Law enforcement training, tenant pet deposits and the expansion of a senior foster pets program are just three of over 100 innovative ideas that came from the August round of Innovation Grant recipients. It seems the ideas just keep getting more innovative each time we do this, and we couldn’t be more excited to see the impact they have on lifesaving.
“It’s really exciting to see ideas that, a few years ago, were completely new to the industry, but now they are catching on all over the country,” said Kelly Clardy, Senior Grants Specialist at Maddie’s Fund®. “For example, Topeka Spay Neuter Project is reaching out to college students as short-term fosters, and The Humane Society of Pinellas is starting a ‘Milk Maid’ program to distribute kitten kits to individuals who find orphaned kittens, to help foster them until they are old enough for spay/neuter and adoption. It’s so inspiring to see all the innovative ideas out there.”
See the full list of recipients from August 2017 below, and be on the lookout for the announcement of October recipients soon!
| Organization Name | State | Project | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Home 4 Spot | NV | Training for Big Dogs | Innovative Shelter Behavior |
| Acadiana Animal Aid | LA | Kitten Fostering Program | Innovative Foster Care |
| Alley Cat Advocates | KY | TNR Funding for Three Mobile Home Parks | Return to Field |
| Almost Home Humane Society | IN | Dogs Playing for Life Program | Return to Field |
| Animal Friends Inc. | PA | Medical Equipment Purchase | Innovative Shelter Medicine |
| Arizona Humane Society | AZ | Public Senior Pet Hospice Fund | Capacity for Care |
| Augusta Animal Services | GA | Local Digital Billboard | Innovative Marketing and PR |
| Bark And Roll Rescue Companions | LA | Purchase Technology Software | Innovative Technology, Data and Metrics |
| Blackfoot Animal Shelter | ID | Social Media Adoption Promotions | Removing Barriers to Adoption (Adoption Ambassadors, Adopters Welcome, Open Adoptions, etc.) |
| Cache Humane Society | UT | Improve Signage and Exterior Wall Art | Innovative Marketing and PR |
| Carol House Quick Fix Pet Clinic | MO | Wall of Fame Fundraiser | Sustainability (Innovative Fundraising, Fund Development, Strategic Planning, etc.) |
| Carroll County Animal Shelter | GA | Free Rabies Vaccinations and Microchips | Engaging the Public |
| Charm City Companions | MD | Urgent Care Veterinary Visits | Alternatives to Intake |
| Chicago Pet Rescue | IL | Pet Safety and CPR Class | Engaging Volunteers |
| City of Rexburg Animal Shelter | ID | Safe Outside Yard for Cats | Innovative Shelter Behavior |
| Contra Costa County Animal Services Department | CA | Sophia Yin Silver Level Low Stress Handling Course | Capacity for Care |
| Cooper’s Chance Animal Rescue | AZ | Adoption Ambassador Program | Removing Barriers to Adoption (Adoption Ambassadors, Adopters Welcome, Open Adoptions, etc.) |
| Crafty Cat Rescue | MI | Pet Strollers with Logo | Innovative Marketing and PR |
| Dakin Humane Society | MA | Volunteer Engagement Program with Adisa | Engaging Volunteers |
| Department of Animal Services of El Paso | TX | Foster Program Supplies | Innovative Foster Care |
| Department of Animal Services of El Paso | TX | Purchase Centrifuge | Innovative Shelter Medicine |
| Fearless Kitty Rescue | AZ | Hire Vet Tech | Innovative Shelter Medicine |
| Feral Feline Friends of East TN/SPAY Anderson County | TN | Flier for Animal Control Officers | Alternatives to Intake |
| Florida Urgent Rescue, Inc. | FL | Save Our Strays (SOS) Program | Alternatives to Intake |
| Foothills Animal Rescue | AZ | Expand Walk This Way Program | Capacity for Care |
| For Animals, Inc. | NY | Off The Streets, Into Your Hearts Program | Removing Barriers to Adoption (Adoption Ambassadors, Adopters Welcome, Open Adoptions, etc.) |
