The Association Blog

News, ideas & inspiration from industry leaders

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Let Your Rising Stars Shine

A case for bringing your emerging leaders to The Annual Conference this November “Leaders are made, not born” is my rallying cry for 2024. In our hectic, challenging, and uber-fatiguing...
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Women in Animal Welfare, Part II: Breaking The Glass Ceiling

In Part I of this series, The Association’s Executive Vice President encouraged women leaders in animal welfare to explore ways to help those coming up to navigate their journey. Today...
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Women’s History Month, Part I: Perfect? No Thanks, We’d Rather Be Brave & Bold

I have always listed courage as one of my personal core values, because I believe one must have courage to live the other core values you embrace. Courage doesn’t mean...
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Industry Update: Recommendations for Animal Transport

We’ve seen the stories – shelters all across the country are full, close to or beyond capacity. And we have the data to back that up. Recent reports from Shelter...
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39 Things Your Shelter Can Do Right Now to Reunite Lost Pets

Lately we’ve been hearing chatter and concern from shelters struggling to move their animal populations as quickly as possible, resulting in increased length of stay. This is a red flag:...
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Hurting Someone You Love: My Ignorance Cut Deep When A Friend Told Me They Are Transgender

By Katherine M. Shenar (She/Her), CAWA Around six years ago I went to dinner with a friend who I hadn’t seen in months. So, I was excited to spend one-on-one...
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Your Workplace Activism Playbook: Winning Moves for Employees and Managers

An article in the Winter 2021 issue of the Stanford Social Innovation Review—“Business Disruption from the Inside Out: A playbook for Employee Activists and advice for leaders”—is causing a stir with our...
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Are You Expecting Your BIPOC Employees To Educate You?

An open letter to white leadership in animal welfare As national uprising against racial inequity continues, employers across the United States are urgently looking to find ways to create cultures...
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Workplace Culture Agreements: 4 Quick Q&As

Your organization likely has a mission statement, vision statement and core values. And as a leader (or aspiring leader), you may have been involved in their creation, revision and/or implementation....
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If Your Adoption Policies Put Up Barriers, You’re Part Of The Problem

This three-part blog is the result of a conversation between The Association’s Katherine Shenar, Ed Jamison of Dallas Animal Services, and PetHealth’s Steve Zeidman. Each offers a unique view on...
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Are You Ready For Disaster Response In A COVID-19 World?

With communities rallying to help their local organizations, animal shelters are expanding their impact far beyond brick-and-mortar. The Association’s Katherine Shenar and HSUS’ Kim Alboum ponder what this might mean...
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COVID-19 Leadership Lessons: Together We Are All One

April 19, 2020, Katherine M. Shenar
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“Our new normal should be collaboration and sharing of expertise.”  Wise words from the one and only Katherine Shenar, who shares an incredible story of what can happen when you...
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