the Intake

01:16:08

DEI Journey with The Association and MSM Global

the Intake ·

2026/09/10

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 the creation of our DEI Council and to a partnership with MSM Global Consulting that has helped us learn, listen, challenge ourselves, and think more deeply about what it means tocreate organizations and a profession where people feel valued, respected, heard, and able to contribute.And this conversation feels especially important

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00:56:19

Disaster Fundraising and Communications with Pasadena...

the Intake ·

2026/09/03

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, over 9,400 structures were destroyed and Pasadena Humane assisted more than 3,000 animals during the response. Katherine is joined by three Pasadena Humane leaderswho guided this work and later co-presented their lessons at Animal Care Expo: Jamie Holeman, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer; Kevin McManus, PR &

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00:48:45

The Stories Behind the Stories: Leadership Lessons...

the Intake ·

2026/08/27

Cathy Rosenthal is the curator and editor of HumanePerspectives: Leadership in Animal Welfare, a remarkable collection of essays from 45 leaders across our profession. Rather than focusing on organizational achievements, this book explores the experiences that shaped these leaders—the challenges they faced, the lessons they learned, and the wisdom they hope to pass on to the next generation. Joining her is Jim Tedford, President and CEO of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and author of

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00:38:17

All About AAWA with Jim Tedford

the Intake ·

2026/08/20

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 things AAWA!

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00:57:40

Discover SEEDs: Build a More Positive, Inclusive, and...

the Intake ·

2026/08/13

Today we're discussing one of the most urgent andstrategically important issues facing animal welfare organizations today. The health and sustainability of the workforce itself. You know, across the profession organizations are grappling with burnout, turnovers, staffingshortages, communication challenges, and increasing operational pressure. But beyond that human toil, there are issues that are directly impacting organizational effectiveness, leadership ability, team performance, andultimately

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00:36:22

The Annual Conference...Registration is LIVE!

the Intake ·

2026/08/03

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 all the things you don't want to miss.Register today!

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00:49:25

Did You Miss The Network Live?

the Intake ·

2026/07/23

Recently, animal welfare leaders from across the countrygathered for The Network Live, an event designed to bring together big ideas, honest conversations, and practical solutions for some of our profession's most pressing challenges. But as many of our listeners know, not everyone can attend every event. In fact, Katherine wasn't even in the room herself. Today, Katherine is joined by Lily Yap, Executive Director at the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency and a current AAWA Board Member. Lily

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00:36:40

Community Cats with Stacy LeBaron

the Intake ·

2026/07/16

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 innovative programs helped more than 100,000 cats and kittens. Today she is the founder of Community Cats Central, formerly known as the Community Cats Podcast, a platform that has educated and connected thousands of animal welfare professionals, volunteer and advocates through podcast conferences, certification programs, and online

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00:47:37

Why Pet Insurance Matters More Than We Think: A...

the Intake ·

2026/04/27

Pet health insurance can be confusing—for pet parents and animal welfare professionals alike. Terms like pre-existing conditions, waiting periods, and medical records often create uncertainty at the very moment families are trying to do the right thing for their pets. In this episode of The Intake Podcast, Katherine Shenar is joined by Brad Watkins, Director of Animal Welfare at MetLife Pet Insurance, and Matt Pepper, CEO of Michigan Humane, to unpack how pet insurance really works—and why it

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00:39:30

It’s Not Just About Asking, It’s About Connecting:...

the Intake ·

2026/04/01

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,

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00:45:07

The Fundraising Reset: Retention, Reactivation, Results

the Intake ·

2025/12/11

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 Intake, host Katherine Shenar is joined by Kendall Paul, CEO of the Vanderburgh Humane Society, and Kristin Serrano, Vice President and Managing Director at TrueSense Marketing, for a candid, data-driven conversation about building a smarter, more resilient fundraising program. Since 2022, Vanderburgh Humane Society and TrueSense have

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00:57:18

Adoption Trends Uncovered: Insights from the 2025 Report

the Intake ·

2025/12/05

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

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00:31:04

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

the Intake ·

2025/07/23

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-term trust with pet parents?In this episode of The Intake, we’re joined by two passionate leaders who know the power of partnership: Maggie McSchaefer, Executive Director of Foothills Animal Shelter, and Brian Jorgensen, CEO of MetLife Pet Insurance. Together, they unpack how a simple benefit—30 days of pet insurance—can make a

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00:33:27

Alleviating the Licensing Burden & Getting More Pets...

the Intake ·

2025/02/04

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.

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00:29:51

The Kitten Lady & Orphan Kitten Club Pt. 1

the Intake ·

2024/10/15

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 Kitten Club, to explore the unique challenges and rewarding experiences of fostering neonatal kittens. The conversation sparked from the 2024 Hill's Pet Nutrition's State of Shelter Adoptions Report that cites some new information about fostering pets. Together, Hannah and Jackie dive into the essential strategies needed for

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00:25:46

The Kitten Lady & Orphan Kitten Club Pt. 2

the Intake ·

2024/10/15

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

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00:33:58

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

the Intake ·

2024/08/10

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 volunteers around foster opportunities. The Association’s Katherine Shenar sat down with three animal welfare professionals who have headed exemplary foster programs that have seen big successes. Listen in as she talks about everything from removing barriers to volunteering to the value of short-term fostering with MSPCA-Angell’s Jacquie

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00:34:29

Grow Your Foster Program, Texas-Style

the Intake ·

2024/08/04

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

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00:31:16

Pet Insurance + Shelters: Untapped Partnerships for...

the Intake ·

2024/05/01

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 improving access to care. Learn about partnerships between shelters and pet insurance providers that can change the way shelters help their communities, and hear some common myths about pet insurance busted.

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00:33:09

RTO Reality Check: Stop Judging & Start Strategizing...

the Intake ·

2024/04/09

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,

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