The Best Friends Podcast

Animal shelters across the country have been in a capacity crisis for the past two years due to rising intakes and adoptions that are simply not keeping pace with the number of animals coming in.At the 2023 Best Friends National Conference, speakers Tori Fugate and Misty Valenta told the audience during their session that by reframing the perspective to “never let a good crisis go to waste,” they allowed themselves the opportunity to try new and creative marketing that they never thought possible - and they say you can do it too.This week, we're sharing a session from this year's conference titled “Capacity Crisis Marketing.” You'll hear how Tori at KC Pet Project and Misty at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter publicized their shelter capacity to their communities while still promoting their pets, programs, and services. You'll hear unique ways to use different mediums to effectively communicate the current capacity of your shelter and engage your community to get involved. Through effective messaging on social media, email, text programs, and more, you'll continue to see support from your community, obtain media coverage, and ultimately save lives.To watch the video or to check out the slides for this presentation, visit the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-149

After a hiatus, we're excited for the return of the Best Friends Podcast! To catch up on what's been happening around the country since our last episode, we contacted the Chief Program Officer for Best Friends, Marc Peralta. We discussed what's happening regarding intake and outcomes in animal shelters and dug into the details around some less-than-helpful news articles that came out over the last few weeks. Marc also shares how, when times are tough, he leans on his experiences from the past 17 years in animal welfare.To access resources from this episode, check out the website: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-148

The animal welfare industry's approach to data has come a long way in the last few years. As a result, we understand more than ever the importance of tracking our lifesaving efforts and using that data to ensure we have the right resources in the right places to save the most lives. However, the processes and tools available to help collect and analyze data have been due for an upgrade. This week we focus on a newly launched platform that aims to help you take the way you use data to the next level. The Best Friends data science team designed the features of Shelter Pet Data Alliance. It includes automatically populated dashboards that quickly show you what you need to know and help you understand what you need to do to improve and how to do it.The Chief Mission Officer for Best Friends, Holly Sizemore, joins us this week to discuss this exciting new platform.Links:Shelter Pet Data Alliance: shelterpetdata.orgBest Friends Pet Lifesaving Dashboard: bestfriends.org/no-kill-2025/animal-shelter-statisticsBF Podcast episode 147: network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-147

Animal welfare is an ever-evolving field, and as our understanding grows, it stands to reason that the way we talk about our work should also change.When you realize the impact words can have, this carries more importance. For example, if we describe adoption returns as failures and publicly call adopters out for doing so, how likely is it that other adopters will return to us if they have issues?This week we sat down with two Best Friends staff members to get their take on words and terms we use in our work; the senior director of lifesaving programs for the east coast region, Makena Yarbrough, and the manager for the east coast region, John Graves.For resources related to this episode, check out our website: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-146

We know that planning for the unknown can be a challenge. That's why we're excited to share one of our newest resources, our Emergency Preparedness Toolkit.Geared towards individuals and organizations that focus on helping people and pets, such as animal shelters, rescues, boarding facilities, and veterinary clinics, the toolkit has everything you need to create a comprehensive emergency plan.The effects of a changing climate are impacting larger parts of the country more often. The toolkit's information, plan templates, assessments, task descriptions, and checklists will help you stay safe no matter what heads your way.Resources:Best Friends Emergency Preparedness Toolkit: https://network.bestfriends.org/education/operations/additional-education/emergency-preparedness-toolkitRegister now for the Best Friends national conference: https://bestfriends.org/conference. Use the discount code "PODCAST" to save $10 (Best Friends network partners receive a greater discount using the code delivered via email. Discount codes can not be stacked)

Since the Association of Shelter Veterinarians published it in 2010, the “Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters” has been an invaluable resource to shelters, rescues, and any organization that provides temporary care for animals nationwide.Ten years after its initial release, 19 shelter veterinarians formed a task force to update the guidelines. Their goal was to reflect the current reality in shelters and incorporate the latest science, expert consensus, and programmatic knowledge. The result is a comprehensive set of guidelines everyone can use to assess and improve their operations.This week we speak with two shelter veterinarians about the updated guidelines and how they can help you in your work; Dr. Lena DeTar, who served on the task force as an editor, and the medical director for Best Friends, Dr. Erin Katribe.For more resources related to this episode, check out the website: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-144Read the companion program spotlight on the Best Friends Network website: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/program-spotlights/asv-releases-updated-guidelines-standards-care-animal-sheltersThe inaugural Best Friends National Action Week for Animals is coming soon! Visit this link to learn more and sign up to take part: https://bestfriends.org/advocacy/national-action-week

We know how difficult it is to find veterinary services nationwide, but there's another shortage impacting animal welfare right now. Dog trainers are also in short supply.Behavior is one of the top reasons that dogs are surrendered to shelters, and undesirable behavior can be challenging to overcome in a hectic shelter environment. And as communities increase their lifesaving efforts and save more pets coming into the shelter, resources can be applied to saving the animals with more challenges, including behavior. As a result, the need for skilled dog trainers is only growing.Enter Goodpup, a virtual training solution that offers access to dog trainers anywhere they're needed, including shelters and rescues, thanks to their partnership program. To learn more about the platform and its special offer for Best Friends network partners, we spoke with Goodpup's manager of shelter partnerships, Allie Mayer.Check out the website for resources related to this episode: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-143

