Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. We’re also excited to announce the new Community Conversations host for October: Rachel Rae Williams, Board Member of Spay Neuter Network. Below is the call lineup for next month so you can plan ahead:
- 10/6: Keeping Families and Pets Together
- 10/20: Supporting Someone Experiencing Domestic Violence
- 10/27: Bridging Services, Strengthening Communities
2025 Access to Care Report: How we can address the biggest gaps in veterinary care
“Access to veterinary care is not just an animal welfare issue — it’s a public health and family well-being issue,” says Dr. Michael Blackwell, lead author of the 2025 Access to Care report. “When pets don’t get the care they need, families face emotional distress, financial hardship, and difficult decisions no one should have to… Learn More
2025 ASPCA National Shelter Grants Initiative
The ASPCA is offering $2.5 million in grants to U.S. shelters by funding programs that support animal outcomes, animal psychological health and access to veterinary care for shelter animals, community animals or both. Apply by October 17. Learn more
Don’t miss: Long Stay Pet Workshop: October 2025 in Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection
On Thursday, October 2, 2025, join Maddie’s® Monthly Foster Connection at 12pm PT/3pm ET. Finnegan Dowling, Shelter Program and Engagement Manager at Mutual Rescue, will be discussing your favorite long stay pets to identify strategies for marketing them to fosters and adopters. Whether you’re a staffer, volunteer, foster or adopter, we’d love to see you there! Learn More
Learn how to build one-of-a-kind programs for neonatal kittens
Neonatal kittens may be the tiniest residents in our shelters, but they face the biggest risks. That’s why Kitten College: Transforming Tiny Lives Through Innovation, a free self-paced course on Maddie’s® University, is here to change the story. This one-of-a-kind program gives animal shelters and foster-based organizations the tools to launch or expand neonatal programs… Learn More
Weekly Community Conversations
September 29 – Standing Alone, Standing Strong: Navigating Isolation in Animal Welfare
Register now for the weekly Monday 11AM PT/2PM ET call for animal well-being professionals. These 50-minute calls are a collaborative space to share exciting new programs and research, discuss uncomfortable topics, connect with peers in the industry and more, all while sharing a common goal of preserving the human-animal bond. There’s also $10,000 in grants given away each month to participants!
Don’t forget: Monthly grant opportunity!
Maddie’s Fund® is giving away a $3,000 grant each month to one lucky Maddie’s® Pet Forum member! You’ll automatically be entered to win each month when you start a new discussion, reply to a new post… Learn More
Want to help keep more people and pets together?
Join Maddie’s® Mailing List, connect with us at Maddie’s® Pet Forum and take advantage of free online training with Maddie’s® University!