Let’s face it: people spend hours scrolling social feeds. Why not turn that scroll into a shelter-to-home journey? Our 2024 National Foster Survey spotlights social media as a powerhouse for foster recruitment. Here’s how to post smarter—and fill more foster homes faster.  Shelters that ramp up their social media activity see real results: high activity… Learn More

If you’re trying to grow your foster program, one of the most important places to start isn’t on social media or with a flyer—it’s your website. Your website is your organization’s virtual front door. When potential foster caregivers stop by, you want them to feel welcome, encouraged, and excited to get involved. But too often,… Learn More

If you’re looking to bring new ideas to your organizations’ foster program, look no further than Maddie’s® Monthly Foster Connection. This monthly webcast held on the first Thursday of the month at 12PM PT/3PM ET is an opportunity to discuss successful foster innovations and programs, collaborate with others in the field, answer questions and talk… Learn More

Whether you’re just starting out with your animal organization’s foster program or looking to grow, the next Maddie’s® Monthly Foster Connection is for you! In this presentation on April 3rd at 12pm PT (3pm ET), Stephanie Jackson, Public Information Officer, Louisville Metro Animal Services, will share insights on how she got the #FosterMeLouisville dog foster… Learn More

This post originally ran in 2021.  Finding foster caregivers for pets who have behavioral needs can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are six strategies animal welfare organizations across the country are using to do just this!    1. Prioritize “unicorn” fosters who have ideal home set-ups for some of your more challenging pets (people who don’t… Learn More

This post was originally published in 2019.  If you’re interested in growing your animal shelter or rescue organization’s foster program, creating a community culture that values fostering is critical.  One of the easiest ways to begin doing this is to bring foster care into the conversation as much as possible in your organization’s communications. Talking… Learn More

This post originally ran in 2017. With Thanksgiving approaching and other holidays to follow, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to reshare what Humane Society of Delaware County (HSDC) in Ohio learned about short-term fostering.  What do you do when your shelter offers short-term “holiday” dog-fostering over Thanksgiving, and nearly half of those… Learn More

Does your animal organization have a successful foster-to-adopt program for individuals who want to “foster” an animal before committing to adoption, to ensure it’s the right fit for their home? Or are you looking to start one? Kelli Jordan of Tallahassee Animal Services recently shared on Maddie’s® Pet Forum that they’re looking to start one,… Learn More

Field trips for dogs are great for boosting their adoptions and engaging with your community (research shows that dogs taken on a field trip are five times more likely to be adopted!), but those aren’t the only benefits. Shelters and rescue organizations are seeing advantages for volunteers and staff as well!  When Sarah Aguilar became… Learn More

Join us on August 1st at 12pm PT/ 3pm ET for Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection! This month, Lauren Nickerson, Executive Director, Hawaii Island Humane Society and Katie Hutchinson, Outcomes Manager, Pima Animal Care Center, will present on Foster-to-adopt programs: Supportive pathways from shelter to home. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Hawaii Island… Learn More