Topics



 


About Topics:

Topics are used on Maddie's Pet Forum to help categorize discussions and resources which makes all content easily searchable. Members of the Animal Welfare Professionals community must select at least one topic when creating posts or when adding files to the Resource Center. Members are also encouraged to follow topics of interest to curate the notifications you receive in your Personalized Digest emails.

On your profile, there are two areas related to topics: "Topics I Follow" and "Observed Topics".
To follow topics of interest, click on the "+ Add a Topic" button to reveal the list of 25 Animal Welfare topics. This is the most direct way to ensure you receive the content you're most interested in.
Reveals list of animal welfare topics to follow
Topics that have an asterisk * next to them mean that they are a specific Human Animal Support Services (HASS) Element. These have recently been added to better support the members of the HASS Learning Community and you do not need to be a HASS project participant in order to post to these topics.

As you interact with discussions and resources in the Animal Welfare Professionals Community, the system performs calculations based on your actions (such as reading, favoriting, liking and commenting on content) to automatically promote content you're interested in in your Personalized Digest email. These are shown on your profile as your Observed Interests. You can easily remove any of these interests by clicking on the gray x next to the topic name. 

All Animal Welfare Topic Discussions

  • The shift that made a big difference for us was getting a veterinarian that is an HQHVSN specialist. She can come to our facility during the day and do 30 spay/neuter surgeries. Due to this positive change, See More

  • What is the foster 50? ------------------------------ Lisa Kitchens Pet Central Helps! ------------------------------

  • In the first month of the year we had two devastating floods (thankfully neither of which reached our animals) that wiped our our humane education room, public restrooms, our back dog kennel hallway and See More

  • Clinics

    Posted by: Paul Barthel, 21 hours ago
    Discussion

    We're a nonprofit organization (Animal Humane Advocacy) that has successfully hosted low-cost vaccination and wellness clinics for years, serving pet owners who otherwise would not have access to basic See More

  • Clinics

    Posted by: Paul Barthel, 21 hours ago
    Discussion Thread

  • A simple option that works for many older cats is boiled chicken or turkey mixed with a bit of the cooking broth so it stays soft. Some people add a small amount of pumpkin or mashed sweet potato for fiber. See More

  • Slack works well for quick updates, although channels can get messy without clear naming. A shared Google Calendar helps a lot with volunteer schedules and Zoom calls since everyone can see what is coming See More

  • Discussion

    Landlords often mix up ADA rules with housing rules, so some of this happens because they are looking at the wrong law. Housing decisions follow the Fair Housing Act, and that act treats emotional support See More

  • Discussion

    A dog named Willow taught me patience in a way nothing else ever did. She came in terrified of everything, she froze if someone walked too fast or raised their voice even a little. Progress happened in See More

  • Discussion

    Most people here mix dry food with a bit of wet food since it keeps things simple and the pets usually eat it without drama. Shops like PetSmart and Petco have plenty of options, and the local supermarkets See More

  • Discussion

    What do you feed your pets in Chicago?? I mean dogs & cats who don't work! Do you use dry food, tins, pouches, or a mix? Or any dog/cat food online options available? Or buy from the supermarket or pet See More

  • Discussion Thread

  • Thank you!! You are absolutely right!! ------------------------------ Tonya Smith Founder LC'S Foundation Michigan ------------------------------

  • Maddie's Insights: Consentful Contact: Pilot Study on Human–Dog Touch with Dr. Amir Sarrafchi Understanding and respecting an animal's signals during interactions can significantly enhance their welfare See More

     01-08-2026  |  12:00 PM - 01:00 PM PT

  • Discussion

    Hello, The right to have an emotional support animal as an accommodation is federally protected for eligible individuals under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), and many states additionally have state level See More

  • A WIN for us in 2025, I would have to say was being a part of the FOSTER 50 and focusing on our foster program. Over the week of Thanksgiving, we decided to have our floors re done. In order to do that, See More

  • Hi everyone! I wanted to start a conversation about something that often gets overlooked: the lessons animals teach us, who quietly reshape how we work, collaborate, or think about sheltering. Most of See More

  • Discussion Thread

  • #Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment #EducationandTraining

  • Our win this year is reaching and maintaining a 90% or higher live-release rate since this summer. We struggled a lot this summer, with an overwhelming number of dogs and cats coming into the shelter every See More

  • Thank you for the response ------------------------------ April Cannizzaro CEO San Diego Last Chance Ranch CA ------------------------------

