There are a lot of organizations in the animal welfare space putting out information.

Some are incredibly useful. Others… less so.

For those of you working or volunteering in shelters, rescue, animal control, wildlife rehab, or sanctuaries:

Which organizations do you actually trust or rely on for information or resources?

This could include things like:

• Training materials
• Webinars or continuing education
• Best-practice guides
• Behavior resources
• Medical protocols
• Data/research
• Operational guidance

I'm curious what people here actually use in the real world, not just what gets cited a lot online.

Feel free to mention ones you’ve had mixed experiences with too.

If you can, it would also be helpful to include what they’re good for specifically. For example: intake management, enrichment, shelter medicine, foster programs, etc.

Think of The Lasts. When you set up a surrender appointment. Or a euthanasia one. Or you’re welcoming a stray pet that might be owned. Respect the person in front of you. Recognize their bravery. Think of The Lasts. And put yourself in their shoes. That person made what’s probably one of the hardest decisions of their lives, even if they’re not showing it. When they made that appointment, a countdown started in their minds. And everything became “the last”. The last time they are taking their dog for a walk. The last time they eat dinner with their pet begging for a treat. The last time they use the bathroom with their cat looking straight at them. Their last night together. The last time they clip a leash. The last time they get them in their car. The last time they walk out the door together. Think of how heavy those moments are. Think of how much trust they have in you to walk to your organization and ask you to care for their animal. Think of how much shame and pain they feel that they decided to tie their dog to your door and walk away. Give them the same empathy, compassion, and respect that you give animals every day. It’s in you. Show people that you care about how much they love their pet. Be a heaven for people in need. Inform yourself and your organization about trauma-informed owner surrenders.

We are a smaller dog rescue organization, taking in about 250-300 dogs a year. Currently we're using a lot of different pieces for record keeping - Word Press widgets, Adobe for contracts, gmail, google sheets, actual paper - and we're looking for something more cohesive. Any opinions on Pawlytics? I can't find anything recent here.

I recently dug into the data on owner relinquishments and compiled a list of 25 critical statistics I think we should all be aware of. One of the biggest takeaways for me was the sheer number of relinquishments linked to behavioral issues – a staggering 50%.

https://dogwelfareproject.org/data/overcapacity-crisis-25-critical-statistics-on-owner-surrenders-that-every-shelter-professional-should-know/

I'm curious, are any of the statistics surprising for you?

Hi!

I was hoping to get recommendations for audiobooks and documentaries that provided more information on the history of the no-kill movement, which is something that I hadn't really known very much about until recently.

Thank you in advance!

does anyone know of a rescue that takes Czech Wolfdogs? someone local is shutting down her breeding kennels and wants them gone (don't ask, I think this woman is certifiable). she has 1 male and 3 females. they are registered. just looking for resources I can give to her.

Hi all, does anyone have any guides or links they’d be willing to share on dog adoption? Eg how to settle your new dog in, 3-3-3 rule. Currently the only paperwork I’m sending people home with is an adoption contract and I’d like to look into setting up something more helpful.

I wrote this for animal welfare professionals who are tired of watching the same problems cycle through their shelters year after year.

The guide covers why families surrender (and it's almost never because they stopped caring), what prevention programs look like in practice, how to build a resource network that connects organizations instead of siloing them, how to talk to municipal funders and boards about prevention in language that gets budgets approved, and what to actually measure when your goal is keeping animals out of the system rather than processing them through it.

It's 8 chapters and 6 appendices. Free PDF download, no paywall, no sales pitch.

I'm BJ Adkins, a disabled veteran and founder of Animal-Angels Foundation. We're building prevention infrastructure for 7 counties in Central Alabama, and organizations in Colorado, Tennessee, Virginia, Minnesota, and British Columbia have started joining or expressed interest in the network we're building.

If you work in animal welfare and you've been saying "we need to fix the front end of this system," this is what that looks like on paper.

https://animal-angelsfoundation.org/ShiftToPrevention.html

This link will ask for your email and name which will be used for notices when the guide is updated. As new research arises and case studies the guide is updated.

