Research in U.S. shelters shows that short-term foster programs like field trips and overnights are powerful tools for increasing dogs’ chances of adoption. Dogs who go on a field trip are five times more likely to be adopted than those who don’t, while those who go on a sleepover are an astounding 14 times more… Learn More

Please note: The application period for this opportunity has closed.  If you are looking to join a new team and work within a dynamic environment, this is your opportunity. Maddie’s Fund® is looking to hire an experienced Senior Education Specialist who will become part of the Education Team within the Foundation. If you are interested in… Learn More

How often should your organization be talking about foster if you want to grow your program? The answer might surprise you. “Talk about your foster program all the time,” says Maddie’s Fund® Senior Community Solutions Specialist Kelly Duer. “Informal research on the organizations with the largest foster programs found that they are talking about foster on… Learn More

The blog was originally published in 2021.  The language we use is important because it is the lens through which potential adopters see the pets in our care. In an effort to keep communications brief, we may use as few words as possible when describing pets, but everything these subtle changes communicate to the wider world may not be obvious to us.… Learn More

This post originally ran in 2021. We are republishing today because we think it’s as applicable as ever!  Traditionally in many shelters, only select pets have been eligible for foster care. Those sent to foster homes have typically been neonates and pets with medical needs. Due to lack of time and the seasonal nature of… Learn More

Celebrate National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week this April 14-20, 2024! It’s a week when communities are encouraged to learn about what the job of animal control really entails and to be grateful for those who do them. We thought it fitting to highlight the excellent Maddie’s® University course authored by National Animal Care &… Learn More

If you’re looking to bring new ideas to your organizations about dog and cat behavior then look no further than Maddie’s® Monthly Behavior Connection. This monthly webcast is held on the fourth Thursday of the month at 12PM PT/3PM ET and is an opportunity hear from speakers about behavior medications, modifying animal behavior, assessing and… Learn More

“One of the best things we could have done for our shelter was create our Paws Around the Pee Dee program,” says Wendy Ransome, a foster coordinator, data manager and volunteer from Darlington County Humane Society in Darlington, South Carolina. (Pee Dee is a region in the northeast corner of South Carolina, which lies along… Learn More

Registration has begun for the biggest grant Challenge yet! Twenty-four organizations have come together together to host this all-inclusive Open Arms Challenge for the entirety of April. Plus, there’s $510,000 in grants available! The Challenge is all about opening our hearts and minds to more accessible and inclusive practices, helping to keep pets with their… Learn More

Dog field trips and short-term dog foster homes may be exactly what organizations can do to increase its adoption rates. In fact, a new journal publication finds that shelter dogs who went on field trips were five times more likely to be adopted! Additionally, those who went into short-term foster homes (defined as one to… Learn More