Maddie’s Pet Rescue Project in Dane County (2008-2015)

In July 2008, Maddie’s Fund^® awarded Dane County Humane Society (lead agency), Shelter from the Storm, and Dane County Friends of Ferals, a five year grant to support increased adoptions and decreased euthanasia of shelter animals in Dane County. By the end of the grant, this collaboration will receive over $800,000 to help Dane County become an adoption guarantee community. The coalition is increasing adoptions by hosting joint adoption events, transferring animals among partner members for the best care and placement, and providing mutual support for each organization.

The Mission

To create an adoption guarantee community in Dane County by July 2012 for all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats and to promote partnership and mutual respect among collaborative members and the veterinary community.

The coalition will accomplish this mission by:

In 2010-2011 total adoptions of Dane County animals were 24% over the coalitions’ baseline year and 5% over the Year 3 increase goal. The collaborative goal was to increase adoptions by 471 animals.  Overall adoptions increased by 606 animals!  Healthy and Treatable euthanasia decreased by 543 animals which was 15% over the Year 3 project goal.  

What is an adoption guarantee community?  Adoption guarantee is defined as finding forever homes for all healthy and treatable/manageable dogs and cats.  An animal that has a medical or behavioral condition that can be eliminated or managed long term is considered treatable/manageable.  An adoption guarantee gives a community confidence that an animal shelter is truly a shelter, that is, a respite on the way to a new loving home. When this happens, the community becomes an active partner in saving lives.

At this time the collaboration is adoption guarantee for dogs and well on the way to meeting our 2012 goal of adoption guarantee for cats! 

Maddie's Pet Rescue Project-Strategic Plan

Maddie's Pet Rescue Project-Year 3 Annual Report

Dane County WI Coalition Summary 2010

Dane County Humane Society 2010 Asilomar Data

Dane County Friends of Ferals 2010 Asilomar Data

Shelter From the Storm 2010 Asilomar Data

Maddie’s Spay and Neuter Project in Dane County (2008-2011)

In just 3 years, Dane County Humane Society, Shelter from the Storm, Dane County Friends of Ferals, and 21 participating private Veterinary Clinics completed 6,604 surgeries to help control the ever growing feline population of Dane County.  Services were provided for feral and companion cats of low income residents of Dane County.  This project has ended. Please visit our Spay/Neuter Assistance page for current program opportunities.

 Maddie's Spay-Neuter Project-Year 3 Annual Report

Maddie’s Fund,^® The Pet Rescue Foundation, (www.maddiesfund.org) is a family foundation which is funded by the founder of Workday and PeopleSoft, Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. Maddie's Fund is helping to create a no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed a loving home.

To achieve this goal, Maddie’s Fund is investing its resou

rces in building community collaborations where animal welfare organizations come together to develop successful models of lifesaving; in veterinary colleges to help shelter medicine become part of the veterinary curriculum to train veterinarians to save the lives of sick and injured dogs and cats in animal shelters; and in the implementation of  a national strategy to promote accountability and transparency in animal shelter operations. Maddie’s Fund is named after the family’s beloved Miniature Schnauzer who passed away in 1997.