on Hold

Dr. Julie Levy, Aimee St. Arnaud, Hannah Shaw (The Kitten Lady) and Marla BrowneApril 15, 2020

Join a panel discussion to hear ideas on what you can do now to flatten the kitty curve while spay/neuter is on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Million Cat Challenge: Create a Road Map for Your Cats

Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVM, Co-founder, Million Cat Challenge and Director, Koret Shelter Medicine Program at UC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineMarch 11, 2020

Life is a highway and the cats are taking over the fast lane. Isn't it time we created a road map?

Power Up Your Fundraising: Donor Management Systems

Maggie Lynch, Director of Development, Austin Pets Alive! and American Pets Alive!April 2020

This presentation covers why adopting a donor management system is important, when you should get one, how to choose a system that fits your organization's needs and what it can do to help your fundraising take off.

How to Get Your Story Told: Effective Engagement with Local Media

Sarah Collica, Director of Marketing and Communications, Austin Pets Alive! and Nikki Reck, Communications Specialist, Pima Animal Care CenterApril 2020

Learn how to cultivate relationships with news sources and tips and tricks from a marketing director and an Emmy-Award winning newscaster.

Adopters Are Out There! Market Your Way Out of Space Crises

Teresa Johnson, CEO/Executive Officer and Chief Lifesaving Officer, Kansas City Pet Project and Cheryl Schneider, Director of Animal Services, Williamson County Regional Animal ShelterApril 2020

Learn how adopters can be your biggest lifesavers when your shelter is experiencing space crises.

Statewide Advocacy

Ryan Clinton, Laura Donahue and Katie JarlApril 2020

Learn from expert advocates as they share their success stories for state-wide efforts to transform to No Kill.

Fundraising for Survival: Lessons for Any Sized Organization, Part 1 of 2

Maggie Lynch, Director of Development, Austin Pets Alive! and American Pets Alive!April 2020

Join fundraising innovator Maggie Lynch and learn how to raise money and how to get scrappy when you need to! (Part 1 of 2)

Fundraising for Survival: Lessons for Any Sized Organization, Part 2 of 2

Maggie Lynch, Director of Development, Austin Pets Alive! and American Pets Alive!April 2020

Join fundraising innovator Maggie Lynch and learn how to raise money and how to get scrappy when you need to! (Part 2 of 2)

Public Safety and Lifesaving ARE Compatible

Marc Peralta, Senior Director, National Mission Advancement, Best Friends Animal Society and Ed Jamison, Director, Dallas Animal ServicesApril 2020

Join Marc Peralta and Edward Jamison to hear about the increases and impact they have seen in public safety, when lifesaving takes priority.

Workshop: Marketing and Branding to Engage Your Community

Kasey Spain and Nikki ReckApril 2020

Learn from shelter branding experts how to identify steps to create and market your No Kill brand to your community.

No Kill Advocacy

Ryan Clinton, Attorney and Founder, FixAustin.orgApril 2020

Learn how animal advocates in Austin, Texas, put no-kill on the City's public-policy agenda, and how you can do the same for your community.

Leading Through Relationships: Friends Who Can Effect Change

Laura Donahue, Tawny Hammond and Katie JarlApril 2020

Learn how to put No Kill on your community's public policy agenda.

50 Ways to Keep Pets Out of the Shelter (or maybe 100)

Michael Greenberg, DVM, Director of Outreach Programs, Maddie's Fund^® and Lisa Ward, Director of Education, Maddie's FundApril 2020

Learn some amazing ways shelters have come up with to serve the people and pets in their communities in ways other than simply taking them into the shelter

The easiest way to see how your community is doing when comes to pet lifesaving

August 6, 2019

Do you know how your community is doing when it comes to lifesaving? How about your state or region? Best Friends Animal Society revealed its informative lifesaving dashboard at this year's national conference. Data was collected directly from shelters, state and local coalitions, government websites, and FOIA requests. It's their (and our) hope that this…

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks: The Changing Roles of Animal Welfare Organizations

Jim Tedford, President & CEO, The Association of Animal Welfare AdvancementJuly 2019

Hear from a 35-year veteran of the industry how animal welfare organizations can fulfill their missions outside the shelter. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Developing A Shelter Emergency Operation Plan

Tim Perciful, Disaster Response Manager, Field Investigations & Response, ASPCAJuly 2019

This workshop discusses the importance of developing an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for your agency. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

How to Get Things Done with the NYS Legislature! The Good, the Bad & the Money!!

Libby Post, Executive Director, NYS Animal Protection FederationJuly 2019

Join the New York State Animal Protection Federation's Executive Director, Libby Post for the answers to these questions and more. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Cash and Counting: The Importance of Data in Grantmaking

Jodi Buckman, ASPCA and Shelly Thompson, Maddie's FundJuly 2019

In this session you'll hear from two grant makers, Maddie's Fund^® and the ASPCA, about the importance of data in grant evaluation and funding decisions. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Win-Win: Building Shelter & Private Veterinarian Collaborations

Katie Broaddus, DVM, CAWA, Chief Operations Officer, Austin Humane SocietyJuly 2019

This workshop helps viewers better understand and address the perspectives of shelters and private practice veterinarians. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Basic Principles of Managing a Large-Scale Animal Emergency or Disaster

Dick Green, Senior Director of Field Investigations & Response, ASPCAJuly 2019

This workshop discusses the basic principles of incident management and why having everyone speak the same language and be under the same incident command structure saves lives. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

Overview of ASPCA Field Investigations & Response and the Nuts and Bolts of Animals in Distress-Disasters

Dick Green, Senior Director of Field Investigations & Response, ASPCAJuly 2019

This workshop provides a brief history of the ASPCA Field Investigations & Response Team (FIR) and discusses the history of animal rescue and how an emergency becomes a disaster. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's^® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

An Introduction to Maddie's^® Pet Project in Nevada Leadership Conference and Campaign Update

Diane Blankenburg, Co-Executive Director, Maddie's^® Pet Project in Nevada CEO, Humane NetworkMay 2019

At Maddie's^® Pet Project in Nevada, Diane Blankenburg, Co-executive Director, welcomes conference attendees and shows inspiring highlights.

