What's New
A Fresh Start for 4 Dozen Furries
March 5, 2010: It's said that nothing important was ever achieved without someone taking a chance. That was true for 48 love-seekers who found a new best friend at the "Second Chance for Love" adoption event held in Mobile, AL. Over three days, the Animal Rescue Foundation and Mobile SPCA each placed 20 dogs and cats while the Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter found homes for eight dogs. And Maddie Mascot was there to give a paw to welcome visitors and help with the matchmaking! "We are encouraged by the turnout and the number of great shelter animals that found homes at this adoption event," said Janine Woods, director of the Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project and it's lead agency in Alabama, the Mobile SPCA. "The impact of the recession really hurt our adoptions last year and I am thrilled to see that this may be turning around as we have recently seen pet adoptions pick up." And chances are adoptions will continue to pick up as more and more people take a chance on love at their local pet shelters! The event was part of the Second Chance for Love National Adoption Weekend taking place in PetSmart® stores across the country.
Spreading the Good News for Shelter Animals
February 27, 2010: Things are looking up for shelter animals, and animal control directors, veterinarians, and shelter personnel found out why from Maddie's Fund president Rich Avanzino. Rich spoke at the 2010 Animal Care Conference, sponsored by the California Animal Control Directors' Association (CACDA), the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), and the State Humane Association of California (SHAC). His message: The Shelter Pet Project, a groundbreaking national ad campaign, is busting the stereotypes many Americans have about shelter pets. The broad range of print, radio, outdoor, online, and television ads are all designed to combat the misperception that there is something wrong about shelter animals and everything right about making them your first choice for adding a pet to the family. The attendees took that message back to their staff and communities, along with valuable, free marketing tools they can use to save more animals' lives than ever. Rich's PowerPoint presentation sums it up: a no-kill nation is well within reach!
True Love in Tuscaloosa!
February 18, 2010: It was love at first sight at the 4th annual Maddie's® Speed Dating-Valentine's Pet Adoption event held in Tuscaloosa, AL on February 13. A record number of visitors stopped by the hearts-and-flowers-laden "dating stations," where eager dogs and cats were ready to meet their perfect match. ADAR Rescue, Humane Society of West Alabama, Metro Animal Shelter, and T-Town Paws – all members of Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project in Tuscaloosa County – worked together with local media to publicize and then make this the most successful speed dating adoption event to date. No more reason for lonely hearts in the heart of Alabama!
Bark Magazine Recognizes Maddie’s Fund Founder and President
February 11, 2010: Bark Magazine's February/March issue features Maddie's Fund Founder Dave Duffield and President Rich Avanzino among a storied list of innovators who have helped "reshape the world of dogs and our understanding of it" over the past 25 years. Dave and Rich's contributions are detailed in the "Advocates" section of Bark's 100: The Best and Brightest. Rich and Dave are also given prominent mention in another great article, No-Kill Nation by Christie Keith.
A First in L.A.
February 9, 2010: Maddie's Fund President, Rich Avanzino, was one of three featured speakers at an inaugural forum hosted by the Found Animals Foundation, SEAACA and Los Angeles Animal Services entitled "Leading Perspectives in Animal Welfare." The community building event for private and municipal animal welfare agencies welcomed over 200 attendees who discussed next steps to no-kill status and the importance of collaboration. The Shelter Pet Project was Rich's main focus, showcasing research about public attitudes towards shelter and rescue adoption and the national ad campaign created to evolve those attitudes. Rich was joined by Michael Arms, President of the Helen Woodward Animal Center, and Bill Bruce, Director of Animal & Bylaw Services for the city of Calgary.
Month of Love in NYC!
February 1, 2010: It's almost Valentine's Day and that means it's time for "I Love NYC Pets," the Big Apple's annual pet adoption celebration designed to increase adoptions from shelters and rescue groups throughout the "month of love." "I Love NYC Pets" makes it easier than ever to find a new best furry friend thanks to extended shelter hours, mobile adoption vans and an array of events throughout all five boroughs. The success of this and other adoption campaigns have enabled the Mayor's Alliance and its Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project partners to provide an adoption guarantee for all healthy shelter cats and dogs in New York City for more than a year!
