by Roxanne Hicks | Jul 6, 2026 | Advocacy, Public Education, Shelter Reform
Everyone keeps sharing the good news. Save rates are up. More shelters are going no-kill. The national numbers are moving in the right direction. And if you work inside a shelter right now, you are probably reading those headlines and feeling like you are losing your... 
by Roxanne Hicks | Feb 19, 2026 | Advocacy, Public Education, Rescue Resources
If I had a dollar for every time someone said,“That one seems aggressive,”while pointing at a barking dog behind kennel bars… I could fund a behavior team in every municipal shelter in the country. Let’s say this clearly: Most shelter dogs are not aggressive or... 
by Roxanne Hicks | Feb 18, 2026 | Advocacy, Public Education, Shelter Reform
We need to talk about the word “damaged.” It’s used in shelter work as if it were a diagnosis. “She’s in a shelter, so something must be wrong with her.”“He’s been returned twice. Probably damaged.”“I don’t want a broken dog.” Let’s correct that narrative.... 
by Roxanne Hicks | Feb 8, 2026 | Advocacy, Public Education, Shelter Management, Shelter Reform
Transparency is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot in animal welfare. Everyone agrees it’s important. Everyone says they value it. And yet, many shelters actively avoid it. Not because they’re hiding something evil.Not because they don’t care. But... 
by Roxanne Hicks | Jun 14, 2025 | Advocacy, Community Engagement, Public Education
If you’ve worked in a shelter or rescue for more than five minutes, you’ve already felt the weight of breed restrictions.You know the drill: a family falls in love with a dog, they’re ready to adopt, and then the final gut punch. Their landlord says no to pit bulls.... 
by Roxanne Hicks | Apr 24, 2025 | Advocacy, Animal Control, Public Education, Shelter Management
In a perfect world, every stray pet that enters our shelter would be reunited with a panicked, grateful owner within 24 hours. But we don’t live in that world. We live in the world where: Some owners sprint into the lobby, crying and hugging staff because they thought...