Turbocharging Pet Adoptions

Sue Cosby, Senior Director, Best Friends Animal SocietyMay 2019

When it comes to our adoption process, we want to keep our animals safe and we want our adopters to tell their friends about the wonderful experience they had growing their family at our shelter. How do we know this is really working?

Cultivating a Fostering Community

Kelly Duer, Foster Care Specialist, Maddie's Fund^®May 2019

In this presentation, you'll learn how to create a culture of fostering in your community and recruit the foster caregivers you need.

Compassionate Lifesaving: Taking Care of You and Your Team to Save More Animals, Part 2 of 2

Linda Harper and Faith MaloneyMay 2019

In this session (Par 2 of 2), you will discover proactive tools to help you and your team face the challenges and restore the joy in your animal-helping organization.

Creating Clark County Successes: How We Are Doing It - panel discussion

Carol Fox, Dr. David Henderson, Ann Inabnitt, Joe Macias, Chris Robinson and Carly ScholtenMay 2019

In this presentation, animal lifesaving experts in Clark County, Nevada answer questions about their success in saving animals and serving their communities.

A Playbook Approach to Saving Lives in Animal Shelters

Dr. Sara PizanoWednesday, May 15, 2019

In this webcast. Dr. Sara Pizano will walk you through the steps each shelter, whether public or private and regardless of resources, can take to help and save more cats and dogs.

The First 72 Hours: A Model Intake and Animal Flow Process for Disease Prevention

Faith Wright, Ellen Jefferson DVM, Jordana Moerbe, Paula Medrano and Amelia NusbaumMarch 2019

Join American Pets Alive! staff as they discuss an intake and animal flow process designed to help you prevent outbreaks and ensure live outcomes.

Animal Protection Officers: Using a Community-based Approach to Measurably Reduce Intake in the Field

Mark Sloat, Program Manager, Austin Animal Center and April Moore, Engagement Manager, Austin Animal CenterMarch 2019

This session will teach approaches that value the human-animal bond, redefine 'animals in need,' and engage community members, shelter staff, and volunteers to solve problems together.

Bottle Baby 101 (Part 1 of 2)

Casandra Mensing, Neonatal Ward Manager, Austin Pets Alive!March 2019

This presentation will teach you how to start a volunteer-run bottle baby nursery and how to build it to become to be one of the most engaging and lifesaving programs in your community.

Cat Medical Care on a Shoestring Budget

Monica Frenden, Maddie's^® Director of Feline Lifesaving, American Pets Alive! and Dr. Alexis Bardzinski, Medical Director, Austin Pets Alive!March 2019

In this session, you will have the chance to learn how to save cats with medical conditions on a tight budget from national leading cat experts.

Distemper is Not a Death Sentence

Dr. Nipuni Ratnayaka, Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Jordana MoerbeMarch 2019

Join this session to learn about the process that Austin Pets Alive! developed to combat distemper without hoarding or culling them.

Saving All the Cats: Live Outcome Options for All Healthy, Outdoor Cats

Adrienne Clark, Monica Frenden, Christi Metropole and Wendy BeaupreMarch 2019

Learn how to start a barn program from scratch, including selecting cats, finding quality homes, relocation procedures, and safe handling and sheltering practices.

Solutions for the Top Five Reasons Dogs are Dying in Shelters

Mike Kaviani, Director, Orange County Animal Care and Aaron Caldwell, Dog Behavior Co-Manager, Austin Pets Alive!March 2019

The presentation will provide you with practical and manageable solutions for the top five reasons dogs are dying and being killed in shelters today.

Analyzing Length of Stay: Make Your Animals Ready and Move Them Fast

Teresa Johnson, CEO/Executive Officer and Chief Lifesaving Officer, Kansas City Pet Project and Michele Figueroa, Operations Manager, Pima Animal Care CenterMarch 2019

Time wasted means animal lives lost, leave this session with a plan to move animals through your shelter more quickly.

Why Are Big Dogs So Hard to Save? Identifying and Maintaining Adequate Capacity

Ellen Jefferson, DVM Executive Director, Austin Pets Alive!March 2019

Learn about the essential programs, best practices, and core philosophies needed to start saving big dogs in your communities.

Save Lives in Space Crises

Michele Figueroa, Christi Metropole and Faith WrightMarch 2019

Learn how to not end lives due to temporary space shortages by pulling other levers that will decrease the pressure that you feel.

Saving Dogs with Behavioral Challenges

Aaron Caldwell, Dog Behavior Co-Manager, Austin Pets Alive! and Mike Kaviani, Director, OC Animal CareMarch 2019

Viewers will learn about cutting edge ways to solve non-shelter created behavior problems in shelter dogs.

Scrutinize and Market the Euthanasia List

Clare Callison, Canine Lifesaving Advisor, Maddie's^® Lifesaving AcademyMarch 2019

This talk explores why it's important to understand exactly which animals are dying in your municipal shelter and how to let people help you get them out alive.

The Modern Municipal Animal Agency

Sarah Aguilar, April Moore, Lee Ann Shenefiel and Mark SloatMarch 2019

Learn how modern shelters develop targeted neighborhood programs that serve the larger community's desire to be no-kill while serving the public safety needs of specific areas.

Building No-kill Culture Throughout Your Organization - panel

Shelly Thompson, Rebecca Guinn, Tawny Hammond, Marc Peralta and Makena Yarbrough, March 2019

In this panel discussion, animal welfare leaders discuss how to instill a positive, no-kill culture in our shelters, rescues, and service centers.

Contagious Diseases: Euthanasia is Not the Answer

Alexis Bardzinski, DVM Medical Director, Austin Pets Alive! and Jennifer Wilcox, DVM Director of Vet Services, Pima Animal Care CenterMarch 2019

In this session, two veterinary experts will discuss how to handle disease outbreaks medically, handle the PR, and handle the operations that must continue.