We always love hearing from listeners, especially when we hear that the podcast has helped you be more effective in your lifesaving work. This is why we loved receiving the email about the significant changes happening at Secondhand Hounds.Rachel Mairose, the founder of the Minneapolis-based rescue organization, listened to episode 67 of The Best Friends Podcast, "If "nobody's perfect," then why do we expect all pet adopters to be?" She says that the episode (with guest Lawrence Nicolas) helped her realize that their adoption process wasn't as inclusive as it could be and that set a new way of handling their adoption process in motion.This week we chat with Rachel to learn more about the changes underway at her organization and how she's managing those changes in policy with their staff, volunteers, and donors.To learn how you can remove roadblocks to adoption by implementing more inclusive adoption practices, check out the website for this episode: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-142

In the colder parts of the country, warmer temperatures are starting to melt the snow and offer a hint of the spring season to come. But for those in animal welfare, you know that spring isn't the only season starting soon - springtime also means it's kitten season.The warmer weather, longer days, and more widely available food sources all help intact female cats know it's time to get busy - and that also means shelters and rescues are busy with requests for help.The youngest orphaned kittens may only be a few days old when they land at shelters and are the most vulnerable. Their round-the-clock needs and fragility make saving them more resource-intensive, resources many communities still lack. Yet, there are people and organizations focused solely on them, like this week's guest, Andee Bingham, the executive director of Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance in Asheville, North Carolina.For more resources related to saving neonatal kittens, check out our website: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-140Learn more about Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance on their website: kittenalliance.org

Nonprofit boards can come in different shapes and sizes, each often taking its own approach in the ways they support the organization. But let's be honest, sometimes support isn't the most accurate word to use for certain boards.There are many reasons why boards become ineffective, but the responsibility of a board is a vital one, and board members' contributions can make a lasting impact. This week we're talking more about boards and revisiting this conversation we had with Trish Tolbert in May. Check out Liz Finch's latest program spotlight, "building a better board of directors," to hear the perspectives of more industry leaders: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/program-spotlights/building-better-board-directorsThe website for The Best Friends Podcast includes more resources and information on how you organization can become a Best Friends network partner: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-140

The period to submit proposals to speak at the 2023 Best Friends National Conference is now open! Check out this link for more information on the requirements, timeline, and how to submit: https://bfas.io/NiEMTo get us started for 2023, we take a moment to think about the year ahead. What has happened over the last few weeks and months that can help us plan for what's coming next?Do we expect intake to continue rising at the pace it did through 2022? Will adoptions pick up and at least keep pace with intake? What about the impact of other factors within animal welfare and beyond, such as the economy?The senior director of lifesaving programs for Best Friends, Brent Toellner, looked at the data and trends and shared what he thinks the year ahead may look like in this week's episode.For more resources related to this episode, check out the website for The Best Friends Podcast: bestfriends.org/podcast

This is the final episode of the year! And what a year it has been.Across the country, shelters struggled to manage increases in intake, and while adoptions also increased, the boost in positive outcomes couldn't keep pace. That resulted in many folks in our industry being more overwhelmed than usual (which is saying something). We want to thank you for everything you do to help pets and those who love them.It's important always to show gratitude and celebrate wins. However, it's even more important when times are tough. So as we say farewell to 2022, we're celebrating the success our Best Friends Network Partners achieved during the four Best Friends National Adoption Weekend events we held in 2022, during which more than 35,000 pets found homes.We asked our partners to share their experiences with us, and we're sharing them with you. See you in 2023!Want to be a guest on The Best Friends Podcast? Send us an email: podcast@bestfriends.orgCheck out the website for more information about the guests you heard this week: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-138

It's that time, once again, when we take a moment to reflect on the year (and podcast), that was. 2022 was challenging in many ways, and the 42 episodes from this year reflect that. Topics ranged from staffing and pay inequity to marketing during a crisis. We talked about working with elected officials - with who better than actual elected officials! We welcomed 62 guests who represented various organizations and companies, in and out of animal welfare. And to top it all off, we passed the 100,000 download milestone in the fall! But as we've said before and will no doubt say again, this podcast is nothing without you. So on behalf of all of us at the Best Friends Network, thank you for everything you do each day to save the lives of pets, and we can't wait to see what you do in 2023.The Best Friends Podcast Ep. 100 - Reducing pay inequality w/ Julie Castle: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-100The Best Friends Podcast Ep. 104 - Lifesaving success favors the bold: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-104The Best Friends Podcast Ep. 108 - Saving lives in rural America w/ Cole Wakefield: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-108The Best Friends Podcast Ep. 112 - Marketing during a crisis w/ KC Pet Project's Tori Fugate: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-112The Best Friends Podcast Ep. 124 - Scott Stratten: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-124The Best Friends Podcast Ep. 133 - A radical transformation at the York County SPCA: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-133

Housing issues are the second most common reason people surrender pets to shelters. If not priced out by exorbitant pet deposits or monthly pet-ownership fees, arbitrary restrictions around species, breed, and size can often force a pet owner to make the worst choice imaginable.And while it may be easy to think, "I could never do that. I would just find another apartment," consider that there may not be another apartment. Experts say we are millions of housing units short of what we need to meet demand. The critically short supply creates greater demand, often making a landlord's policies more restrictive and monthly rents more expensive.Federal, state, and local governments are considering solutions such as tax credits and rent control, but these measures often lack pet-inclusive language. Since two-thirds of Americans own pets, any reforms that don't consider equal access for pet owners will potentially put millions of people and pets in peril.This week we catch up with the national manager of housing initiatives for Best Friends, Elizabeth Oreck, as she shares good news out of California about a new bill aiming to keep low-income renters - and their pets - safe and housed.For the housing and advocacy related resources mentioned this week, check out the website for this episode : https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-135

