Shelter Success Simplified

GUEST: Scott Giacoppo. Scott is the Director of National Shelter Outreach for Best Friends Animal Society and oversees the development of lifesaving efficacy and sustainability for animal welfare partners across the U.S. Prior to Best Friends, Scott was president of NACA – the National Animal Care & Control Association – as well as chief of Animal Field Services for the District of Columbia for 10 years, overseeing all animal control and cruelty investigations team members for Humane Rescue Alliance. He began his animal protection career with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as the Special State Police Officer for Cruelty Investigations. MAIN QUESTION: How can leaders and managers get staff and public buy-in for return-to-field programs? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Best Friends NetworkLeadership Freak blog

GUEST: Kimberly Wade. Kimberly is an expert consultant for Humane Network focusing on communications and social media. She was campaign manager for Maddie's Pet Project in Nevada, communications director at Nevada Humane Society, news producer at KOLO 8 News Now, and has a degree in broadcast journalism and communications from the University of Central Florida. MAIN QUESTION: What are some tips for animal organizations to create better social media pages and posts? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Humane Network's teamManaging Yourself to Better Lead OthersLead the Way in Five Minutes a Day: Sparking High Performance in Yourself and Your Team

GUEST: Brent Toellner. Brent is the Senior Director of National Programs for Best Friends Animal Society. Prior to joining Best Friends, Brent, his wife, Michelle, and a few others co-founded the Kansas City Pet Project to run the municipal shelter in Kansas City, Missouri. MAIN QUESTION: There's a lot of pressure in animal welfare and people can feel alone in their work — what tips and ideas might help? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Best Friends Network5 Things an Executive Director Can Do to Build a Strong Leadership Team

GUEST: Scott Giacoppo. Scott is the Director of National Shelter Outreach for Best Friends Animal Society and oversees the development of lifesaving efficacy and sustainability for animal welfare partners across the U.S. Prior to Best Friends, Scott was president of NACA – the National Animal Care & Control Association – as well as chief of Animal Field Services for the District of Columbia for 10 years, overseeing all animal control and cruelty investigations team members for Humane Rescue Alliance. He began his animal protection career with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as the Special State Police Officer for Cruelty Investigations. MAIN QUESTION: What are the common issues you find when doing organizational assessments of animal organizations around the country? TAKEAWAYS: The two most common challenges to successfully implementing a program are internal communication and training. Scott shared tips on both: 1. Communication: 2. Training Scott also talked how frequently leaders and managers assume that things are going well and are unaware of issues. He suggested three ways to know what’s actually happening: LINKS: Best Friends Network Leadership recommendations: "The Way We Think About Charity Is Dead Wrong" (TED Talk video and blog post)

GUEST: Chris Roy. Chris is a technology guy by day, and the founder of Doobert at night and on weekends. Doobert helps you help animals and is the only software that organizes transport, and the only foster management platform allowing you to send and receive texts with fosters. And Chris has continued to build out Doobert and recently added a new case management module. MAIN QUESTION: How does Doobert's new Companion Case Management module improve communications with the public? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Doobert.comTips for Encouraging Teamwork in the Workplace and Getting People Out of Silos

GUEST: Lori Weise. In 1996, Lori founded Downtown Dog Rescue, which rescues dogs and provides services for low income pet owners in underserved communities in Los Angeles County. She is the founder of the South LA Shelter Intervention Program and one of the founding members of the Best Friends Animal Society's initiative No Kill Los Angeles and advised the ASPCA on their Safety Net Program at LA county shelters. And Lori is a national speaker on community programs and the shelter intervention model of keeping pets in homes. MAIN QUESTION: How can animal organizations better meet people where they're at? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Downtown Dog RescueCultivation: How to Build One-on-One Relationships With Your Donors

GUEST: Kat Albrecht-Thiessen is a pioneer in lost pet investigations. She was a police officer, bloodhound handler, crime scene investigator, and search-and-rescue manager before beginning to apply her skills in 1997 to finding lost pets. She is founder of Missing Animal Response Network and author of the book “Pet Tracker.” MAIN QUESTION: How can shelters and rescue groups support the public in finding lost pets? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Missing Animal Response NetworkPet Tracker: The Amazing Story of Rachel the K-9 Pet DetectiveDon't Let Internal Controls Slip at Your Nonprofit Organization

