Mike FryJan 20, 2018Daysy's Story: From 'Dangerous' Dog to Pampered PupThough it was nearly 16 years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday. May 3, 2002 I was awakened by an emergency phone call from the...
Mike FryJan 15, 2018Celebrations and Lessons Learned from the First Year of No Kill in Lake County, FloridaI first walked into the Lake County Animal Shelter in Tavares, Florida a little more than a year ago. As my reports to the County clearly...
Mike FryDec 26, 2017Kiki's Story and What Animal Shelters Can Learn From ItPhoto: After a year in captivity, there was still always a bit of fear in Kiki's eyes. Sitting at my feet is my dog Kiki, which is...
Mike FryDec 22, 20172017: A Year of Stunning Successes and Irreconcilable Differences in Animal SheltersWe recently celebrated the 2017 Winter Solstice, the shortest daylight of the year. And as the year comes to a close, the long nights and...
Mike FryNov 21, 2017Applause: Pueblo City Considers Law Protecting Shelter AnimalsI would like to applaud the City Council of Pueblo, Colorado for considering a new law that would regulate animal shelters in their City....
Mike FryOct 31, 2017Reptiles, Wildlife and Other Exotics in Animal SheltersPhoto: Gilbert, an adult male Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) that shared our home for more than 10 years. When it comes to animals in...
Mike FryOct 9, 2017Identifying the Sources of Inertia that Weigh Down Shelter ReformsI recently wrote about the fact that a significant amount of inertia exists in society that weighs down or inhibits people or...
Mike FryOct 1, 2017Since Passing CAPA, St. Paul Remains Largest No Kill Community in MinnesotaThree years ago today, St. Paul City Council President Kathy Lantry introduced a new City Ordinance called the Companion Animal...
Mike FrySep 29, 2017No Kill and Other "New" Technologies and Why Some Have Yet to Adopt ThemAnyone who has followed the constant release of new smart phones from companies like Apple and Samsung knows that different people adopt...
Mike FrySep 1, 2017What We Should Learn from Bixby's Reunion With His FamilyBixby's journey was a long one, nearly 1,300 miles from New Orleans, Louisiana to Minnesota and then another 1,300 miles from Minnesota...
Mike FryAug 28, 2017Flipping the No Kill Switch in Lake County, FloridaPhoto: The Bell of New Beginnings hangs in the lobby of the Lake County Animal Shelter. Each time an adoption occurs, staff there ring...
Mike FryAug 11, 2017Call It What It Is - Not Pet OverpopulationThere was a time in my life when I uttered the phrase "pet overpopulation" several times a day. My family and I, after all, had spent...
Mike FryJul 30, 2017Engaging the Community in No Kill Discussions Can Smash Through Obstacles to SuccessWhether it was Austin, Texas; Reno, Nevada; Lake County, Florida or Huntsville, Alabama, one factor contributed to No Kill advocates...
Mike FryJul 28, 2017Pet Help Desks are Essential to Saving LivesShow the picture above to anyone who works the intake desk at an animal shelter and you will likely get an immediate heart-felt laugh. It...
Mike FryJun 29, 2017Know Your Stuff: How To Audit Animal Shelter StatisticsPeople working to assess animal shelters have relied heavily on a simple statistic to measure shelter performance: The Live Release Rate...
Mike FryMay 19, 2017Free Download: Does This Cat Need Rescue?Note: the following has been turned into a downloadable flyer that animal shelters and rescues can use to hand out to people who want to...
Mike FryMar 27, 2017Simple Tips & Tricks for Better Photos & Videos That Save LivesIf a great description of an adoptable pet can help sell him or her online, then a picture is, as the saying goes, worth 1,000 words. A...
Mike FryJan 6, 2017No Kill - A Path to Walk and a Destination to ReachThe coming of the new year has left me reflective of the decades of work that have passed since since my family first became involved in...
Mike FryNov 25, 2016If You Have a Problem With This You May Be Part of the ProblemPhoto: Waiting lines for adoptions at Front Street Animal Shelter, in Sacramento, CA Courtesy of The Sacramento Bee Just before...
Mike FrySep 20, 2016The Cat is Out of the Bag: No Kill Pretenders Signs of No Kill ProgressReflecting back on my 20 or so years of No Kill advocacy, one thing keeps coming to mind: Shortly after the movement began gaining steam,...