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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 – Third Wednesdays – Shelter Med LIVE – UC Davis KSMP

    Online Event – Third Wednesdays – Shelter Med LIVE – UC Davis KSMP

    What if your practice wasn’t tied to one clinic, one community, or even one country? Relief work lets veterinarians move between environments and specialties — expanding access to care wherever they land, near or far. It’s also a way to expand your own skillsets in medicine and surgery, and to bring care to shelters, clinics, and communities that do not have consistent veterinarian access, while being your own boss! Join host Dr. Jenn Bennett with guests Dr. Eli Butler (full-time independent contractor providing private and shelter medicine, spay/neuter surgery and community clinics) and Dr. Lauren Kloer (small animal veterinarian and Humane World for Animals staff trip leader for Rural Area Veterinary Services/RAVS) for a conversation on building a career around relief work: how they got started, how and why they choose their gigs, and what it really takes to do this work well.

    By the end of this hour, participants will be better prepared to:

    • Recognize how relief experiences can be mutually beneficial for expanding veterinary services in underserved areas and expanding depth and skillset for veterinarians
    • Understand what relief veterinary work looks like and how to get started
    • Identify what factors go into choosing where and how to practice relief work
    • Recognize the skills, equipment, and prep work needed across varied environments
    • Explore the range of relief opportunities available, from local shelters, HQHVSN clinics, and field work, to remote gigs and how to plug in

    Note: this episode will go out live at 6pm Pacific instead of the usual time to accommodate our far-flung guests.

    About Shelter Med LIVE

    Shelter medicine bridges gaps in veterinary care access, ensuring animals are sterilized, vaccinated, and have the medical treatment they need before going home to the people and communities who care for them. Shelter Med LIVE is the place where vet professionals connect around what it takes to make shelter medicine happen every day—from intake triage to MacGyvering creative fixes. Every third Wednesday, join your UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program host Dr. Jenn Bennett and special guests for real talk and real solutions.

    Ask questions (or send them in ahead of time). This isn’t a lecture—it’s a conversation for everyone who wants to talk shop about shelter medicine. Kick back and recharge with your colleagues in the middle of a long week.

    This event has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit by CAWA and NACA.

    Can’t make it live? Register to receive the recording and resources after the event, accessible through the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Shelter Learniverse, #ThanksToMaddie!

    REGISTRATION LINK:  https://sheltermedicine.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZhaL2t48STCeccaPTIWWUg

  • Online Event – 9/27/26 – HASS Connect: Let’s Talk Resource Deserts – HASS

    Online Event – 9/27/26 – HASS Connect: Let’s Talk Resource Deserts – HASS

    This HASS Connect is all about tackling a tough reality in our field: how shelters support families in resource deserts where social services are limited or missing entirely. We’ll dig into practical, community‑centered approaches for navigating these gaps and share strategies that help people and pets stay together. Join us for a solutions‑focused conversation with peers who are facing the same challenges and building new pathways forward.

    You are invited every fourth Thursday of the month, to join fellow leaders from national, government, and non-profit animal welfare organizations for a strategic roundtable discussion focused on the most pressing challenges facing our field. From staffing shortages and volunteer engagement to community trust, and the evolving role of shelters, this session invites candid dialogue, shared learning, and collaborative problem-solving. Whether you’re leading a municipal agency, nonprofit organization, or national initiative, your insights and experiences are vital to finding solutions.

    *You only need to register for the series once.

    Time: 1-2 p.m. CT

    Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/eYjSHEXEQ–_PxoL4pH2_g#/registration–

  • Online Event – 9/2/26 – Live Community Discussion: SOC Approach to Canine HWD – Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Online Event – 9/2/26 – Live Community Discussion: SOC Approach to Canine HWD – Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Join Dr. Kristin Jankowski of Open Door Veterinary Collective every first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. EST as we talk with leaders in access to veterinary care. Each session is interactive, giving participants the chance to engage in meaningful conversation. Sessions run 50-60 minutes, depending on the discussion.