Dog Medical Care on a Shoestring Budget

Alexis Bardzinski, Medical Director, Austin Pets Alive! and Jennifer Wilcox, DVM Director of Vet Services, Pima Animal Care CenterMarch 2019

How to spend the least amount of money as possible so that your medical resources can be spread among all those pets that need you.

How to Run A Sustainable, Low Budget, No Kill Municipal Shelter

Cheryl Schneider, Director of Animal Services, Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter and Lindsey Huffman, Director of Lifesaving Programs, Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCAMarch 2019

Successful shelter leaders share their knowledge on how to run a no-kill organization even when you have a very limited budget.

Momentum in Texas Sheltering Communities

Michael Bricker, Jay Garrett, Jr., Steven Greene, Paula Powell, Ed Jamison and Dr. Michael WhiteMarch 2019

Learn from animal welfare experts about how Texas is getting to no-kill status.

Shelter Data: How to Get It, Use It and Read It

Rory Adams, Executive Director, Tucson Pets Alive!March 2019

This is an in-depth presentation on shelter data: how to get it, read it, and use it to influence change.

Social Science: Informed Animal Welfare

Katy Loughney, Economic Impact Advisor, University of Denver's Institute for Human-Animal ConnectionMarch 2019

This talk covers research aimed at connecting animal welfare policies and programs to human and community health.

State Level No-kill Advocacy

Debra Griggs, Deborah Schutt and Davyd SmithMarch 2019

This discussion revolves around states in the U.S. that have had state-wide efforts to transform to no-kill.

Combatting Anti-No Kill Extremism

Debra Griggs, President, Virginia Federation of Humane Societies, and Davyd Smith, President, No Kill ColoradoMarch 2019

Watch this presentation to learn what anti no-kill extremism looks like and how to cope with it.

Demystifying No-kill Laws: The Nuts and Bolts of Ordinances

Ryan Clinton, Attorney and Founder, FixAustin.orgMarch 2019

Viewers will learn the nuts and bolts of various animal welfare ordinances, including stray holds, caretakers, and Austin's No Kill plan.

Effective Negotiation Skills and Techniques to Achieve Lifesaving

Saskia Boisot, MD, Founder of the No Kill Shelter Alliance and Co-Founder of Save More Kill Less, and Paula Powell, Director of Animal Services, El Paso Animal ServicesMarch 2019

Know when to stand your ground, when to compromise, and most importantly, how to communicate effectively so that people want to help you achieve your goals.

Know the Law: Liability in Shelters and Rescues

Ryan Clinton, Attorney and Founder, FixAustin.orgMarch 2019

Learn how shelters and rescue groups can implement strategies to limit their liability for saving lives.

Lifesaving in the Deep South

Karen Sheppard, DVM, Director, Huntsville Animal Services, and Ginny Sims, Executive Director, Southern Pines Animal ShelterMarch 2019

Hear the heartwarming and touching tales from two incredible leaders who have transformed seemingly impossible parts of the U.S. into true lifesaving communities.

No-kill Political Advocacy: How to Gain and Keep Political Support

Ryan Clinton, Attorney, Founder, FixAustin.orgMarch 2019

Learn how animal advocates in Austin, Texas put No Kill on the city's public policy agenda and how you can do the same in your community.

Save Rate: Upward Bound - Exceed the 50% Benchmark - panel

Marc Peralta, Sgt. Karl Bailey, Michele Figueroa, Teresa Johnson, Jose Ocano and Cheryl SchneiderMarch 1, 2019

This lively panel discussion will shed light on the experiences of the expert leaders who brought their communities past a 50% live release rate.

Save Rate: Exceed the 80% Benchmark - panel

Makena Yarbrough, Rebecca Guinn, Tawny Hammond, Ed Jamison and Paula PowellMarch 2019

Attendees will learn about the experiences of people who successfully broached 80% and beyond save rates.

Blueprint to a Successful No-kill Journey

Ellen Jefferson, DVM, Executive Director of Austin Pets Alive! and American Pets Alive!March 2019

Join Dr. Ellen Jefferson as she guides you step-by-step through what are considered Best Practice metrics in outcomes, intakes, and the 12 programmatic ingredients of lifesaving.

Enlightened Leadership: Daily Decisions and Beyond

Kristen Auerbach, Rebecca Guinn, Tawny Hammond, Paula Powell and Cheryl SchneiderMarch 2019

Join us in this panel discussion as some of the most integral no-kill leaders share what it means to them to lead with a no-kill philosophy.

Keynote: The Transparent Shelter, Building Trust with Your Community

Kristen Auerbach, Director of Pima Animal Care CenterMarch 2019

In this session, no-kill leader, Kristen Auerbach, will tackle two separate but important topics in order for you to be one with your community.

Key Performance Indicators: Resources, Responsibility and Results

Ellen Jefferson, DVM and David MeyerMarch 2019

In this fundamental session, join Dr. Ellen Jefferson and David Meyer as they explain how to prioritize goals and benchmark against them all along the way so that you can achieve success.

Build Team Resilience - panel

Rebecca Guinn and Ed JamisonMarch 2019

Join this presentation and get the insider tips on how to cultivate a team of resilience and how to build strong teams that will rally around you.

Every Life Matters: Using Past Data to Plan Better Outcomes

Monica Frenden, Maddie's Director of Feline Lifesaving, Austin Pets Alive!March 2019

Data is a key piece of the lifesaving puzzle, but how do we use it to save the lives of the animals in our care?

Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2

Maggie Lynch, Development Director, Austin Pets Alive!March 2019

What do you need to raise funds effectively as you grow your organization?

Get Them on Your Team: Engaging and Leveraging Activists to Reach Your Goals

Ellen Jefferson, DVM, Executive Director, Austin Pets Alive! and Kristen Auerbach, Executive Director, Pima Animal Care CenterMarch 2019

This session will teach you skills to help you view activists as partners and to inspire them to work with you, not against you.

