Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Guest speaker: Garrett Parsons, LSW, Services Director, Pet Support Director, Found House Interfaith Housing Network
Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.
Key Takeaways:
• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity (how long should it take? how often are animals reclaimed? what strategies can increase return to owner rate and decrease length of stay?)
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet
To access today’s agenda and the recording of this call - or to ask more questions - visit
https://maddies.fund/communityconversations10625
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
03:12 Grant winners
10:30 Presentation
Guest speaker: Garrett Parsons, LSW, Services Director, Pet Support Director, Found House Interfaith Housing Network
Families experiencing housing insecurity often face the difficult choice of surrendering their pets when seeking emergency shelter or support services. This presentation explores the critical role of keeping families and pets together during times of instability, highlighting lessons learned from providing temporary shelter and care for companion animals whose owners are experiencing homelessness. We will examine how partnerships with social service providers have expanded access to safe housing, reduced barriers for families in crisis, and strengthened overall family well-being and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of integrating animal care into human service systems, as well as strategies for building collaborations that prevent family separation and protect the human–animal bond.
Key Takeaways:
• What to expect when temporarily sheltering an animal for someone experiencing housing insecurity (how long should it take? how often are animals reclaimed? what strategies can increase return to owner rate and decrease length of stay?)
• The success of a safety net program depends on solid communication between animal services and human services
• How to navigate long length of stays for animals that belong to families trying to find housing and get back on their feet
To access today’s agenda and the recording of this call - or to ask more questions - visit
https://maddies.fund/communityconversations10625
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
03:12 Grant winners
10:30 Presentation