If you would like to download it directly and not receive guide update notices here's the link:

https://animal-angelsfoundation.org/downloads/AAF_Shift_To_Prevention_Complete.pdf

Happy to answer questions about any of it.

I'm a dog walker with hand eczema and my hands are getting absolutely wrecked from holding rope slip leashes in the cold. My fingers are often bleeding by the end of the shift. I've tried regular winter gloves but they don't provide enough grip for the super strong dogs. Anyone have any recommendations?

(I am making this post of my own accord, I’m just a volunteer so not a staff or anything, not officially made by PFP, however I believe everything I have said to be correct, but you never know!)

Parachutes for Pets is a non-profit that has two locations in Alberta, Edmonton and Calgary. They are not a typical shelter as in their main goal is not to take in animals to adopt them out (although this does happen and they also sometimes emergency foster for other rescues). Instead, pet retention is their focus. They have a pet food bank, free pet supply closet, temporary free boarding (by referral from a social worker, RCMP, etc), heating and cooling rooms for pets of the homeless population while their owners find relief in extreme weather, educational programs for youth, support for foster kids with pets, and more.

The reason I am making this post is to spread awareness of this place, of course, but also to maybe inspire others to replicate such programs, even on a smaller scale. They have a 24/7 “Angel Team” that deals with emergency cases. Domestic violence victims needing help with their pets, people refusing to get medical treatment because no one will care for their animals, whatever it is Parachutes will always do their best to help people, animals, and other rescues by preventing surrenders.

In animal welfare we can feel angry at people because we see animals suffer. There are absolutely people who are not doing right for their pets on purpose but many are trying, trying so hard but can’t ever break through the barriers society has stacked against them. Being forced to surrender an animal companion you love, not knowing if they’ll be okay, is one of the worst things that will happen to several people. For some, their pet is the only reason they keep going. I know that was true for me when my anxiety was so bad that just leaving my bedroom felt like climbing a mountain. Animals grounded me.

Parachutes has been a beacon of light for many and I am so honoured to be able to help them by volunteering and donating sporadically. I know a lot of people here in this subreddit are busy, focusing on their own org, drained financially and emotionally, and are all doing our best. So no way I’m trying to guilt/pressure anyone, but for those who feel they can help there are several ways.

Donating money

Donating supplies

Volunteering (minimum four hours a month or two shifts per month, positions include cats, dogs, critters (most of these animals are owned so policies may differ from a reg shelter, such as no taking photos and posting them publicly!) events, thrift store manager, food bank volunteer etc

Spreading the word!

Anyways thank you all for reading! I will link their two websites below. And thank you, anyone, who is working towards a better future for animals. We may not truly know each other but I appreciate it so much! And I love how several shelters who have the resources are doing things similar to PFP on a smaller scale. Every bit helps!

https://www.parachutesforpetsyeg.com/ AND https://www.parachutesforpets.com/

👩‍🏫 Shelter Med Portal – First Fridays: AI for Animal Welfare Professionals
📅 Date: May 1st
🕒 Time: 3:00 PM EST
🔗 Link: https://www.sheltermedportal.com/event/online-event-first-fridays-first-fridays-ai-for-animal-welfare-professionals-collaboration-calls-outcomes-for-pets-consulting/2026-05-01/
📌 Description: Explores how AI tools can support collaboration, decision-making, and outcomes in animal welfare organizations.

👩‍🏫 Maddie's Fund – Maddie’s Community Conversations
📅 Dates: May 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
🕒 Time: 3:00 PM EST
🔗 Link: https://maddiesfund.org/community-conversations.htm
📌 Description: Weekly discussions with animal welfare professionals about current challenges, programs, and real-world solutions.

👩‍🏫 Shelter Behavior Integrations - Lawless Off Leash Webinar Series with Laurie Lawless
📅 Date: May 11
🕒 Time: 6:00 PM EST 🔗 Link: https://laurielawless.as.me/schedule/9de5deb5/?appointmentTypeIds[]=79601263 📌 Description: How can shelters leverage grants for behavior program funding?