    Special guest: Marisa Ames, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)

    WEBSITE LINK: https://opendoorconsults.org/live_discussions/

  • Webinar – 9/1/26 – Closing the ‘PAWS Gap’ in Victim Advocacy through Pet-Inclusive Services – NACA/National Link Coalition

    Webinar – 9/1/26 – Closing the ‘PAWS Gap’ in Victim Advocacy through Pet-Inclusive Services – NACA/National Link Coalition

    A significant “PAWS Gap” (People and Animals Welfare and Safety) exists in victim advocacy, social work, and social services. Too often, trainings and practices overlook how deeply clients’ bonds with their pets impact risk factors, decision-making, and overall well-being. This gap can be especially critical in cases of intimate partner violence, child abuse, and elder abuse, which are frequently preceded by warning signs of animal cruelty. This webinar explores how applying the “3 Rs” — Recognition, Response, and Referral — can help close the PAWS Gap. Attendees will learn about the documented Link between animal abuse and human violence, as well as the potential of animal-assisted interventions to support healing and resilience. The session outlines nine opportunities for pet-inclusive advocacy, six reasons to consider the human-animal bond in service delivery, and actionable strategies for integrating these concepts into work with specific populations. Pet-inclusive victim advocacy offers a powerful opportunity to strengthen services and uphold the profession’s commitment to protecting all vulnerable members of society.

    Presenter: Phil Arkow, Coordinator of the National LINK Coalition.

    This webinar has been certified by the National Animal Care & Control Association and is approved for 1 Continuing Education Unit.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/closing-the-paws-gap-in-victim-advocacy-through-pet-inclusive-services/

  • Webinar – 9/9/26 – Taking Risks to Save Lives in Shelter Medicine – Best Friends

    Webinar – 9/9/26 – Taking Risks to Save Lives in Shelter Medicine – Best Friends

    When medical and operations teams align around calculated risk-taking, shelters save more lives. This session explores the latest updates in shelter medicine, from neonatal vaccination to stress management for challenging dogs, and how sound science, smart metrics, and careful risk assessment can help us all drive better outcomes for vulnerable pets.

    Presenters:
    Dr. Erin Katribe, DVM, DABVP (Medical Director, Best Friends Animal Society)

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

  • Online Course – 8/29/26 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Central (small fee applies)

    Online Course – 8/29/26 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Central (small fee applies)

    Led by Neighborhood Cats’ experienced and knowledgeable presenters, this workshop is packed with practical advice, field-tested techniques, and inspiration to help you develop your trapping skills make a real difference for community cats. 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.

    What You’ll Learn:
    TNR Fundamentals & Humane Trapping Techniques
    We’ll cover what TNR is, why it works, and the success metrics that matter—along with a practical gear checklist and site preparation steps. You’ll also learn how to scout and schedule effectively, handle and transport cats safely, manage post-op return, and track basic data to support ongoing colony care.

    Colony Care & Community Relations
    We’ll cover effective feeding routines, winter shelter options, and how to communicate with neighbors while resolving the most common community concerns.

    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.

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

  • Webinar – 8/27/26 – Meet the Free AI Tool That Calculates the True Cost of Running Your Shelter – Best Friends

    Webinar – 8/27/26 – Meet the Free AI Tool That Calculates the True Cost of Running Your Shelter – Best Friends

    Shelters and their supporters often know they’re under-resourced, but struggle to put a number on exactly what it would cost to meet basic lifesaving standards, making it hard to advocate for the funding and staff they need.

    Meet the brand new, free tool designed for small staff shelters that calculates the costs of saving lives in a shelter — giving a clear picture of what it takes to meet baseline standards and a compelling way to advocate for the resources to get there.

    Know Your Baseline: Operations & Budget Tool is an interactive resource designed to help small shelters and their supporters articulate the true cost of running a safe, humane operation.
    Join Best Friends Chief Programs Officer Marc Peralta, who led the development of this tool, for the second webinar in our new AI for Lifesaving series.

    Marc will walk through how the tool works, why it matters for small staff shelters, and how he used both animal welfare expertise and Claude, Anthropic’s AI, to build Know Your Baseline faster and more comprehensively than would have otherwise been possible.

    Built specifically for small teams often doing the work of many, Know Your Baseline walks users through the core programmatic standards every shelter should meet, paired with a downloadable Excel budget that automatically scales to your shelter’s annual intake.