| Friends of the Animal Shelter | SC | Dogs Playing for Life Program – Dog Trainer | Innovative Shelter Behavior |
| Friends of the Bell County Animal Shelter | KY | Student Foster Pet Pantry | Innovative Foster Care |
| Furry Friends Refuge | IA | Chamber of Commerce Partnerships | Innovative Marketing and PR |
| Gainesville Pet Rescue | FL | Stainless Steel Cat Suites | Capacity for Care |
| Great Plains SPCA | KS | Expand Senior Foster Friends program | Innovative Foster Care |
| Harbor Humane Society | MI | Free Spay/Neuter Offer | Alternatives to Intake |
| Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter | MT | Specialty Foster Homes | Innovative Foster Care |
| Hearts That Purr Feline Guardians | AZ | Elder Foster Cat Caregivers | Innovative Foster Care |
| Helping Animals Rescue Team | TN | Barn Cat Program | Return to Field |
| Hound Sanctuary, Inc. | OR | Happy at Home: The BiBi Project | Alternatives to Intake |
| Humane Society and Animal Rescue of Muskegon County | MI | Peacable Paws Training Sessions | Innovative Shelter Behavior |
| Humane Society of Edmonson County | KY | Spay and Neuter at Food Bank | Alternatives to Intake |
| Humane Society of Northeast Iowa | IA | Shelterluv Software | Innovative Technology, Data and Metrics |
| Humane Society of Raleigh County, Inc. | WV | New Walking Path | Engaging the Public |
| Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley | TN | iMarc Pet Tag Engraving Machine | Alternatives to Intake |
| Humane Society of Utah | UT | Two Kiosks with Software | Innovative Technology, Data and Metrics |
| Humane Society of Waupaca County | WI | Architect Consultation | Sustainability (Innovative Fundraising, Fund Development, Strategic Planning, etc.) |
| Humane Society of West Michigan | MI | Outpatient Heartworm Treatment Plan | Innovative Shelter Medicine |
| Humane Society of Wickenburg | AZ | Doggie Boot Camp | Innovative Shelter Behavior |
| Humane Society of Yuma | AZ | Kitten Kits | Innovative Foster Care |
| Humane Society Silicon Valley | CA | Cat Socializer Volunteer Program | Engaging Volunteers |
| Humanity for Horses, Cat Division | CA | Feral and Stray Cat process | Innovative Shelter Behavior |
| Jacksonville Humane Society | FL | Staff Training | Innovative Training, Development and Leadership Growth |
| Jasper County Animal Rescue League and Humane Society | IA | Foster Parents Supplies | Innovative Foster Care |
| Karma Cat + Zen Dog Rescue Society | NJ | Public Adoption Center | Removing Barriers to Adoption (Adoption Ambassadors, Adopters Welcome, Open Adoptions, etc.) |
| Kitsap Humane Society | WA | Shelter Buddy Online Shelter Management Software Upgrade | Innovative Technology, Data and Metrics |
| Latino Alliance for Animal Care Foundation | CA | Animal Welfare Education | Engaging the Public |
| Lenawee Humane Society | MI | Reading Buddies Program | Innovative Shelter Behavior |
| Lynchburg Humane Society | VA | Tenant Pet Deposits | Alternatives to Intake |
| Marian’s Dream: Philanthropy for Animal Advocates | ME | Spay Community Education | Engaging the Public |
| Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue | CA | Travel Crates | Innovative Partnerships |
| McKamey Animal Center | TN | Intervention Program to Cat Owners | Innovative Foster Care |
| Meow Parlour Cats | NY | Project Safety Net Consultant | Innovative Training, Development and Leadership Growth |
| Miami Animal Alliance | OK | Spay/Neuter Clinics | Alternatives to Intake |
| Mitchell Animal Rescue | SD | Partnership with City of Mitchell | Innovative Partnerships |
| Muttville | CA | Health & Healing Foster Program | Innovative Foster Care |
| My Pit Bull is Family Com Inc. | MN | Law Enforcement Training | Engaging the Public |
| New Leash on Life | TN | Heartworm Treatments | Innovative Shelter Medicine |