GUEST: Karen Green is executive director at Cat Adoption Team, the Pacific Northwest’s largest nonprofit, feline-only animal shelter. Before that, she was senior director at the Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs and assistant director of the No More Homeless Pets program at Best Friends Animal Society. MAIN QUESTION: How can animal organizations build a healthy workplace culture, which is so important in a competitive job market? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Cat Adoption Teamworkplace culture agreementThe Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without BurnoutThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleDifficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters MostCrucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second EditionRadical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your HumanityHow to run more effective daily standup meetings

GUEST: Bonney Brown was Executive Director for six years at Nevada Humane Society, an open-admission shelter. She has been Chief Operating Officer, National No More Homeless Pets Director and Communications Director for Best Friends and was National Campaign Director for Alley Cat Allies. Bonney is currently president and co-founder of Humane Network, where she is often involved in assessing and creating fundraising campaigns for shelters and other animal organizations. MAIN QUESTION: What works to engage more members of the community with our animal welfare work so that we can raise more funds — and what doesn't work? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Humane NetworkEnd-of-year fundraising tips webinarHow I Manage My Time - 10 Time Management Tips

GUEST: Diane Blankenburg is CEO & Co-Founder of Humane Network. She was Community Programs & Development Director for Nevada Humane Society, Katrina Rescue and Recovery Director for Alley Cat Allies for 2 years, and Network Director for Best Friends Animal Society. MAIN QUESTION: How can leaders and managers handle internal staff conflict better? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Humane NetworkHow I Manage My Time - 10 Time Management Tips

GUEST: Kelley Bollen is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant with a master’s degree in Animal Behavior who has worked in the field of companion animal behavior for twenty years. Kelley is the Owner and Principal Consultant for Kelley Bollen Consulting – an animal behavior consulting business. Kelley consults with animal shelters across the country on the design and implementation of comprehensive behavior programs to improve the welfare of the animals. She leads Humane Network’s Alive & Thriving animal behavior training program for shelter and clinic staff. And Kelley teaches an Animal Shelter Behavior Management Certificate Course through the University of the Pacific with a new program starting September 27, 2021. MAIN QUESTION: What tips do you have for shelter and clinic staff for handling animals to make it a more stress-free experience? TAKEAWAYS: In general for cats:In general for dogs: LINKS: Kelley Bollen ConsultingAnimal Behavioral Management Certificate CourseAlive & ThrivingLeadership recommendation:How to Ask Useful Questions

GUEST: Mark Robison has been president of CockadoodleMoo Farm Animal Sanctuary for more than 14 years. He is also Senior Consultant at Humane Network and Communications Manager for Options Veterinary Care, a nonprofit clinic. Mark was a journalist for more than 25 years in Stockton, California; Little Rock, Arkansas; and for most of his career at the main newspaper in Reno, the Gazette-Journal MAIN QUESTION: How should nonprofit animal organizations handle negative reviews, critics on social media posts, and critical investigative reporters? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Humane NetworkCockadoodleMoo Farm Animal SanctuaryOptions Veterinary CareManagers: Compassion and Accountability Aren’t Mutually Exclusive

GUEST: Christie Keith is a communications and media consultant with an exclusive focus on animal welfare and veterinary medicine. Her current and recent clients include The Shelter Pet Project, the first public service campaign promoting an animal welfare cause in the Ad Council's 60-year history; Dr. Marty Becker, author and veterinarian; Maddie's Fund; Million Cat Challenge; Dr. Patty Khuly, veterinarian and author; and Vetstreet.com. As a writer and editor, Christie's work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate.com, Bark Magazine, and the nationally syndicated newspaper feature "Pet Connection." She has been a speaker at a number of animal sheltering conferences such as the HSUS Animal Care Expo, Best Friends’ No More Homeless Pets, and the National No-Kill Conference. MAIN QUESTION: How can animal organizations avoid blaming the public in their messaging when talking about the challenges they face? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Christie Keith8 Ways Your Board Can Fundraise Without Asking