It's been a challenging year for animal shelters and rescue organizations across the country. Lifesaving gains made during the COVID pandemic seemed to disappear for many as a new set of external factors played havoc with the animal welfare industry. Those lifesaving gains certainly seemed to disappear, but did they? Anecdotal stories from scores of individual organizations say some version of the same thing; that intake is up, and positive outcomes are down. Many say that adopters are simply not coming into their facilities as they have in the past, and there are more requests for help with pet relinquishment than ever. But what does the data show?This week we hear from the Senior Director of Lifesaving Programs at Best Friends, Brent Toellner. He analyzed the numbers from hundreds of organizations to put our current reality in perspective. For more resources related to this topic and others discussed this week, check out the website: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-135Check out Brent's editorial that has the numbers and more details talked about in today's episode: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/editorials/reality-todays-shelter-strugglesThe next Best Friends National Adoption weekend is happening December 9th through the 11th, and the registration period is closing soon. Get your organization registered right now: https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/events/best-friends-national-adoption-eventShare your experience with us! Is your intake up or down? What about your adoptions, are folks still coming in to find their next pet? Send us an email: podcast@bestfriends.org

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day, so we're taking a moment to thank all members of the military, active duty and veteran, for their service. We're also using this as an opportunity to learn more about Dogs on Deployment, one of our Best Friends Network partners whose work directly impacts those who are and have served the nation.Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say, and that was the case with the nonprofit organization Dogs on Deployment.President and co-founder Alisa Johnson joined the Marine Corps in 2011, serving ten years as a KC-130J pilot. Her husband Shawn, also a pilot (in the US Navy), found themselves struggling to find options for the care of their dog JD during months-long deployments. After ruling out expensive options like boarding and professional dog sitters, they found a family member who agreed to care for JD for the six months Alisa was training at Quantico. An ideal situation, but no doubt a lucky one.They wondered how many other service members find themselves in that same predicament. What about those who don't have family able to help? What happens to those pets?DoD's nationwide network of patriotic foster homes ensures the human-animal bond stays intact when a military pet owner answers the call of duty. Over the years, the organization's work has grown to support veterans and first responders, not only with temporary fostering.If your work involves keeping pets and pet owners together, this is one resource you will want to have in your arsenal.Check out more on The Best Friends Podcast website: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-134

When the York County SPCA (YCSPCA) hired a new executive director at the end of 2019, it set in motion plans to transform how the organization operated. To reach and sustain a 90% save rate of animals coming into the shelter, Steven Martinez knew success in his new role would require executing an audacious strategic plan focused on five pillars of change. By overhauling the IT infrastructure, implementing a community cat program, revamping the adoption processes, and improving internal and external communications, the YCSPCA proved that going big isn't just a bold strategy - it can be a winning one. This week we hear from Steven about the last three years as he shares what he feels were the keys to their success and his advice about how your organization can go about its radical transformation. Send us an email: podcast@bestfriends.org LINKS: Read more about the transformation in this week's program spotlight on the Best Friends Network website: https://bit.ly/3eKwu1x (https://bit.ly/3eKwu1x) Watch the video of Steven's presentation at the 2022 Best Friends National Conference on youtube: https://bit.ly/3VIXNKr (https://bit.ly/3VIXNKr) Download a PDF version of the presentation slide deck: https://bit.ly/3MN5xa6 (https://bit.ly/3MN5xa6) The Best Friends National Conference is happening Aug 10-12 in Houston, Texas: https://bit.ly/3LhDUVT (https://bit.ly/3LhDUVT) For more resources, check out this episode on The Best Friends Podcast website: https://bit.ly/3VH6KUy (https://bit.ly/3VH6KUy)

You know those super viral animal-related articles you see all your friends sharing on your social media feeds? You know the ones. Headlines like this one on TODAY.com, “couple creates humongous bed so they can sleep comfortably with eight rescue dogs.” What about this story on The Dodo, “pit bull obsessed with cats gets his litter of kittens.” This week's guest wrote those and hundreds of other articles during her time as the animal welfare editor at The Huffington Post and as a freelance journalist. Arin Greenwood's work has told the stories of hundreds of people and their pets and the inspiring work of animal shelters and rescue organizations worldwide. However, her work isn't all stories about dogs riding one-eyed ponies in the middle of the night (yes, https://bit.ly/3rQrNGD (that is real)). One of her pieces in The Washington Post helped elevate the conversation around arbitrarily stringent adoption policies. She's moved on from her role at The Huffington Post, but she continues to write about animal welfare, and her most recent novel, Your Robot Dog Will Die, has received acclaim from critics (and, if all goes well, it may be coming soon to the small screen!). This week we learn more about Arin and her career as a journalist and writer, both on and offline. She also shares many tips on writing compelling stories of your own and creating and maintaining relationships with journalists. IMPORTANT LINKS: Read the wrap-up of the incredibly successful national adoption weekend event in September: https://bit.ly/3S05b0P (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/program-spotlights/most-successful-adoption-weekend-yet) Register your network partner organization to take part in the next adoption weekend event taking place in December: https://bit.ly/3AvfZ1u (https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/events/best-friends-national-adoption-event ) For more resources related to this topic, check out our website: https://bit.ly/3TgEB4E (bestfriends.org/podcast)

