by Roxanne Hicks | Jul 28, 2026 | Adoption, Shelter Management, Shelter Reform
You did the counseling. You matched the dog. You high-fived the team when the adopter walked out the door with a leash in one hand and a folder of paperwork in the other. Then the dog disappears. Not literally, usually. But from your shelter’s perspective, that... 
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 | May 14, 2026 | Community Engagement, Public Education, Shelter Management, Shelter Reform, Uncategorized
In animal sheltering, many phrases sound good until they hit the front counter. “Managed intake” is one of them. On paper, managed intake sounds thoughtful, humane, and organized. It suggests planning, capacity awareness, and better outcomes. And in some cases,... 
by Roxanne Hicks | Apr 14, 2025 | Advocacy, Rescue Resources, Shelter Management, Shelter Reform
You didn’t get into this work because it was easy. You got into animal welfare because you give a damn. Because you believe animals deserve better. Because something inside you said, “If not me, who?” And for a while, that was enough. But here’s the truth most people...