GUEST: Rebecca Guinn is CEO of LifeLine Animal Project, which manages Atlanta’s Fulton and DeKalb County animal shelters and which opened a new shelter, adoption center and clinic in 2019. LifeLine’s community outreach effort provides free vaccines, spay/neuter and other assistance to thousands of pets belonging to underserved Atlantans. LifeLine’s community cat program, the first and largest organized trap-neuter-return assistance program in Atlanta, has sterilized and vaccinated more than 40,000 community cats; and the LifeLine Spay & Neuter Clinics comprise the largest spay/neuter provider in Georgia, having performed more than 140,000 surgeries to date. Rebecca is active in the Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia and is a member of Best Friends Animal Society’s No-Kill 2025 National Steering Committee. MAIN QUESTION: How can animal welfare leaders and managers keep an eye on the big picture while staying on top of day-to-day fires? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Lifeline Animal ProjectNonprofit Tech for Good

GUEST: Dr. Leslie Appel is the founder and executive director of Shelter Outreach Services (SOS). She is also a courtesy lecturer at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Before these roles, Dr. Appel was director of veterinary outreach at the ASPCA. She was also a full-time faculty member at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she was an instructor in Small Animal Surgery. And Dr. Appel was the 2013 recipient of the AVMA Animal Welfare Award. MAIN QUESTION: How can animal organizations provide services to rural communities, which often get overlooked? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Shelter Outreach Servicesguidelines for spay-neuter programsHow to Read Non-Profit Financial Statements

GUEST: T' Fisher is director of operations for AlignCare Health, a program of the University of Tennessee that aims to expand access to veterinary care nationwide. She was founder and director of the Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, as well as vice president of animal welfare at the Houston SPCA. She has a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology and bachelor of science degrees in computer technology (with a specialty in graphic design and 3D animation) and in animal science. MAIN QUESTION: What is AlignCare and how can it help organizations expand access to veterinary care even if they don't have their own clinic? TAKEAWAYS: AlignCareHealth.org LINKS: AlignCareProgram for Pet Health Equity at the University of TennesseeAdopters Welcome Manual

GUEST: Lisa LaFontaine is president and chief executive officer of the Humane Rescue Alliance, based in Washington, DC. In 2019, Lisa oversaw the merger of the Humane Rescue Alliance with St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center to create the first regional, community-based, multi-state animal welfare organization in the nation. The organization is the largest provider of animal services in that region, touching the lives of more than 100,000 animals each year. Lisa was also CEO of New Hampshire’s Monadnock Humane Society. She has served as board member and chairman of the board of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, the National Federation of Humane Societies, and the New England Federation of Humane Societies. MAIN QUESTION: What lessons have you learned from the pandemic that have led your organization to be even more community facing? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Humane Rescue Alliance3 Simple Steps to Develop a Nonprofit Board Education Plan

GUEST: Susan Cosby is the Senior Director of Lifesaving Centers for Best Friends Animal Society. She was the Director of Lifesaving for the Petco Foundation and served as the Executive Director and founding employee of the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia. Susan was also the President and CEO of the Pennsylvania SPCA and the Executive Director of the Animal Welfare Association in New Jersey. MAIN QUESTION: What advice do you have for leaders and managers to handle stressful or chaotic work environments? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Best Friends Animal SocietyEisenhower Matrix

GUEST: Marc Peralta is chief program officer at Best Friends Animal Society. Prior to this position, he served in a number of other key roles at Best Friends, including senior director of National No-Kill-Advancement and senior director for Best Friends in Los Angeles. Marc also served as vice president and chief operating officer at the Pennsylvania SPCA and was a member of the board of directors for the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia. And he was animal care manager at the Nevada Humane Society in Reno, Nevada, and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in Colorado Springs, Colorado. MAIN QUESTION: What advice do you have for shelters struggling with summer surges in pet populations? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: Best Friends Animal Societynetwork partners sitePR Daily e-newsletter

GUEST: Shyanne Schull is the director of Washoe County Regional Animal Services in Reno, Nevada, where there is an average annual intake of 13,000 animals with a 40% Return-To-Owner rate over a 10-year average. Before that she was director of Kern County Animal Services in California. In her 22-year career in animal welfare, she has worked in a variety of animal services roles, including kennel worker, dispatcher, officer, shelter manager, and director. She also has a degree in animal sciences from California Polytechnic State University. MAIN QUESTION: How can shelters and animal services agencies develop robust Return-to-Owner programs? TAKEAWAYS: LINKS: https://www.washoecounty.us/animal/index.phpsschull@washoecounty.ushttps://www.facebook.com/groups/535957226792368