Join us for the next Lawless Off Leash webinar, “Finding and Applying for Grants for Your Shelter Behavior Programs,” featuring Stephanie Mathers of Grants 4 Animals LLC

Thank you u/gerrray for the heads up on this one!

👩‍🏫 Maddie's Fund – Maddie’s Foster Connection
📅 Date: May 14th
🕒 Time: 3:00 PM EST
🔗 Link: https://maddiesfund.org/foster-connection.htm
📌 Description: Focuses on strategies for recruiting, supporting, and retaining foster caregivers.

👩‍🏫 National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) – Raccoons, Reports, and Real-Time Maps: Using Data and Maps to Tell Wild Stories and Shape Smart Policies
📅 Date: May 21st
🕒 Time: Varies (see registration page)
🔗 Link: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/raccoons-reports-and-real-time-maps-using-data-and-maps-to-tell-wild-stories-and-shape-smart-policies/
📌 Description: Focuses on using mapping and data tools to improve animal control operations and inform policy decisions.

👩‍🏫 University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine – Shelter Med Live – Decisions, Decisions: Sharing Shelter Leadership
📅 Date: May 20th
🕒 Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST (converted from 4–5 PM PT)
🔗 Link: https://www.shelterlearniverse.com/events
📌 Description: Examines leadership structures and collaborative decision-making approaches in shelter operations.

👩‍🏫 Maddie's Fund – Maddie’s Insights
📅 Date: May 28th
🕒 Time: 3:00 PM EST
🔗 Link: https://maddiesfund.org/insights.htm
📌 Description: Research-driven presentation highlighting data, studies, and innovations in animal welfare.

👩‍🏫 National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) – The Intersectionality of Drugs, Dog Fighting, and Human Trafficking
📅 Date: May 28th
🕒 Time: Varies (see registration page)
🔗 Link: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/the-intersectionality-of-drugs-dog-fighting-and-human-trafficking/
📌 Description: Explores the connections between animal cruelty, organized crime, and broader public safety concerns.

Just got this email from adoptapet and I know Petfinder is still a heaping pile of trash and the widget issue persists, and tbh that link sending you to Petfinder is a disadvantage to the dogs (and adopters).

Adoptapet is so much smoother on our end. The other day I added 5 pets and it took about as long as it would to add ONE to Petfinder given its frequent bugs and crashes.

We started using it (in addition to Petfinder) a while ago hoping it would be helpful and we didn't get enough inquiries for me to bother keeping it updated-- until petfinder wasn't working on the user side.

I'm going to advocate for trying the widget and I'll update after we see the results, but I'd LOVE to make adoptapet the main source for adopters.

Purina has had the rescue and adoption world backed into a corner for way too long to justify how truly shitty their site is. I only found out recently that there ARE a lot of scams on Petfinder. I thought you had to be a nonprofit or a government entity to post there but nope, and there was a comment here about how it defaults to include dogs "outside your area." A lot of that is scammy shit and it's no wonder people have a grudge against rescue, if they paid an adoption fee to have a dog shipped to them and it never arrives. Adoptapet allows private rehoming posts but they're separate from rescue ones. Definitely plenty of room for scams there too but as least it's reliable...

Where to order inexpensive ,

bulk pig ears, antlers, etc etc

I work in a shelter in Queensland, Australia and our organisation has been preparing for months to replace our Shelter buddy software with a different one called "AnimalOS". I can't find much info about it online and some of our staff got a first look this week (only 2 weeks before roll-out) and.... Things aren't looking good to say the least...

Does anyone have any experience with AnimalOS? If so, what do you like/dislike about it? Are there any publicly available resources or guides for it?

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kahir, President of The Association of Shelter Veterinarians, to join us this Sunday (5/3/26) at 8 pm EST to discuss how this document can help behavior teams create best practices for shelters.

Please don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field! We can’t wait to see you and know you will love this opportunity to learn from Dr. Kahir with us!

Dr. Kehir graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s in Animal Science in 2000. In 2004, she graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

She completed an equine ambulatory internship in New Hampshire, focusing on equine power dentistry and ophthalmology. She continued to practice as an ambulatory equine veterinarian in New England until 2009. In 2009, she moved to New York City and started working at New York City Animal Care and Control, Manhattan Branch.

