MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW

First Program Service Accomplishment Rescue/Animal Care. This was our largest program area in 2025. It includes such specific services as S/N (spay-neuter) of companion animals; TNR (trap-neuter-return) for community cats; community cat caregiving; rescue of ill, injured, homeless and at-risk animals; veterinary care; transport of homeless animals at risk of euthanasia in Kentucky shelters to shelters and rescues in other states with more options for foster and adoptive homes; and foster care, along with extensive collaboration with sister organizations regarding all these service needs. We have always made collaborations and partnerships a priority and firmly believe that these relationships are key to addressing the critical needs in animal welfare. Sadly, even with the committed partnerships MADN and other organizations have developed, animal welfare remains in post-pandemic crisis. Needs far exceed resources, and most shelters and rescues struggle to keep their heads above water. Shelters that hadn't had to euthanize healthy animals for years before covid continue to face that awful prospect, as all animal welfare staff and volunteers continue the search for additional resources to save more lives. As virtually everyone in animal welfare agrees, we will never be able to rescue our way out of the companion animal overpopulation crisis, and we must all invest in figuring out greater access to spay-neuter services. We are grateful for our ongoing partnerships and for the new collaboratives we built in the last year as we all work to build greater public awareness and engage more volunteers and support.

Second Program Service Accomplishment Education. The pandemic's ongoing impact continues with many people estimating that animal welfare has been set back at least two decades, largely because of the companion animal overpopulation crisis. For many in the field, the general public's lack of awareness continues to be surprising and discouraging. Casual owner relinquishment of their pets, even elderly pets who have only known this family for most of their lives. Rejection of S/N. Pets abandoned to fend for themselves, most of whom suffer from confusion, terror, hunger, and thirst, and many of whom die. Pets starved to inconceivable condition. And purchasers of animals continuing this awful cycle by supporting irresponsible breeders and puppy/kitten mills, and the pet stores that support them, rather than adopting from shelters/rescues or at least ensuring they only purchase from responsible breeders. Education has always been a central element of MADN's mission. We have developed highly regarded programs we have offered in central Kentucky (Making A Difference Conferences) and in other communities (Taking it to the Towns: On the Road Workshops), as well as webinars and other online offerings, most of which heavily emphasize companion animal welfare. As noted above, this education/awareness-building is incredibly important because we are in the throes of a profound companion animal overpopulation crisis, and we will continue all of these in our effort to reach and teach individuals who contribute to the crisis, either because of low information/awareness or disregard for the consequences of their actions. In addition, we take our mission to educate the public about animal welfare writ large seriously, and we intend to add to our efforts to educate people about 1) the many overlaps in human and animal well-being and KY's rankings on many important measures of well-being, and 2) the broader animal welfare challenges that impact farm and research animals and wildlife.