Category: More Pets and People Together Roundtables

Snippets

Short barrier-busting gems, bright spots and mic-drop moments from the first More Pets and People Together Roundtable discussion. View the full hour-long roundtable discussion and the “aftershow” below.

Full Roundtable Video

Our fourth and final More Pets and People Together Roundtable was filled with Return to Home ideas and wins, from welcoming community members as Pet Pals and Pet Detectives to sharing Chameleon-generated Found Pet flyers. Cortney Dorney (WAGS Pet Adoption), Ivy Ruiz (Koret Shelter Medicine Program), Tracy Mohr (Chico Animal Shelter), and Laura Lampley (Pasadena Humane) really brought the More Pets and People Together series—you guessed it—home.

Aftershow

In this Aftershow, Cortney Dorney, Ivy Ruiz, Tracy Mohr, and Laura Lampley answered questions we didn’t have time for during the hour-long roundtable.

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Additional Resources

• Pasadena Humane’s sample Found Pet flyer generated in Chameleon with this crystal report (Note: the report can only be opened in Chameleon).
• Pasadena Humane RTH social media messaging example
• Finder Foster Legal Considerations with Shelter PALS (Maddie’s ® Million Pet Challenge Learniverse course)
• Community Cat Programs – Legal Considerations (Maddie’s ® Million Pet Challenge Learniverse course)
• How Understanding Lost Cat Behavior Can Keep Them Out of the Shelter and Get Them Back Home Faster (HASS webinar with Monica Frenden-Tarant, former Maddie’s® Director of Feline Lifesaving, and cat finder extraordinaire Kimberley Freeman)
• Increase Summer Adoptions & Return to Home by the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Team (CalAnimals; free registration required—start at 01:03:46)
• Return to Home Panel (Maddie’s Fund®—start at 16:45)
• KC Pet Project Return to Home Huddle presentation by Atlas Gatten (Maddie’s Fund®)
• Lost Cat Resources for Lost and Found pages
• Chico Animal Shelter’s community Pet Pals program
• Free engravers offered with purchase of ID tags: https://www.vetscribe.net/

Research from other sectors showing how fines and fees disproportionately affect Black and brown communities and people living below the poverty line

• Incomparable Punishments: How Economic Inequality Contributes to the Disparate Impact of Legal Fines and Fees
• Targeted Fines and Fees Against Communities of Color
• The Price of Poverty: Policy Implications of the Unequal Effects of Monetary Sanctions on the Poor
• Towed into Debt: How Towing Practices in California Punish Poor People

View the other roundtable discussions and related resources

At our third roundtable, Donell Randolph, Kristen Hassen, Lori Weise, and Rita Ortiz explored how we can better support people and pets in the community at every level. From inviting conversation at adoption events and reimagining program design and delivery, to working together to continue shifting the sheltering system away from a punitive-centered model that doesn’t serve any of us, they reminded us that it all starts with the work we’re doing right now.

One day at a time. One act at a time.

Panelists shared examples of how no-judgment, inclusive approaches have made a difference for people and animals in their organizations and communities—and, in one case, helped keep 4,000 animals out of the shelter and in their homes.

Lori Weise (Downtown Dog Rescue), Rita Ortiz (Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter), Donell Randolph (Friends of Oakland Animal Services), and Kristen Hassen (Outcomes Consulting) share ideas for accessible interventions that divert intake to keep more pets and people together. They’ll also explore processes for determining and delivering those services in a welcoming, judgment-free manner to ensure community members get the support they need when they need it: before the crisis

In this bonus Q&A “Aftershow,” Lori Weise, Rita Ortiz and Donell Randolph answer questions they didn’t have time to discuss during the 1-hour roundtable.

Snippets

Short barrier-busting gems, bright spots and mic-drop moments from the third More Pets and People Together Roundtable discussion

Donell Randolph (Friends of Oakland Animal Services) reflects on what he’s learned about the systemic barriers that affect pet owners and, in turn, their pets.

Lori Wiese (Downtown Dog Rescue) explains how an exchange with a community member reminded her that we don’t have to choose between advocating for people and advocating for animals; instead, fighting for justice in all areas is how we advance our goals.

Kristen Hassen (Outcomes Consulting) suggests one way to help more people and pets when your organization has limited resources.

Rita Ortiz (Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter) talks about how removing barriers is a win-win for your organization and your clients.

