Ever wonder how implicit bias can influence pet adoption processes? And, if so, what we can do to improve? Join us for the next Maddie’s® Insights on December 11, as we share insights from a nationwide survey of 484 U.S. shelters and rescue organizations on adoption events and screening practices. Our guest, Dr. Lexis Ly,… Learn More

Join us on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 12PM ET/3PM ET for the next installment of “Maddie’s® Insights: Shelter Practices & Barriers in the Use of Anxiety Medications & Alternatives,” presented by Bailey Eagan, PhD, MSc., Director of Research with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Fear, anxiety and stress… Learn More

“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

Neonatal kitten care has seen significant advancements over the last decade. At the same time, social media had created thousands of influencers sharing information on the best ways to save these little ones. This information is often conflicting. In 2023, several major shelter medicine programs and animal advocacy groups updated their guidelines for caring for… Learn More

It’s the final Maddie’s® Insights for the spring! Join us on Thursday, May 9th at 12:00PM PT/3:00PM ET for Impact of Classical Counterconditioning (Quiet Kennel Exercise) on Barking in Shelter Dogs with Sara Bennett DVM, MS, DACVB and Jamirelis Carrero, DVM candidate. A major welfare concern in animal shelters is excessive barking from kenneled dogs.… Learn More

Emergency fostering is an important component of any foster program. This post originally ran in 2021.  Hospitalizations can be stressful for patients for a number of reasons. One reason that may not be so obvious? Care for their pets while they’re away from home. A recent survey was conducted at the University of Michigan Health on… Learn More

The 2022 National Foster Survey conducted by Maddie’s Fund®, provides valuable insights into the utilization and support of foster care programs for dogs and cats in the United States. The survey examined the dynamics of foster care programs and identified important factors impacting foster care placement. Versions of the survey have also been conducted for… Learn More

This post was originally published in 2019. We are republishing today as foster care is as important as ever.  Button had been at the Kansas City Pet Project for about a month, and he wasn’t doing well. He was displaying alarming signs of kennel stress, including pacing, spinning, vocalizing and jumping up and down over… Learn More

In 2010 the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) published the first Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, which quickly became the gold standard in how to care for animals shelters and foster homes alike. In December 2022, the revised “Guidelines” were introduced. The Guidelines is understandably a comprehensive and lengthy document, yet many… Learn More

Cats entering shelters often experience fear, anxiety, and stress while in care. Mitigating negative states in cats is critical to their health and well-being, especially in populations of fearful cats that are already at risk for poor outcomes. One particularly at-risk population are fearful cats rescued from animal hoarding environments. In the next Maddie’s® Insights… Learn More