Maddie’s® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Join us on April 16 at 12PMPT/3PM ET for Fur-ever starts now. Supporting dogs and adopters’ post-adoption. This is a program that looks at common health and behavior concerns in dogs after their adoption in the… Learn More
Maddie’s® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Join us on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 12PM PT/3PM ET for “Early life stressors and the behavior and physiology of rescue kittens.” Dr. Jennifer Vernick veterinary behavioral medicine resident at Atlantic Veterinary College, University of… Learn More
Not all cats want a couch! Recent research published in the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health highlights an important truth: not every cat is suited for life in a traditional home. Join us for the next Maddie’s® Insights on February 12 (12pm PT / 3pm ET) as we dive into this research… Learn More
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 November 13 at 12PM PT/3PM ET for the next webcast in the Maddie’s® Insights series, “The Animal Welfare Assessment Grid.” This one hour event will be presented by Drs. Sarah Wolfensohn and Rachel Malkani. They will introduce you to a cloud-based tool designed to track and visualize the well-being and lifetime experiences… 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
Maddie’s® Insights are back! Join us on September 11th as Sloane Hawes and Celeste Morales with Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CAREawo.org) present their recent research on racial equity – or the lack thereof – in pet adoption as well as offer solutions for increasing access to pet ownership for BIPOC families. This… Learn More
Join us on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 12PM ET/3PM ET for the next installment of “Maddie’s® Insights: Exploring Factors That Influence Public Engagement of Adoptable Pets on Social Media,” presented by Rachel Morrison, PhD, Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. This webcast explores how social media… Learn More
Foster care is a unique form of human-animal interaction that is increasingly understood to be an effective tool for improving the well-being of shelter-living animals. Even brief stays in foster care can allow animals to escape the stressors of the shelter, provide an environment that allows for greater social interaction and offer opportunities for improved… Learn More
Shelters and rescue groups have shown great resilience, finding innovative ways to save animals despite major challenges. However, many workers face burnout and compassion fatigue, leading some to leave the field. In 2023, Best Friends conducted the largest U.S. survey on shelter staff well-being. Nearly half of respondents reported high compassion satisfaction, and most plan… Learn More