If you’re looking to bring new ideas to your organizations’ foster program, look no further than Maddie’s^® Monthly Foster Connection. This monthly webcast held on the first Thursday of the month at 12PM PT/3PM ET is an opportunity to discuss successful foster innovations and programs, collaborate with others in the field, answer questions and talk through complex foster-related issues.

The next webcast takes place on August 7, 2025 where speaker Devan Amundsen, CPDT-KA CBCC-KA, Principal, Animal Welfare United, will discuss foundations of dog communication. Reading dog body language and communicating effectively with our own behavior are practiced skills that we need to mindfully develop over time, shares Amundsen. Foster caregivers, adopters and staff need to understand what the dog is telling them and also communicate their intentions to the dog. The goal is always for the human and the dog to be in agreement that “I’m into you!” Through this webcast, you’ll recognize behaviors that suggest the dog is unsure, and consider how to de-escalate the conversation to “I’m into you!”

Register for Maddie’s^® Monthly Foster Connection and join the group on Maddie’s^® Pet Forum to continue the conversation.

These webcasts are for foster managers and coordinators, and any staff who are interested in learning about what’s working in foster programs.