An Animal Control Officer’s Lesson in Empathy
The call was fairly routine, as animal neglect complaints go. The dog in question, a loyal companion to an elderly woman living alone, was in pretty rough shape. Rough enough that it was a pretty clear-cut case of neglect. The woman, who obviously loved her pet, seemed to be facing multiple struggles. She may never have intended to cause harm, yet her circumstances had led to a situation that, legally, could not be ignored. In my early career as a cruelty investigator for the City of Dallas, I was driven by a sense of duty to protect the...
Search Laboratory Selects APA! As Their Charity of the Year
Apr 10, 2024 Austin Pets Alive! is honored and grateful to be considered one of Austin’s favorite nonprofits and beyond that, to receive outreach from companies in Austin who want to turn their love and appreciation of APA!’s work into a service-oriented gift. Search Laboratory is just such a company. In early 2023, the company reached out to our Marketing team sharing that APA! was voted as Search Laboratory’s “charity of the year,” meaning our organization would become their “pet” nonprofit to...
Learn the Secret Signs of Dental Problems in Dogs
Bad breath. Plaque. Tartar. Most pet parents know the regular things to look out for regarding canine oral hygiene. But what about the other signs of dental problems in dogs and additional reasons to brush their teeth regularly? Let’s talk about it! Regular brushing prevents gum disease and other problems, but did you know there are other reasons to brush your dog’s teeth regularly? Talk of oral health for dogs usually centers around bad breath, plaque, and tartar, but there are other types of dental problems you need to look out...
HASS Launches First Ever Shelter Budget Calculator to Combat Underfunding
Supported by PetSmart Charities, the HASS Budget Calculator aims to arm animal welfare organizations with the data necessary to advocate for increased operational budgets (AUSTIN, TX) April 9, 2024–Human Animal Support Services (HASS), an international project revolutionizing the animal welfare industry by uniting human and animal welfare, announced today the launch of the HASS Budget Calculator. An initiative supported by PetSmart Charities®, the free-to-use tool is a new way for animal welfare organizations to more accurately...
Using community data to understand intake diversion of Owner Surrendered Animals
How do we reduce relinquishment to animal shelters? In the U.S. and Canada, approximately 25-30% of animals that enter shelters are surrendered by owners. However, despite many shelters and rescues providing various pet support services for the past few decades, there has been little demonstrable reduction in owner surrendered animals. Currently, many animal shelters use data collected at intake, such as surrender reasons, to create programs that aim to support pet owners to keep their pets. Join us as we dive deeper into this topic on April...
Join us in the rebrand for Bob “Clef” Schneider!
Apr 09, 2024 You may have seen him on the website, you may have seen him on social media. You may have even seen him on the Fierce Whiskers “Take Me Home” bottle of whiskey!! But Clef keeps getting passed by and we all keep wondering, what do we do to get this boy in his adoptive home? Why not try something new? 🎶”I have seen the end of the world and it looks like this.” Change is comin’ and Clef is ready to reinvent himself! He’s taken to Bob Schneider’s music to help him through his...
Did You Know Your Dog Needs Canine-Specific Probiotics?
“I started PetCultures to save Tango’s life after antibiotics he took to treat an infection decimated his gut health. I couldn’t find canine-specific probiotics, so I made some!” – Santiago Gelvez, founder of PetCultures. The right probiotics can have numerous health benefits for dogs. However, human probiotics that are often relabeled for dogs likely don’t survive the digestive tract. PetCultures has the most comprehensive and effective formulas of canine-specific probiotics around, and they’re...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection, DEI survey and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Supercharge your foster program with Maddie’s Monthly Foster ConnectionIf you’re looking to bring new ideas to your organizations foster program, then look no further than Maddie’s® Monthly Foster Connection. This monthly webcast held on the first Thursday of the month at 12PM PT/3PM ET is an opportunity to discuss successful foster innovations and programs, collaborate with others in the field, answer questions and… Learn More Take the...
Understanding and Managing Fear Periods in Puppy Development
Pet parents spend day and night doting on their new puppies, and it’s heartbreaking to see them afraid. But puppies go through fear periods, which are normal developmental stages in dogs that typically happen when they have a heightened sensitivity to a new experience. Fear periods are temporary but confusing, so let’s talk about how they impact puppy development and how you can help manage them. What Are Fear Periods? A fear period is a critical window in a puppy’s life when they’re more susceptible to fears due to...
Up Your Dog Training Game With High-Value Treats!
Dog training can be as rewarding as it can be frustrating, but you can reach your goals with a little patience, a lot of positive reinforcement, and a ton of high-value treats! Training a dog requires time, patience, and understanding, but one of the key ingredients is high-value treats! These tasty morsels encourage dogs to work, making training a breeze compared to using rewards your dog doesn’t care for. But what are high-value dog treats, why do they work, and how can you find what your dog likes? Let’s find out! What Are...
