by Roxanne Hicks | May 25, 2026 | Adoption, Community Engagement, Public Education, Rescue Resources
8 Fixes That Actually Work A volunteer at a small dog rescue messaged me recently. She said her team is snippy, the owners are burnt out from repeating themselves, grant applications keep slipping through the cracks, and nobody can figure out why everything feels like... 
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 | Dec 3, 2025 | Adoption, Rescue Resources
Let’s be honest:People fail at fostering for various reasons, one of which is our failure to set expectations and onboard them effectively. We’ve all been there, grateful someone’s offering to foster, so we rush to place a dog before they change their mind. A few days... 
by Roxanne Hicks | Nov 8, 2025 | Adoption, Rescue Resources, Shelter Management
Let’s face it, adopting out animals isn’t just about finding a home. It’s about finding the right home. At our shelter, we don’t rush the process. We guide it, with intention, care, and a little matchmaking magic. Every pet that enters our building has already been... 
by Roxanne Hicks | May 25, 2025 | Compassion, Rescue Resources, Shelter Management, Shelter Reform
How to Improve Daily Operations and Reduce Chaos If your shelter days sometimes feel like a blur of emergencies, never-ending to-do lists, and constant problem-solving, you are not alone. Shelter work is intense. It is emotionally charged, fast-paced, and often... 
by Roxanne Hicks | May 9, 2025 | Compassion, Rescue Resources, Shelter Management
Why slowing down isn’t selfish. It’s strategic. You didn’t sign up for this work because it was easy.You signed up because you care deeply. Because animals deserve more. Because you couldn’t not do something. And somewhere along the way, “doing something” turned into...