A Key to Increasing Cat Adoptions
January 12, 2010: Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project in Erie County, New York saw cat intake rise 10% in recent months. The influx forced coalition leaders to figure out new ways of increasing adoptions and moving cats through the system more quickly. One simple but effective strategy: waiving the adoption fee for any cat over the age of three. "We launched this program on December 12," reports Barbara Carr, Executive Director of the Erie County SPCA. "Not only did adoptions for cats over three increase from 57 in December 2008 to 109 in December 2009, length of stay dropped from 29 days to seven! All cat adoptions are up 18% over the same month last year, from 400 to 472. We couldn't be more thrilled."
Im-purrfect Perceptions of Cats May Be Costing Them Their Lives
December 16, 2009: A recent online survey sponsored by the Morris Animal Foundation, Maddie's Fund, and the American Pet Products Association found that the myths and misunderstandings about cats discourage many people from adopting them. Read More
Maddie’s Fund President Acknowledged
December 8, 2009: In his December 7th blog, HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle acknowledged the pioneering achievements of Maddie's Fund President, Rich Avanzino, and published the first of the three part interview with noted no-kill leader Robin Starr, CEO of the Richmond SPCA. Kudos to Wayne for bringing a deeper understanding of our movement to so many people.
Barron’s Names Maddie’s Fund Founders among World’s 25 Best Givers
November 30, 2009: In a search for the most effective philanthropists, Barron's, America's premier financial magazine, has named Maddie's Fund founders Dave and Cheryl Duffield among the world's 25 best. Innovation and the extent to which projects can be replicated were two of the selection criteria. The Duffields share the spotlight with the likes of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Bill and Melinda Gates and Richard Branson. Read more
Kick-Off Event Packs ‘Em In
November 17, 2009: Thousands of Erie County, New York, residents came to the Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project kick-off event on November 8th and no wonder - there was something for everyone. In addition to dogs and cats for adoption, there were prizes, raffles and silent auctions, agility demonstrations, free crafts and face painting, free behavior advice and over a dozen pet related vendors with great gift items for sale. "Local press gave us tremendous publicity. The event was a great awareness builder for our project and goals, and eighteen dogs and cats found new loving homes!" said Project Coordinator Kara Lee.
200 Cats Get Homes
November 6, 2009: Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project in NYC held their annual Adopt-A-Cat event in Manhattan on October 17 & 18. Cat lovers came out of the woodwork to adopt - approximately 1,500 people attended. Twenty-three groups showed cats over the two-day event. One group adopted out all 14 of the cats they brought and over 200 felines found new homes overall.
Mobile Adoptathon Nets 27 Homes
November 2, 2009: On Saturday, October 17, Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project in Mobile, Alabama held a super pet adoption event at the local mall. All coalition partners, Animal Rescue Foundation, Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter, Mobile SPCA and City of Mobile Animal Shelter, participated in the event - and 27 animals found their forever homes!
Spay/Neuter Success
October 21, 2009: Congratulations to Maddie's® Spay/Neuter Project in Loudon & Monroe Counties, Tennessee for chalking up 1,840 surgeries after one year of their two-year spay/neuter project. Low-income residents in Loudon and Monroe counties pick up spay/neuter vouchers at various community centers and redeem them at any one of nine participating veterinary hospitals. The program is intended to significantly reduce animal intake and euthanasia at the two county shelters. The total two-year goal is 3,636 surgeries.
Maddie’s Fund Awards $541,550 to Erie County Coalition
October 9, 2009: Erie County, New York animal welfare groups and veterinarians to receive nearly $5 M over five years to save all healthy and treatable shelter pets.
2 FIV Cats Adopted In 3 Days
September 17, 2009: The Dane County Humane Society (lead agency for Maddie's® Projects in Dane County, Wisconsin) is now making FIV cats available for adoption - with great success. Recently, two FIV cats were adopted in three days at the Society's Westside Adoption Center. One woman who had been looking for an FIV cat drove all the way from Milwaukee. "There's a market for FIV cats, and this recent experience shows we can get these cats adopted quickly," said the volunteer who did the adoptions. "The Humane Society's new policy is a real breakthrough. It will change peoples' notion of what an adoptable cat is. Adopting an FIV cat won't be a scary thing anymore."
Some FIV cats can live up to 20 years if placed in a stable environment with good nutrition. They do fine with other cats, too, as long as all the cats get along. FIV is spread through deep bite wounds, and not typically through casual contact.
