the Intake

DEI Journey with The Association and MSM Global

In 2019, The Association made an intentional commitment to examine DEI within our organization and across the animal welfare profession. That commitment ultimately led to

Disaster Fundraising and Communications with Pasadena Humane

In January 2025, the Eaton Fire burned for 24 daysin Pasadena Humane's service area. Evacuations and warnings affected more than 100,000 residents and 20,000 structures,

The Stories Behind the Stories: Leadership Lessons from Humane Perspectives

Cathy Rosenthal is the curator and editor of HumanePerspectives: Leadership in Animal Welfare, a remarkable collection of essays from 45 leaders across our profession. Ra

All About AAWA with Jim Tedford

What is The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement? Where did it originate? Why should I become a member? Jim Tedford sits down with Katherine Shenar to talk all thin

Discover SEEDs: Build a More Positive, Inclusive, and Sustainable Work Culture

Today we're discussing one of the most urgent andstrategically important issues facing animal welfare organizations today. The health and sustainability of the workforce

The Annual Conference...Registration is LIVE!

Join us in Chattanooga, TN, October 26 - 29 for The Association's Annual Conference! AAWA's own Kelly Cunningham and Kristy Gonyer join Katherine to share the details of

Did You Miss The Network Live?

Recently, animal welfare leaders from across the countrygathered for The Network Live, an event designed to bring together big ideas, honest conversations, and practical

Community Cats with Stacy LeBaron

Stacy LeBaron has spent more than three decades helping cats and the people who care for them. Previously, she led the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, where innova

Why Pet Insurance Matters More Than We Think: A Shelter Leader’s Perspective

Pet health insurance can be confusing—for pet parents and animal welfare professionals alike. Terms like pre-existing conditions, waiting periods, and medical records oft

It’s Not Just About Asking, It’s About Connecting: Rethinking the Day of Giving in Animal Welfare

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’

The Fundraising Reset: Retention, Reactivation, Results

What does it take to stabilize your donor pipeline, re-engage lapsed supporters, and grow fundraising revenue—without burning out your team? In this episode of The Intak

Adoption Trends Uncovered: Insights from the 2025 Report

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 Adop

Pet Insurance & Peace of Mind: A Shelter’s Secret Advantage

Pet insurance might not be the flashiest topic—but what if we told you it could be the secret ingredient to boosting adoptions, supporting your staff, and building long-t

Alleviating the Licensing Burden & Getting More Pets Home

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.

The Kitten Lady & Orphan Kitten Club Pt. 1

This episode kicks off Part 1 of a 2-part interview with Hannah Shaw, widely known as The Kitten Lady, and Jackie Noble, the newly appointed executive director of Orphan

The Kitten Lady & Orphan Kitten Club Pt. 2

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 th

Not-So-Secret Strategies of 4-Star Foster Programs

Hill’s Pet Nutrition just released their 2024 State of Shelter Adoption Report, with data suggesting there could be gains in exploring our messaging to potential voluntee

Grow Your Foster Program, Texas-Style

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 fost

Pet Insurance + Shelters: Untapped Partnerships for Tackling Access to Care

The Association’s Katherine Shenar hosts Brian Jorgensen of MetLife Pet Insurance and Atlanta Humane Society’s Michael Robbins for a talk about an untapped strategy for i

RTO Reality Check: Stop Judging & Start Strategizing Around Lost Pets

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