June 2, 2026
Community Cats Central Podcast Episode Live
Episode 667 of Community Cats Central dropped this morning. BJ Adkins joined host Stacy LeBaron to talk about the prevention layer animal welfare has been missing, AAF's six operational programs, the Animal Welfare Resource Network, and the University of Tennessee research conversation. The episode is a long-form walkthrough of what prevention infrastructure actually looks like when you build it. We serve both cats and dogs across seven counties in Central Alabama.
Listen on Community Cats Central →
June 2, 2026
You Don't Own a Pet. You're Still Paying for Them.
New on The Shift to Prevention. The hidden bill every Alabama taxpayer pays whether or not they ever set foot in a shelter. Animal control budgets, shelter operations, and cruelty investigations all come out of the same general fund as the roads and the schools. Prevention infrastructure cuts the bill at the source.
Read the full article on Substack →
June 1, 2026
AAF Featured on Maddie's Fund Community Conversations
BJ Adkins joined Dr. Sara Pizano of Team Shelter USA for a live Maddie's Fund Community Conversations interview on the prevention layer animal welfare has been missing. 135 attendees in the room. In the first hour after the webinar, 10 new Shift to Prevention guide downloads and 10 new Substack subscribers came in, a 7.4 percent conversion rate. Sara is co-hosting the full June series for Maddie's Fund, and AAF was the first guest.
About Maddie's Fund Community Conversations →
May 25, 2026
Alabama Already Requires Spay and Neuter. Just Not the Way You Think.
Every time an Alabama city makes the news for a free-roaming dog problem, the same comment lands within the hour. Pass a mandatory spay and neuter law. But the field that does this work for a living already worked this out, and most people demanding the law do not know Alabama already has a version of it. New on The Shift to Prevention.
Read the full article on Substack →
May 19, 2026
Petco Love Partnership Activated
AAF is now an active Petco Love partner, with adoption rewards funding, a 20 percent supplies coupon for every adopter, and the Sniff and Greet program live in Petco store training areas across Central Alabama. The adoption rewards program funds AAF for every adoption above the threshold, providing a real cash flow against our Year 1 grant target.
See all AAF partners →
May 14, 2026
Community Cats Central Podcast Recorded
BJ Adkins recorded an episode with Stacy LeBaron of Community Cats Central on AAF's prevention-first model and the AWRN. Audio episode drops June 2, 2026 to a national animal welfare audience. Companion resource document: AAF Community Cat Prevention Network V1.
Community Cats Central →
May 13, 2026
Maddie's Fund Grant Deposited
AAF's Maddie's Fund grant came in. About five weeks from announcement to deposit, faster than the industry six-to-nine month norm. First grant check in the bank against the Year 1 grant target. AAF is presenting at Maddie's Fund Community Conversations on June 1, 2026.
Read The Shift to Prevention →
May 11, 2026
Academic Endorsement from Berkeley Haas
Dr. Jane Wei-Skillern, Berkeley Haas faculty researcher on network leadership, attended the AAF presentation on the Animal Welfare Resource Network and confirmed in writing that the network model AAF built operationalizes her academic framework on networks over organizations. Endorsement letter on file.
Learn about the AWRN →
May 2, 2026
AAF Named Best Friends Network Partner
Animal-Angels Foundation is now an official Best Friends Network Partner, joining a national coalition of animal welfare organizations working toward no-kill outcomes nationwide. The partnership opens access to grant programs, training, and resources from one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the country.
See all AAF partners →
April 21, 2026
Candid Platinum Transparency Seal Earned
AAF earned the Candid Platinum Transparency Seal, the highest level of nonprofit transparency Candid awards. The seal recognizes complete disclosure of mission, programs, governance, finances, and operations. Visible in the footer of every AAF page.
View AAF on Candid →
March 17, 2026
501(c)(3) Status Approved
IRS approved AAF as a 501(c)(3) public charity under section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi). Letter 947 effective December 17, 2025, meaning contributions are tax-deductible retroactive to that date. Approval came three weeks ahead of the expected timeline.
About AAF →
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