Pet insurance might not be the flashiest topic—but what if we told you it could be the secret ingredient to boosting adoptions, supporting your staff, and building long-term trust with pet parents?
In this episode of The Intake, we’re joined by two passionate leaders who know the power of partnership: Maggie McSchaefer, Executive Director of Foothills Animal Shelter, and Brian Jorgensen, CEO of MetLife Pet Insurance. Together, they unpack how a simple benefit—30 days of pet insurance—can make a lasting impact on both adopters and animal shelters.
We dive into:
Whether you’re in animal welfare, vet med, or just want to learn how to give adopters more peace of mind, this episode delivers insight, heart, and practical takeaways.
Listen now and discover why pet insurance might be the next big thing your shelter needs.
If you’re an animal welfare professional looking to produce your Return to Owner numbers and provide faster solutions for lost pets and worried families, this episode is for you. Katherine Shenar hosts Front Street Animal Shelter’s Phillip Zimmerman and Jackie Rose of DocuPet.
This episode kicks off Part 1 of a 2-part interview with Hannah Shaw, widely known as The Kitten Lady, and Jackie Noble, the newly appointed executive director of Orphan Kitten Club, to explore the unique challenges and rewarding experiences of fostering neonatal kittens. The conversation sparked from the 2024 Hill's Pet Nutrition's State of Shelter Adoptions Report that cites some new information about fostering pets. Together, Hannah and Jackie dive into the essential strategies needed for fostering success—from clear communication and access to training and mentorship, to the vital role of veterinary care and fostering retention. They also spotlight Orphan Kitten Club’s incredible initiatives, including $3 million in grants and providing 1 million meals of kitten formula, demonstrating the profound impact on kitten welfare. Learn how to set realistic goals, build strong community relationships, and celebrate even the smallest victories in fostering programs. Whether you're a seasoned foster or just curious about how you can help save tiny lives, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration!
In this episode, we sit down with Hannah Shaw, a/k/a The Kitten Lady, an advocate for cat welfare, especially neonate kittens, and Jackie Noble, executive director for the Orphan Kitten Club, Shaw’s nonprofit she created to help build innovative programs that save the lives of the tiniest and most vulnerable felines. Shaw discusses the launch of Cats of the World, a stunning new book that features over 700 photos from 30 different countries, capturing the deep connections between humans and cats while highlighting global efforts to improve cat welfare. Shaw also delves into a groundbreaking UC Davis study on neonatal kitten mortality, revealing that many losses are due to treatable conditions. She also shares insights on the innovative CASA method for assessing found kittens, stressing the importance of thoughtful community conversations. Plus, Jackie joins us to discuss her experience with kitten diversion programs and why continued research is vital to improving outcomes for vulnerable kittens. Whether you’re a cat lover or passionate about animal welfare, this episode is packed with stories, solutions, and inspiration!
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.
The Association’s Katherine Shenar hosts Brian Jorgensen of MetLife Pet Insurance and Atlanta Humane Society’s Michael Robbins for a talk about an untapped strategy for improving access to care. Learn about partnerships between shelters and pet insurance providers that can change the way shelters help their communities, and hear some common myths about pet insurance busted.
It's true that intake numbers are still below pre-pandemic 2019, yet animal shelters are over capacity. And the numbers show that interest in adoptions is waning.
There is a potential solution...
But why aren’t more organizations prioritizing it?
The Association’s Katherine Shenar sits down with Abbie Moore and Kristen Hassen of Petco Love Lost to discuss RTO strategies to reunite lost pets with their families. It’s time to stop judging owners who’ve lost their pets, amp up in-house resources, and instead try cool tools for dramatically increasing outcomes, like Petco Love’s nifty new workbook.
Taking a dog’s or cat’s temperature with a traditional rectal thermometer in a clinical or shelter setting… Wish it could be both more efficient and less stressful for the animal? Well, it CAN. Find out how in this conversation between The Association’s Katherine M. Shenar, Jamie Driscoll of Mella Pet Care, and Alex Schechter, DVM. Informed by the Fear Free philosophy that aims to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in pets, this first-of-its-kind health monitoring tool can be used by shelter veterinary teams, as well as by volunteers and foster parents in the home.
Heard the one about the foster volunteer with the sick kitten calling the foster coordinator at 2 am on a Sunday morning, and the foster coordinator then calling the vet to see if it’s an emergency? This all-too common scenario can lead to staff burnout , work-life imbalance, and inefficient processes that drain organizational resources. The Association’s Katherine Shenar sits down with Greenville County Animal Care to find out how the South Carolina agency solved this problem by taking a chance on Vidaah, an innovative new teletriage program.
For more information, visit Vidaah
P.S. Shelters, you'll be in good company--almost 100 agencies are using this groundbreaking service.
With rents increasing as much as 25% across the nation, Dianne Prado, eviction attorney in Los Angeles, helps us understand what we need to know if we rent with a pet. We learned a lot from Dianne and know you will, too.
She's an #animalwelfareshero to many of us working in animal shelters -- Joann Fuller, the person responsible for Hill's Food, Shelter, Love program and champion of #ClearTheShelters 2022, has rolled up her sleeves to make August the best adoption promotion in its 7-year history. Thanks to the support of #NBC and #HillsPetNutrition, thousands of animals will find new homes throughout the month of August. She also shared the history of the Food, Shelter, Love program and why Hills began supporting nearly 800 animal shelters across the United States 20 years ago.
Dr. Anne Kimmerlein, Veterinary Epidemiologist for VCA Animal Hospitals, tells her story of becoming a shelter veterinarian and why she thinks relationships are changing between shelters and private practice veterinarians.
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:
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.
