It may feel a little like stealing. But when it comes to saving the lives of animals, borrowing ideas from other organizations is a great way to achieve your mission. “We are always stealing and polishing,” says Sharon Harmon, CEO of the Oregon Humane Society (OHS) and Maddie Hero Award recipient. “We can all learn… Learn More

Take what you think you know about the history of animal sheltering and throw it out the window. Susan Houser, the author of the popular blog, Out the Front Door, recently published her book, Prodigal Pets, which dives deep into the history of animal sheltering and the origin of the no-kill movement. For example, in… Learn More

A new article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association says private practice veterinarians have the power to help end pet homelessness and euthanasia in their communities. Relations between private practice veterinarians and shelters/rescue organizations experience challenges in many communities. However, the influx of younger veterinarians combined with the explosive growth in the number… Learn More

Did you know that having veterans work with long-stay shelter dogs is a win-win for both veterans and the dogs? That’s exactly what Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley (HSTV) discovered when they launched their Heroes and Hounds program, pairing veterans with at-risk dogs who need a little special attention to get ready for adoption.… Learn More

From expanding shelter hours to Sunday hikes with dogs, Animal Ark Rescue (AAR) in Columbus, GA, isn’t afraid to try new things, and it’s paying off big time for the animals and the community. The shelter has been open for a little less than six years and boasts a 99 percent save rate for its… Learn More

Director Alexis Pugh of Memphis Animal Services made plenty of changes when she took over the shelter last year. One of the biggest was implementing a safety net program designed to keep pets with their families, and get lost pets back home. Maddie’s Fund® spoke with Pugh to find out more about the shelter’s innovative… Learn More

If you’ve paid attention to the news or our social media since Hurricane Harvey hit, you’re likely aware of some of the awe-inspiring actions from shelters, rescue organizations and volunteers in the affected areas. After assessing the needs and committing $1 million to support those helping the animals, we sent a few of our own… Learn More

Can a partnership with local veterinarians save orphaned kittens’ lives? You bet, when they’re moved from foster care to local veterinary practices, where they’re provided with love, socialization and care. That’s what the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin (HSSW) did, and they share how you can, too, in our latest MaddieTalk: Vet Pets! “We were struggling… Learn More

The Million Cat Challenge is a partnership of Maddie’s Fund®, the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida, and the ASPCA®, formed to help shelters save the lives of 1 million more cats. It is based on five key initiatives which bring forward those approaches that have… Learn More

Madi R. Hawkins, Director of Habersham County Animal Care & Control in Georgia, loves cats. She especially loves being in charge of a shelter that’s committed to saving them — even though it hasn’t always been that way. “The polices in place when I first started, especially in regards to feral cats, were heartbreaking,” she… Learn More