"Bark in the Park" a Howling Success
August 31, 2009: "Maddie" posed for photos with players and fans and had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at the third annual "Bark in the Park" Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game in Brooklyn, New York on August 26th. Sponsored by the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals and Maddie's Fund, the event was designed to connect pet lovers and baseball fans for an evening of family fun. 600 people and their pooches joined 5,000 fans in cheering the home team on. And while the Cyclones lost the game to the Vermont Lake Monsters, eight homeless dogs won big by getting adopted into loving new homes.
Helmsley Legal Trust Challenge
August 11, 2009: Maddie's Fund, HSUS and ASPCA charge that Helmsley Trustees are misdirecting funds despite clear direction from late heiress to help dogs. Read more
Meet Maddie's Shelter Medicine Resident at U of F
August 7, 2009: Laura Andersen, DVM recently joined Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida as its first resident. Read more
Rave Review for Maddie’s Infection Control Manual
July 23, 2009: "I highly recommend it." That was the verdict of Leslie Sinclair, DVM, reviewing Maddie's® Infection Control Manual for Animal Shelters in the June 15th issue of The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). Dr. Sinclair went on to say, "This clear overview of the principles of infection control as they apply to the animal shelter environment is worth review by veterinary professionals associated with the animal care and control field." The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association is the most prestigious publication in the field. To see the full review, Read More
11th Annual Broadway Barks
July 22, 2009: 26 Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project shelters and rescues participated in the 11th Annual Broadway Barks Adopt-a-thon for homeless pets held on July 11th in New York City. Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters hosted the event, with help from an array of Broadway stars including Angela Lansbury (Blithe Spirit), and David Hyde Pierce (Accent on Youth). Last year's event attracted 7,000 people and boasted 125 adoptions.
July 4th Sky-High Adoptions
July 10, 2009: When Indianapolis Animal Care & Control advertised $4 adoptions on July 4th, the shelter was mobbed - and 150 pets found loving new homes. Fantastic coverage by all the local TV stations was key to driving in the new adopters. At the same time, the Humane Society of Indianapolis (a partner of Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at Purdue University) made older animals one year of age and up available for $17.76, resulting in 141 new forever homes over five days. It just goes to show what a great promotion can do to save lives!
Maddie's Fund on the Air
June 25, 2009: Maddie's Fund President Rich Avanzino recently joined Animal Wise Radio's Mike Fry and Beth Nelson for a discussion on getting to no-kill by 2015. For a podcast, click here.
Drink Some Ale - Save Some Tail
June 19, 2009: The Alachua County Humane Society, lead agency for Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project in Alachua County, Florida, came up with this clever fundraiser. A local pub hosted the event and donated $1 of every beer sold to the Humane Society. "We had great fun and raised about $1200," said Executive Director Kirk Eppenstein." The only problem: the place was packed within a half hour and there was a line to get in until 9pm." Click here to read about fundraising with local businesses.
Maddie's Fund in the News
June 9, 2009: Maddie's Fund President Rich Avanzino is featured in the American Profile series on Voice of America. American Profile focuses on Americans who have had a positive impact in their communities. Click here to read and hear more.
New Ad Campaign in Dane County, Wisconsin
May 22, 2009: A new pro bono advertising campaign promoting adoptions is decorating billboards in Dane County, Wisconsin. The clever billboards direct viewers to DaneCountyRescues.org, a coalition of Dane County rescue and adoption organizations sponsored by Maddie's Fund. The wonderful logos and designs were donated by the Hiebing Marketing and Advertising agency of Madison (www.hiebing.com). Digital billboards were donated by Clear Channel and Lamar Advertising and Adam's Outdoor Advertising donated the regular billboard space.
Maddie's at No Kill Conference
May 4, 2009: Maddie's Fund President Rich Avanzino was a keynote speaker at the 2009 No Kill Conference in Washington DC on May 2 & 3. Rich was welcomed with a standing ovation and his Getting to No-Kill by 2015 presentation received thunderous applause. He also participated on the panel, Combining Your Legal Skills with Your Passion for Animals.
Maddie's Awards $230,200 to Virginia Coalition
May 1, 2009: Maddie's Fund has given the Richmond SPCA and Richmond Animal Care & Control a $230,200 Lifesaving Award. Click here to read the press release.
