Shelter Success Simplified

28/02/2022

On Episode 68 of the Shelter Success Simplified podcast,
Scott Giacoppo, Director of National Shelter Outreach for Best Friends Animal Society discusses getting staff and public support of Return-to-Field (RTF) programs. He offers details needed to fully understand why RTF is a better approach, how it works in other communities and why the old way is not effective.
Listen on your podcast app or at the link below. 🐱🐶
https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/2e3734e5/get-staff-and-public-buy-in-for-return-to-field-ep68

18/02/2022

On Episode 67 of the Shelter Success Simplified podcast, Kimberly Wade, one of our very own consultants and of Homeward Bound Cat Adoptions and FieldHaven Feline Center,
offers tips for better social media posts and storytelling. She's worked in big shelters, small rescue organizations, and now remotely, and shares that you can create good content from anywhere with the right team! Listen on your podcast app or at the link below. 🐱🐶
https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/3177686d/better-social-media-posts-for-your-organization-ep67

12/02/2022

On Episode 66 of the Shelter Success Simplified podcast, Brent Toellner of Best Friends Animal Society offers tips for finding help for your animal welfare organization, because he understands that often staff and volunteers are pushed to do more with limited resources. Listen on your podcast app or at the link below. 🐱🐶 https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/1ec51c98/how-to-find-help-for-your-animal-organization-ep66

20/09/2021

Great customer service starts with leadership and management. On Episode 48, hear tips from Amber Sitko of All About Animals Rescue, the largest spay-neuter and pet wellness provider in Michigan. For example, if you are trying to reach people with fewer resources or seniors who may not be tech savvy, then create walk-in times rather than requiring appointments for vaccines and wellness care — simpler services they are most likely to need. Listen: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/4bc0f391/great-customer-service-tips-for-animal-organizations-ep48

15/09/2021

When shelters and rescue groups are unable to meet public demand for pets, it creates an opportunity for puppy mills and other unethical breeders to fill the void and meet demand. Joyce Briggs of the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs talks about what might change in animal welfare due to the success of spay-neuter efforts on Ep47. Check it out: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/1c6dfa0a/what-to-know-about-meeting-future-demand-for-pets-ep47

13/09/2021

Here's a podcast sure to inspire some conversation — it's with Crystal Kozlak of Food for Thought - A Program of Animal Place about why serving veg-only food at animal organization events better fits with your mission. Plus there's grant money to cater a veg-only event so you can see how it works! Listen on your app or here: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/eed132ae/how-to-make-food-at-your-events-fit-your-mission-ep46

11/06/2021

Episode 45 features an issue that may be flying under your radar: veterinary telemedicine. But it should become more prominent in animal welfare and efforts to improve access to care in order to keep pets out of shelters. Learn more from Brandy Kuentzel, general counsel for The San Francisco SPCA: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/35260f45/telemedicine-and-the-future-of-animal-sheltering-ep-45

10/06/2021

We talk with Kelley Bollen Consulting, MS, CABC about how shelters and rescue groups can help people in their community with dog separation anxiety issues — includes training tips! Our leadership recommendation is for a sample fraud policy put out by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Listen on your podcast app or here: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/28e708f1/help-your-communitys-dogs-with-separation-anxiety-ep-44

09/06/2021

On Episode 43, Stacy LeBaron of the Community Cats Podcast discusses how to revive an organization that has become stagnant or inactive. Our leadership recomendation is for a document outlining the steps for planning a new animal shelter or clinic. Listen on your podcast app or here: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/478f1a0b/how-to-revive-a-stagnating-animal-nonprofit-ep43

08/06/2021

Episode 42 looks at how continuing education can advance your career in animal welfare and how a certification course works. It features Humane Network President Brown and CEO Blankenburg, who created the first such course for animal shelter leaders. Listen on your podcast app or here: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/2c554768/how-to-give-your-animal-welfare-career-a-boost-ep42

07/06/2021

We talk to Diaz Dixon of Human Animal Support Services about advice for new nonprofit leaders on Episode 41 including the books that influenced his leadership style. And this episode's recommendation is TechSoup — it has more than just discounted software. Listen on your podcast app or here: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/eb9b3f91/advice-for-new-leaders-on-creating-positive-culture-ep41

27/05/2021

In Episode 40, Phillip Zimmerman of Front Street Animal Shelter talks about how leaders and managers can maintain good communications with their teams. You've got to be willing to be vulnerable and share your feelings in appropriate ways because otherwise you can come off robotic and uncaring, he says. Listen: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/1f93b379/how-to-maintain-good-communications-with-staff-ep40

26/05/2021

Anne Lindsay — who founded the Massachusetts Animal Coalition and has a master's in counseling psychology — talks about preventing compassion fatigue on Ep39. Her view: We each have an ethical responsibility to take care of ourselves, to be healthy mentally and physically, because if we fail, those we care for will not receive the help they need. Listen: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/23376a8c/tips-for-preventing-your-own-compassion-fatigue-ep39

