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  • New Adoption Counseling Course for Shelter Staff, Volunteers, and Fosters

    New Adoption Counseling Course for Shelter Staff, Volunteers, and Fosters

    There’s a new, free self-paced course available at Maddie’s® University, and it’s all about facilitating successful adoptions!

    This course provides guidance for navigating the entire adoption process, with an emphasis on adoption counseling. The course demonstrates the general adoption counseling process and then dives into adoption counseling for pets with behavior or medical conditions. Text content is supported by videos, infographics and exercises. All videos are shareable and all infographics are available for download so you can use them in training. 

    “This course goes deep on adoption counseling for cats and dogs and spans a number of interconnected topics,” co-author Rachel Jones shares. Topics include:

    • Customizing meet and greets for individual animals and their behaviors and medical needs.
    • Order of operations when receiving inquiries through different channels
    • Using approachable language when discussing different types of behaviors and medical needs.
    • Prioritizing counseling topics.
    • Important paperwork to consider.
    • Helping potential adopters determine whether a pet is a match themselves.
    • Setting adopters up for success in the home.
    • Fostering a welcoming environment.
    • Ways to simplify your own placement processes without sacrificing quality.
    • Minor marketing tips.
    • And more.

    The Adoption Counseling course is eligible for 2.0 hours of credit from the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) and the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA).

    Enroll now for free
  • Get More Animals Home with Back Where They Belong Summit Sessions and Resources, Now On-Demand

    Get More Animals Home with Back Where They Belong Summit Sessions and Resources, Now On-Demand

    Have you heard? By getting just 20% more stray dogs back home in our communities, we have the power to end unnecessary shelter euthanasia and find homes for every dog who needs one.

    Presenters from organizations across the country—municipal, non-profit, and national—came together in a mega event to share the best resources and most successful methods they’re using to reduce shelter crowding and get more dogs and cats back home. Now every short, solution-packed presentation and recommended resource is available on-demand at Maddie’s® University for free, #ThankstoMaddie!

    Pick the 25-minute sessions that speak to you. Whether you’re a field officer, frontline staff member, manager, or dedicated volunteer navigating tough decisions, topics like these will help you make a difference today:

    • The Crucial Role of Return to Home in Reducing Shelter Crowding and Euthanasia Today (Dr. Kate Hurley, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program)
    • Contracts, Jurisdictions, Fees and Local Ordinance Considerations to Promote Return to Home (Cole Wakefield, Good Shepherd Humane Society)
    • Empowering Dispatch With Training, Support and Resources for the Public (Michelle George, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity—CARE)
    • Working With Finders to Help Get Animals Back Where They Belong (Mike Wheeler, Cabot Animal Support Services)
    • Getting Pets Home with Better Approaches to On-Pet IDs and ID/Microchip Tracing (Nina Stively, Loudoun County Animal Services)
    • Making It Easy for Owners to Find and Redeem Lost Pets: Tech Tips and Communication Strategies – Bobby Mann and Mia Navedo-Williams, Humane Rescue Alliance
    • Using Technology to Improve Your Lost and Found Systems (Elkie Wills, San Diego Humane Society)
    • And more!

    You’ll want to share these sessions with your team and stakeholders, including city leaders and decision-makers, to get everyone on board with programming that prioritizes getting dogs and cats back to the people and homes they know and love. Every single action we take together adds up. When it comes to making things better for shelter staff and animals, plus the people who are missing dogs and cats in the community, the impact is immeasurable.

    Get on-demand solutions now
  • Online Event – 1/22/26 – Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection – Pain and Behavior: A case-based talk – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Event – 1/22/26 – Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection – Pain and Behavior: A case-based talk – Maddie’s Fund

    Pain and discomfort are often under-diagnosed in dogs with behavioral issues. This presentation will highlight why this happens, and reviews cases where pain was the cause of the behavior issues or made behavioral issues worse. This is happening in young dogs and dogs who may not show any typical signs of pain/discomfort, but rather express it as aggression and/or anxiety.

