the Intake

In this episode of The Intake Podcast, host Katherine Shenar sits down with Rhett Lindsay and Lydia Krupinski from Anti-Cruelty in Chicago, alongside TrueSense Marketing’s Alison McCarty, to unpack how their 125th anniversary campaign became one of their all-time most impactful fundraising efforts.Come meet Chanel, the rescue dog who became the face of the campaign, and explore the role that data and real-time optimization and authentic partnership played in Anti-Cruelty’s fully integrated, multi-channel experience.You’ll learn: How to create cohesive campaigns across email, direct mail, social, and media Why storytelling is your most powerful fundraising tool How to balance creative ideas with data-informed strategy What it really takes to retain and engage donors over time Whether you’re leading a campaign or rethinking your approach to donor engagement, this episode will challenge and inspire.

Are shelter adoptions changing — and what does that mean for pets, people, and the future of animal welfare?In this episode, we dive into the 2025 State of Shelter Adoptions Report, one of the most comprehensive snapshots of what shelters are experiencing right now.Join host Katherine Shenar of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement alongside industry leaders Ellen Taylor (Humane Society of Charlotte), Chris Ramon (Pasadena Humane), and Meghan Lehman (Hill’s Pet Nutrition) as they unpack the trends shaping today’s shelter landscape.You’ll hear candid insights and real-world strategies on:• Why intakes are rising nationwide• What’s driving longer stays for large dogs• How financial barriers are impacting adoption outcomes• The encouraging rise in cat adoptions• The growing importance of foster programs and post-adoption supportWhether you’re a shelter professional, industry partner, policymaker, or passionate pet advocate, this episode offers a thoughtful, data-driven look at where we are — and where we can go if we work together.Access the full 2025 State of Shelter Adoptions Report at The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement’s website. https://theaawa.org/hills-2025-shelter-report/Listening to this episode is one small step toward improving outcomes for pets and the people who love them. Press play and join the conversation.

If you’re an animal welfare professional looking to reduce intake, increase RTO, and provide faster solutions for lost pets and worried families, this episode is for you. Katherine Shenar hosts Front Street Animal Shelter’s Phillip Zimmerman and Jackie Rose of DocuPet.

In this episode, we sit down with Hannah Shaw, a/k/a The Kitten Lady, an advocate for cat welfare, especially neonate kittens, and Jackie Noble, executive director for the Orphan Kitten Club, Shaw’s nonprofit she created to help build innovative programs that save the lives of the tiniest and most vulnerable felines. Shaw discusses the launch of Cats of the World, a stunning new book that features over 700 photos from 30 different countries, capturing the deep connections between humans and cats while highlighting global efforts to improve cat welfare. Shaw also delves into a groundbreaking UC Davis study on neonatal kitten mortality, revealing that many losses are due to treatable conditions. She also shares insights on the innovative CASA method for assessing found kittens, stressing the importance of thoughtful community conversations. Plus, Jackie joins us to discuss her experience with kitten diversion programs and why continued research is vital to improving outcomes for vulnerable kittens. Whether you’re a cat lover or passionate about animal welfare, this episode is packed with stories, solutions, and inspiration!

Hill’s Pet Nutrition just released their 2024 State of Shelter Adoption Report, and you may be surprised to learn that 1 in 3 people would be more likely to adopt if foster-to-adopt were an option at their shelter, or that 64% of respondents would foster if their costs were covered. To capitalize on these insights and learn how to grow your foster program, listen in as The Association’s Katherine M. Shenar sits down with Kelly Furnas and Stephani Coe of Carrollton, TX-based Operation Kindness, who will offer tips and techniques they used to increase their foster program by 35% in a year.

It's true that intake numbers are still below pre-pandemic 2019, yet animal shelters are over capacity. And the numbers show that interest in adoptions is waning. There is a potential solution... But why aren’t more organizations prioritizing it? The Association’s Katherine Shenar sits down with Abbie Moore and Kristen Hassen of Petco Love Lost to discuss RTO strategies to reunite lost pets with their families. It’s time to stop judging owners who’ve lost their pets, amp up in-house resources, and instead try cool tools for dramatically increasing outcomes, like Petco Love’s nifty new workbook.

Heard the one about the foster volunteer with the sick kitten calling the foster coordinator at 2 am on a Sunday morning, and the foster coordinator then calling the vet to see if it’s an emergency? This all-too common scenario can lead to staff burnout , work-life imbalance, and inefficient processes that drain organizational resources. The Association’s Katherine Shenar sits down with Greenville County Animal Care to find out how the South Carolina agency solved this problem by taking a chance on Vidaah, an innovative new teletriage program. For more information, visit Vidaah P.S. Shelters, you'll be in good company--almost 100 agencies are using this groundbreaking service.

With rents increasing as much as 25% across the nation, Dianne Prado, eviction attorney in Los Angeles, helps us understand what we need to know if we rent with a pet. We learned a lot from Dianne and know you will, too.

Big brands get to have the biggest voices and attention, while organizations doing the most good are often overlooked. Nonprofit social impact orgs such as animal shelters can’t compete with the $$$$ budgets big brands dedicated to media buying, production, talent, product, creative, etc. So how can animal welfare fundraisers and marketers raise hell together, to shake it up and find new and innovative ways to increase donor support and drive sustainable revenue? Hear from animal welfare leaders whose organizations have significantly increased engagement with their donors. Panelists will share their personal stories, lessons learned, and how partnership drove sustainable success, including how a shelter recently embarked on a 5-year plan to significantly increase its level of donor support. Both marketers and fundraisers will gain insights and inspiration to create effective strategies. Questions from the audience will follow the roundtable discussion. The Association’s Roundtable series features leaders discussing emerging and critical issues in animal welfare. Moderated by Jim Tedford, President and CEO, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement The Roundtable Guests: Denise Wong, CEO, One & All Stephanie Ladeira, Chief of Philanthropy & Community Development, Humane Society Silicon Valley Angela Speed, Vice President of Communications, Wisconsin Humane Society