17/05/2021

Dr. Steve Kochis, chief medical officer at Oregon Humane Society, talks to us on Episode 38 about the ways he has worked to recruit and retain happy, productive staff. Listen on your podcast app or at: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/fbab045c/how-to-recruit-and-retain-happy-productive-staff-ep38

12/05/2021

On Episode 37, Jennifer Conrad of The Paw Project talks about the challenges getting legislation passed to ban the declawing of cats — and how to win! Search for "Shelter Success Simplified" on your podcast app or listen on our site: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/2d98532b/how-to-propose-or-best-support-a-cat-declaw-ban-ep37

10/05/2021

In Episode 36, Dr. Cindi Delany from the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine program talks about how to shift resources from caring for animals in the shelter to helping keep animals with their original families. And our leadership tip is for a booklet about 5 online fundraising habits to stop doing. Listen to Shelter Success Simplified on your podcast app or on our site: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/3df67b8e/resource-tricks-to-keep-animals-out-of-shelters-ep36

05/05/2021

"Nice" leaders and managers can create drama at their organizations. On podcast Episode 38, our leadership recommendation looks at an article (and book) by Marlene Chism on the downside of nice. Do you work for a leader who has one of the three styles that can unintentionally create drama (the best friend, the hero, the hands-off leader)? Are you one? Check the article here: https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2019/06/how-nice-leaders-create-team-drama

03/05/2021

In episode 35, we talk to licensed clinical psychologist Linda Harper about what an organization's leader can do to support their team members with — and prevent — compassion fatigue and burnout. Among the tips: Like an organization might have a safety monitor, appoint someone to monitor "joy" or "balance" — this person can be the go-to for resources and make sure staff feel supported and valued. Listen: https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/33684a6d/how-to-support-your-teams-compassion-fatigue-ep35

15/03/2021

In Episode 34, Kurt Fenstermacher, who created the city of El Paso's animal services department, offers tips for new leaders and managers in animal welfare. One tip is to track your time for a week to better understand how you're actually spending it. Search for "Shelter Success Simplified" on your favorite podcast app or listen at https://www.humanenetwork.org/podcast/episode/3f5adf45/tips-to-help-new-leaders-in-animal-welfare-ep34

10/03/2021

A recommendation on our recent podcast with Elkie Wills of San Diego Humane Society is worth checking out for all who send mass emails. It's https://www.mail-tester.com. You send a test email there, and it tells you whether it has any problems or might be flagged as spam. Give it a try with your next eblast!

08/03/2021

There are two grant opportunities with fast-approaching deadlines mentioned by recent podcast guest Susanne Kogut. One was just extended to March 12 and it offers groups a chance at grants totalling $250,000 if they sign up for Petco Foundation's lost pets initiative, and the other pays for organizations to get animal tracking software - apply by March 31. Join the lost pets effort here: https://www.petcofoundation.org/for-partners/finding-rover-grant-contest-form/. Apply for the Data Saves Lives grant through the partner portal here: https://petcofoundation.fluxx.io/user_sessions/new

01/03/2021

Why are mission statements so hard to get right? On a recent episode, our leadership recommendation was Dan Heath's short video on "How to write a mission statement that doesn't suck." It's really good. You can watch it or read a transcript here: https://www.fastcompany.com/1404951/how-write-mission-statement-doesnt-suck-video

22/02/2021

The next Shelter Success Simplified webinar — it's free! — is this Wedneday Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. Pacific (4 Eastern). It will cover how to increase your group's visibility; increase community engagement; ideas for activities, programs and events; and more. For Zoom details and a recording link, click here: https://www.humanenetwork.org/webinar-signup

22/02/2021

In episode 33, Susanne Kogut talks about the Petco Foundation's new lost-and-found pets initiative: how it works and why shelters should join. She also shares the real-life lost-dog story that inspired the national effort. Listen on your favorite podcast app or at https://www.humanenetwork.org/ep33-susanne-kogut

18/02/2021

Here's an article you might find useful headlined "How to Pitch a Nonprofit Story to the Media" from The Balance. One of the nine suggestions: Go to the extreme. Any superlative that can be used in the story — first, biggest, smallest, oldest — can provide the "gee whiz" element. Link: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-to-pitch-a-nonprofit-story-to-the-media-2502342

18/02/2021

Interested in a chance at grant money? Want to help more lost pets get back home? Sign up by March 1, 2021 for Petco Foundation's lost-and-found pets initiative (it's free!) and be entered to win part of $250,000 in grants: https://www.petcofoundation.org/for-partners/finding-rover-partner-application/

17/02/2021

The first of two free Shelter Success Simplified webinars on fundraising will be tomorrow (Feb. 17) at 1 p.m. Pacific with presenters Bonney Brown and Diane Blankenburg. This session will focus on funding sources, creating a simple plan and critical components, and keys to successful fundraising. Sign up for Zoom details and to get supplemental resource documents: https://www.humanenetwork.org/webinar-signup

