“Meet Boo-Boo Kitty. Boo-Boo Kitty is 14 years old. She’s got arthritis and she’s in the early stages of kidney disease. She’s also a happy loving cat with a great quality of life. So let me ask you, would you adopt Boo-Boo Kitty?” With those words, Humane Society Silicon Valley president Carol Novello opened her… Learn More
How much of the “conventional wisdom” about adoption and foster programs makes sense, and how much of it just keeps your organization from saving as many animals as it could? That was the question on Sherri Franklin’s mind as she first created Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, a San Francisco organization that has saved thousands of… Learn More
What is the biggest obstacle to helping more animals in the community? Sometimes, it’s the policies of the animal shelters that are supposed to be helping those same animals. That was the big Aha! Moment that drove Scott Trebatoski to embark on a journey to re-think the animal control and adoption policies of Hillsborough County,… Learn More
Can inspiration turn into lasting change for animals? Absolutely! Here’s one shelter director’s journey from “Aha!” to “Oh Yeah!”, as presented in the Maddie’s Fund sessions at the 2016 HSUS Animal Care Expo. We’ll begin with the “Aha!”, the moment when Austin veterinarian Dr. Ellen Jefferson had an awakening that inspired her to help lead… Learn More
When the Charleston Animal Society faced a massive scandal after years of high kill rates in the shelter, it might have been the end of the line. Thanks to the courage to recognize and act on its Aha! Moments, the organization and the community it serves have never been more in sync, and the animals… Learn More
Did you miss the Best Friends National Conference in Salt Lake City? Were you there, but couldn’t see everything, or just want to relive the top moments? From a dream for the future to just plain fun, check out these Maddie’s Fund® #HeardItAtBestFriends highlights! We asked people to tell us what the best idea they… Learn More
Cats scratch. They scratch where they should — cat trees, scratch pads — and where they shouldn’t — drapes, carpets, furniture. Scratching is a natural and important activity for cats, but it can come into conflict when cats practice it in a human home. At the 2014 Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of… Learn More
Do cats pulled off the euthanasia list have a harder time getting adopted? Are they returned more often? Absolutely no to both, said Monica Frenden, cat program manager for Austin Pets Alive! At the 2015 American Pets Alive! No Kill Conference, Frenden gave a presentation on the organization’s success with cats pulled off the euthanasia… Learn More
In these days of social media, some rescue groups and shelters forget just how important an email strategy is. Does your organizatation have one? “Email is something that you’re always testing. It’s never solved,” said Amy Starnes, online fundraising manager for Best Friends Animal Society. “One important thing to remember, no matter what kind of… Learn More
Ever wonder what makes a great cat adoption profile? Or better yet, how to acquire all the materials needed for one? “There are two main details that are significant and controllable from a marketing standpoint,” Ashley Ferry, cat foster manager for Austin Pets Alive!, said at the recent American Pets Alive! No-Kill Conference. “The cat’s… Learn More