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.org
• Best Friends Pet Lifesaving Dashboard: bestfriends.org/no-kill-2025/animal-shelter-statistics
• BF 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-toolkit
• Register 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-144

Read 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-shelters

The 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-140

Learn 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-directors

The 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