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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
  • Webinar – 3/12/26 – Friend or Foe, My Dog Doesn’t Know: Finding Relief when Dogs Fear Strangers – ACVB (fee applies)

    Webinar – 3/12/26 – Friend or Foe, My Dog Doesn’t Know: Finding Relief when Dogs Fear Strangers – ACVB (fee applies)

    Dogs can develop a fear of strangers for many reasons. Often, the intensity of fear escalates over time, creating distress for dogs as well as for their caregivers. Early recognition and appropriate intervention may prevent both the development and progression of fear yet common canine communications are often overlooked or misinterpreted. For therapy to be effective and humane, it is important to determine the emotional components contributing to the behavior. This webinar will discuss a practical approach to recognizing, assessing and managing fear of strangers in canine patients.

    Speaker: Ellen M. Lindell, VMD, DACVB

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5112443649528767580

  • Online Training – 3/25/26 – Reducing Surrenders with Feline Behavior Support Certification Workshop – Community Cats Central (small fee applies)

    Online Training – 3/25/26 – Reducing Surrenders with Feline Behavior Support Certification Workshop – Community Cats Central (small fee applies)

    Led by feline behaviorist Dr. Rachel Geller, this workshop focuses on how a strong understanding of cat behavior can prevent unnecessary surrenders and keep cats in their homes. Designed for surrender prevention specialists, shelter staff, and volunteers, the session explores compassionate, practical approaches that address both human concerns and feline needs—helping families and cats stay together.

    Through real-life case examples with proven outcomes, you’ll learn how behavior-informed conversations can shift perspectives, reduce stress, and create lasting solutions for some of the most common challenges facing cat guardians.

    What You’ll Learn

    Principles of Effective Surrender Prevention
    Learn the core strategies behind successful surrender prevention and why they work. This section focuses on guiding conversations with empathy, understanding guardian limitations, and identifying realistic solutions that support both the cat and the caregiver.

    Addressing Common Behavior Challenges
    Explore practical approaches to the three most frequent reasons cats are surrendered: litter box issues, destructive scratching, and inter-cat aggression. Dr. Geller shares field-tested techniques and examples that help redirect problem behaviors while strengthening the human–animal bond.

    Valuable Resources & Certification
    Take advantage of the interactive format and live Q&A, extensive handouts, and real-life case studies. Attendees will receive a digital certificate after passing a brief quiz and access to a dedicated Facebook group for ongoing networking with fellow feline advocates. Plus the live course recording will be available for you to review for one year.

    #ThanksToMaddie, we have several scholarships available for those helping cats in the United States. Scholarships are limited so don’t miss your chance to attend at no cost!

    This course/webinar/series/conference has been approved for Continuing Educational Units by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). National certificate holders can submit for credit consistent with the NACA CEU policy located https://nacatraining.org/continuing-education-recertification/

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://communitycatscentral.com/events/reducing-surrenders-with-feline-behavior-support-march-2026/

  • Online Training – 3/14/26 – Trappers’ Tips & Tricks Certification Workshop – Community Cats Central

    Online Training – 3/14/26 – Trappers’ Tips & Tricks Certification Workshop – Community Cats Central

    Led by the experienced team at Neighborhood Cats, this workshop dives into proven techniques for trapping even the most trap-savvy cats. Drawing on more than two decades of hands-on TNR work, the session focuses on practical adjustments and creative strategies that can dramatically improve trapping success in real-world situations.

    Whether you’re dealing with cats that won’t step on a trip plate or colonies that seem one step ahead of every plan, this workshop offers field-tested solutions you can adapt to your own work.

    What You’ll Learn

    Advanced Trapping Techniques for Wary Cats
    Explore creative methods for outsmarting trap-wise cats, including modifying traps, using alternative bait strategies, and adjusting setups to increase success. Learn when and how techniques like clear rear doors, garden netting, and training cats to enter traps can make the difference between frustration and progress.

    Problem-Solving in Real-World TNR Scenarios
    Gain insight into how experienced trappers assess situations, adapt on the fly, and select the right tools for challenging environments. Real-life video footage from actual projects illustrates how small changes can lead to big results.

