In this Issue: Letter from Maddie's Fund. Letter from Maddie's Fund Revolutionizing the Status and. Dear Animal Advocate,

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1 In this Issue: Letter from Maddie's Fund Revolutionizing the Status and Wellbeing of Companion Animals News & Milestones Lifesaving Milestone for NYC Feature Getting Control of Animal Control by Craig Brestrup, Ph.D. Feature Community Shelter Statistics: Monterey County, California Making a Difference Maddie's Adoption Events in Alabama Maddie's Adoptions Looking for the Four-Legged Love of Your Life? Letter from Maddie's Fund Dear Animal Advocate, This month's newsletter features an article by renowned animal advocate and author, Craig Brestrup, Ph.D. Craig describes his experiences as Interim Director of Animal Care Services in San Antonio, Texas and offers suggestions for Getting Control of Animal Control in other communities. Thanks to the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals and the 90+ partners of Maddie's Pet Rescue Project, no healthy dog or cat died in a New York City animal shelter in the month of February. Assuming a leadership role in shifting to a more transparent shelter industry, the Coalition for Companion Animals (CCA) in Monterey County, California, recently published their community shelter statistics. Lastly, each of Maddie's Pet Rescue Projects in Alabama hosted a fun and successful February adoption event. We couldn't help but include a few pictures. Best regards, The Maddie's Fund Team

2 News & Milestones Zero Deaths for New York's Healthy Shelter Pets in February Thanks to the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Animal Care & Control of New York City and the ninety plus partners of Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in New York City, no healthy dog or cat died in a New York City animal shelter during the month of February. To reach the lifesaving benchmark, February was proclaimed "I Love NYC Pets" month, and included city-wide adoption events, extended shelter hours and gifts with every adoption. The lifesaving achievement crowns two years in which Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in New York City exceeded its goals in every category. Since the Project began on January 1, 2005, total shelter deaths in New York City have decreased 35%, from 31,816 in the baseline year to 20,818 in Euthanasia of healthy shelter pets has declined even more dramatically, from 14,000 to 3,831 (a drop of 73 %). At the same time, adoptions have risen from 12,831 in the baseline year to 22,892 in Project Year Two. Adoption guarantee agencies have increased adoptions 72%, from 7,904 to 13,579. In order to ensure a full adoption guarantee for healthy dogs and cats by Year Five, Maddie's community projects are asked to put an adoption guarantee in place for healthy animals for one month in Year Three and for three consecutive months in Year Four. Maddie's New York Project got that task out of the way so quickly that it might be possible for the coalition to save the remaining healthy shelter pets months or even years ahead of schedule. "We are so excited about New York's lifesaving results," said Maddie's Fund President, Rich Avanzino. "We congratulate every individual in every organization who has worked so hard to reach this benchmark." 2

3 Features Getting Control of Animal Control by Craig Brestrup, Ph.D. In May of 2006, Craig Brestrup assumed the role of Interim Director of Animal Care Services (ACS) in San Antonio, Texas. A committed animal activist and former executive director of the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, Craig had never worked in animal control. In fact, he's been an outspoken advocate for the No-Kill Movement. So, what was he doing in such a place? Simply stated, he felt that he could help ACS transition to a more progressive animal control philosophy, reducing the killing of surplus animals and fostering community and owner responsibility. Craig's fourteen page essay ( describes his experiences as Interim Director and offers a few observations about what might be done in communities resembling San Antonio. About Craig Brestrup: Craig Brestrup worked for 20 years in the public sector of the mental health profession, first as a psychotherapist and later as CEO of mental health clinics in Texas and California. He has been executive director of five nonprofit organizations since In 1989, he received a Ph.D. in medical humanities, with a concentration in medical and environmental ethics and the philosophy of nature, from the Institute for the Medical Humanities at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston In 1994, he left mental health for animal protection, becoming executive director of the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, an organization with major programs in three areas: wildlife rehabilitation, animal advocacy, and companion animals (shelter and vet clinic). He published a book, Disposable Animals, in 1997 that was a study of animals and culture, emphasizing the plight of companion animals, millions of whom are killed in animal shelters annually. Subsequently, he became head of Fossil Rim Wildlife Center near Glen Rose, Texas. Craig is on the board of the Association of Sanctuaries, the national accrediting organization for animal sanctuaries. He currently is consulting with nonprofits on fund development and management issues. 3

4 Features Community Shelter Statistics: The Coalition for Companion Animals, Monterey County, California The Coalition for Companion Animals ( is a group of Monterey County, California animal services professionals and governmental agencies working together to end the euthanasia of healthy and treatable dogs and cats community-wide. The Coalition has posted their community shelter statistics for 2005 and 2006 ( showing the source and outcome of Monterey County shelter animals. The numbers also highlight differences between the community's 2005 and 2006 statistics. This comparison will provide a roadmap for CCA agencies and the community to work together to reduce and eventually eliminate the deaths of healthy and treatable dogs and cats in Monterey County. CCA reporting agencies include Animal Friends Rescue Project, City of Carmel Animal Control, City of Marina Animal Control, City of Monterey Animal Control, City of Pacific Grove Animal Control, Monterey County Animal Services, Salinas Animal Shelter and The SPCA of Monterey County. Other CCA agencies working toward this goal include Animal Welfare Information and Assistance and From the Heart Dog Training. Maddie's Fund applauds the Coalition's leadership and members for starting the shift to a more transparent shelter industry. We'll publish an article in a future newsletter, describing how the Coalition formed and came to agreement on using the categories and statistics tables of the Asilomar Accords. 4

5 Making a Difference Maddie's Adoption Events: Speed Dating in Tuscaloosa, Mystic Mutts in Baldwin, and First Love in Mobile In February, each of Maddie's Pet Rescue Projects in Alabama hosted a fun and successful event to boost adoptions, raise funds and generate public awareness: Maddie's Project in Tuscaloosa County launched a novel Valentine's Day adoption event: Speed Dating for Pets. Potential adopters looking for their love match rotated through a series of face-to-face encounters with the best looking canines and felines in town. At the end of the four hour event, thirteen pets were on their way to loving new homes. The event also generated tons of publicity. Dozens of pets and their owners dressed in full Mardi Gras regalia for a stroll through the streets of downtown Fairhope for Baldwin County's Mystic Mutts of Revelry Parade. Maddie, along with the canine King and Queen of Mardi Gras, 200 dogs, four cats, two horses and a duck marched or rode in the parade. The event raised over $6,300 and found homes for several dogs. Thirty-nine dogs and cats found loving new homes at the Valentine's Super Adoption, hosted by Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in Mobile County, Alabama. 5

6 Maddie's Adoptions Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in Alachua County, Florida Cera & Victoria (Gainesville Pet Rescue) (Alachua County Humane Society) Love comes in all shapes and sizes in Alachua County, Florida. Go to the collaboration partners' websites to see the animals waiting to follow you home. Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in Maricopa County, Arizona Rocky & Rose (HALO Animal Rescue) (Arizona Humane Society) Thinking about adding to your family? Come see about the furry friends Maricopa County has up for adoption. 6

7 Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in New York City Tasha babe & Midori (A Cause for Paws) (Bide-A-Wee) Adopt a little New Yorker today! Visit BigApplePets.com for the best companions the five boroughs have to offer. Maddie's Pet Rescue Projects in Alabama Midnight & Buddy (T-Town Paws, Tuscaloosa) (West Alabama Animal Rescue, Tuscaloosa) Mobile's project website is meant to represent all of Maddie's Alabama projects. It currently includes links to Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in Mobile and Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in Tuscaloosa. 7