On April 2, 2025, the Seattle Animal Foundation hosted their inaugural Rescue Symposium – bringing together over 25 animal welfare organizations from across western Washington for a day to discuss sharing, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions.
The symposium was created to bring leaders together, spark innovation, and drive real solutions to the most pressing challenges in animal welfare. With expert-led sessions and collaborative working groups, the event delivered actionable ideas, forged new partnerships, and reaffirmed our shared commitment to building a more compassionate future for animals and the people who care for them.
Expanding Foster Opportunities
Vickie Ramirez from the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research opened the day with a discussion on fostering—especially in crisis situations involving owned pets. The group identified common challenges, including the difficulty of placing large dogs and limited capacity for urgent intakes. Promising ideas emerged, including the concept of a centralized foster databases, expanded telemedicine for foster families, and exploring partnerships with boarding facilities for emergency care.
Increasing Access to Spay & Neuter
Shaunessy Jones of Pasado’s Safe Haven led a session focused on increasing access to high-quality, low-cost spay and neuter services. Organizations shared resources already making a difference—such as Fixers Collective’s high-volume clinics and Feral Cat Project’s services for both owned and community cats. Participants envisioned a future with state funding for public education, legislation to remove income-based restrictions for nonprofit veterinary services, and expanded training for high-volume spay/neuter surgeons.
Strengthening Collaboration for Greater Impact
Seattle Animal Foundation Vice President JJ Lee facilitated a session exploring how to maximize impact through coordinated action. Attendees discussed shared barriers—from lack of affordable veterinary care to housing restrictions and information gaps. Many emphasized the need for centralized resources, such as a statewide shelter/rescue directory, and the power of collective advocacy.
During a working lunch, participants formed small groups to design impactful $100,000 grant proposals and state legislature policy recommendations. Ideas included:
- Fix-Fest: A five-day mobile vet event in Eastern Washington
- Resource-sharing networks for high-volume spay/neuter staff
- Legislative advocacy to lift income restrictions on nonprofit vet clinics
- Compulsory breeder licensing paired with public education on the need for spay and neuter statewide
- Creation of Animal Care Districts to ensure equitable service access
- Public education around the origin of pets and the impact of buying behavior on animal welfare
Looking Ahead
‘It was an incredible day and inspiring to have all the groups together at the same time working towards a common goal. Everyone is there to be supportive and we’ve already seen examples of collaboration following the event.’ said Jim Cox, SAF Executive Director.
The symposium sparked new connections, bold ideas, and a shared vision for a more humane and equitable animal welfare system across Washington. Seattle Animal Foundation is committed to continuing this momentum by supporting working groups, sharing learning, and championing collaborative initiatives that drive measurable change.
Attending Organizations – Forgotten Dogs Rescue, Resilient Hearts, Seattle Area Feline Rescue, Feral Cat Project, Humane Society of Tacoma/Pierce County, Seattle Humane, Pasado’s Safe Haven, Joint Animal Services, ASPCA Northern Tier, Doney Coe Memorial Clinic, Homeward Pet Adoption Center, Pawsitive Alliance, Old Dog Haven, Emerald City Pet Rescue, NOAH, South County Cats, Washington Health Outreach, One Health (UW/WSU), Seattle Veterinary Outreach, Dog Gone Seattle, Saving Great Animals, Seattle Animal Shelter, Seattle Animal Watch, Fixers Collective, Ranier Animal Fund