    Valuable Resources & Certification
    Take advantage of the interactive format and live Q&A, extensive handouts, and real-life video footage from actual projects. Attendees will receive a digital certificate after passing a brief quiz and access to a dedicated Facebook group for ongoing networking with fellow TNR advocates. Plus the live course recording will be available for you to review for one year.

    This course/webinar/series/conference has been approved for Continuing Educational Units by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). National certificate holders can submit for credit consistent with the NACA CEU policy located https://nacatraining.org/continuing-education-recertification/

    WEBSITE LINK: https://communitycatscentral.com/events/trappers-tips-tricks-certification-workshop-2026/

  • Online Course – 4/4/26 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Central (small fee applies)

    Online Course – 4/4/26 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Central (small fee applies)

    Ready to make a difference for feral and stray cats in your community? Join our expert instructors to learn the best practices for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and effective colony management. You’ll learn what TNR is, why it works, and how to address common challenges such as communicating with neighbors, preparing for trapping, conducting large-scale trapping operations, feeding, and providing winter shelter.

    If you’re new to TNR, you’ll gain the essential skills needed to kickstart your TNR journey, while experienced trappers can refresh and sharpen their techniques.

    Take advantage of the interactive format, extensive handouts, and real-life video footage from actual projects. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and access to a dedicated Facebook group for ongoing networking with fellow TNR advocates.

    Led by experts from Neighborhood Cats, this 2.75-hour session includes an 15-minute Q&A. Registration is just $10.

    This course/webinar/series/conference has been approved for Continuing Educational Units by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). National certificate holders can submit for credit consistent with the NACA CEU policy located https://nacatraining.org/continuing-education-recertification/

    WEBSITE LINK: https://communitycatscentral.com/events/live-tnr-certification-workshop-april-2026/

  • Webinar – 3/26/26 – Learn What the Monster Likes… and Feed It! Bridging the Animal Rights/Welfare/Control Gap by Focusing on The Link between Animal Abuse and Human Violence – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Webinar – 3/26/26 – Learn What the Monster Likes… and Feed It! Bridging the Animal Rights/Welfare/Control Gap by Focusing on The Link between Animal Abuse and Human Violence – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Is your organization rooted in animal rights, animal welfare, or animal control? In the eyes of many government officials and funders, it doesn’t matter—because animal issues often take a back seat to public safety concerns. What does get their attention is the human impact. By demonstrating The Link between animal abuse and human violence, you can shift the conversation—and the priorities.

    This webinar introduces the critical connections between animal cruelty and domestic violence, child maltreatment, and elder abuse. You’ll learn how to leverage these connections to increase public recognition, attract new funding, and elevate your organization’s relevance in broader conversations about safety and well-being.

    This webinar has been certified by the National Animal Care & Control Association and is approved for 1 Continuing Education Unit. Please refer to your NACA membership portal for current CEU submission process. Current NACA Members who attend the live presentation or watch the recording will be able to download a jointly issued attendance certificate that includes the National Animal Care & Control Association logo. Visit the NACA training page for a complete list of future trainings.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/learn-what-the-monster-likes-and-feed-it-bridging-the-animal-rights-welfare-control-gap-by-focusing-on-the-link-between-animal-abuse-and-human-violence/

  • Webinar – 3/26/26 – Bridging the gap: Shelters and wildlife coexistence – Humane World for Animals

    Webinar – 3/26/26 – Bridging the gap: Shelters and wildlife coexistence – Humane World for Animals

    Through Humane World’s Wild Neighbors program, we work with animal care and control partners to incorporate wildlife into their mission of animal protection. Animal control facilities are increasingly tasked with responding to wildlife issues in their community, but standard operating procedures often stand in the way of achieving humane outcomes for wildlife.

    This discussion will combine what we already know with what we are learning from our partners to provide shelters with more resources for staff and the public on humanely solving conflicts with wildlife. The benefits include programs and frameworks for humane outcomes for wildlife in your community, a reduced workload for officers in the field, and a greater awareness in the community about how to solve problems with wildlife.