Maddie’s Awards $474,000 to Berkeley Coalition
April 13, 2009: Maddie's Fund has given the Berkeley Alliance for Homeless Animals in Berkeley, California, a $474,000 Lifesaving Award. Read more.
Maddie's Fund Featured in The American Dog Magazine
April 1, 2009: Maddie's mission, goals and accomplishments are described in the Spring 2009 issue of American Dog Magazine. Click here to read the article.
Mobile SPCA's Spay-ghetti Benefit Dinner a Huge Success!
March 20, 2009: Mobile SPCA, lead agency of Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project in Mobile, Alabama, held its First Annual Spay-ghetti Benefit Dinner last week and it was a huge success! Nearly 250 diners lined up around the block to claim their plate of homemade spaghetti and listen to a live band. The event raised $3,700, all of which will go towards the MSPCA's Spay/Neuter Program.
Maddie's Program Conducts Shelter Assessment
February 16, 2009: Staff from Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida will conduct a three-day Shelter Health Assessment at Lee County Animal Services in Fort Myers, Florida, February 24 through February 26. Shelter assessments are one component of the new comprehensive shelter medicine program.
Maddie Rings the Closing Bell at the NY Stock Exchange
February 9, 2009: Jane Hoffman, President of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals and the Maddie Mascot rang the closing bell at 4pm EST at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, February 9! This was the official media kick-off event for I Love NYC Pets Month. Representatives from the Humane Society of New York brought two dogs to join in this big moment. For more, go here.
Maddie Joins Mardi Gras Pet Parade
January 30, 2009: On January 24th, Maddie joined the Mobile SPCA in their Tillman's Tricksters Mardi Gras Pet Parade. Scores of costumed pet guardians and their pets participated in the fundraiser--proceeds go towards saving homeless shelter dog and cats. Thousands of Mobilians attended the parade, which is the first parade event to kick off the Mardi Gras season.
Mardi Gras may be famous in New Orleans, but it was actually Mobile, Alabama that originated the U.S. celebration. To this day, 300 years later, Mardi Gras is celebrated every year in Mobile with live music, floats, parades, great food and plenty of spectators.
Maddie's at ARF Conference
January 16, 2009: On Saturday, March 14, Maddie's Fund President Rich Avanzino and Pet Columnist, Christie Keith will present a workshop at the 5th Annual "The Business of Saving Lives," hosted by Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation. The focus of the workshop will be on developing innovative customer service to make the most of new adoption opportunities. For more on the conference, go to: http://www.arf.net/about/events/bosl/index.php
Maddie's Fund® Awards $1.1 M to Purdue University
December 5, 2008: Maddie's Fund has awarded $1.1 M over the next three years to support the development of a comprehensive Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine. Read more
Spay/Neuter Record in Mobile, Alabama
November 25, 2008: Maddie's® Spay/Neuter Project in Mobile, Alabama set a new one month record for surgeries. "There were 254 surgeries in October," said project staffer, Lori Anbuhl, "the most in one month we have ever had and a 69% increase over last October surgeries! We actively spread the word in September and October by placing the lime green spay/neuter stick-ups all over town and also handed them out at our Fair." The great effort clearly paid off. Congratulations to all!
Maddie’s Fund and Humane Society of the United States Team Up
November 18, 2008: Maddie's Fund and HSUS will collaborate with The Advertising Council on a historic three year public service advertising campaign to encourage Americans to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters. Read more
Mobile, AL Saves All Healthy Shelter Pets in October
November 7, 2008: Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project in Mobile, Alabama saved all of the city's healthy shelter dogs and cats in October! Congratulations to the participating coalition partners for their outstanding lifesaving achievement.
Shelter Medicine Conference at the University of Florida
October 30, 2008: Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida is hosting a Shelter Medicine Conference on November 1, 2008 in Gainesville. The full day of continuing education will cover two very important challenges in shelter medicine: reducing shelter admissions by developing efficient neutering programs and improving outcomes of impounded animals by controlling infectious diseases in the shelter. Speakers will include Philip A. Bushby, DVM, MS, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University; Julie K. Levy, DVM, PhD, Director of Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida and Maddie's Fund President Rich Avanzino. For more information, go to http://www.ufsheltermedicine.com.
Mobile Does Sixty-nine Adoptions in Two Days!
