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

Nina Stively wanted to increase welfare and lifesaving for shelter animals. She also believed it was crucial to the goal that the level of professionalism in the sheltering field rise. When she heard about the Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program online Masters in shelter medicine, she knew that was how she’d make both goals a reality… Learn More

Community cats: If you’ve got them, Best Friends wants to help. They’ve written a book covering everything from the ABCs to the rocket science of community cat management, and they’re giving it away as a free download! Topics covered include: The history of the TNR movement The importance of leadership Who in your community is… 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

High-volume spay/neuter programs come in all shapes and sizes, from standalone clinics, to MASH-style operations, to mobile vans, to in-shelter surgical suites, and more. A task force of experts from the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) has just released their 2016 guidelines to best practices to ensure excellent animal care in high-volume spay/neuter programs —… Learn More

Are ‘Adopters Welcome’ at your shelter or rescue group? If not, a new DIY action plan can help you get on board with this revolutionary adoption philosophy. Even if they already are, this resource can help you kick it up a notch! The Humane Society of the United States created Adopters Welcome not only to… Learn More

Who is in the best position to know what type of home would be best for a pet in a foster home: the adoption organization, or the foster caregiver? It’s a question that might not have a single answer. Some foster caregivers may prefer to be involved with pets but not be comfortable working directly… Learn More

Want to reduce stress and illness in sheltered cats? Take a spotty approach to cleaning and sanitation! However counter-intuitive it might seem, some of the steps we take to prevent disease in animal shelters might have the opposite effect. One such practice is the thorough cleaning of cat cages, including removing the cat, bedding, bowls,… Learn More

If your animal organization is serious about saving lives, preventing suffering, and treating animals with their physical and emotional well-being in mind, here are five resources you can’t do without: 1. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) Guidelines to Standards of Care in Animal Shelters Available as a free download, this is the bible of… Learn More