Bethany Adams

State by state, animal professionals give and take the right way Animal Sheltering magazine Spring 2017 Karina King, director of operations at the Dakin Humane Society in Massachusetts, has what you might call “a good problem.” In late October 2016, between the nonprofit’s two locations in Springfield and Leverett, she has only one dog available for adoption. Usually that number is closer to 10, she says, but even so—her shelter is one of the largest animal welfare agencies in New England.

Better branding can help you save more animals Animal Sheltering magazine May/June 2016 Maybe your shelter has a new facility, or maybe you started out as a feline-only rescue and now find yourself with a menagerie. Maybe the local community mistrusts your organization or keeps confusing your humane society with the local rescue, animal control or even—dare we say it?—one of the national animal welfare organizations.

Lowering your drawbridge will help more adopters and animals live happily ever after Animal Sheltering magazine January/February 2016 Almost two years ago, I set out to adopt a Chihuahua from a rescue group that prides itself on finding “carefully screened forever homes.” First, I completed and emailed a short adoption questionnaire, detailing the members of my household and my landlord’s contact information. I waited a week with no response, so I followed up twice.