September 19, 2008: Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project in Mobile, Alabama participated in PetSmart's recent Fall National Pet Adoption weekend event. Close to 100 dogs and cats were brought to the event from project partners--Mobile SPCA, Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter and the Animal Rescue Foundation. Sixty-nine homeless animals were placed into forever homes by the end of the two-day adoption event!
Shelter Animals Often Overlooked, According to University Survey
September 12, 2008: A study conducted by the University of Nevada at Reno and commissioned by Maddie's Fund has found that despite ongoing efforts to promote adoption of shelter animals, only 39% of the people surveyed had obtained one or more of their pets from a shelter or rescue group. Read more
San Francisco Business Times
Sarah Duxbury, September 5, 2008: The San Francisco Business Times just featured Maddie's Fund in its Nonprofit Profile. Read more
Maddie’s Fund Awards $252,000 to Dane County, Wisconsin Coalition
August 29, 2008: Maddie's Fund will award animal welfare groups and veterinarians in Dane County, Wisconsin up to $1 million over five years to save all of the county's healthy and treatable shelter cats. Read more
Maddie's Marketing Competition 2008
August 1, 2008: Maddie's Fund and Petfinder.com are holding a second marketing competition for Petfinder.com member shelters and rescues. Winners will receive between $500-$25,000. Last year, more than 100 organizations received cash awards. Learn more
Maddie's Fund® Awards $1.7 M to University of Florida
July 27, 2008: Maddie's Fund has awarded the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine a $1.7 M grant to support the first three years of a comprehensive six-year shelter medicine program. The program will begin on July 1. Read more
Adoption Success Story
July 25, 2008: The Mobile County Maddie Project held its fourth annual Maddie's® Pet Palooza! Pet Fair and Super Adoption Saturday June 21st. The event was well attended by hundreds of pet enthusiasts who were entertained by the free agility and obedience demonstrations and mini-training seminars provided by the Mobile Bay Dog Training Club. All three Maddie's® adoption guarantee partners participated, and at the end of the day 66 homeless shelter dogs and cats found homes!
Maddie's Infection Control Manual Available Now
July 11, 2008: Maddie's® Infection Control Manual for Animal Shelters is an invaluable resource for shelter veterinary professionals in the development and implementation of infection control protocols. This reference was produced by the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and is available for $30 (plus shipping). To order, go here
Maddie's Launches Pilot Campaign in Northern Nevada to Improve Pet Care
June 27, 2008: Maddie's Fund is launching an unprecedented campaign in Northern Nevada to promote regular veterinarian visits for pets. The campaign, Pets Love Vets, aims to help pets live longer, healthier lives by educating residents about pet care and connecting them with local veterinarians. For more information, go to www.PetsLoveVets.com
New Director at Alachua County Humane
June 2, 2008: Kirk Eppenstein has been named Executive Director of the Alachua County Humane Society, lead agency for Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in Alachua County, Florida. In addition to running a successful business, Eppenstein has held a variety of positions in his community including Mayor of High Springs and Chairman of the Alachua County Tourist Development Council. Eppenstein has four canine companions, including two miniature Schnauzers.
New York Saves All Healthy Shelter Pets for Two Months
May 23, 2008: Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project and the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals saved all of New York's healthy shelter dogs and cats in February and March! Congratulations to the more than 100 participating coalition partners for their outstanding lifesaving achievement.
Maddie's at HSUS Animal Care Expo
May 12, 2008: Maddie's Fund President Rich Avanzino will lead a panel discussion titled, The Pros and Cons of Animal Transport, at the HSUS Animal Care Expo, May 14-17 in Orlando. He will be joined by M. Christie Smith, Executive Director, Potter League for Animals, and Jan Scarlett, DVM, Director of Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University.
Maddie's Awards $412,000 to the Charlottesville-Albermarle SPCA
May 5, 2008: Maddie's Fund® has given the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA a $412,000 Maddie's Lifesaving Award for saving all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats in the City of Charlottesville and County of Albemarle, Virginia. Read more
Grand Opening in Mobile, Alabama SPCA
April 18, 2008: The Mobile SPCA, lead agency for Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project in Mobile County, held a grand opening on April 13th for its new adoption center. Maddie the mascot helped Executive Director Janine Woods cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the facility, which will house 30 adult dogs and 30 cats. The center is expected to significantly increase adoptions for the MSPCA and Maddie's Mobile project.