How to Be the Boss of Your Organization's Save Rate

Paula Powell, Director, El Paso Animal Services and Lee Ann Shenefiel, South Central Regional Director, Best Friends SocietyMarch 2019

In this session, you will learn what the Shelter Director's role is in stopping unnecessary death in the shelter, how to do it, and how to be successful.

Leading with Resilience in Extreme Crisis

Ellen Jefferson, DVM, Kristen Auerbach, Mike Kaviani and Lars RabbeMarch 2019

Join an impressive group of experts, who together will teach you the tools needed to save lives even when the deck is stacked against you.

Maddie's^® Lifesaving Academy: How Austin is Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders

Lisa Ward, Director of Education, Maddie's Fund and Jessica Powers, Maddie's Director of Education, American Pets Alive!March 2019

Success stories from students of Maddie's^® Lifesaving Academy and how apprenticeships are helping shape tomorrow's animal welfare leaders.

Access to Veterinary Care: A National Family Crisis

Dr. Michael Blackwell and Dr. Susan KrebsbachThursday, February 21, 2019

The lack of access to care is the most significant animal welfare crisis affecting owned pets in the United States. Learn more about this important issue in this webcast.

Maddie Talk: Cat Town, Oakland CA

January 17, 2019

Unleashing the People Potential: How to Develop an Extraordinary Volunteer Culture for Winning Organizations

Gina Knepp and Bobby MannOctober 2018

Learn how a small municipal shelter attracted over 2,000 volunteers who give over 100,000 hours of service annually.

How to Help People Resolve Some Common Behavior Problems and Keep Their Pets

Kelley Bollen, MS, CABC, Owner and Executive Director, Kelley Bollen ConsultingOctober 2018

This talk reviews the most common behavior problems in dogs and cats and provides practical advice that can be shared with the pet owner to help keep pets in their homes.

Saving More Lives with Best Practices

Cynthia Delany, DVM, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program; Supervising Shelter Veterinarian - Yolo County Animal Services; Executive Director - California Animal Shelter Friends, Inc.October 2018

This talk discuss how you can save more animals while emphasizing welfare (both for the animals, yourself and your staff) by following best practices.

Creating a Culture of Philanthropy

Jill Beckwith, Chief Philanthropy Officer, EmancipetDecember 2018

This presentation discusses the importance of creating an organization-wide culture of philanthropy that extends beyond the development team

Evolution of the Animal Welfare Movement

Jim Tedford, President and CEO, The Association for Animal Welfare AdvancementDecember 2018

In this presentation, you will hear thoughts on how animal welfare is changing, from a veteran in animal welfare.

Effective Communication for Staff and Volunteers, Part 1

Susan Britt, Senior Director of Shelter Training, Interim Director of Operations, ASPCA December 2018

This workshop covers techniques to keep a conversation productive and respectful.

What's Next? Improving Welfare in Your Community with Limited Resources

Carolyn R. Brown and Jocelyn KesslerDecember 2018

This workshop helps you to identify the needs of your community and discover how to maximize your resources and incorporate affordable and accessible preventive and basic veterinary care into your organization.

Million Cat Challenge: Believe in Saving Lives

Karen SheppardThursday, October 11, 2018

How changing communication approaches, implementing strong programs, and the power of belief all came together to save cats' lives in Huntsville's municipal shelter.

Essentials of Saving Big Dogs

Kristen Auerbach, Mike Kaviani, Clare CallisonMarch 2018

Experts present the essential programs, best practices, and core philosophies needed to start saving the big dogs in your communities. Think of this presentation as the key ingredients needed to move towards and achieve 90% for your community's dogs.

Every Day, Every Dog - Let Them Play! The Impact of Play Groups

Aimee SadlerMarch 2018

It's more than just fun and games; play groups save lives! Aimee Sadler, Founder and CEO shares case studies and evidence that playgroups improve the quality of life of dogs and their caretakers.

How Austin Did It - Roadmap to Saving More Lives

Ellen Jefferson, DVM, Ryan Clinton, Lee Ann ShenefielMarch 2018

This presentation is designed to give you context about the obstacles, the challenges, the successes and the strategies that made Austin, TX the largest No Kill (counting all animals entering the shelter) City in America.

Maddie's Idea Lab: Saving Lives and Spreading Good Ideas

Sheila Segurson D'Arpino, DVM, DACVBMarch 2018

Maddie's^® Idea Lab supports the implementation and assessment of innovative ideas that have a high likelihood of advancing lifesaving of dogs and cats, the utilization of foster care for dogs and cats or animal welfare leadership. Come to this lecture to find out what we've learned and how these ideas are saving lives.

Strategic Planning To No Kill - No Duplication Of Effort In Your Community Is Key

Ellen Jefferson, DVM, Brent ToellnerMarch 2018

This session is a step-by-step tutorial on focusing your work so that it is additive, not duplicative, or worse yet, inconsequential. We show you exactly how!

Venturing Past 90: Who are the Last 10% of Dogs and How Do You Save Them?

Mike Kaviani and Marian CannellMarch 2018

What should your shelter/community expect when you're ready to push past 90%? Come learn about "the last 10 percent", and the programs that are saving the dogs that have historically been deemed unsaveable.

Return-to-Field from an Animal Control Officer's Perspective

Tim ReederAugust 2017

What is the Role of a Veterinarian in Animal Shelters? Editorial

Richard Avanzino2017

Shelter veterinarians need to do far more than spay/neuter.

Savings Lives with No Budget and Partnering to Spread No-Kill: The Kirby Animal Shelter Story

Christie BanduchJanuary 2017

Learn how a shelter in Kirby, Texas went from a 6% live release rate to over 90%.

Getting to No Kill: How Austin Did It

Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Ryan ClintonJanuary 2017

Hear the presenters review the decisions that were made, the communication used, the committees that were formed, the work that was divided up and the strategy that brought the City of Austin to no-kill.

Advancing the No-Kill Movement through State and Local Politics

Brenda CollierJanuary 2017

Learn how you can make a difference by advancing the No-Kill movement in your area through local and state politics.

