Maddie Topliff

A person smiling and looking at the camera

Maddie Topliff is the Editor, Pets of The Spruce Pets and Daily Paws at People Inc. Marrying her background in journalism and pet ownership, Maddie expertly curates and manages content that helps pet owners provide the best for their furry and not-so-furry friends. Her dedication to accuracy, creativity and helpful advice makes her a trusted voice in the pet care community.

Experience

Maddie Topliff has been a member of the Pets team at People Inc. since the Fall of 2020, when she was hired as an editorial intern for DailyPaws.com shortly after the brand's launch. After graduation, Maddie continued to write for both Daily Paws and The Spruce Pets as a contributing writer and quality team editor until she was hired into her dream full-time position as Editor, Pets in May 2024.

Before joining People Inc. in a full-time capacity, Maddie worked as a senior communications specialist for Kum & Go, a convenience store chain based in Des Moines, IA. Prior to Kum & Go, Maddie worked on the marketing teams of both ARAG Legal Insurance and Principal Financial Group and interned for Des Moines-based advertising agency Lessing-Flynn, where she first discovered her love for copywriting.

Maddie has been around pets her entire life and is currently the proud owner of a cockapoo named Pickles and a domestic shorthair named Jazzy.

Education

Maddie received a Bachelor of Arts in public relations, a minor in advertising, and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Drake University, graduating summa cum laude with the class of 2021. Maddie was also one of three seniors named as Top Scholars of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) and was inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication. Maddie was named to the President's List each of her eight semesters at Drake University for earning a 4.0 GPA.

While at Drake, Maddie wrote for the student newspaper The Times-Delphic all four years as a features writer and sports writer, launching and penning her own Chicago Bears column for three consecutive years. In 2018, Maddie won 1st place in Best Headline Writing at the Iowa College Media Association Awards for her Times-Delphic story "The Cold Hard Fax." Maddie also worked under Professor Chris Snider as part of the SJMC's social media team, whose Instagram account won second place for Best Business from the Des Moines Social Club Hashie Awards in 2018. In 2020, Maddie also won a Silver Hashtag for Excellence in Social Media as a Student in recognition of her transformation of the Drake University Student Senate social media platforms as the organization's public affairs officer during the 33rd session of the student governing body. As a senior, Maddie served as the account executive of her public relations/advertising capstone team whose pro-bono campaign was submitted for and won a Merit Award: Community Champion from the Iowa chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Title: Editor
Education: Drake University
Location: Chicago, IL
Expertise: Pets

About The Spruce Pets

The Spruce Pets, a People Inc. brand, is a new kind of pets website offering practical, real-life tips and training advice to help you care for your pet. The Spruce Pets reaches 10 million people each month. Learn more about us, our editorial process, and our commitment to ensuring we are providing you with the most trustworthy veterinarian advice.

Latest from Maddie Topliff

A small cat receiving tick treatment from a person holding an applicator on its neck
4 Simple Ways to Protect Your Pet From Ticks This Spring—and Beyond
A dog biting into a torn bag spilling white material
5 First-Week Mistakes New Pet Parents Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Person walking a dog on a leash along a brick path in a park the focus on the dog and their movement together
This Mealtime Debate Has Dog Owners Divided—Here’s What a Vet Says Works Best
A dog sitting on a tiled floor next to a backpack indoors with people in the background
Back-to-School Season Is Tough on Pets—Here’s What You Can Do About It
An Australian Shepherd dog outdoors with tongue out
140 Australian Shepherd Names for Your Favorite 'Down Under' Dog
tuxedo cat sits in sink
5 Reasons Why Your Cat Loves Following You Into the Bathroom
A dog lying in grass wearing a patriotic hat
Keep Calm and Celebrate: July 4th Pet Tips You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
Automatic litter box against a beige background
Our Favorite Automatic Litter Box Has a Handy New Accessory—Meet the LitterHopper
shih tzu walks around on leash with died fur
275 Unique Dog Names to Make Your Pup Truly Unique
brown mare horse and foal stand in grassy field
100 Female Horse Names for Your Majestic Mare or Spirited Filly
two reddish brown horses walking through grassy meadow
130 Male Horse Names: Standout Names for Your Gelding or Stallion
French bulldog with bow tie; fancy dog names
125 Fancy Dog Names for the Sophisticated Canine
white persian kitten sits beside basket
120 Majestic Persian Cat Names to Make Your Feline Feel Like Royalty
two pet hamsters sit by each other on hamster wheel
Discover the Best Types of Hamsters for Your Next Furry Friend
Person holding out a bowl with dog food to a black and white dog
Freshpet vs. The Farmer’s Dog: Which Fresh Dog Food Service Has the Upper Paw?
woman walks pug on black retractable leash through park
How to Safely Use a Retractable Dog Leash: Tips from a Professional
large dog smiling in the sun
110 Names for Big Dogs That Are Sure to Make an Impression
blonde woman talkes selfie with brown spotted shepherd dog
Amanda Seyfried Wants Pet Parents to Feel Financially Empowered
photo treatment illo with long haired brown cat
Why Does My Cat Do That? The Ins and Outs of Funny Cat Behaviors
kitten lady photo treatment
Hannah Shaw Is On a Mission To Save Neonatal Kittens—And You Can Help
Close-up of female vet examining a kitten with stethoscope in vet clinic.
What to Expect at Your Cat’s First Vet Visit, From Start to Finish
photo treatment of taylor hill
How Salem the Dog is Helping Taylor Hill Heal After Losing "Soul Dog" to Cancer
photo treatment of woman and dog
Owner of 'Heaven is a Dog' Talks Journey to Pet Parenthood and Online Community
Brittany Mahomes spends time in yard with dogs Steel and Silver, am american pit bull terrier and a Cane Corso
Brittany Mahomes Says Hiring a Professional Dog Trainer 'Changed Our Lives'