The field of animal welfare can be physically and mentally grueling. At times, it may feel like there is no end in sight with so many requests for help. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, not every story has a happy ending. The data backs up our feelings about how hard this work is on our mental health. For example, a 2015 study showed the suicide rates for animal welfare workers to be the highest among all professions - including law enforcement. Thankfully, there are effective strategies to help you manage the challenging emotions that inevitably come with doing this work. https://bit.ly/3fNbMOO (Elizabeth Fagan) is a psychotherapist who works with companies and nonprofits, including animal welfare agencies, to help their staff manage trauma experienced while on the job. She joins us this week to help us understand more about how the rigors of animal welfare work impact us and what we can do about it. Check out The Best Friends Podcast website for resources mentioned in today's episode and more: https://bit.ly/3Mc1Fz8 (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-131)

When looking for practical tips and inspiration to help you save lives, chances are you've never sought out reality television for answers. But according to this week's guest, animal welfare professionals can learn much from "The Real Housewives." Makena Yarbrough is not only the Senior Director of Lifesaving Programs at Best Friends, but she's also a self-professed superfan of the reality TV franchise. Using the show as inspiration, she created a presentation for the 2022 Best Friends National Conference that points out that a lot of the struggles in the show are things we face every day. If you are in an area affected by Hurricane Ian and need help, or if you are outside of the area and able to help, please email: seregion@bestfriends.org For resources on today's topic, guest bios, and more, check out the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://bit.ly/3y2RU0z (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-130)

Transport has been a critical lifesaving program for many years. Animals from under-resourced communities overwhelmed with homeless pets are transported to another where they have the opportunity for a positive outcome. This supply and demand model has saved millions of lives. The goal isn't solely to save the lives of the animals that can fit on that transport vehicle. Reducing the sending shelter's population helps to relieve the pressure and allows the sending organization to focus on implementing programs and strategies to reduce their reliance on transport over time. But the financial costs and the process of finding partner organizations can make implementing a transport program challenging. And the potential spread of infectious diseases requires using best-practice protocols to ensure the health and safety of the pets in the receiving community. This week, we hear from two experts - one from the programs side and the other a veterinarian - to talk through what you need to do to ensure you're transporting responsibly. For resources related to lifesaving transport programs, check out the website: https://bit.ly/3dxKV8D (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-129)

Are you a risk taker? The decisions we make in animal welfare are often fraught with risk. If for no other reason than our work involves the lives of people and pets. It's natural for even the most seasoned risk-taker to experience doubts. During the 2022 https://bit.ly/3LhDUVT (Best Friends National Conference), 20 speakers had seven minutes each to share a story about how they stepped out of their comfort zone and took a risk. Some shared stories of risky programmatic decisions, while others were more personal, but they were all inspiring. The audience voted on their favorites, and five speakers earned a $1,000 grant from https://bit.ly/3RQ93lK (Petco Love). The other 15 speakers received $500 each from Best Friends to put towards their work. This week, we're sharing a selection of the presentations with you. We know their stories will move you - maybe to take risks of your own - when you hear your courageous peers' stories about the risks they took. Time is running out to participate in the Best Friends National Big Dog Campaign. The deadline to register is September 16th: https://bit.ly/3qEZDxC (https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/events/national-big-dog-campaign) Is your organization a Best Friends network partner? Check out this link to learn more about the partner program, to see the requirements, and register: https://bit.ly/3ApfXZf (https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/become-network-partner)

It's not unusual for an organization to drift away from its mission statement, purpose, and goals. Over time, the landscape in a community can change to the point that the animals your organization was founded to help don't need that help as they once did. In Carrolton, Texas, the leadership of https://bit.ly/3qpxnyQ (Operation Kindness) knew their organization was already doing lots of great work. Still, they wondered if they were doing the right work to save the most lives. They knew they wanted to be more direct in supporting Dallas Animal Services and other regional municipal shelters, so they made several tough decisions, including launching a neonatal kitten nursery. Managing change of any scale can be overwhelming and scary. Especially when those changes depart from what an organization has done successfully for some time. This week, we hear from Kelly Furnas, the COO of Operation Kindness, about their lifesaving transformation. Check out the website for more information about this episode: https://bit.ly/3RMk8UC (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-127) Read the two-part program spotlight on this topic on the Best Friends Network website: Part one: https://bit.ly/3DbRdFE (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/program-spotlights/reconsidering-your-mission-part-i) Part two: https://bit.ly/3B4Yl3B (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/program-spotlights/reconsidering-your-mission-part-2)

Today is September 1st, which means you can now submit your proposals for a Rachael Ray Save Them All grant. To mark the occasion, we are looking back at an episode that featured a program that received funding during a previous cycle. Gateway Pet Guardians in East St. Louis developed the Unicorn Foster Squad program to address a common problem - a lack of foster homes for behaviorally challenging dogs. This week, we hear from Brittany Fleming more about how this program came to be and how successful it has been in saving lives. Learn more about the Rachael Ray Save Them All grants and submit your proposal: https://bit.ly/3Q4TAwt (https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/partner-perks/best-friends-partner-exclusives/rachael-ray-grants-menu)