16/02/2021

In Episode 32, we talk to Elkie Wills at San Diego Humane Society about how they developed successful VIRTUAL community engagement programs. Learn the apps they use to make things go smoother and which events worked better than others. https://www.humanenetwork.org/ep32-elkie-wills

09/02/2021

Tomorrow will be the latest free Shelter Success Simplified webinar on tuning up your animal welfare organization. In it, you'll learn how to increase the effectiveness of your board and how to create a united team. It starts at 1 p.m. Pacific Feb. 10. Get Zoom details by signing up: https://www.humanenetwork.org/webinar-signup

02/02/2021

The next free Shelter Success Simplified webinar is this Wednesday at 1 p.m. Pacific, where you'll learn to assess your organization's current work and eliminate bottlenecks to get important work done with greater ease. Sign up here to get details, Zoom instructions, and links to the session recording and supplemental documents: https://www.humanenetwork.org/webinar-signup

02/02/2021

In Episode 31, Dr. Kate Hurley of the Million Cat Challenge talks about when to return healthy, friendly free-roaming cats and how it can build relationships with historically underserved communities. She's always such an entertaining speaker! Listen on your favorite podcast platform or at https://www.humanenetwork.org/ep31-kate-hurley

25/01/2021

Want to deepen your cat-advocacy skills? Then don't miss the 3-day 2021 Online Cat Conference Jan. 29-31. Topics will include how to start a TNR group, how human and animal support services can help community cats, all about FIP, and learnings from the Cat-izen Science Project. The conference is hosted by Community Cats Podcast. Register here: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/online-cat-conference-2021/

20/01/2021

Don't miss the free one-hour Shelter Success Simplified webinar titled "Create Your Road Map: Part 1"! It's this Wednesday Jan. 20, and it'll help you to clarify your organization's mission and vision and create goals that are meaningful and inspiring for your team and supporters. Sign up to watch live or to get a recording link. It starts at 1 p.m. Pacific (2 p.m. Mountain, 3 Central, and 4 Eastern). https://www.humanenetwork.org/webinar-signup

14/01/2021

Rick DuCharme, founder of First Coast No More Homeless Pets, joins us for Episode 30 to talk about how far more animals each year are euthanized at veterinary clinics for economic reasons than die in shelters, making access to veterinary care the #1 animal welfare issue in the country. He gives tips on how your organization can get started. Search for "Shelter Success Simplified" on your fave podcast app or listen here: https://www.humanenetwork.org/ep30-rick-ducharme

06/01/2021

In Episode 29, we talk with Steve Goebel of Toe Shark Visual Communications on branding and logos. Questions answered are: When should you change them? And how do you go about it? He also emphasizes that in your marketing and communications, be sure to always include a call to action.

https://www.humanenetwork.org/ep29-steve-goebel

When and how to change your org's logo and branding.

05/01/2021

Woo-hoo! We had a huge jump in funds raised over the New Year's weekend for the Awesomest Pet mural contest — from about $8,600 to about $13,600. One of the most active competitions is for Awesomest Cat. Four cat photos have raised $1,000 or more, including Julio in the photo here. It's fun to enter or vote — or just to click through all the great photos! Check out the contest, which raises funds for our nonprofit clinic to help pets who would otherwise not receive care, here: https://www.gogophotocontest.com/optionsveterinarycare

17/12/2020

Got an Audible account? If so, you can listen to the Shelter Success Simplified podcast through the Audible app or site. Easy-peasy!
https://www.audible.com/pd/Shelter-Success-Simplified-Podcast/episodes/B08K567RBV?ref=a_pd_Shelte_c4_episodes_view_all

Check out this great listen on Audible.com. Shelter Success Simplified is a podcast designed to help you run your animal welfare organization better. We interview experts in a concise format to give you the tools to save more animals while simplifying your work and setting up your organization for.....

16/12/2020

Episode 28 features Becky Robinson, founder and president of Alley Cat Allies. We talk about how shelter leaders can support their own organizations' TNR programs. For instance, front line staff should be trained in the talking points about TNR and perhaps have script - it is the most effective and humane way to stabilize and manage outdoor cat populations. https://www.humanenetwork.org/ep28-becky-robinson

Learn how shelter leaders can support TNR programs better.

09/12/2020

We talk with Joy Smith of FieldHaven Feline Center about how and why to create partnerships with other groups and government agencies. Plus we talk about the benefits of building a volunteer disaster team so your regular staff can still perform all their essential duties even when you're called on to help other groups or the community in times of trouble. https://www.humanenetwork.org/ep27-joy-smith

Learn how and why to development partneships with other groups.

19/11/2020

Episode 26 focuses on end-of-year fundraising tips and ideas and features Humane Network's Diane Blankenburg and Bonney Brown. Tip: Test how easy it is to donate to your own group by trying to make a small donation using your phone. Listen and view show notes: https://www.humanenetwork.org/ep26-diane-blankenburg-2

Podcast: Tips/ideas from Diane Blankenburg and Bonney Brown.