SPECIAL EDITION
The animal well-being community lost a true visionary on September 20, 2026. Rich Avanzino, affectionately and widely known as the father of the ‘no-kill’ movement, passed away peacefully at the age of 84. While we mourn the loss of a remarkable leader, we also celebrate a remarkable life dedicated to transforming the animal well-being industry into a more collaborative, inclusive, and hopeful space and that forever changed the destiny of countless companion animals and the people who love them.
Rich didn’t just work in animal well-being; he completely revolutionized it. Stepping into the role of founding president of Maddie’s Fund in 1999, he was tasked with directing a staggering $300 million family foundation endowment. For Rich, this wasn’t just a fund; it was a catalyst for a new era. He believed deeply that the public was the solution, not the problem, and he used his platform to shift the entire national conversation toward no-kill standards and community-wide solutions.
Under his guidance, the field experienced a seismic shift. Rich brought a brilliant, results-driven “venture philanthropy” mindset to the industry. He elevated the standards of animal welfare organizations by requiring grantees to commit to sound business management practices, strategic planning, and performance measurement. Recognizing that shared knowledge empowers everyone, he focused national attention on data by delivering the first searchable database based on the Asilomar Accords, uniting more than 500 organizations in transparency and shared progress. Data collection and sharing continues to be the standard.
Rich’s brilliance was also deeply rooted in practical solutions. He knew that to save more lives, the industry needed specialized veterinary care and massive community engagement. Under his tenure, he spearheaded the establishment of the very first comprehensive shelter medicine program at UC Davis, later supporting similar trailblazing programs at universities like Florida, Cornell, Wisconsin and Purdue. Shelter Medicine is now a recognized Board-certified specialty in veterinary schools.
To directly engage the public, he sponsored Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days. Through its inception in 2010 – 2015, this joyous, weekend-long annual event found loving homes for more than 45,000 dogs and cats. His collaborative spirit knew no bounds. Whether he was partnering with the Ad Council and The Humane Society of the United States to launch a national public-service campaign promoting shelter adoptions or fighting tirelessly alongside the Humane World for Animals (formerly known as Humane Society of the United States) to end the suffering of dogs in puppy mills, Rich was always building bridges to save more lives.
Even after his official retirement in 2015, Rich continued to stay connected to his passion and the field as a Strategic Advisor for Maddie’s Fund.