Breed Restrictions in Housing - Panel Discussion

Tawney Hamond, Scott Giacoppo, Lindsey OrtizJanuary 2017

The panel covers how breed restrictions impact "pitbull" terriers and what can be done to remove or bypass the restrictions.

Let's Keep Community Cats in the Community Where They Belong

Alice Burton and Scott GiacoppoJanuary 2017

This workshop will help you reduce your intake and euthanasia numbers while helping you focus on increasing your adoption and live release rate.

Innovative Fostering: Saving More Dogs with Behavioral Challenges

Kristen AuerbachAugust 2016

Has your shelter struggled to achieve live outcomes for dogs who display common behavioral challenges like kennel stress, barrier reactivity and fear-based aggression? Learn how you could turn that around and save more dogs lives.

Community Pet Adoption Survey Results - Pet Owner Rehoming

August 2016

Game-changing ‘pet retention’ and ‘safety net’ programs to keep pets in homes are gaining tremendous traction; however, pet relinquishment is still a very common occurrence in our nation’s shelters. In the instances where staying in a home is not possible, to what extent are pet guardians part of the rehoming process? What strategies are being employed to find a new home without having the pet step foot in the shelter? In this survey report, we examined beliefs around ‘pet owner rehoming,’ the extent to which guardians are empowered to find resolutions on their own, and the types of tools organizations provide to support the rehoming process.

No-Kill Strategies: Community and Shelter Policies that Work

July 2016

Hear about successful community building policies that resulted in 90% save rates.

Moving Forward: Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Vincent MedleyJuly 2016

Knowing the talents of individual team members is key to setting them up for success. When a staff member is successful, their programs are usually successful.

Maddie Talks: Aha Moments - Inspirational Speakers Getting it Done

May 2016

Getting the Most Out of Shelter Medicine

Dr. Cristie Kamiya and Carol NovelloDecember 2015

Shelter veterinarians are a powerful source of experience, knowledge, training and insight that can guide animal shelters to improvements in every area of animal care. This webcast will take a comprehensive look at the benefits of giving a veterinarian a policy-making role in shelter operations.

Getting It Done: How to Bust Myths about Community Cats with Science

Peter WolfOctober 2015

How can cat advocates cut through the misleading press releases and propaganda to combat proposed laws that seek to end lifesaving neuter-return programs and other cat-friendly efforts? With science, data and facts!

Getting to No-Kill, Different Communities, Different Models NKLA: Los Angeles, California

Brenda Barnette, Francis Battista, Aimee Gilbreath, Marc PeraltaJuly 17, 2015

What is the "secret sauce” that created No-kill Los Angeles’ rapid success? Come learn how Best Friends’ NKLA initiative formed public/private partnerships, created a strong coalition, and broke through misconceptions to save many more lives in L.A.

Getting to No-Kill, Different Communities, Different Models - Austin, Texas

Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Tawney HammondJuly 17, 2015

As the largest no-kill city in the country, Austin Texas, knows how to turn things around. Find out how they did it!

How to Win Friends and Influence Lifesaving through Coalitions and Alliances

Barbara Brown, Francis Battista and Arlyn BradshawJuly 17, 2015

Learn how to leverage allied and rival organizations toward a common goal. You can accomplish great things with the strength of active, united coalitions, find out how in this presentation!

Community Pet Adoption Partnerships Survey Results: Stray Kitten Scenario

June 2015

During the Summer of 2014, Maddie’s Institute^® conducted a survey to assess strategies that may prevent animals from entering shelter facilities. One such strategy involves asking community members who bring in kittens to care for them until organizational resources are available or they are old enough to be placed for adoption.  This report addresses the extent to which organizations encourage community member care, the frequency of community members who elect to provide care, how organizational resources link to involvement and more.

Managed Admission: Giving Shelter Cats Their Best Chance at a Great Outcome

Barbara Carr and Kathie JohnsonApril 2015

Not every cat who is presented to a shelter for relinquishment is in need of immediate admission. In many cases, simply knowing that help is available and the shelter can take the cat in the near future is enough to allow the community member to opt for an appointment down the road, when his or her cat can be better cared-for by the shelter. In some cases, supportive management may buy the owner enough breathing room that the cat ends up being able to remain in the current home after all.

Alternatives to Intake: When the Shelter Isn't the Answer

Wiley Stem, IIIApril 2015

What if your city wanted to stop euthanizing community cats in the shelter, and decided to try something bold? And what if all the animal control officers, rescue groups and community members came together to make it work?

Revolution Relay: Passing the Baton to the Next Generation of Advocates

Becky RobinsonFebruary 2015

As Alley Cat Allies celebrates its 25th anniversary, Ms. Robinson reflects on the past quarter of a century. Where we were, what we have accomplished and what is yet to be achieved by the next generation! Come celebrate the rescued animals and advocacy accomplishments of the past while we also set our sights on the future.

No-Kill Political Advocacy

Ryan ClintonFebruary 2015

Learn how animal advocates in Austin, Texas, put no-kill on the City's public-policy agenda, and how you can do the same for your community.  Topics include writing press releases, strategies for communicating with public officials, learning how to handle opposition and spreading your lifesaving message.

Achieving and Sustaining No-kill in a Medium-sized, Open Admission Shelter

Cheryl SchneiderFebruary 2015

Learn how Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter in Texas, an open admission shelter, started on their path to no-kill and how they continue to achieve a high save rate every month.

Companion Animal Legislation

Ryan ClintonFebruary 2015

Passing well-crafted legislation can be a key way to change the world for companion animals.  This session covers municipal and state-focused legislative topics including rescue-access laws, city No Kill mandates, banning the gas chambers and regulating puppy mills.

Holding Out for a Hero

Becky Robinson and Kayla ChristianoFebruary 2015

The movement to save cats has been gaining steam for 25 years and while TNR and other no-kill initiatives are in the news every day, it can still feel like your community isn’t changing at all. You’re angry and frustrated that your local shelter or animal control impounds and kills healthy animals and you wish someone would step in and fix it. After all, you’re only one person, right?