Making landfall five years ago today, Hurricane Harvey was one of the most destructive storms in American history, but its strength was not an aberration. It was a sign of things to come as the changing climate is creating more weather-related disasters and making storms, wildfires, and floods more dangerous. That's why it's important to have plans for what to do during an emergency or disaster, both for yourself and your organization. To learn more about creating effective plans, we spoke with the senior manager of emergency services for Best Friends, Sharon Hawa. Registration for this year's Strut Your Mutt is now open. If you are with a Network Partner, https://bit.ly/3KoosGY (click here). If you are an individual looking to take part, https://bit.ly/3PYNWfC (click here). Check out the website for this episode: https://bit.ly/3pJsm3J (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-125)

This week we're sharing the interview we did with one of the keynote speakers at this year's Best Friends National Conference, Scott Stratten. Scott is a prolific author and speaker. As the founder of UnMarketing, he's helped millions understand how to create community and connection through their marketing efforts in the digital age. We talk about UnMarketing, building relationships with the public, and how a leader's connection to their staff can impact the bottom line. The next National Adoption Weekend event is happening from September 16th through the 18th, and registration is now open. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3AvfZ1u (https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/events/best-friends-national-adoption-event)

Love or hate it; politics is a part of our work in animal welfare. Laws, ordinances, and regulations - or the lack of them - can impact our ability to save lives positively and negatively. For example, some communities have laws that consider feral cats to be abandoned. That means a TNVR program (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) may mean you run afoul of that law anytime you take the last step of that process by returning the newly fixed, vaccinated cat to where they were found. But these are tumultuous times, and elected officials are faced with massive issues such as policing, budgets, housing, and everything else we're dealing with in this post-pandemic world. Ensuring you are working with your lawmakers in the best way possible may determine whether your issue passes or fails. This week we chatted with current Nashville, Tennessee district councilmember Kathleen Murphy, and former Tennessee State Representative Eric Swafford, both of whom are Best Friends legislative and advocacy team members. Resources: Read about the results of the smashing success of July's National Adoption Weekend event: https://bit.ly/3diIA0R (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/program-spotlights/second-national-adoption-weekend-results-nearly-10000-animals) Become a Best Friends network partner: https://bit.ly/3ApfXZf (https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/become-network-partner) For more resources on this topic, and photos and bios for this week's guests, check out the website for this episode: https://bit.ly/3BZuqfh (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-123)

Since 2017, the partnership between The Rachael Ray Foundation and Best Friends has supported Best Friends Network Partners through millions of dollars in grants to help reduce shelter deaths in communities across the country. The funded projects over the years have varied. Some focused on increasing lifesaving within one shelter. Others used the grant to fund programs to help other communities beyond their own. But they have all shared the same goal of impactful, innovative, and inclusive programming that is helping us get to No-Kill 2025. The grant cycle opens on September 1st, 2022, so this week, we're taking a closer look at the Rachael Ray grants program. What grants are available, who is eligible to receive funding, and what types of programs have received funding in the past? We spoke with Bethany Heins, the director of strategy and network operations for Best Friends, to learn more about the basics, and we also chatted with Ashley Flores from the Great Plains SPCA in Merriam, Kansas. Ashley tells us about their virtual behavior mentorship program - an idea that took flight after they received a Rachael Ray grant in 2022. Interested in taking the Great Plains SPCA's three-week virtual course on building a sustainable behavior program? Follow this link for more information: https://bit.ly/3zxcvdg (https://www.greatplainsspca.org/programs/behavior-training/building-a-sustainable-behavior-program) For more resources related to this episode, check out the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://bit.ly/3QkrqhH (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-122)

This week registration opened for the Return to Home Challenge. During October, participating organizations that handle lost/stray dogs and cats will take their efforts to get lost pets back home to the next level. Using simple practices such as microchipping, making information on lost pets easily accessible by the public, and educating the community's pet owners on what to do to ensure their pet has the best chance of getting home should they go missing. It's also about educating the community on how they can be part of the solution for any lost pets they find.   The strategies can save time, money, and of course, lives, and there's $300,000 in grant money available to participating organizations. Seventeen national organizations are sponsoring this challenge, including Best Friends. Registration closes on August 1st, so time is of the essence for you to sign up: https://www.maddiesfund.org/return-to-home-challenge-best-friends.htm (https://www.maddiesfund.org/return-to-home-challenge-best-friends.htm) To talk more about the challenge and the strategies that can help you get more pets back home more quickly, we spoke with Gina Knepp, the national shelter engagement director for the Michelson Found Animals Foundation.  Check out the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://bestfriends.org/podcast (https://bestfriends.org/podcast)

During this year's Best Friends National Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, we interviewed several industry leaders for the podcast. This week we're sharing our conversation with Alexis Pugh, the director of Memphis Animal Services. We talk about the state of animal welfare in Southwest Tennessee during this challenging time in the industry and what they're doing to meet the needs of people and pets in the community. Check out the consumer adoption survey editorial mentioned in the episode: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/editorials/factors-impacting-pet-acquisition (network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/editorials/factors-impacting-pet-acquisition) The website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://bestfriends.org/podcast (bestfriends.org/podcast)