  • Such a great question! We've been so busy this year making progress in several areas that I haven't been able to participate with Maddie's as much as I'd like to. I hope to get back to it in 2026! Our See More

  • @Laurel Wilton (She/Her)! Thank you!! I neglected to add the registration link but it's there now :) And yes, you are correct, we post the recordings or at least a link to them a day or so after each See More

  • Hi @Julielani Chang, Oops! I forgot to add the registration link. It is https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister Thanks for posting! And registering :) ------------------------------ Alison Gibson See More

  • If you click the drop down at the top of the page that says "Events" there should be an option that says "Maddie's Insights Webcasts". There you can find the link to register for these monthly webcasts, See More

  • Thank you Alison for this post. I can't wait to attend. Will there be a registration for this webinar?I love all of the resources that Maddie's are offering. I joined Maddie's conversations on Monday, See More

  • Hello LaTonya, I totally agree and applaud you! Our work builds bridges and makes a major impact! Keep doing what you're doing! ------------------------------ TERRYL Daluz President LOVING See More

  • Hello Mary, That is amazing! This sounds like an outstanding program! I am always interested in finding ways to work with our youth. To be able to combine grooming is a great idea. I will look into it. See More

  • Hi all, I work with a volunteer-based animal rescue in Maryland as a Grant Writer/Content Developer. It's a relatively new rescue (foster-based), which started in February, 2024. We use a communication See More

  • Discussion Thread

  • This year, our work in a small Texas coastal town reminded us that progress happens in time - not all at once. We committed to realistic, meaningful goals, focusing heavily on expanding spay and neuter See More

  • As a groomer and business owner, my impact doesn't just come from picking up my tools, it comes from picking up the pets and people who need someone to care. Grooming, for me, has never been just a service. See More

  • I'm so glad this is being asked - 10 Lives has had a tough year with some really tough and weird medical cases - including 3 (possibly 4) cases of congenital rickets in a litter of kittens and 2! cases See More

  • Library Entry

    Position Summary: Let’s inspire the next generation of animal lovers! We’re welcoming students ages 9-14 years old to Camp Joybound. This weeklong camp at Joybound’s Walnut Creek headquarters See More

  • Check out the Shelter PALS website for the compounding guidelines template and compounding requirements checklist here: https://www.sfspca.org/about/advocacy/#shelter ------------------------------ Jennifer See More

  • Thanks to those who attended and listened to our conversation! We had a few outstanding questions that we promised to get back to and provide resources for from the chat conversation during the live. Posting See More

  • Our foundation opened our emergency grant programs in June of this year and so far we have awarded $3,900 to economically disadvantaged families. We have prevented five cases from economic euthanasia, See More

  • Effective fundraising relies on strategic collaboration, ethical practices, and streamlined operations. Prioritize Collaborative Efforts: Engage in long-term partnerships with other ethical non-profits See More

  • Full Time Veterinarian wanted in Northern New Jersey Liberty Humane Society is hiring veterinary staff for its new Non-Profit Access-To-Care Veterinary Clinic in Lyndhurst, NJ. The Full-Time Veterinarian See More

  • This is such a powerful and timely conversation - thank you for creating space for it. 💛 At Texas Homeward Bound Animal Rescue in Houston, TX, end-of-year fundraising is one of the most critical See More

  • Our rescue did a re-brand this year. We are under a new name, and I am the new Executive Director. I am incredibly proud of the progress we've made in the three short months since our re-brand, but one See More

  • Our kennel attendant took over our Volunteer Program a little under a year ago, and to date has grown our regular volunteer base from about 5 to 30! We have even more volunteers on record, but many come See More

  • Hi fellow animal-lover friends, 2025 was a wild ride for all of us, but our tiny (yet mighty) animal shelter and spay/neuter clinic was able to rise to the occasion in many ways. Despite having See More

  • Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Join us in January as we share insights into how allowing animals to exercise choice, See More

  • Thank you, Daniel! We are glad that you enjoyed the conversation. We love the work that we do! It is not easy, and funding can be limited. You have to do what you can do, with whatever you have. When you See More

  • This question caught my attention, in my State of TN, we have a Program called TN Promise Program. Students, high schoolers & new College kids are required to perform 8 hrs of SERVICE work each month! See More

  • Yesterday's conversation was great. Thank you @TERRYL Daluz and @Andrea Carter for sharing your lived experience and thoughtful approach to supporting people and pets in the community. I think in response See More

  • Thank you so much Sheila and Debra, for your positive energy and for hosting this amazing community conversation. Thank you, Maddie's, for sponsoring these weekly conversations! They are so imperative. See More