The 2024 Open Arms Challenge preparation begins in February!
Join us for the 2024 Open Arms Challenge! This Challenge is all about opening our hearts and minds to more accessible and inclusive practices. Maddie’s Fund® is partnering with 24 national organizations to encourage animal shelters, foster-based organizations and public charities to pilot new approaches that welcome your entire community during the month of April. And as if increased inclusivity and community engagement weren’t incentive enough, there’s also $510,000 in grant prizes available! Please note: February is...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Open Arms Challenge preparation, resource drive and more!
Happy Tuesday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. The staff training & leadership development resource drive has begun!We’re kicking off 2024 with another member-suggested resource drive focused on staff training & leadership development. A Forum member suggested the topic saying: “Some animal shelter professionals have traveled an unconventional career path or move up through the ranks on the merits of their dedication, focus and natural talent, but without a lot of traditional… Learn...
The staff training & leadership development Resource Drive has begun!
We’re kicking off 2024 with another member-suggested resource drive focused on staff training & leadership development. A Forum member suggested the topic saying: “Some animal shelter professionals have traveled an unconventional career path or move up through the ranks on the merits of their dedication, focus and natural talent, but without a lot of traditional business experience for acquiring skills such as strategic planning, budgeting, public speaking, etc. I’d love to see roadmaps of how other shelters develop...
$15,000 in grants available from Shelter Animals Count
If you want to be eligible for $15,000 in grants from Shelter Animals Count, be sure your data is updated by January 15th at 5:00 PM EST! Grant prizes will be broken down as follows: First prize of $5,000: Granted to TWO organizations who have submitted full intake/outcome data from 2021-2023. NEW this year: No minimum intake requirement! Second prize of $3,000: Granted to ONE organization who has submitted full intake/outcome data from 2021-2023. Third prize of $1,500: Granted to ONE organization who has submitted full...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Maddie’s Insights, keeping tenants & pets together and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. New Year, new Maddie’s Insights! Foster care and the Human-Animal BondThe New Year is here and so are new Maddie’s® Insights! Join us on Thursday, January 11th at 12:00PM PT/3:00PM ET for Foster Care and the Human Animal Bond with Laura A. Reese, PhD, Professor, Departments of Urban and Regional Planning, Global Urban Studies, and Political Science, Michigan State University. It is commonplace among those… Learn More On demand webcast: Keeping...
New Year, new Maddie’s Insights! Foster care and the Human-Animal Bond
The New Year is here and so are new Maddie’s® Insights! Join us on Thursday, January 11th at 12:00PM PT/3:00PM ET for Foster Care and the Human Animal Bond with Laura A. Reese, PhD, Professor, Departments of Urban and Regional Planning, Global Urban Studies, and Political Science, Michigan State University. It is commonplace among those who provide foster care for animals to have a recurring conversation with those who do not. Upon hearing that one is an animal foster parent a frequent response is, “Oh, I could...
Wishing you peace and joy this holiday season
Happy holidays from all of us at Maddie’s Fund®! We want to thank you for working so hard all year long, by doing your best to keep pets and people together. It’s not always easy, but the pets and people who have been touched by the kindness shown to them by either yourself or your organization, will remember that forever. We hope the unconditional love of the animals in your lives — your family pets, your fosters, the animals in your shelters and rescue organizations, the community cats snuggling down in insulated straw...
Get ’em Home Challenge winning strategies for helping long-stay pets in animal shelters
This post originally ran in 2019. Mark your calendars for the next Challenge in April 2024, the Open Arms Challenge. In order to find adopters for pets with long shelter stays and compete in the Get ‘Em Home Challenge, Young-Williams Animal Center in Knoxville, TN, developed progressive programming that involved many different areas. Their plan involved the creation of a field trip program, an innovative foster-to-adopt program, marketing pets heavily on social media, increased use of play groups and training for dogs and cats who...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Austin Pets Alive! courses, housing rights webcast and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Dr. Kwane Stewart is CNN’s Hero of the Year!Dr. Kwane Stewart, veterinarian and co-founder of Project Street Vet and a Maddie’s Fund® grantee, has been named at the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year for his incredible work with pets and people. As CNN Hero of the Year, Dr. Stewart will receive $100,000 to expand his work. During his acceptance speech, he promised to… Learn More Short and digestible online courses for animal organizations...
Short and digestible online courses for animal organizations available through Austin Pets Alive!
If your animal organization is looking to elevate the quality of care you provide and improve job satisfaction for staff, the Training and Education Center at Austin Pets Alive! may be just what you are looking for. The courses are broken up into chapters, which can be completed in 8-12 minutes. Combined with quick video demonstrations, printable infographics and interactive presentations, the courses keep learners engaged. There are currently six offerings available, with more planned for the future. The classes are available for a small fee...