The Little Shelter that Could...and DID!

Sgt. Karl BaileyFebruary 2015

Discover how Sgt. Karl Bailey, with a small staff and a group of committed volunteers, changed a high kill city shelter to no-kill in just 120 seconds - and with a budget of less than $30,000 per year!

Beyond Labels: Advocating for all Dogs, with the Love-A-Bull Team - Part 1

Leala Ward-VinsonFebruary 2015

Take a look into the ways that advocacy on individual and community levels can have a positive impact on treating all dogs equally, eliminating breed-related stigmas, abolishing outdated policies and improving the chances for targeted breeds to find homes and their families access to resources.

Beyond Labels: Advocating for all Dogs, with the Love-A-Bull Team - Part 2

Megan RansomFebruary 2015

Take a look into the ways that advocacy on individual and community levels can have a positive impact on treating all dogs equally, eliminating breed-related stigmas, abolishing outdated policies and improving the chances for targeted breeds to find homes and their families access to resources.

Beyond Labels: Advocating for all Dogs, with the Love-A-Bull Team - Part 3

Lindsey OrtizFebruary 2015

Take a look into the ways that advocacy on individual and community levels can have a positive impact on treating all dogs equally, eliminating breed-related stigmas, abolishing outdated policies and improving the chances for targeted breeds to find homes and their families access to resources.

Taking Different Paths to No-Kill

Michael and Pam KitkoskiFebruary 2015

Learn how Rockwall Pets has taken two municipal open-admission shelters to no-kill status in Rockwall County, TX. Each shelter required a different tactic. There's more than one way to get it done!

No-Kill Kansas City

Brent ToellnerFebruary 2015

In 2011, the city of Kansas City, MO put out an RFP for private organizations to run the city shelter; a shelter with a long history of being a high-kill shelter. When the deadline for bids passed, there were no bidders to take on the project. So a small group of advocates used the city's 3-week extension to build a business plan to successfully bid on, and take over, the city shelter contract.

The Bastrop Experience: The Road to Saving More Lives

Erica Thompson and Amanda SmithFebruary 2015

After a rough first year in 2012, the mostly rural Bastrop County Animal Services in Texas was well on the path to significantly increase their save-rate. Take a look at how they did it.

The Law & Liability for Shelters & Rescues

Ryan ClintonFebruary 2015

Learn how shelters and rescue groups can implement strategies to limit their liability for saving lives.

Creating and Sustaining a Dog Foster Network

Ann LindholmFebruary 2015

With a viable foster program it's possible to begin transforming your community to no-kill, even if you don't have a shelter. Learn how a one person position grew into a dog foster team of more than 35 volunteers. This team supports a network of over 1,000 approved foster parents.

Foster Faster: Growing Your Dog Foster Program

Faith WrightFebruary 2015

Learn how to expand your foster program to save the even harder to place big dogs, often considered "the last 10%".

Rescuing Dogs from the Euthanasia List

Palmer NeuhausFebruary 2015

Fifty percent of the dogs in Austin, Texas were dying in 2008 when Austin Pets Alive! began saving lives. The rescue team had merely one- to two-hours to go through the euthanasia list, choose animals and save them before their time was up. Learn how the rescue team evaluated and chose dogs.

Saving All the Little Dogs: Small Dog Behavior Issues

Faith Wright and Deaven WilsonFebruary 2015

Do you know how many small breed dogs are euthanized in your community shelter?  In Austin, Texas in 2008, it was many more than would have been expected (roughly 500).   Do you know that nearly ALL of them can be saved and although many are marked "aggressive", they rarely are?

Saving Parvo Positive Pups

Katie Kresek and Alexis Bardzinksi, DVMFebruary 2015

Parvovirus is a major killer of dogs and puppies in shelters.  Austin Pets Alive! built the first parvo ward that actively takes parvo-positive dogs from the community and other shelters for treatment and then placement.

Medical Treatment for Cats on a Shoestring Budget

Ellen Jefferson, DVM, and Jordana MoerbeFebruary 2015

Austin Pets Alive! Medical Clinic treats thousands of cats a year, many who are straight off of the euthanasia list because of medical conditions such as feline leukemia, FIV, renal disease, hepatic lipidosis, skin problems, viral diseases, and trauma. They save them all and this session is about how they do it.

Creating and Growing a Successful Cat Foster Program

Ashley FerryFebruary 2015

Fosters often mean the difference between life and death for cats in the shelter. They are essential in addressing overcrowding issues, shelter behavior problems and providing personalized care for medical conditions.

Rescuing Cats from the Euthanasia List

Frances Flower, PhDFebruary 2015

Learn how to create a sustainable rescue program that relies solely on volunteers to assess cats on the euthanasia list and save the most lives it can that are out of other options for a live outcome. 

How to Create a Successful Barn Cat Program

Monica FrendenFebruary 2015

Often overlooked for rescue, feral and fractious cats can be saved through a progressive Barn Placement Program and given a new lease on life as working cats. Learn how to start a barn program from scratch.

How to Start and Grow a Large Bottle Baby Program in Your Community, Part 1

Casandra MensingFebruary 2015

In this is a two-part presentation, you’ll learn how to start and build a bottle baby nursery, plus how to create a foster network for neonates. In Part 1, Casandra Mensing will share her experience running APA!’s Nursery, from its meager beginnings to the groundbreaking phenomenon that it is today.

Taking Troubled Tabbies from Naughty to Nice

Sara Cookson and Kristin Hill February 2015

Every rescue encounters troubled cats with issues that go beyond tortitude. The Austin Pet's Alive! Cat Behavior Team will teach you how to prevent behavior problems before they start.

Cat Adoptions 2.0 High Volume Cat Adoptions

Monica FrendenFebruary 2015

Too many cats, not enough adopters? Supersize your cat adoption program! In this Level 2 seminar, you'll learn how to manage a population of hundreds of cats in varying stages of your organization.

