the Intake – Details, episodes & analysis

Hill’s Pet Nutrition just released their 2024 State of Shelter Adoption Report, with data suggesting there could be gains in exploring our messaging to potential volunteers around foster opportunities.

The Association’s Katherine Shenar sat down with three animal welfare professionals who have headed exemplary foster programs that have seen big successes. Listen in as she talks about everything from removing barriers to volunteering to the value of short-term fostering with MSPCA-Angell’s Jacquie McKay, Emilee Smith from Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control, and Suzy Clayton, who created programs at both nonprofit and municipal agencies.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition just released their 2024 State of Shelter Adoption Report, and you may be surprised to learn that 1 in 3 people would be more likely to adopt if foster-to-adopt were an option at their shelter, or that 64% of respondents would foster if their costs were covered.

To capitalize on these insights and learn how to grow your foster program, listen in as The Association’s Katherine M. Shenar sits down with Kelly Furnas and Stephani Coe of Carrollton, TX-based Operation Kindness, who will offer tips and techniques they used to increase their foster program by 35% in a year.

Petfinder.com's Jessica Arnold pulls the curtain back and reveals an area where animal welfare groups are potentially most vulnerable - cyber security. Just like any other online retailer, nonprofit organization, or business, animal welfare organizations are susceptible to hacking and online fraud. Arnold shares her personal story of entering animal welfare work and provides a sneak peek of Petfinder's plan to keep members safer in this digital world. On December 7th, Arnold will facilitate a roundtable discussion at The Association's conference Cybersecurity in Animal Welfare.

A workplace built on constant response and hustle makes for a draining culture. José Ocaño from Best Friends Animal Society shares his observations about Hustle Culture and how animal welfare professionals can take control and escape this toxic environment. 

The new vice president for client strategy and success at One & All, DeSean Brown, shared his one bit of advice for fundraisers in animal welfare. It's not what you think but it makes so much sense.

Big brands get to have the biggest voices and attention, while organizations doing the most good are often overlooked. Nonprofit social impact orgs such as animal shelters can’t compete with the $$$$ budgets big brands dedicated to media buying, production, talent, product, creative, etc. So how can animal welfare fundraisers and marketers raise hell together, to shake it up and find new and innovative ways to increase donor support and drive sustainable revenue?

Hear from animal welfare leaders whose organizations have significantly increased engagement with their donors. Panelists will share their personal stories, lessons learned, and how partnership drove sustainable success, including how a shelter recently embarked on a 5-year plan to significantly increase its level of donor support.

Both marketers and fundraisers will gain insights and inspiration to create effective strategies. Questions from the audience will follow the roundtable discussion.

The Association’s Roundtable series features leaders discussing emerging and critical issues in animal welfare.

Moderated by Jim Tedford, President and CEO, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

The Roundtable Guests:

• Denise Wong, CEO, One & All
• Stephanie Ladeira, Chief of Philanthropy & Community Development, Humane Society Silicon Valley
• Angela Speed, Vice President of Communications, Wisconsin Humane Society

Research conducted by Petco Love confirmed that 1 in 3 pets in the United States will go missing in their lifetime. Petco Love has created a national database of lost and found pets to help ensure your pet will be reunited with you and your family. Hear from Petco Love President Susanne Kogut and Director of Lifesaving Chelsea Staley on how you can protect your furry family member from becoming a statistic. 

They invest in themselves! What should fundraisers focus on right now? How do fundraisers commit to professional growth? This conversation explores these ideas and offers reviews on the new fundraising certificate offered through The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. Whether you're new to fundraising or an experienced veteran, the new, self-paced Fundraising Certificate course helps you enhance your skills and focuses your professional development. Get ready to gain valuable skills on your own timeline. The Executive Fundraising Certificate for senior fundraisers and the Fundraising Certificate for newer professionals is sponsored and made possible by One & All.

The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and Pethealth Inc. are pleased to announce the 2020 recipient of the Diane & Bob Hoover Annual Innovation Award is Adan Parra and the team at El Paso Animal Services! Though they have multiple worthy initiatives, their focus on using technology to reunite more pets with their loving families was inspiring. Fueled by the creation of Lost and Found pet reports, El Paso’s Pet Finder Map is an interactive and comprehensive tool. It’s become a central location for the community to post a photo of their lost pet or view pets found. Congratulations, El Paso Animal Services! 

A new study from Banfield Pet Hospital® reveals an estimated 75 million pets in the U.S. may not have access to the veterinary care they need by 2030, with an important factor being a critical shortage of veterinarians. Further, with nearly 90% of veterinary professionals identifying as white according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need to not only increase the number of veterinary professionals in the U.S. but also diversify the talent pipeline is critical.  Dr. Chumkee Aziz guest hosts this episode of 'the Intake' and interviews Dr. Michael Blackwell of Align Care, a national effort to increase access to care for pets in the United States.