    This webinar is your chance to hear directly from the person behind the tool about its potential to help shelters secure the resources they need and save more lives. Save your seat and join live!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/4917520773897/WN_RRK7lzMTRXOHffWfAIB8MQ#/registration

  • Online Meeting – 8/26/26 – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Canine Low Stress Handling® in a Shelter Environment – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Meeting – 8/26/26 – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Canine Low Stress Handling® in a Shelter Environment – Maddie’s Fund

    This session offers practical, in-the-moment applications of Low Stress Handling® of dogs for shelter veterinary exams: reading the canine communication signaling, applying the 3-second rule and the least-restraint principle, adjusting the examination approach to the individual, and creating a low stress environment.

    Key takeaways:

    • Understand species-specific canine behavior and communication signaling and set up the environment to support a low stress experience.
    • Apply the 3-second rule and least-restraint principle for dogs, adjusting handling techniques to the individual dog.
    • Decide when to proceed with, adjust, or defer the examination based on the individual dog, incorporating food distraction and pharmacologic support where the shelter setting permits.

    Guest Speaker: Christine Calder DVM DACVB, Director of Behavior Educational Content at Veterinary Information Network

    Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly Wednesday Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative place to connect with peers in the industry, share exciting new programs and research on a variety of topics including foster, access to veterinary and behavior care, community partnerships and more. Plus, each call you attend (live or on-demand) gives you a chance to win up to $10,000 through our monthly grant opportunity!

    The calls will be recorded to watch at your leisure if you can’t make it live, and are now approved for CAWA and NACA. Some will be approved for RACE continuing education credit, too!

    Maddie’s Community Conversations will now be held on Wednesdays at 11am PT/ 2pm ET starting August 5, 2026! Register for the new date and time here: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2026

    Learn more about Community Conversations, watch recordings and continue the conversation with guest speakers here on Maddie’s Pet Forum: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations

    Join us every week to learn, share, collaborate and make new friends!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2026

  • Online Meeting – 8/19/26 – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Connecting Data, Medicine, and Shelters to Save More Kittens – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Meeting – 8/19/26 – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Connecting Data, Medicine, and Shelters to Save More Kittens – Maddie’s Fund

    Presenters: with Marnie Russ and Meredith Hippert from Kitten College

    Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly Wednesday Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative place to connect with peers in the industry, share exciting new programs and research on a variety of topics including foster, access to veterinary and behavior care, community partnerships and more. Plus, each call you attend (live or on-demand) gives you a chance to win up to $10,000 through our monthly grant opportunity!

    The calls will be recorded to watch at your leisure if you can’t make it live, and are now approved for CAWA and NACA. Some will be approved for RACE continuing education credit, too!

    Maddie’s Community Conversations will now be held on Wednesdays at 11am PT/ 2pm ET starting August 5, 2026! Register for the new date and time here: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2026

    Learn more about Community Conversations, watch recordings and continue the conversation with guest speakers here on Maddie’s Pet Forum: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations

    Join us every week to learn, share, collaborate and make new friends!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2026

  • Online Meeting – 8/12/26 – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Disaster Response for Animal Control: Partnerships & Preparedness – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Meeting – 8/12/26 – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Disaster Response for Animal Control: Partnerships & Preparedness – Maddie’s Fund

    Join us for a conversation with Jerrica Owen, CEO of National Animal Care and Control Association, as she discusses key factors to successfully managing disaster response as an animal control officer.

    Takeaways will include:

    • How ACO authority and service responsibilities remain the foundation for safe, lawful response.
    • Strong relationships with emergency management, shelters, veterinary partners, and other public safety agencies enable smoother coordination for intake, transport, communication, and humane care when systems are overwhelmed.
    • Having ready-to-use plans (SOPs, contact lists, resource checklists, and tabletop/drills) helps ACOs respond consistently, manage surge capacity, and maintain humane standards under pressure.

    Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly Wednesday Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative place to connect with peers in the industry, share exciting new programs and research on a variety of topics including foster, access to veterinary and behavior care, community partnerships and more. Plus, each call you attend (live or on-demand) gives you a chance to win up to $10,000 through our monthly grant opportunity!

    The calls will be recorded to watch at your leisure if you can’t make it live, and are now approved for CAWA and NACA. Some will be approved for RACE continuing education credit, too!

    Maddie’s Community Conversations will now be held on Wednesdays at 11am PT/ 2pm ET starting August 5, 2026! Register for the new date and time here: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2026

    Learn more about Community Conversations, watch recordings and continue the conversation with guest speakers here on Maddie’s Pet Forum: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations

    Join us every week to learn, share, collaborate and make new friends!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2026