Volunteer 1.0: Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement

Gerri KapplerFebruary 2015

Austin Pets Alive! is well known for its huge volunteer force (over 2,000 hours per week). But in 2008 APA! started with no funds for staff and relied solely on volunteers to do everything related to saving lives and building a huge organization. How did they do it? 

Introducing the Million Cat Challenge - Webcast

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM and Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVMJanuary 2015

Every cat counts. That's the premise of the Million Cat Challenge, a joint campaign of the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program and the Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida.

Secrets to Pet Foster Program Success

Sherri Franklin, Laurie Routhier, Marie Macaspac November 2014

What if your shelter or rescue group had a long list of people wanting to foster pets for you? What if you had a great system in place to recruit, train, reward and manage those foster homes? What if you had a whole army of people to help get those pets ready for adoption?

Shelter Medicine Changes Everything

October 2014

In this short documentary film, Maddie's Fund takes a look at how shelter medicine arrived at this moment in time, the role Maddie's Fund played in that journey, and what the future holds for shelters, shelter veterinarians, and the animals whose lives are in their care.

Treating the Treatables: Saving Lives Through Medical Protocols, Foster Care and Proactive Thinking

Elizabeth Berliner, DVM, MA, DABVP (Canine/Feline Practice)September 2014

Does your shelter or rescue group have medical protocols in place to care for your pets and for your fostered dogs and cats? Foster programs are critical if we want to help more pets who are facing treatable medical conditions, and to expand the capacity of a community to care for its homeless pets.

Everybody Wins: Learn How to Change the Way Animal Groups and Veterinarians Work Together

Christie KeithAugust 2014

Have the words "veterinarians are only in it for the money" crossed your mind or lips? If you volunteer or work for an animal rescue group, have you ever passed up pulling a treatable pet from a shelter because you weren't sure you could find affordable treatment? If you run a shelter, have you ever wondered why local veterinarians don't want to participate in your programs?

Critical Care of the Sick Neonatal Kitten

Elizabeth J. Thomovsky, MS, DVM, DACVECC March 2014

Neonatal kittens' lives are fragile under the best of circumstances, and that fragility increases when they are orphaned or sick. How can shelter veterinarians, and those working with kitten nursery programs or rescue groups, provide the best care for this population?

Community Solutions for Community Cats, Part 1

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM and Shaye Olmstead October 2013

Operation Catnip's proactive "litter prevention" program performs 3,000 trap-neuter-return (TNR) surgeries each year for community cats using monthly high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics capable of sterilizing more than 200 cats in a single day. This program was instrumental in reducing cat euthanasia at the local shelter from 81% to 42% over 13 years. In 2012, the program was expanded to include a reactive "shelter-neuter-return" program targeting the cats most at risk of immediate euthanasia: adult impounded strays. By neutering and returning these shelter cats to their neighborhoods, cat euthanasia plummeted to 13% in 2012, making Alachua County the safest place to be a cat in Florida.

Community Solutions for Community Cats, Part 2

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM and Shaye Olmstead October 2013

Operation Catnip's proactive "litter prevention" program performs 3,000 trap-neuter-return (TNR) surgeries each year for community cats using monthly high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics capable of sterilizing more than 200 cats in a single day. This program was instrumental in reducing cat euthanasia at the local shelter from 81% to 42% over 13 years. In 2012, the program was expanded to include a reactive "shelter-neuter-return" program targeting the cats most at risk of immediate euthanasia: adult impounded strays. By neutering and returning these shelter cats to their neighborhoods, cat euthanasia plummeted to 13% in 2012, making Alachua County the safest place to be a cat in Florida.

Face-to-Face with Feral Freedom: Saving Community Cats

Rick DuCharmeOctober 2013

Feral Freedom is an innovative program that has decreased feline shelter euthanasia between 25% and 50% in every shelter in which it has been fully implemented. This talk, given by Rick DuCharme, Founder and Executive Director of First Coast No More Homeless Pets, presents an overview of the Feral Freedom program.

Outstanding Animal Control Programs: Moving Toward No-Kill

Scott Trebatoski, MBA, ACO, CET, QETIOctober 2013

Jacksonville Animal Care & Protective Services has made significant improvements towards no-kill animal control while suffering drastic budget cuts. In 2007 JACPS had an 81% euthanasia rate with a $5 million budget and 62 team members; by 2012 the euthanasia rate had been reduced to 31% while the budget was chopped to $3 million and staff to 44.

Saving More Kittens with Kitten University

Jennifer Broadhurst, DVMOctober 2013

Dr. Jennifer Broadhurst, Director of Operations at the Jacksonville Humane Society, discusses protocols and procedures in place for their kitten nursery, known as Kitten University. This talk was part of the Maddie's Shelter Medicine Conference track of the 2013 No More Homeless Pets National Conference.

Shelter Based Feral Freedom

Joe ElmoreOctober 2013

Feral Freedom return-to-field programs are quickly becoming the gold standard for community cat management in progressive communities nationwide. In Charleston County, South Carolina, animal organizations have implemented the Feral Freedom strategy as a collaboration of local organizations and animal control agencies, affirmed by ordinances created to reinforce this strategy to save more lives and reduce intake.

Orphaned Kitten Survey Results

September 2013

Orphaned kittens are the most fragile of homeless animals, and many shelters consider it too resource-intensive to care for them. For that reason, they often make up the largest single group of animals euthanized at many shelters. We surveyed shelters and rescue organizations to gather data on: care and housing, prevalence of health issues, training given to individuals who provide care, and challenges organizations may face in providing care for kittens.

Making the Case for a Paradigm Shift in Community Cat Management, Part Two

Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVM; Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM; Richard Avanzino; Jon Cicirelli; Holly SizemoreJuly 2013

In Part Two of Making the Case for a Paradigm Shift in Community Cat Management, Maddie's Fund^® will present some of the nation's leading experts on animal sheltering and community cats in a comprehensive Q&A panel discussion on the information in Dr. Hurley's webcast.