    Speaker: Emily Levine, DVM, DACVB, Animal Behavior Clinic of New Jersey

    About Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection:
    Join us on the fourth Thursday of every month as we talk about dog and cat behavior – supporting pets in our community and animal shelters. Each month, we hear from speakers about topics of interest to our group, such as behavior medications, modifying animal behavior, assessing and improving animal welfare, and how organizations successfully provide behavior support to dogs and cats.

    Who should join: Animal welfare staff and volunteers who are interested in dog and cat behavior, and everyone who works to keep pets out of shelters and in homes.

    You only need to register once for all meetings: https://maddies.fund/MonthlyBehaviorRegistration

    Can’t attend live? Register anyway and you will get a link to the recording within a day or two after each meeting.

    All recordings and resources shared during the webcast will also be available in the Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection group on Maddie’s Pet Forum – https://maddies.fund/monthlybehaviorconnectionMPF

    Maddie’s Fund does not share registration information.

    The opinions expressed by webinar presenters are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Maddie’s Fund.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/MonthlyBehaviorRegistration

  • Online Course – Starts 1/5/26 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program Winter 2026 Session – UC Davis KSMP Shelter Learniverse

    Online Course – Starts 1/5/26 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program Winter 2026 Session – UC Davis KSMP Shelter Learniverse

    Are you ready to take your career in animal sheltering to the next level? Offered by the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Shelter Learniverse as part of Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge, the Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program empowers frontline animal shelter workers to provide exceptional care, grounded in best practices, with a focus on improving outcomes for animals and communities.

    Through engaging online courses, you’ll gain expertise in:

    • Best practices to reduce animal stress.
    • Foundational animal care and medical care to enhance your skills.
    • Behavior, training, and enrichment for healthier, happier animals.
    • Population management to optimize shelter resources.
    • Daily care best practices that streamline your workflow and maximize impact.

    Whether you’re new to shelter work or a seasoned professional, this program equips you with the tools, knowledge, and recognition to make a greater difference.

    Why Become Certified?

    • Advance your career with professional credentials.
    • Learn practical, actionable skills to improve daily operations.
    • Gain confidence in providing high-quality care for every animal.

    Start learning today and become part of the growing movement to transform animal sheltering. 

    APPLICATION DEADLINE: 12/5/25.

    Certification is currently free, #ThanksToMaddie!

    This program is most relevant for individuals working in public shelters or private shelters with municipal contracts. Enrollment is limited; applicants from these shelter types will be prioritized for this session.

    Learn more about upcoming sessions and apply at https://tinyurl.com/SCS-General

  • Webinar – 12/9/25 – Vet Med Legislation Year-End Updates – The Bridge Club

    Webinar – 12/9/25 – Vet Med Legislation Year-End Updates – The Bridge Club

    To advance veterinary medicine, strong legislative action is essential. This year-in-review conversation offers valuable insight into the policy shifts shaping the future of the profession—and what to expect in 2026. It’s a must-attend for anyone looking to understand what’s happening beyond the exam room.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://thebridgeclub.com/event/end-of-year-update-on-vet-med-legislative-updates/

  • In-Person Workshop – 1/13/25 to 1/16/25 – Shelter Behavior & Enrichment Workshop – Shelter Playgroup Alliance (fee applies)

    In-Person Workshop – 1/13/25 to 1/16/25 – Shelter Behavior & Enrichment Workshop – Shelter Playgroup Alliance (fee applies)

    Don’t miss out on this hands-on workshop to build essential skills for safely working with dogs in the shelter over four days at Berkeley Animal Care Services. You will work in small groups along side experienced, certified coaches to build your skills in a supportive and constructive environment. Join us January 13-16, 2026, and you will earn a Certificate of Completion, as well as the confidence and skills to improve the lives of the animals in your care.

    ​This workshop is limited to 20 participants. Register to secure your spot now!

