The Best Friends Podcast

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...

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 th...

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...

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...

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. Th...

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...

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 mor...

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...

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...

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 w...

The period to submit proposals to speak at the 2023 Best Friends National Conference is now open! Check out this link for more information on the requirements, timeline, and how to submit: https://bfas.io/NiEM To get us started for 2023, we take a moment to think about the year ahead. What has happened over the last few weeks and months that can help us plan for what’s coming next? Do we expect in...

This is the final episode of the year! And what a year it has been. Across the country, shelters struggled to manage increases in intake, and while adoptions also increased, the boost in positive outcomes couldn’t keep pace. That resulted in many folks in our industry being more overwhelmed than usual (which is saying something). We want to thank you for everything you do to help pets and those wh...

It’s that time, once again, when we take a moment to reflect on the year (and podcast), that was. 2022 was challenging in many ways, and the 42 episodes from this year reflect that.  Topics ranged from staffing and pay inequity to marketing during a crisis. We talked about working with elected officials - with who better than  actual  elected officials! We welcomed 62 guests who rep...

Housing issues are the  second most common reason  people surrender pets to shelters. If not priced out by exorbitant pet deposits or monthly pet-ownership fees, arbitrary restrictions around species, breed, and size can often force a pet owner to make the worst choice imaginable. And while it may be easy to think, "I could never do that. I would just find another apartment," consid...

It’s been a challenging year for animal shelters and rescue organizations across the country. Lifesaving gains made during the COVID pandemic seemed to disappear for many as a new set of external factors played havoc with the animal welfare industry. Those lifesaving gains certainly seemed to disappear, but did they? Anecdotal stories from scores of individual organizations say some version of the...

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day, so we're taking a moment to thank all members of the military, active duty and veteran, for their service. We're also using this as an opportunity to learn more about Dogs on Deployment, one of our Best Friends Network partners whose work directly impacts those who are and have served the nation. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say, and that was the case wi...

When the York County SPCA (YCSPCA) hired a new executive director at the end of 2019, it set in motion plans to transform how the organization operated. To reach and sustain a 90% save rate of animals coming into the shelter, Steven Martinez knew success in his new role would require executing an audacious strategic plan focused on five pillars of change. By overhauling the IT infrastructure, impl...

You know those super viral animal-related articles you see all your friends sharing on your social media feeds? You know the ones. Headlines like this one on TODAY.com, “couple creates humongous bed so they can sleep comfortably with eight rescue dogs.” What about this story on The Dodo, “pit bull obsessed with cats gets his litter of kittens.” This week’s guest wrote those and hundreds of other a...

The field of animal welfare can be physically and mentally grueling. At times, it may feel like there is no end in sight with so many requests for help. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, not every story has a happy ending. The data backs up our feelings about how hard this work is on our mental health. For example, a 2015 study showed the suicide rates for animal welfare workers to be the h...

When looking for practical tips and inspiration to help you save lives, chances are you’ve never sought out reality television for answers. But according to this week’s guest, animal welfare professionals can learn much from "The Real Housewives." Makena Yarbrough is not only the Senior Director of Lifesaving Programs at Best Friends, but she’s also a self-professed superfan of the reality TV fran...

Transport has been a critical lifesaving program for many years. Animals from under-resourced communities overwhelmed with homeless pets are transported to another where they have the opportunity for a positive outcome. This supply and demand model has saved millions of lives. The goal isn’t solely to save the lives of the animals that can fit on that transport vehicle. Reducing the sending shelte...

Are you a risk taker? The decisions we make in animal welfare are often fraught with risk. If for no other reason than our work involves the lives of people and pets. It's natural for even the most seasoned risk-taker to experience doubts. During the 2022 Best Friends National Conference , 20 speakers had seven minutes each to share a story about how they stepped out of their comfort zone and took...

It’s not unusual for an organization to drift away from its mission statement, purpose, and goals. Over time, the landscape in a community can change to the point that the animals your organization was founded to help don’t need that help as they once did. In Carrolton, Texas, the leadership of Operation Kindness knew their organization was already doing lots of great work. Still, they wondered if...

Today is September 1st, which means you can now submit your proposals for a Rachael Ray Save Them All grant. To mark the occasion, we are looking back at an episode that featured a program that received funding during a previous cycle. Gateway Pet Guardians in East St. Louis developed the Unicorn Foster Squad program to address a common problem - a lack of foster homes for behaviorally challenging...

Making landfall five years ago today, Hurricane Harvey was one of the most destructive storms in American history, but its strength was not an aberration. It was a sign of things to come as the changing climate is creating more weather-related disasters and making storms, wildfires, and floods more dangerous. That’s why it’s important to have plans for what to do during an emergency or disaster, b...