Digital Cameras to the Rescue
April 9, 2008: A $10,000 Maddie's Fund grant to Petfinder.com to purchase digital cameras for member shelters and rescues is paying dividends in saving lives. One camera feature that has been particularly popular and effective is the video option. The number of videos posted on Petfinder.com has increased 50% in the past four months. A thank you note from Heartland Lab Rescue says it all.
"Thank you so much for the digital camera we were recently awarded by Petfinder.com through a Maddie's Fund grant. We are so excited to have this so that we can take fantastic pictures and video of our pets. Having great pictures makes such a big difference in getting these very deserving animals adopted."
New Shelter Opens in Maricopa County
March 22, 2008: Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (and Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project partner), will leave their 40-year old West Valley Shelter and move into a beautiful new 54,000 square foot facility. With "Real Life" rooms for potential owners to interact with the animals, a larger, modern clinic, and separate housing for cats and dogs, the facility will better serve the public and the homeless animals. Moving day is the 22nd; the new shelter will be open for business on Sunday, March 23rd.
Maddie's Shelter Medicine Position Endowed
March 13, 2008: The wife of an alumnus has generously gifted Cornell University's Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program with a $2 million endowment for a Clinical Program Director. "The endowment means that we have a faculty position that is guaranteed, and the program will continue" said Maddie's Shelter Medicine Director, Jan Scarlett, DVM.
No Deaths in February for Tuscaloosa's Healthy Shelter Pets
March 6, 2008: Maddie's Fund® Pet Rescue Project in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, achieved the goal of saving all of the county's healthy shelter dogs and cats for the entire month of February. Says Maddie's Project Coordinator, Shamire Crummie, "We really came together, calling each other daily to make sure we were taking all of the healthy pets out of Metro Animal Shelter. I'd go in and find empty cages and that was a great feeling. All of the groups are so excited about what we've accomplished we're trying to do it again in March." Maddie's community projects are asked to put an adoption guarantee in place for healthy animals for one month in Year Three and for three consecutive months in Year Four in order to ensure a full adoption guarantee for healthy dogs and cats by Year Five.
New Maddie's® Grant for Nevada Spay/Neuter Project
February 25, 2008: Maddie's Fund® has approved a new $200,000 grant to spay and neuter dogs and cats belonging to low-income residents in Northern Nevada. Maddie's® Spay/Neuter Project in Nevada provides low cost surgeries to Medicaid or Nevada Check-Up recipients living ins six counties. Read more
'Cupid' Models in Times Square Kick Off I Love NYC Pets Month
February 7, 2008: Two Cupids accompanied by the Maddie schnauzer mascot and dogs from Animal Care & Control of NYC made a visit to Times Square to raise awareness for the Mayor's Alliance for NYC"s Second Annual I Love NYC Pets month. Additional adoption events, extended adoption hours and low-cost spay/neutering will be featured throughout the month.
Mayor Promotes Speed Dating for Pets
February 1, 2008: Last year, Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project in Tuscaloosa, Alabama came up with a novel Valentine's Day adoption event-Speed Dating for Pets. Potential adopters rotated through a series of face to face encounters with shelter dogs and cats to meet their love match. The event is scheduled again this year, and Tuscaloosa's Mayor is helping to promote it by proclaiming February 9, Speed Dating For Pets and Animal Lovers Day! Writes Maddie's Public Relations Coordinator Shamire Crummie: "Having recently suffered the death of his own beloved dog, Mayor Maddox was happy to promote an event for shelter pets awaiting adoption."
And the Winners Are…….
January 21, 2008: We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Maddie's Fund/Petfinder.com marketing competition for adopting hard to place pets. In recognition of the quality and quantity of entries, Maddie's Fund tripled the amount of prize money to $300,000. Read more
Record Surgeries for Feral/Stray Cats
January 16, 2008: A recent Operation Catnip clinic in Alachua County, Florida broke its own record by neutering 314 cats in a single day. "We're going to submit a claim to the Guinness Book of World Records," writes Clinic Director, Julie Levy, DVM. The previous record for the most surgeries in one day was 287.
Operation Catnip is a nonprofit organization that operates a high-volume, no-charge clinic at which feral and stray cats are spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Operation Catnip is affiliated with the Maddie's projects in Alachua County, Florida.