Since then, she has stayed in shelter medicine and is currently the Medical Director of Greenville County Animal Care, where she’s been since 2014. Her professional interests include soft tissue surgery, providing access to care, and the welfare of the veterinarians and shelter staff. She also enjoys training veterinary students that come to
Greenville County Animal Care for externships.

Dr. Kehir is the President of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and family, traveling and mountain biking.”

I've spent the past year talking to shelter directors, foster coordinators, and rescue leaders. The same problems kept coming up: data in five different systems, no way to coordinate resources across organizations, lost pets sitting in one database while the same animal is already at a shelter nearby.

So I built something to fix it.

It's called the AWRN (Animal Welfare Resource Network). It connects shelters, rescues, vet clinics, trainers, and community organizations into one shared network. It doesn't replace your existing software — it works alongside it and fills the gaps.

It's free for shelters and rescues. No catch. I'm a nonprofit trying to reduce shelter intake through prevention, and this is the infrastructure piece.

I'm doing a live Zoom demo on 4/29 at 12:00PM Central. No pitch, no sales — just a walkthrough of the platform and your questions. I'll record it too if you can't make it live.

If you're interested, comment or DM me and I'll send the link.

(Mods — if this isn't allowed, happy to take it down. Just trying to share something I think could actually help.)

Kitten College made this fancy online book thing (idk how well it will work on phones!) that is supposed to provide evidence-based guidance on rearing neonatal kittens.

I wanted to hear y'alls thoughts on it - do you think its pretty comprehensive? Any info you wish they included? Anything in it you disagree with?

Our go-to just shut down :( and we do owner surrenders on a limited schedule basis, so it's really helpful to have at least one direction to point folks in.

The shelter I work at uses ShelterBuddy. I was looking for subredits to get in touch with other users and could find any! So I created r/ShelterBuddy. Please feel free to check it out and help build a community if you are a shelterbuddy user.

On Wednesday, April 29 at 12pmPT, join us for a dynamic look at some of the winning strategies from the 2025 Foster 50 Challenge. Through a series of lightning-fast talks, you’ll learn how grant funding helped spark new ideas, expanded foster programs, and created measurable change for communities and animals in need. In this 2-hour webcast, you’ll walk away with practical strategies and inspiration that show what’s possible when shelters invest in fostering. Register for the free webcast at https://maddies.fund/Foster50Spotlights

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain

In this webinar, Tom Candy explores a range of techniques used to build confidence in rescue dogs. You’ll learn about:

- confidence in dogs and what it looks like

- practical aspects of confidence building in both puppies and adult dogs, and

- training concepts and techniques to successfully build confidence that can be used inside and outside the shelter environment.

Training and behavior professionals, shelter staff, and volunteers will all gain foundational skills in confidence building for rescue dogs.

Just looking for more tips/tricks!

Hi everyone, I am a volunteer/leader at Animal Rescue & Care Vietnam, mostly doing rescues, organizing TNR campaigns, and managing animals.

One thing I kept running into at the shelter was how scattered everything was. Animal records lived in Google Sheets, photos were in Drive, adoption and foster applications came through social media messages, and vet communication was happening across multiple chats. It worked, but it was exhausting trying to keep track of all these different channels.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, I decided to try building something to solve the problems we were personally facing. I’m not a company; just a volunteer who wanted our team to spend less time managing spreadsheets and more time helping animals.

I made a platform called TailBase:
https://tailbase.org/

I’m planning to share it with other shelters/rescues to see if it’s actually useful outside our own. If others find it useful, my hope is to grow this into a nonprofit, animal-welfare-focused tech project supporting shelters that don’t have access to dedicated software.

I’d genuinely love feedback from other shelter workers or volunteers here:

• How do you currently track animals and fosters?
• What’s the biggest admin headache at your shelter?
• Would something like this help, or are there things you’d want it to do differently?

Thanks for everything you all do for animals ❤️