| No Kill Glynn County, Inc | GA | Spay/Neuter Recruitment | Alternatives to Intake |
| PALS of Lincoln County | MO | Adopt-a-Heart Program | Innovative Shelter Medicine |
| Paris Animal Welfare Society | KY | Marketing and Management of Foster Program | Innovative Foster Care |
| Paws For Life NC | NC | Reduced Adoption Fees event | Removing Barriers to Adoption (Adoption Ambassadors, Adopters Welcome, Open Adoptions, etc.) |
| Pet Network Humane Society | NV | Group Play Program For Dogs | Innovative Shelter Behavior |
| Pet Rescue Solutions | CA | Partnership With PAW Mission for Barn Cat Placements | Innovative Partnerships |
| Pima Animal Care Center | AZ | Pet Support For Seniors | Alternatives to Intake |
| Prairie Paws Animal Shelter | KS | Life Size Cardboard Animal Standees | Innovative Marketing and PR |
| Precious Paws | PA | Senior for Seniors Program | Innovative Foster Care |
| Regional Animal Services of King County | WA | Partnership with Cat Cafe | Innovative Partnerships |
| Rescue Express | CA | New Transport Route | Innovative Partnerships |
| Salem County Humane Society | NJ | TNR Clinic for Barn Cats | Return to Field |
| Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society | NM | Expand Market of Fosters and Adopters | Innovative Marketing and PR |
| Sonoma County Animal Services | CA | Field Fix Program | Engaging the Public |
| Southern Pines Animal Shelter | MS | Dog’s Day Out Foster Program | Innovative Foster Care |
| Soxrescue MEOW Co. | CA | Rescue Chapters on College Campuses | Sustainability (Innovative Fundraising, Fund Development, Strategic Planning, etc.) |
| Spay Haywood | TN | Stray Day Event | Alternatives to Intake |
| Spay Neuter Network | TX | Free Microchipping in Low Income Areas | Alternatives to Intake |
| Stafford Animal Shelter | MT | iPad and Monitor | Innovative Technology, Data and Metrics |
| Stray Hearts Animal Shelter | NM | Foster Love – Foster A Shelter Animal Program | Innovative Foster Care |
| Tails of the Free | PA | Seniors for Seniors Program | Removing Barriers to Adoption (Adoption Ambassadors, Adopters Welcome, Open Adoptions, etc.) |
| Target Zero | CA | Animal-Friendly Ordinance Revisions | Innovative Training, Development and Leadership Growth |
| Ten Lives Club, Inc. | NY | FIV Cat Adoption Promotion | Removing Barriers to Adoption (Adoption Ambassadors, Adopters Welcome, Open Adoptions, etc.) |
| The Animal Foundation | NV | Pit Bull Education Program | Innovative Marketing and PR |
| The Arizona Pet Project | AZ | Community Outreach & Spay Neuter Coordinator | Engaging Volunteers |
| The DAWG Project | TX | Partnering with City of Dallas | Innovative Partnerships |
| The Humane Society of Pinellas | FL | Milk Maid Program | Alternatives to Intake |
| The National Kitten Coalition | VA | Donor Love Manager | Sustainability (Innovative Fundraising, Fund Development, Strategic Planning, etc.) |
| Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society, Inc. | GA | Unchain Thomasville Program | Alternatives to Intake |
| Tipton County Paws and Claws | TN | High School Programs to Support Spay/Neuter | Alternatives to Intake |
| Toccoa Stephens County Humane Shelter | GA | Expand Marketing Efforts | Innovative Marketing and PR |
| Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation | CA | Managed Admissions system | Managed Admissions |
| Topeka Spay Neuter Project | KS | College Student Foster Program | Innovative Foster Care |
| Tri City Animal Sanctuary | TX | Spay/Neuters for Poteet, TX | Return to Field |
| Vanderburgh Humane Society, Inc. | IN | Kittten Kits | Innovative Foster Care |
| Willamette Humane Society | OR | Training for Leadership Staff | Innovative Training, Development and Leadership Growth |
| Wright-Way Rescue | IL | Ready-Set-Go Program | Managed Admissions |