The February Weekly Community Conversations grant giveaway winner is…
Earlier this month, Maddie’s Fund® gave one organization at random a $5,000 grant for attending the February Weekly Community Conversations! Join us in congratulating Jo Lunsford from Kay Turpin Animal Rescue Fund in Lebanon, KY! In addition to the Community Conversation grant, one grant was given away for monthly participation on Maddie’s® Pet Forum. Bravo to Mary Garcia from Spring Branch Rescue in Richmond, TX for winning the $3,000 monthly grant. But wait, there’s more! In celebration of Maddie’s...
Behavior Plans to Reduce Hyperarousal in Shelter Dogs: The Impact of Setup and Choice
Canine hyperarousal behaviors like rapid jumping and grabbing are common challenges in animal shelters, impacting dog welfare, adoption prospects, and the safety of both shelter personnel and animals. Without effective intervention, these behaviors can escalate, reducing a dog’s chances of finding and keeping a home. Join us for this month’s installment of Maddie’s® Monthly Behavior Connection on March 27, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 12:50 PM PT (3:00 PM to 3:50 PM ET), which will talk all about Behavior Plans to Reduce...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Camp Maddie Kitten Edition, leadership course and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Hatching Leadership: Live Better, Work BetterLiving better fuels working better, and working better enriches how you live. A new Maddie’s Fund® self-paced course, Hatching Leadership: Live Better, Work Better invites you to reflect on your lived experiences, beliefs and responses to challenges—guiding you to build emotional and physical awareness. By exploring these areas, you’ll uncover new clarity, motivation and purpose that… Learn...
Hatching Leadership: Live Better, Work Better
Living better fuels working better, and working better enriches how you live. A new Maddie’s Fund® self-paced course, Hatching Leadership: Live Better, Work Better invites you to reflect on your lived experiences, beliefs and responses to challenges—guiding you to build emotional and physical awareness. By exploring these areas, you’ll uncover new clarity, motivation and purpose that can transform how you connect with others and contribute at work. Whether you’re a team member or a leader, this course is...
March 2025 Giveaway: Co-sheltering & keeping pets and people together
For families facing housing insecurity, domestic violence or financial hardship, “no pets allowed” policies can force the heartbreaking decision to part with beloved companions. This challenge not only impacts families but also places additional strain on animal well-being organizations through increased shelter intakes and resource demands. Co-sheltering is defined by My Dog Is My Home as the sheltering of people and animals together at the same emergency or temporary housing facility. By embracing co-sheltering...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: My Dog is My Home conference, Learning Paths and more!
Discount code for My Dog is My Home’s virtual conferenceWith the code MADDIESFRIEND – you’ll gain access to all three days of the My Dog Is My Home Conference 2025 for just $75. Register today Maddie’s Insights: Helping the Helpers – Improving Shelter Staff Well-BeingJoin us on March 13, 2025 at 12PM PT/3PM ET for our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Shelters and rescue groups have shown great resilience, finding innovative ways to save animals despite...
Introducing Learning Paths
Maddie’s Fund® is proud to introduce Learning Paths, hosted on Maddie’s® University. Each path contains content that covers a single topic so you can discover what you need and get on with your day. Learning Paths are collections with thoughtfully self-paced courses and resources on dog and cat behavior, body language, training, shelter care, program management, foster care, managing unwanted behavior, veterinary support and more! Currently there are six collections now available, with more to come. BehaviorEverything you...
Register now for My Dog is My Home’s virtual conference!
When a person loses their home, they experience trauma and grief. Their pet may be their sole source of love and support. For a person experiencing homelessness, losing their pet can make one of the most difficult times in their life even more painful. Yet, with few emergency facilities offering pet-inclusive housing, it’s a decision so many people feel forced to make. Maddie’s Fund® is a proud sponsor of My Dog Is My Home’s Conference 2025: Why Pets? Why Now? The Urgency of Inclusion. Taking place virtually from...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Kitten season guidance, Instructor-Led Courses and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Maddie’s® Insights: Helping the Helpers – Improving Shelter Staff Well-BeingShelters and foster-based organizations 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...
Maddie’s Insights: Helping the Helpers – Improving Shelter Staff Well-Being
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 to stay in their roles. Yet, over half showed high burnout, and over 90% had high compassion fatigue, raising concerns about staff well-being and the sustainability of...
