Feature

All Over the Map: The Pros and Cons of Animal Transfer Programs
Around the country, more and more shelters are participating in transfer programs as a means to help animals find homes. Agencies overwhelmed with juveniles and healthy adult dogs are getting placement help from organizations that are low on adoptables, creating a win-win situation for many involved. But transfer programs are time- and labor-intensive, and they have the potential to be more diversionary than helpful. If your organization is thinking about getting involved in one, take some pointers from the groups that have already discovered how to do it well.

Departments

The Front Lines

• New organization forms to certify and label food produced from humanely raised animals
• FDA gives long-awaited approval of chemical sterilization drug
• Researchers explore cats' reactions to being petted
• Serving up compassion at shelter events
• Florida trap-neuter-return program successfully reduces free-roaming cat population
• Study finds cats prefer to be housed singly or with familiar felines

Resources

• Spanish-English workbooks that help teachers design lessons on responsible pet care
• The moving tale of a frightened former laboratory beagle who, with a lot of TLC, eventually blossomed into a happy dog
• Lab-animal book offers helpful housing advice

Perspective
Have you ever seen a Yeti?
Animal Sheltering associate editor Carrie Allan thought they were fictional until she saw one with her own eyes.