The Best Friends 2021 Lifesaving Dataset showed that over the last year, adoptions did not keep pace with the increase in the number of cats and dogs entering shelters. Unfortunately, that trend has continued into 2022, and with many around the country experiencing the same issues, transports are happening less frequently, adding to the strain on animal shelters. We wanted to learn more about the public's attitudes towards pet adoption during this turbulent time. Have we hit a national saturation point of pet ownership? Are external factors like the economy and housing issues to blame? For those who still want to add a new pet to their family, where are they acquiring them from? To find out more, Best Friends Animal Society commissioned a survey and gathered insights from hundreds of members of the public who considered acquiring a pet or did acquire a pet in the past 12 months. This week we sit down with the director of strategy and network operations for Best Friends, Bethany Heins. She shares the results, and we discuss how to use the insights to ensure you're maximizing your adoptions. Check out the survey results and access the full analysis: https://network.bestfriends.org/research-data/research/consumer-adoption-survey (https://network.bestfriends.org/research-data/research/consumer-adoption-survey) Visit the website for episode 119 of The Best Friends Podcast: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-119 (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-119)

It's the return of the Best Friends National Conference! Animal welfare professionals from across the country (and beyond!) have made their way to Raleigh, North Carolina, for our first in-person conference since the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 event. This year we're in Raleigh, North Carolina. Like the previous host communities, such as Atlanta, Dallas, Atlantic City, and North Carolina are important to the animal welfare movement. We can't tell North Carolina's story in just one episode, but with the conference kicking off today, we thought we could offer a little context about the state and its lifesaving story. To learn more, we spoke with native North Carolinian John Graves, a strategist for the east region at Best Friends. Check out this episode on the Best Friends Network website for resources related to this episode and more: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-118 (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-118)

As we begin the final preparations for the 2022 Best Friends National Conference happening next week, we sit down with one of this year's speakers, the director of lifesaving centers for the east region, Fraily Rodriguez.  Fraily started in animal welfare with the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando in 2006. Over the next 15 years, he did just about everything there is to do in this field, becoming the COO of the organization, where he dramatically reduced intakes into the organization's two shelters by implementing programs to keep people and pets together. He's passionate, intelligent, funny, eternally upbeat, and just an all-around great guy! Learn more about this innovative animal welfare leader, hear what Fraily loves the most about the work, and what he would do if he could change anything with the snap of his fingers. Check out more resources related to this episode: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-117 (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-117) Got a story to tell? Email us: podcast@bestfriends.org

The Best Friends National Adoption Weekend is coming up July 22nd-24th. This network partner exclusive event helps organizations like yours adopt more animals. To learn more about the event and to register, check out this link: https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/events/best-friends-national-adoption-event (https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/events/best-friends-national-adoption-event) To get us all geared up for the adoption event, we're dipping into the archives to revisit one of our favorite adoption-themed episodes. Every time someone chooses to adopt an animal, we have the opportunity to positively change that person's life and save an animal's life. So why do we still put up so many barriers that make adopting an animal so unreasonably difficult? The reasons to deny a pet adoption are as vast as they are inane. Sometimes it's because of age (of the adopter and/or the pet). Others because they are a renter, while another potential adopter may own a home, a fenceless yard can lead to rejection. Some organizations go so far as asking if you plan to have children anytime in the next decade. Unfortunately, this often grueling and unnecessarily invasive adoption process does little to determine how much a pet will be cared for and drives good people away from our lifesaving work. This week we speak with Lawrence Nicolas, the Chief Operating Officer for the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach, Florida (currently, he is the COO of the Jacksonville Humane Society in Florida). Lawrence tells us about their open adoption process that sends roughly 6,000 animals to new homes each year while maintaining a return rate of under 4 percent. Check out the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast (bestfriends.org/podcast)

The animal welfare field is full of incredible people doing extraordinary things to save lives. This week we chatted with one of them, the regional strategist for the south-central region at Best Friends, Dr. Louiza Chan. In her role at Best Friends, Louiza consults with organizations across several states to help them save more lives. She's a veterinarian, she's from Australia, and she is a faculty member at the University of Florida's veterinary shelter medicine online program. Are you attending the conference and interested in being a guest on the podcast? Email us and let us know! podcast@bestfriends.org

When saving shelter pets' lives, you can't know what's working or not if you're not tracking your efforts. So in 2016, Best Friends began an ambitious project to create the most comprehensive and accurate dataset tracking the lifesaving efforts happening in shelters across America. Since we began collecting the data in 2016, the number of animals unnecessarily losing their lives in shelters has steadily decreased. But there were many questions about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected our lifesaving work. Would the number of pets entering shelters rise as the world tries to return to normal? How would the staffing crisis and the challenging economic period in 2021 impact our ability to save lives? This week we welcome the senior director of lifesaving programs for Best Friends, Brent Toellner, back to talk through the headlines from the 2021 dataset. Check out the full dataset at the pet lifesaving dashboard: https://bestfriends.org/no-kill-2025/animal-shelter-statistics (https://bestfriends.org/no-kill-2025/animal-shelter-statistics)

As we talked about in last week's episode, many communities across the country are struggling as they try to deal with crisis levels of shelter capacity. More pets than usual are coming in, and while adoptions are up in many places, they're just not keeping the pace with the rising intake levels. Successful communities know that they need the community to help them save lives, so they are transparent, sharing the good, the bad, and even the ugly because that sharing engages people in the mission. An engaged community is a lifesaving community. To dive into transparency a bit deeper, this week, we're sharing a Best Friends Network town hall. “Using transparency to empower and support your community” was moderated by Executive Director of Best Friends in Utah, Michelle Dosson. You can watch the video version of this town hall and see resources related to the topic of transparency here: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-113 (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-113) The Best Friends National Conference is happening July 7th-9th in Raleigh, North Carolina. Check out the agenda, the list of speakers, and information on how to register here: https://bestfriends.org/events/best-friends-national-conference (https://bestfriends.org/events/best-friends-national-conference)

