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Learn more about CommonPaws.org, goals of Maddie's Projects, what the terms healthy and treatable mean, and more.
- What is CommonPaws.org?
- How far has Maddie’s Projects come in achieving its goals?
- What's next for Maddie's Projects?
- Is Maddie's Fund and Maddie's Projects the same organization?
- The name Maddie's Projects in Maricopa County implies there are multiple projects, what are they?
- What does the term "healthy" mean?
- What does the term "treatable" mean?
- Who defined the terms "healthy" and "treatable?"
What is CommonPaws.org?
Commonpaws.org serves as the community outreach effort of Maddie's Projects in Maricopa County. Through CommonPaws.org Maddie's Projects offers a common place for Valley residents to find information about dogs and cats currently waiting for a new home, locations where you can adopt a dog or cat, and ways to get involved in the animal welfare community. 
How far has Maddie’s Projects come in achieving its goals?
The work of Maddie’s Projects is focused on animals which are in the overflowing shelters within Maricopa County. Our first goal was to save all of the healthy animals in our shelters, by guaranteeing them adoptive homes instead of euthanasia. We reached that milestone in 2005 (two years earlier than expected!), and the guarantee continues to be kept. The next goal is to save both the healthy AND the treatable animals in our shelters by the end of 2012. This requires more than just increasing the number of wonderful adoptive homes. It requires building the capacity of our Adoption Guarantee rescue Partners to take in and treat more animals from Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. Cats with runny noses, and dogs which are scared of being in a shelter need extra time, space, veterinary care, special handling and other resources before they’re ready for a new home. So far: - Our Adoption Guarantee rescue Partners have increased the number of animals they take in from MCAC&C by 600%, have increased their intakes of treatable pets to over 30%, and increased their adoptions by 40%.
- Together we’ve opened an Adoption Center in Gilbert. The Adoption Center takes ready-to adopt animals from our Partners, opening up space in their facilities and foster homes for more animals needing preparation for adoption.
What's next for Maddie's Projects?
Our work will take a continued effort over a long period of time. The Partner organizations of Maddie’s Projects will continue to develop their own staffs, volunteers and resources to take in, treat and adopt out more and more treatable shelter animals. However, the overcrowding of our shelters is a community problem, which calls for community solutions. As we move forward, the Partners will be building coalitions with veterinarians, businesses, civic leaders and caring individuals to encourage adoptions, and develop resources. An upcoming CommonPaws campaign will, over a number of years, raise awareness, grow a foster and volunteer network, and gather funds for necessary new adoptions venues, veterinary care and positive behavior training – all with the aim of saving our treatable shelter animals by preparing them for new, loving homes.
Is Maddie's Fund and Maddie's Projects the same organization?
No, they are two separate organizations. Maddie's Fund provides generous grants to support Maddie's Projects in Maricopa County as well as many other life-saving projects throughout the United States. Click here for more information about Maddie's Fund.
The name Maddie's Projects in Maricopa County implies there are multiple projects, what are they?
Yes, Maddie's Projects in Maricopa County has two separate grant-funded projects. The first project, called the Maddie's Spay/Neuter Project, is a collation of veterinarians and clinics who provide low-cost spay/neuter to AHCCCS recipients and pit bull owners. The second project, called the Maddie's Pet Rescue Project, is a collaboration of animal shelters and rescue groups working towards increasing adoptions and decreasing euthanasia.
What does the term "healthy" mean?
A "healthy" animal is any dog or cat which is ready for adoption at the time he/she enters the shelter. This includes dogs and cats over eight weeks of age who have not shown any signs of medical and behavioral difficulties.
What does the term "treatable" mean?
A "treatable" animal displays a medical or behavior difficulty while in the shelter that with some treatment (medical or behavioral) will eventually be cured or managed.
Who define the terms "healthy" and "treatable?"
The standards for categorizing an animal as either healthy or treatable have been agreed upon by all of Maddie's Pet Rescue Partners who conform to the Asilomar Accords. By using these standards Maddie's Pet Rescue Partners are able to determine how to appropriately help all the animals in their care.
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