Building a community-based pet support program
Join us tomorrow, October 21 at 11AM PT/2PM ET for the latest Maddie’s Community Conversations, “Meeting People Where They Are: Building a Community-Based Pet Support Program” with Meg McAdam, founder and president of Human and Pet Initiative (HAPI). She will share what HAPI has learned about building trust, developing partnerships, and creating a practical outreach model that helps keep people and their pets together—and pets out of shelters. Many families who love and care for their pets are separated from animal...
The September Community Conversations grant recipients are…
Recently, Maddie’s Fund® awarded two organizations, at random, a grant for attending the September Weekly Community Conversations for a total of $10,000 in grants. Please join us in congratulating those who received a $5,000 grant for their organization: Hannah Baker, Hannah’s Wildlife Haven in Beaverton, MIWatched on-demand! June Thomas, Coalition of Animal Rescue Transporters in Little Rock, ARJoined live! In addition to the Community Conversation grants, one $3,000 grant was awarded for monthly participation on...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: The legacy of Rich Avanzino, access to care and more!
Happy Monday. Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. A man with a purpose: The enduring legacy of Rich AvanzinoThe animal well-being community lost a true visionary on September 20, 2026. Rich Avanzino, affectionately and widely known as the father of the ‘no-kill’ movement, passed away peacefully at the age of 84. While we mourn the loss of a remarkable leader, we also celebrate a remarkable life dedicated to transforming the animal… Learn More When people can’t access care, what happens to...
New grant opportunity from our sibling organization
We are thrilled to share a monumental announcement from our sibling organization, the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation (DCDF). Thirty years ago, Dave and Cheryl Duffield founded Maddie’s Fund®, which has transformed the well-being of shelter pets. Today, they officially launched the Duffield Big Bet for Pets, a historic $250 million commitment over the next five years to expand access to veterinary care for family pets across the country. This new initiative focuses on a growing crisis for family pets – the lack of access...
The August Community Conversations grant recipients are…
Recently, Maddie’s Fund® awarded two organizations, at random, a grant for attending the August Weekly Community Conversations for a total of $10,000 in grants. Please join us in congratulating those who received a $5,000 grant for their organization: Samantha Burnett, Nexus Animals in El Reno, OK Joseph Lovetro, Pets in Need in Redwood City, CA In addition to the Community Conversation grants, one $3,000 grant was awarded for monthly participation on Maddie’s® Pet Forum. Congrats to Christina Bollack from Chilton...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: New assessment tool, free Pet Spay/Neuter and Wellness Weekend and more!
Happy Monday. Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. New research and animal needs assessment tool from ASPCAIf you work in animal well-being, you know that families seeking help often have more than one challenge affecting their pets. New research from the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) explores how a structured Animal Needs Assessment tool can help community outreach teams identify the multiple, overlapping needs affecting pets… Learn More Free Pet Spay/Neuter and...
New research and animal needs assessment tool from ASPCA
If you work in animal well-being, you know that families seeking help often have more than one challenge affecting their pets. New research from the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) explores how a structured Animal Needs Assessment tool can help community outreach teams identify the multiple, overlapping needs affecting pets and their families, leading to more targeted support. From this research, the ASPCA developed a 10-item Animal Needs Assessment to systematically identify and...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Free Pet Spay/Neuter and Wellness Weekend, popular Community Conversations and more!
Happy Tuesday. Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Free Pet Spay/Neuter and Wellness Weekend Is Back to Bay Area September 25-27Twelve animal well-being organizations across the Bay Area are joining forces once again to provide free spay and neuter surgeries, vaccines, microchips and other essential veterinary services to pets through Champions for Pet Health: Communities Partnering for Wellness and Spay & Neuter. The three-day event will take place September 25–27, 2026, and is made...
The 5 most popular Community Conversations of the last 2 years
In its earliest form, Community Conversations launched in 2020 as a place for well-being professionals to collaborate and connect during the Covid pandemic, an unprecedented time in history. In 2022, it officially became “Community Conversations.” These 50-minute calls are a collaborative place to connect with peers in the industry, share exciting new programs and research on a variety of topics including foster, access to veterinary and behavior care, community partnerships and more. Plus, each month we award up to...
New courses available in Spanish and accessibility options on Maddie’s University
We’re excited to share that Maddie’s® University offers a growing number of self-paced courses in Spanish, on topics ranging from kitten bottle feeding, bringing a new dog home, shelter customer service and more! Below are the courses currently available in Spanish, with more in the works: Eliminando el Miedo a la Alimentación con Biberón y Cuidado Básico de Gatitos (Eliminating the Fear of Bottle Feeding and Basic Kitten Care) Llevando a un Nuevo Perro a Casa (Bringing a New Dog Home) Fundamentos de la...