Many animal shelters across the country are struggling right now. In most areas, intake is up, and positive outcomes are down. With other factors impacting our industry, such as staffing issues and the economy, what is happening is nothing short of a crisis. If you are experiencing this, you know that it can be hard to maintain lifesaving when the number of animals coming in doesn't slow down. Creating compelling content for the public and the media is a vital piece of the puzzle to getting the animals in your care out into foster and adoptive homes. One community that has found ways to maintain its impressive live release rate is Kansas City, Missouri. This week we spoke with Tori Fugate, the chief communications officer for KC Pet Project, about how they've managed to keep up the lifesaving pace. We want to hear from you. How is your community doing right now? Share your story with us. You may be featured on a future episode! Email: podcast@bestfriends.org Check out resources from this episode by visiting the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-112 (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-112)

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected our lives in many ways, and it seems to have transformed the American workforce. Last year the experts dubbed the shifting economy “the great resignation” as millions of workers left the workforce during the pandemic. Now, thanks to more data, the experts say this period has become “the great reshuffle.” Millions of workers are still leaving their jobs each month, but the data shows that the majority of people are not leaving the workforce for good. Instead, people are seeking new careers, often in new fields, working for companies that can offer great benefits, flexibility, and a positive internal culture that values them and their contributions. That means there is more competition than ever when it comes to finding and retaining your staff at a time when no shelter or rescue organization can afford to lose anyone. So this week, our guests share some insight on how you can gain the hiring edge. We want to hear from you about your staffing situation. Are you fully staffed? Are you struggling to find and retain workers? Share your story with us. You may be featured on a future episode! Email: podcast@bestfriends.org Check out resources from this episode by visiting the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-111 (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-111)

This week we're talking about an important but often underutilized and sometimes dysfunctional component of every nonprofit organization - the board of directors. Boards can take on different forms, but all boards of directors provide a governance role. Sometimes (most often in the case of small organizations), the board can be a "working board," where members take on operational responsibilities on top of the governance duties. No matter the approach, board members play an essential role in the oversight of organizations, such as fiduciary duties, leading the strategic planning, and supporting the organization's management. With the programmatic shifts in the industry and issues such as the economy affecting all of us, now more than ever, animal welfare organizations need board members who are ready and willing to step up to the challenge. We chatted with the senior specialist with the Best Friends national embed team, Trish Tolbert, to learn more about boards. We want to hear from you about your boards. What's working, and what's not? You may be featured on a future episode. Email: podcast@bestfriends.org Check out resources from this episode by visiting the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-110 (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-110)

The pandemic stopped many things in our personal and professional lives, including animal welfare conferences. We were lucky to have virtual options to help tide us over, but there's something different about being together in person. So with in-person travel and meetings starting to come back, there's a good chance you will be attending a conference this year. As it's been a while, you may be feeling overwhelmed at the thought of it all. We know we are!  We thought we'd ask some of the wisest professionals in animal welfare for their tips on how to get the most out of your conference experiences.  Are you interested in attending the 2022 Best Friends National Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina? To see the schedule, speakers, travel information, and more, check out the website: https://bestfriends.org/conference (bestfriends.org/conference)

Helping people and pets in rural America comes with many challenges. For example, how do you offer even the most basic veterinary services when there are no vets who can help within 100 miles, and buying a transport van is a pipe dream? How do you recruit new foster homes when you've already asked everyone in town? Reassigning staff to support new programs can be a valuable strategy, but how can you when overburdened employees already perform several roles - everything from animal care to adoptions, volunteer coordinator, and fundraiser? What are the best practices in rural shelters, and how do they differ from those in larger communities? And what can we all do to support the lifesaving organizations in those communities? Learning from those who have found ways to overcome the obstacles is a good place to start! This week, we head to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to speak with the executive director for the Good Shepherd Humane Society, Cole Wakefield, to learn more about what it's like to save lives in the Ozarks. For more lifesaving resources related to this episode, check out the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://bestfriends.org/podcast (bestfriends.org/podcast)

Most estimates say that the number of lost pets each year is roughly 10 million. One in every three pets will be lost at some point. These staggering statistics are more than just numbers on a page - each one is a pet with a loving family desperate to find them and bring them home safely. Unfortunately, the number of lost pets in shelters which make it home is very low. The number of lost dogs getting home has improved in the last few years, but the odds of a lost owned cat in a shelter being reunited with its owner is just 2%. This week we're focusing on lost cats and how we can improve our strategies to get more of them back home. We spoke with someone who has helped thousands of cats get home, Pet Detective Kim Freeman To learn more about Kim, check out her website: https://www.lostcatfinder.com/ (lostcatfinder.com) You can find resources related to this episode on The Best Friends Podcast website: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-107 (network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-107)

Last week we heard all about the Best Friends shelter collaborative program. This peer-based mentorship model pairs up shelters with a track record of lifesaving success with shelters in need of the expertise and support a knowledgeable mentor can offer. Best Friends is planning to grow the shelter collaborative program this year, but you don't need to be officially part of this program to pair up and save lives. This week we hear from Shelbi Waters, the executive director of https://svaspets.com/ (Souris Valley Animal Shelter) in Minot, North Dakota, and Kasey Renteria, the executive director of https://ardmoreanimalshelter.org/ (Ardmore Animal Shelter) in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Hear how these two leaders forged a relationship that will save the lives of dogs and cats for years to come. Check out the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://bestfriends.org/podcast (bestfriends.org/podcast)