How to Start a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program in Your Community

Jesse OldhamJuly 2013

The presentation covers a basic overview of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, and explores how TNR programs might differ depending on who is implementing them, the resources available in a community and the desired program outcomes.

Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Target Spay/Neuter Efforts

Janet M. Scarlett, DVM, MPH, PhDJuly 2013

Large numbers of kittens entering shelters continue to be a major problem for many shelters. Geographic information systems (GIS) technology can be used to identify geographic areas that repeatedly are a source of kittens.

Making the Case for a Paradigm Shift in Community Cat Management, Part One

Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVMJune 2013

Are common cat sheltering and animal control policies helping cats? Are they humane? Effective? Not according to Dr. Kate Hurley, Director of the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program.

How to Sell Policymakers on Fee-Waived Adoption

Jeannette PetersMay 2013

It’s been proven that free pet adoptions save lives, but some communities prohibit the practice. Animal advocates in Alachua County, Florida persuaded their County Commissioners to change their restrictive policy with patience, personal relationships, research and statistics.

Orphaned Kitten Care - How to Videos

Laurie Peek, DVM and Heidi Beyer, CVTApril 2013

These short videos will provide essential care instructions for orphaned kittens. Whether you are a seasoned foster parent or just getting started saving these orphaned baby lives, these videos will guide you through the basics.

Caring for Orphaned Kittens: A How-To Guide for Shelters

Laurie Peek, DVMApril 2013

Based on years of personal experience, Maddie's Fund Director of Veterinary Programs Laurie Peek, DVM, provides a step-by-step guide to caring for orphaned kittens, including how to recognize, avoid and respond to the most common threats they face.

From Helpless Newborn to Skilled Acrobat: Feline Development and the Orphaned Kitten

Susan Krebsbach, DVMApril 2013

Kittens may start out tiny and helpless, but they rapidly develop into some of nature's most agile and active creatures. Making sure they grow up with their social and behavioral needs met is as important as making sure their physical needs are fulfilled, says Susan Krebsbach, DVM.

Orphaned Kittens

Ellen Jefferson, DVM and Heidi Beyer, CVTMarch 2013

In this two-part webcast, Dr. Jefferson discusses her organization's kitten nursery and foster-based care program while Heidi Beyer, CVT, gives foster caregivers a leg up with practical tips for orphaned kitten care.

Saving Neonatal Kittens

Ellen Jefferson, DVMAugust 2012

Austin Pets Alive's Bottle Baby Program saves over 1,000 kittens per year that would otherwise be euthanized due to the high needs of orphaned baby kittens.

Shelter Crowd Control: Keeping Community Cats Out of Shelters Presentation

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIMAugust 2012

While innovative strategies are saving lives across the country, euthanasia rates for stray and feral cats remain stubbornly high in many communities. This presentation will explore the magnitude of the community cat population problem and redefine definitions for "home" and "rescue".

Community Cat Advocacy through a Lawmaker's Eyes: Tips from Jennifer Fearing

Jennifer FearingAugust 2012

Maddie's Institute spoke with Jennifer Fearing, California Senior State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, about how learning to see the community cat issue through a lawmaker's eyes can lead to success.

High-Quality, High-Volume Spay/Neuter for Community Cats

Kathleen Makolinski, DVMAugust 2012

Free-roaming cats have a variety of temperaments, and those who are "feral" need special consideration when performing anesthesia and spay/neuter. It is important to minimize the cat's stress and maximize safety for the humans who are providing medical care.

Tips for Working with Local Lawmakers: An Interview with Ryan Clinton

August 2012

Ryan Clinton shares the strategy for working with local lawmakers that helped Austin, TX, set an aggressive no-kill goal for their city – which has been saving more than 90% of its animals for more than a year now.

Expanding Lifesaving in Spite of Slashed Budgets

Rich AvanzinoMarch 2012

The economic crisis in America has forced animal shelters to look at options they might not have considered in the past. In this provocative video, Maddie's Fund president Rich Avanzino asks "What if?" animal control agencies were to no longer take community cats or owner surrenders if they are at capacity - an idea that if carried out, could radically save lives.

Shelter Crowd Control: Keeping Community Cats Out of Shelters Webcast

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIMJanuary 2012

Do you want to stop the tragic deaths of shelter cats, and cut your shelter's cat intake dramatically and almost overnight? Want to practice high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter and disease management on cats? How about learning how to get your community - including municipal government - on board with trap-neuter-return programs? Want evidence that such programs can actually work to reduce the population of community cats, prevent the spread of disease, and save resources and money for local shelters?

How Shelter Medicine is Helping Create a No-Kill Nation

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIMMay 2010

Veterinarians specializing in shelter medicine are solving puzzles as complicated as controlling fatal disease outbreaks to devising simple practices to control stress and promote welfare. Find out how shelter medicine programs can help you reach your life-saving goals.

Providing for Community Cats

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM and Jan Scarlett, DVM, MPH, PhDMay 2010

It's been estimated there are as many as 40 million feral and free-roaming cats in the US. Find out how shelters can help protect those cats and reduce the strain on a shelter's housing and resources at the same time.

Foster Care Volunteers are Lifesavers

Brenda Barnette2009

The Seattle Humane Society wanted to remain an open door private shelter, but the number of pets coming in exceeded the space it had to properly care for them. The solution: ask the community to help foster. The result: 3,001 dogs and cats in foster care in FY2008-2009.

The Rapid Rise of Shelter Medicine

Laurie Peek, DVM2009

The recent growth of shelter medicine programs in colleges of veterinary medicine is a boon to animal shelters in desperate need of trained medical staff.

How to Start a Feral Cat Program

Leslie Wilson2001

Everything you need to know from using the right kitten formula to recruiting volunteers, written by an animal lover with years of feral cat experience.

Fostering Kittens

Leslie Wilson2000

An old pro passes on invaluable information for feeding, cleaning and socializing baby felines.

Fostering Shelter Dogs

2000

Fostering shelter dogs is a fun and rewarding experience for the whole family.