Have you registered for the Open Arms Challenge yet? Registration is now open and will close on Monday, August 30. With 15 national organizations collaborating, a chance at $200,000 in grant prizes and lots of guidance along the way, this may be the most impactful challenge yet! This Challenge is all about opening our hearts… Learn More

Did you know that approximately 36% of animals entering animal shelters come in under the intake type called “owner surrender?” This presents a huge opportunity for animal shelters to avoid animals coming into the shelter, by helping pet owners rehome their pets without having to surrender them. According to the Human Animal Support Services Toolkit on Supported… Learn More

With the Open Arms Challenge registration just around the corner (August 23!), we want to make sure you have what you need to succeed. With six areas of focus, the possibilities are nearly endless. With these resources and the Huddles (coming in October!), we think you will be well-equipped to determine the direction your organization… Learn More

Join us on Tuesday, August 24 at 12:00 noon PT for Maddie’s® Candid Conversation with Dr. Lila Miller, a groundbreaking and trailblazing visionary. Dr. Miller has long been a pioneer and leading voice in veterinary shelter medicine. She transformed the lives of countless pets, developing the first veterinarian-written guidelines for shelter animal care, which are… Learn More

Are the words we use to describe cats actually doing more harm than good? When you hear “feral cat,” what image comes to mind? More cuddly or sassy? The term “feral” could actually be hampering efforts to gain support for community cat programs. This and other vocabulary we use will be explored in a quick… Learn More

Every Monday and Friday morning, shelter and rescue organization professionals across the country and beyond, gather virtually to discuss a myriad of topics. Nothing is off the table – transport, foster recruitment, return to home, fundraising and mental health to name a few, have all been topics of discussion on these vital calls. With so… Learn More

With social distancing guidelines relaxing, many organizations are beginning to relaunch short-term foster programs. In addition to being a gateway to engagement with the local community, most organizations who run short-term foster programs report that a percentage (sometimes as high as 75% or more!) of their participants decide to try out longer-term foster because of… Learn More

This is a guest post written by Caitlin Quinn, Director of Operations at HeARTs Speak. Read her previous post, “How lessons from 2020 can inform your marketing efforts now” here.   When it comes to marketing, we can’t forget that everything we do — from our messages, to our campaigns, to the images we use — is based on… Learn More

We’re thrilled to announce that the 2021 Avanzino Leadership Award goes to Dr. Lila Miller for her trailblazing leadership and purposeful dedication to the field of veterinary shelter medicine.  Dr. Miller transformed the lives of countless pets, developing the first veterinarian-written guidelines for shelter animal care, which are now used in shelters across the country to ensure the humane treatment… Learn More

Ann Dunn has been director of Oakland Animal Services (OAS) for about 17 months now. When the opportunity to join the Human Animal Support Services presented itself, it was a no-brainer. On a recent Shelter and Rescue Support call in April, Dunn shared why OAS joined the initiative, what her biggest takeaways have been thus far and what she thinks the future holds.   Why… Learn More