    Who: Shelter Staff & Volunteers

    What: Behavior & Enrichment Workshop

    When: January 13-16, 2026

    Where: Berkeley Animal Care Services, 1 Bolivar Dr, Berkeley, CA 94710

    Cost: $800

    ​CEUs: 27 (CCPDT), 20 (IAABC)

    No prerequisites are required to attend this workshop. This is a special offering open to all shelter staff and volunteers, regardless of the status of online course work.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.shelterdogplay.org/in-person-workshops

  • Webinar – 12/16/25 – Doors Wide Open: Pawsitive Peer Support: Helping Each Other Without the Heavy Load – Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Webinar – 12/16/25 – Doors Wide Open: Pawsitive Peer Support: Helping Each Other Without the Heavy Load – Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Join Open Door Veterinary Collective for a second series of lively conversations as we explore innovative and practical solutions that organizations are using to address barriers to accessing pet care and resources in their communities.

    Animal welfare work is rewarding – and often emotionally intense! In this 30-minute webcast, we’ll explore how to support each other in ways that strengthen connection without adding emotional strain. You’ll learn practical tools for peer debriefs that allow space for processing difficult experiences without “trauma dumping”, including strategies to listen with care, respond with empathy, and keep both the speaker and the listener/supporter resilient!

    By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

    • Explain the difference between healthy peer support and trauma dumping.
    • Use low-impact debrief techniques to process challenging situations with colleagues.
    • Apply active listening skills that reduce emotional overload for both parties.
    • Understand how to compassionately set boundaries around support provision.

    Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards CAWA CEs as well as from the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA).

    Speaker: Janet Hoy-Gerlach, PhD, LCSW, LISW-S, Director of Veterinary Social Work, Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Come with your lunch and your questions! This will be an engaging, real-world conversation about advancing human and animal well-being together.

    Who should attend? Everyone is welcome! This series is perfect for those interested or involved in access to veterinary care. Each session will be recorded and viewable on-demand within a few days after the event.

    Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards CAWA CEs as well as from the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA).

    WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/DoorsWideOpenWebcastSeriesRegister

  • Webinar – 12/10/25 – What Happens When They Go Home? – Petszel

    Webinar – 12/10/25 – What Happens When They Go Home? – Petszel

    Animal welfare organizations work tirelessly every day to care for animals in their community. For many of these animals, adoption is the goal. But what happens after that pet heads home with their new person? Join us as we take a deep dive into data from nearly 40,000 post-adoption surveys sent to pet parents throughout the United States.

    Data were collected over a 6-month period in 2024, and included time points one day, one week, and one month after adoption. We will explore data surrounding the most common (and less common) challenges that adopters faced, giving organizations actionable insights to help better prepare pets for their post-adoption journey and prepare staff to better serve pet parents with post-adoption issues before they get out of hand. In addition, we will look at questions around adopters’ engagement with veterinary care, training, pet loss prevention, and more.

    Speakers: Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DABVP & Michael Greenberg, DVM

    WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RkK4_loHQim5f_wJA4KWhw#/registration

  • Online Meeting – Mondays – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie: Accessible Pet Grooming Services for Underserved Populations – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Meeting – Mondays – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie: Accessible Pet Grooming Services for Underserved Populations – Maddie’s Fund

    Access to affordable and inclusive pet grooming services remains a significant challenge for many underserved communities, including the unhoused population, low-income households, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and residents of rural areas. This presentation examines the increasing demand for equitable pet care resources and highlights how accessible grooming services can enhance animal health, foster stronger human–animal bonds, and reduce shelter relinquishment. We will examine barriers such as transportation limitations, financial constraints, and the scarcity of pet-friendly community programs.

    Additionally, we present innovative service models—including mobile grooming units, community-based partnerships, and subsidized care programs—that expand reach while maintaining quality and compassion. By identifying practical strategies and sharing successful case examples, this session aims to inspire stakeholders, service providers, and policymakers to collaborate in creating sustainable, inclusive grooming solutions that keep pets healthy and families together.

    Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly 50-minute Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative space to share exciting new programs and research, discuss uncomfortable topics, connect with peers in the industry, and more, all while sharing a common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Who Should Join?
    Executive directors, animal well-being leaders, shelter workers, pet support professionals, volunteers, rescue organizations and anyone who shares the common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Win Ca$h for Attending!
    Each month, Maddie’s Fund will be giving away up to $5,000 in grants. You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch on-demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms shared in the chat during the calls.

    Register Today
    Join us each Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET to receive support and learn about innovative ideas other organizations across the country are seeing success with. If you registered prior to July 2025 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
    https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025

    All calls are recorded and uploaded to the Community Conversations page on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025

  • Webinar – 12/8/25 – Resolving Barking Dog Conflicts in Your Community – CalAnimals

    Webinar – 12/8/25 – Resolving Barking Dog Conflicts in Your Community – CalAnimals

    Presenter: Stuart Clough, NoiseNet

    Noise complaints are often the largest source of calls to an animal management team. And animal noise can be a major issue when it is incessant, particularly at night.

    But resolving barking cases is hard, time consuming and gathering evidence to prove what is going on is always challenging, sometimes impossible. Barking cases also take time away from solving other problems that are often deemed more important.

    Stuart Clough from NoiseNet has been working with ACO’s in Australia and the US to resolve thousands of animal noise complaints. He will describe why noise creates a serious issue for many people, and how understanding why can make it much easier to resolve these cases through mediation.

    He will also talk about the use of technology to help resolve noise complaints but also how this technology can be used to help assess animal welfare and to engage with owners who have animals they are struggling to socialise / control. The first alert of a dangerous dog is often a barking complaint – so this provides an opportunity to solve emerging issues before they become a problem.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_S6BgFBjeQ7OMEQXqEl3T0A

  • Webinar – 12/11/25 – Maddie’s Insights: Exploration of Opportunities for Barriers and Bias During Off Site Animal Adoption Events with Dr. Lexis Ly – Maddie’s Fund

    Webinar – 12/11/25 – Maddie’s Insights: Exploration of Opportunities for Barriers and Bias During Off Site Animal Adoption Events with Dr. Lexis Ly – Maddie’s Fund

    This webcast presentation shares findings from a large survey of 484 U.S. animal shelter and rescue organizations on adoption event practices and adopter screening procedures. Participants will learn about common processes in adoption decision-making, the role of implicit bias in these processes, and how organizational procedures can affect both the speed and equity of pet adoptions. The session will highlight areas for animal shelter professionals to reflect on their own adoption practices and consider strategies for reducing barriers while supporting successful matches between people and pets.

    Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit until 10/14/2027 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

    Guest Speaker: Dr. Lexis Ly, Researcher
    Lexis Ly, PhD, is researcher with a background in companion animal issues and One Welfare. Her previous work used animal shelter and community data to understand how to maintain human-animal bonds, help animal shelter services provide equitable services, and reduce intake and increase adoption of shelter animals.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister

  • Webinar – 12/10/25 – Expanding Veterinary Access in Shelters: Creative Models That Drive Lifesaving – Best Friends

    Webinar – 12/10/25 – Expanding Veterinary Access in Shelters: Creative Models That Drive Lifesaving – Best Friends

    Access to veterinary care has become a significant barrier to lifesaving in animal shelters. Traditional staffing models can no longer meet the medical needs of growing shelter populations. This session explores creative, flexible veterinary relationship models that expand access to care without relying solely on hiring a full-time on-site veterinarian. We will cover practical approaches including regional veterinary partnerships, telemedical support, community-based care, shared-care networks, veterinarian of record models, protocol-driven care, and leveraging non-DVM staff under appropriate oversight. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to bring more veterinary support into their shelter, reduce bottlenecks to lifesaving, and improve outcomes for animals even in resource-limited environments.

    Presented by: Dr. Colleen Guilfoyle, DVM

    National Shelter Medicine; Best Friends Animal Society

    WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/4717437859110/WN_iRsWQsmFS4aikwy3tfGwsg#/registration