    Presenter: Grace Kahler, Program Manager, Wildlife Protection, Humane World for Animals

    Photo by Wendy J Keefover/Humane World for Animals

    WEBSITE LINK: https://humanepro.org/trainings/bridging-gap-shelters-and-wildlife-coexistence

  • Webinar – 3/18/26 – Springtime Safety: Preventing Toxic Exposures in Kittens – National Kitten Coalition

    Webinar – 3/18/26 – Springtime Safety: Preventing Toxic Exposures in Kittens – National Kitten Coalition

    Join us for an essential 30-minute webinar, Springtime Safety: Preventing Toxic Exposures in Kittens, led by Rosemarie Crawford, LVT.

    While our focus extends beyond lilies, it’s crucial to note that a staggering 53% of cat owners are unaware that lilies are toxic to their pets*. With Easter approaching, many households are likely to display lilies and other seasonal items that pose serious risks to kittens.

    This webinar aims to equip fosters and caregivers with the knowledge needed to navigate these hazards and to emphasize the importance of educating new adopters about the safety of their adorable spring kittens.

    We’ll cover the most prevalent holiday hazards, including toxic plants, festive foods, and household decorations, while providing effective prevention strategies and guidance on how to respond in case of exposure. Attendees will walk away with clear, actionable insights to ensure the safety of kittens during the holiday celebrations, along with the opportunity for a live Q&A. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance the well-being of our furry friends!

    * Cats Protection, 2025 (https://www.cats.org.uk/media/onnnmi1h/cats-report-uk-2025_digital.pdf)

    Presenter: Rosemarie Crawford, LVT
    NKC Co-Founder and Director of Educational Programs

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://kittencoalition.org/event/springtime-safety-preventing-toxic-exposures-in-kittens/

  • Online Event – 3/5/26 – Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection – Growing your Foster Program: Increasing Live Release Rate for At-Risk Animals – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Event – 3/5/26 – Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection – Growing your Foster Program: Increasing Live Release Rate for At-Risk Animals – Maddie’s Fund

    Fostering is a critical lifesaving pathway for most municipal shelters, but too often at-risk populations are overlooked in favor of highly adoptable animals. This presentation will focus on two of the highest risk animal groups in your shelter and how to make them a focus of your foster program: dogs with extended lengths of stay and neonatal kittens.

    Short term fosters, or “Foster Field Trips” as they’re known, help dogs by giving them a psychological reset from the shelter with minimal effort from foster families. Foster Field Trips help you set up these high-risk dogs for success in two major ways – they help improve kennel presentation and overall behavior upon their return to the shelter as well as provide your team with valuable personality insights that matter to potential adopters.

    Empowering your community to foster kittens before they even enter your shelter can not only increase your capacity for care, but also set these kittens up for the best shot at a healthy life. For the kittens already in your shelter, overcoming the barrier of “I’ve never fostered kittens before!” is often the first and only step you’ll need towards increasing your live release rate within this population.

    Speaker: Ryan Miller, Grants Manager, The Animal Foundation

    About Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection:
    Join us on the first Thursday of every month to discuss successful foster innovations and programs, collaborate with others in the field, answer questions and talk through complex foster-related issues.

    Who should join: Foster managers, coordinators, volunteers and any staff who are interested in learning about what’s working in foster programs.

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

    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 Foster Connection group on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://maddies.fund/monthlyfosterconnectionMPF

    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/MonthlyFosterRegistration

  • Webinar – 3/12/26 – Human Commonalities – HASS

    Webinar – 3/12/26 – Human Commonalities – HASS

    This webinar explores how shared human experiences shape the way people seek help, connect with services, and make decisions about their pets. Participants will learn how these insights can strengthen community‑centered programming and improve outcomes for both pets and families. The session highlights new data, stories, and tools that help organizations design more empathetic, effective support systems. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to integrate these findings into daily operations and long‑term planning.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aVr-u-zVQAOlSO2SgyLrZw#/registration

  • Conference – 4/9/26 to 4/12/26 – 2026 ABVP Symposium – ABVP (fee applies)

    Conference – 4/9/26 to 4/12/26 – 2026 ABVP Symposium – ABVP (fee applies)

    Get ready to expand your expertise, connect with colleagues, and explore the latest breakthroughs in species-specific veterinary care. The ABVP® Scientific Program is packed with innovative sessions, inspiring speakers, and practical insights designed to elevate your practice.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://abvp.com/symposium/