Related Resources

• Calls to action for elected officials and public leaders (Cal for All Animals)
• Tenant advocacy and support: https://www.heartla.org/ and https://tenantpowertoolkit.org/
• Community Conversations – Pets and People: Safe, Together and Connected with BestyBnB
• Breaking Down Resistance: Convincing Animal Lovers to Give to People (AAWA webinar)
• Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering – Janine shared, “[They offer] boarding/fostering for folks in housing crisis (i.e., domestic violence, incarceration, or medical events). They are an inspiring model of what can be possible in every community.”
• Listening to Hear: Removing Hidden Barriers & Offering Grace by Jennifer Toussaint (Maddie’s Fund Community Conversations)
• What’s Housing Policy Got to Do With It? by Dianne Prado (Maddie’s Fund Community Conversations)
• Case Management Approach to Intake by Luis Quintanilla, Humane Society of Harlingen, Texas (Maddie’s Fund Community Conversations—start at 13:50)

Exploring the systemic context:

• $100K a year is low-income in the Bay Area, according to new report (Kron4)
• Towed into Debt: How Towing Practices in California Punish Poor People – “Local governments use car towing and the associated fees in ways that disproportionately harm Californians living in poverty.” This report explores issues that parallel animal sheltering’s reliance on reclaim and other punitive fees. (Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area)
• Why Poverty Persists in America by Matthew Desmond – “The American poor have access to cheap, mass-produced goods, as every American does. But that doesn’t mean they can access what matters most.” (The New York Times Magazine)

In the second of four More Pets and People Together Roundtable discussions, panelists Meagan Cirivello (Humane Society of Sonoma County), Luis Villa (City of Wasco Animal Services), Miguel Ruelas (Patitas y Palabras Translation Services) and
Christina Avila (City of Perris Animal Control) share high-impact initiatives, from culturally competent translations to humane education programming that honors the diversity of the human-animal bond.

In this “Aftershow,” Meaghan, Luis, Miguel and Christina answer questions we didn’t have time to address during the 1-hour roundtable.

Snippets

Short barrier-busting gems, bright spots and mic-drop moments from the first More Pets and People Together Roundtable discussion.

Christina Avila (City of Perris Animal Control) talks about how to diversify your shelter staff, volunteers and board.

In this short clip, Miguel Ruelas (Patitas y Palabras Translation Services) touts the bridge-building benefits of meeting people where they are when they come to the shelter seeking help.

Meagan Cirivello (Humane Society of Sonoma County) discusses ways to build trust with your shelter’s community.

Luis Villa (City of Wasco Animal Services) talks about how his team makes sure to cultivate positive interactions with their community. (Note: Luis was unable to appear on camera)

Additional Resources

• The Future of Animal Welfare: Positive Disruption—Maddie’s Community Conversation with Sheila Donya Kouhkan
• How To Diversify Your Board—Maddie’s Community Conversation with Christal M. Cherry
• How your animal organization can better connect with the community it supports (Maddie’s Fund)
• Compassionate Communication: Supporting People and Pets Through Human-Centered Language (Human Animal Support Services)
• Community Partnerships Communications Kit (HeARTs Speak x Human Animal Support Services)

View the other roundtable discussions and related resources

Cole Wakefield (Good Shepherd Humane Society), Caitlin Daly (SPCA of Erie), Joy Smith (FieldHaven Feline Center), and Denise Woodside (SEAACA) offer inspiration on how you too can boost adoptions, staff satisfaction and community engagement.

In this “Aftershow” Cole, Cait, Joy and Denise answer questions we didn’t have time to address during the 1-hour roundtable.

Snippets

Short barrier-busting gems, bright spots and mic-drop moments from the first More Pets and People Together Roundtable discussion.

Cait Daly (SPCA of Erie) discusses the benefits of moving from a punitive model of field services to a problem-solving model. 

Cole Wakefield addresses  saviorism in this short video clip.

Denise Woodside (SEAACA) talks about the effects on staff of reducing humane euthanasia.

Joy Smith (Field Haven) on the folly (and sometimes the hypocrisy) of common adoption restrictions.

Related Resources

• SPCA of Erie If the Fur Fits program: https://yourspca.org/IfTheFurFits/
• FieldHaven Feline Center TAMI Program
• SEAACA’s Pet Adopter Information Form (English and Spanish)
• The Power of Yes: Three things to do today to open the kennel doors and send animals home
• Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity [CARE]: What can you do to help stop pet adoption discrimination?
• Cole Wakefield’s Maddie’s Fund Community Conversations presentation “Rural Roads: Lifesaving’s Longest Mile“

View the other roundtable discussions and related resources