The COVID-19 pandemic proved difficult for animal welfare. When we rallied our communities to help, they responded in unprecedented ways, opening their hearts and homes to thousands of companion animals that needed a place to go. It was our opening to create a “new normal” by supporting the animals that the community took on, while giving us the opportunity to assess the programs that we’ve worked so hard to implement. Prior to the pandemic, funding strategies were already shifting, with emphasis going away from provision of basic wellness (spay/neuter, vaccination) to development of more robust programs that assisted pets and people in different ways. In looking forward, who are we leaving behind? Are we providing for those that truly need us, or are we falling victim to catering to those who fund us? How do we listen to and provide for what our communities really need, and who decides when the need for support is over?