The Million Cat Challenge is coming to your town!

A joint project of Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida and the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, with significant funding from Maddie's Fund^®, the Challenge is bringing together animal shelters across North America to save the lives of one million more cats in the next five years.

From the launch release:

Participating animal shelters include municipal animal control facilities and private organizations of all sizes, and all will benefit from the experiences of their peers at other organizations as well as from the shelter medicine programs behind the campaign.

The core strategy of the campaign is comprised of five key initiatives that offer every shelter, in every community, practical choices to reduce euthanasia and increase live outcomes for shelter cats.

"Participating shelters can focus on one, some, or all of the initiatives, depending on what's right for their organization and community," said Dr. Kate Hurley, Director of the UC Davis program. "We welcome everyone who wants to find new approaches to saving cats' lives."

Resources available to Challenge participants include a private online forum where they can get support from their peers as well as from shelter veterinarians and a website with articles, forms, case studies, webinars and more.

"We expect some of the most valuable information each shelter will get will come from the other participating shelters," said Dr. Julie Levy, Director of the University of Florida program. "This effort is based on collaboration and the sharing of resources."

For more information, register for a free webinar with Drs. Hurley and Levy on Jan. 15, 2014 here. To learn even more and sign up your shelter, visit www.millioncatchallenge.org!