Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
Panel
Jillian McMillian (facilitator), Lived Experience Engagement Advisor, My Dog is My Home
From NYC Animal Care Centers Special Case Program:
Sharmila Colquhoun, Special Case Advocate
Jaime Kruse, Esq., Senior Manager for Community Resources
The city that never sleeps includes the staff and volunteers at NYC Animal Care Centers working to keep people and pets together. In response to the growing number of housing related surrenders, NYC ACC developed the Special Case Program to help pet parents keep their beloved pets and navigate complicated housing and social services. Join Jillian McMillian, Board Member and Advocate from My Dog is My Home, in a conversation with Sharmila Colquohoun and Jamie Kruse from NYC Animal Centers, to learn how they built this impactful program. They’ll share key insights and lessons learned to help your organization get started on an intake prevention program. As the saying goes, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!
related links:
My Dog is My Home mydogismyhome.org
New York City Animal Care Centers nycacc.org
If you’re interested in another organization that addresses these situations: pactforanimals.org
To access the full agenda and resources from this call or to ask questions of our speakers, or for more info from our speakers, visit https://maddies.fund/communityconversations9825
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome, Question of the Day and introduction to co-host Janel Griffieth
03:15 July and August grant winners
08:20 Presentation
Panel
Jillian McMillian (facilitator), Lived Experience Engagement Advisor, My Dog is My Home
From NYC Animal Care Centers Special Case Program:
Sharmila Colquhoun, Special Case Advocate
Jaime Kruse, Esq., Senior Manager for Community Resources
The city that never sleeps includes the staff and volunteers at NYC Animal Care Centers working to keep people and pets together. In response to the growing number of housing related surrenders, NYC ACC developed the Special Case Program to help pet parents keep their beloved pets and navigate complicated housing and social services. Join Jillian McMillian, Board Member and Advocate from My Dog is My Home, in a conversation with Sharmila Colquohoun and Jamie Kruse from NYC Animal Centers, to learn how they built this impactful program. They’ll share key insights and lessons learned to help your organization get started on an intake prevention program. As the saying goes, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!
related links:
My Dog is My Home mydogismyhome.org
New York City Animal Care Centers nycacc.org
If you’re interested in another organization that addresses these situations: pactforanimals.org
To access the full agenda and resources from this call or to ask questions of our speakers, or for more info from our speakers, visit https://maddies.fund/communityconversations9825
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome, Question of the Day and introduction to co-host Janel Griffieth
03:15 July and August grant winners
08:20 Presentation
