Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 22 hours ago
If you'd like to earn a certificate of attendance for continuing education for CAWA or NACA, please view this recording on Maddie's University: university.maddiesfund.org/products/measuring-the-impact-of-conversation-based-companion-animal-adoption-policies-on-demand
Co-hosts:
Jay Garza, Community builder, Nonprofit strategist, BIPOC Animal Well-Being Collective
Sheila Segurson, DVM, DACVB, Director of Shelter Solutions, Maddie's Fund
Presenter:
Kaleigh O'Reilly, MSW
Drawing on 18 years of data from the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) and 30 one-hour interviews with WHS community members, the presentation will share findings from three novel studies in an engaging format. WHS has been employing conversation-based
adoption policies since 2014. Using data from 2007-2024, Kayleigh explores the implications of these policies for adopter diversity, community access to the human-animal bond, and animal outcomes from a retention and (re)adoption perspective. She also relates the public’s perspective on open adoption programs, including their strengths, challenges, and impact on the community, and offers insight into the experience of returning an animal. She also offers suggestions for how conversation-based policies can be further evolved to support both animal welfare goals and equitable access to the human-animal bond.
This webcast is intended for adoptions and foster staff and volunteers - but all are
welcome!
This webcast has been approved for CAWA and NACA continuing education credit.
To comment or ask more questions about this meeting, please visit https://maddies.fund/communityconversation091626
Please note: All views expressed on these webcasts are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie's Fund.
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
If you'd like to earn a certificate of attendance for continuing education for CAWA or NACA, please view this recording on Maddie's University: university.maddiesfund.org/products/measuring-the-impact-of-conversation-based-companion-animal-adoption-policies-on-demand
Co-hosts:
Jay Garza, Community builder, Nonprofit strategist, BIPOC Animal Well-Being Collective
Sheila Segurson, DVM, DACVB, Director of Shelter Solutions, Maddie's Fund
Presenter:
Kaleigh O'Reilly, MSW
Drawing on 18 years of data from the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) and 30 one-hour interviews with WHS community members, the presentation will share findings from three novel studies in an engaging format. WHS has been employing conversation-based
adoption policies since 2014. Using data from 2007-2024, Kayleigh explores the implications of these policies for adopter diversity, community access to the human-animal bond, and animal outcomes from a retention and (re)adoption perspective. She also relates the public’s perspective on open adoption programs, including their strengths, challenges, and impact on the community, and offers insight into the experience of returning an animal. She also offers suggestions for how conversation-based policies can be further evolved to support both animal welfare goals and equitable access to the human-animal bond.
This webcast is intended for adoptions and foster staff and volunteers - but all are
welcome!
This webcast has been approved for CAWA and NACA continuing education credit.
To comment or ask more questions about this meeting, please visit https://maddies.fund/communityconversation091626
Please note: All views expressed on these webcasts are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie's Fund.
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