Collaboration comes in many forms. Maybe the most common type of collaboration in our work is through a coalition—an often large group comprised of stakeholders teaming up to achieve a broader, shared goal of community-wide success. Another approach to working together is the Best Friends shelter collaborative program, where strategic matches are made between two organizations. One shelter that has a proven track record of achieving and sustaining the 90% benchmark is paired with a shelter that is still working its way toward the goal. It's all about judgment-free support, driven by the shared goal of saving every pet that can be saved. Next week we'll hear from two different organizations currently in this program. This week we get the details from Carrie Ducote, the national senior strategist with the shelter collaborative team at Best Friends. You can reach out to the shelter collaborative team by email: sheltercollaborative [AT] bestfriends [DOT] org Check out the podcast website: https://bestfriends.org/podcast (bestfriends.org/podcast)

It's not easy to take risks, especially if you're someone who prefers the familiar. But believing that change isn't necessary because “this is how we've always done it” can be detrimental to your lifesaving efforts. Our field is constantly evolving, and to save as many lives as possible, we have to be willing to try new approaches, even when that means going beyond our comfort zone. This week we're joined by two risk-takers, Stacy Rogers and Makena Yarbrough from Best Friends. We talk about why it's so important to take risks and how to do it smartly. Share your stories with us of when taking risks resulted in success (and failure). You could be featured in an upcoming episode! Email: podcast@bestfriends.org Check out the website for The Best Friends Podcast: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast (bestfriends.org/podcast)

Community-supported sheltering is being talked about a lot right now, but it's not a fad. Instead, it's a natural shift in modern sheltering, as we go beyond the walls of our organizations and engage the myriad stakeholders to help us save more lives. When the shelter, field services, government, rescue organizations, the public, social service organizations, and others come together to save lives, it's not only a beautiful thing. It's a recipe that can help you achieve and sustain your lifesaving. This week we're sharing a recent Best Friends Network town hall that focused on community-supported sheltering, what it is all about, and how you can engage new partners and the public in your mission to save lives. Register for the next Best Friends Network town hall, "Using transparency to empower and support your community" here: https://bit.ly/3643ZY6 (https://bit.ly/3643ZY6)

This week is part two from our conversation with Julie Castle, the CEO of Best Friends (if you missed part one that focused on pay inequality, check that out here: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-100 (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-100)). This part of the interview seemed to be especially fitting this week, given the events in animal welfare and the world-at-large, as Julie talks about hope, Jane Goodall, and the power of belief.

This week we're dipping into the archives to revisit one of our earliest episodes, and one that is also one of the most downloaded ever. So if you caught this the first time or not, we encourage you to give this one a listen. It was June of 2020, and the nation was gripped by racial tension and division exacerbated by the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man in Minneapolis. Days of protests and demonstrations in all fifty states demanded an end to police brutality. It underscored the dire need to take action to break down institutionalized racism and the treatment of people of color in American society. As the focus turned to animal welfare, our industry, arguably for the first time, began looking introspectively at the severe lack of diversity and inclusion, both in our staffing and how we relate to the communities we serve, and how that has impacted our communities, and our organizations. As our guest James Evans, the CEO of CARE, said, the number of pet-loving people of color is in the tens of millions, and addressing this is crucial to ending the killing of pets in our nation's shelters. Moreover, it is a moral imperative for all of us. **Check out resources and more related to the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion on the website: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-101 (https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-podcast/best-friends-podcast-ep-101)

It's episode number 100 of The Best Friends Podcast, and we are thrilled to welcome back Julie Castle, the CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. Our conversation for this episode focused on a new compensation program rolled out at Best Friends, which raises the pay ranges for hourly animal caregiving staff and veterinary technicians. Julie talks about something she calls the "poverty headspace" and why the entire field must break away from the belief that animal care roles are "front-line" entry-level positions. Instead, she hopes we will all see that providing for sentient creatures' physical, emotional, and medical needs is truly the heart of what we do. For resources, bios, transcripts, and more check out the website: https://bestfriends.org/podcast (bestfriends.org/podcast)

It may be hard to believe, but kitten season is just around the corner. In a few weeks, animal shelters and rescues coast-to-coast will be struggling to find enough resources to save this adorable and most at-risk segment of the shelter population. This week, Best Friends launched a national kitten fostering campaign that urges the public to sign up to become foster parents. Anyone who raises their hand will be connected with Best Friends Network partners in their area. The goal is to get as many people signed up as soon as possible. That allows the organizations and new foster parents to prepare before the kittens show up. This week we checked in with the Best Friends team in Los Angeles. They've saved 22,000 kittens since 2012, so what have they learned that can help you maximize your lifesaving? To learn more about the kitten foster campaign and how your shelter or rescue can take part, check out the Best Friends Network website: https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/events/national-kitten-foster-campaign (https://network.bestfriends.org/join-us/events/national-kitten-foster-campaign) Register for the upcoming Best Friends Network town hall, "the kittens are coming! Preparing your foster program ahead of kitten season." https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/5416433133354/WN_EGP-2YykS3Ofh7qzrOlJJQ (https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/5416433133354/WN_EGP-2YykS3Ofh7qzrOlJJQ)