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  • Webinar – 7/30/25 – Unaltered Trends: A National Look at Sterilization Rates and Shelter Impact – Shelter Animals Count

    Webinar – 7/30/25 – Unaltered Trends: A National Look at Sterilization Rates and Shelter Impact – Shelter Animals Count

    The rate of animals that are entering animal sheltering organizations spayed or neutered at intake are falling—and the impact of that is compounding. Join Shelter Animals Count as we unveil findings from our new Altered Status Report, a five-year national analysis of spay/neuter trends in shelter populations based on exclusive animal-level data from over 260 organizations.

    This session will unpack key data points by species, intake type, and region—highlighting the sharpest declines in altered status, how those shifts are influencing length of stay, and what it means for shelter capacity and community-level care. We’ll also explore the urgent need for targeted interventions to prevent further erosion in preventive veterinary access.

    Special guest Dr. Julie Levy will present insights from her latest study, The Post-Pandemic Pet Sterilization Gap, providing critical context on how the pandemic exacerbated surgical shortfalls—and what we can do now to catch up.

    Whether you’re working in sheltering, rescue, policy, or industry, this webinar will equip you with the data and talking points needed to understand—and respond to—one of the most pressing issues in animal welfare today.

    Panelists:

    Stephanie Filer, Executive Director, Shelter Animals Count
    Tori Fugate, Director of Communications, Shelter Animals Count
    Dr. Julie Levy, DVM, University of Florida, Shelter Medicine Program

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/event/webinar-unaltered-trends-a-national-look-at-sterilization-rates-and-shelter-impact/

     

  • Webinar – 7/24/25 – Dogs & Data Webinar Series: Spotlighting Fostering – Pedigree and Adopt a Pet

    Webinar – 7/24/25 – Dogs & Data Webinar Series: Spotlighting Fostering – Pedigree and Adopt a Pet

    Foster is arguably the single most important intervention to save dogs’ lives which is why this year’s Dogs & Data webinar series will focus on establishing and/or expanding foster programs.

    PEDIGREE Foundation and Adopt a Pet will share expert insights on creating a foster-centric shelter model. Whether you’re launching a new program or enhancing an existing one, these data-driven sessions will provide practical strategies to improve volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and the overall fostering process. These webinars are designed specifically for animal welfare professionals of all levels who are looking to establish, enhance or expand foster programs. We hope you’re able to join us!

    All sessions will be hosted by April Huntsman, Senior Director of Animal Welfare for Adopt a Pet and Kristen Hassen, Founder and CEO of Outcomes for Pets Consulting

    Session details:
    Thursday, July 24 @ 2 pm ET: The Foster Pulse, Understanding the Community’s Willingness to Foster

    We’ll explore public perceptions of fostering and share key survey insights into what motivates—or holds people back—from becoming fosters. We’ll also highlight differences between potential cat and dog fosters, giving you valuable guidance to attract and support the right fosters for your organization.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://kinship-co.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ymFnkj9rSa2iG3PInPiM_A#/registration

  • Online Event – 7/22/25 to 7/24/25 – Pacific Animal Control/Service Officer Virtual Summit – Best Friends

    Online Event – 7/22/25 to 7/24/25 – Pacific Animal Control/Service Officer Virtual Summit – Best Friends

    Join us for a transformative three-day virtual summit tailored specifically for animal control/service officers and dispatch in the Pacific Region. This summit aims to equip officers with advanced skills, innovative strategies, and a supportive network to enhance community engagement and animal welfare outcomes.

    Summit Highlights:

    – Advanced Field Techniques: Delve into topics like “Beyond the Scanner: Advanced Return to Home in the Field” and “Intake Diversion in the Field” to refine your on-the-ground approaches.

    – Community Engagement: Explore “Community Oriented Approaches” while helping identify your biases, and “Community Cat Conflict Mitigation” to foster stronger community relations and proactive solutions.

    – Operational Excellence: Sessions on “Strategic Field Operations”, “Understanding your Ordinances” and “Lifesaving Dispatch” will provide insights into effective and lawful practices.

    – Wellness and Resilience: Address the importance of mental well-being in the field with a dedicated session on compassion fatigue and resilience-building.

    – Interactive Learning: Participate in facilitated roundtables and case studies to share experiences, challenges, and solutions with peers.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/1817504495481/WN_NVwdoTviQOC9mIUGxljwSA#/registration

  • Webinar – 7/25/25 – Breathing Space: Controlling Canine Respiratory Disease Amid Shelter Crowding – UC Davis KSMP

    Webinar – 7/25/25 – Breathing Space: Controlling Canine Respiratory Disease Amid Shelter Crowding – UC Davis KSMP

    Facing increasing intake numbers and the constant threat of infectious disease? If it seems like dogs keep getting sick no matter what you do, join KSMP Outreach Veterinarian Dr. Chumkee Aziz and learn steps you can take today to prevent and manage Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD) in your shelter.

    With proven isolation and quarantine protocols, your team can create crucial room to breathe, ensuring more dogs stay healthy and ready for adoption.

    By the end of this webinar, you’ll be ready to:

    • Pinpoint key risk factors that fuel CIRD spread and severity in shelters, and know when and how to use isolation, quarantine, and foster care strategies to manage CIRD effectively.
    • Evaluate and apply the latest vaccination recommendations for CIRD prevention, while recognizing their effectiveness and limitations in shelter settings.
    • Create treatment plans for CIRD cases, focusing on choosing the right antibiotics and using them responsibly, and knowing when to run tests.
    • Understand how managing your shelter’s capacity, using good housing, and reducing stress can help prevent CIRD.

    From RVTs to DVMs and beyond, everyone in the shelter has the power to have a big impact on animal health. CIRD doesn’t have to be status quo!

    This webinar has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval, as well as 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credit by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) and National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA).

    Can’t make it live? Register to receive a recording and resources after the event. You can find more free CE in the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Shelter Learniverse, #ThanksToMaddie!

    REGISTER NOW: https://sheltermedicine.zoom.us/webinar/register/8617519137298/WN_dNSfttoDTOSSc0OLHdoAmQ

  • Fellowship Opportunity – Deadline 7/18/25 – KSMP California Shelter Medicine Fellowship – UC Davis KSMP

    Fellowship Opportunity – Deadline 7/18/25 – KSMP California Shelter Medicine Fellowship – UC Davis KSMP

    To practice more effective shelter medicine, we need competence, confidence, and community. The new UC Davis KSMP California Shelter Medicine Fellowship is a year-long collaborative engagement opportunity designed to strengthen all three. If you’re a California veterinarian who’s been working in or with an animal shelter for five years or less, this program will help you:

    • Gain practical tools for immediate impact: You’ll receive hands-on resources and guides–including sample pathway planning and disease prevention and treatment protocols–that prepare you to tackle pressing challenges and improve care delivery in your shelter.
    • Activate essential relationship-building skills: You’ll deepen your communication, conflict resolution, and resilience within a shelter medicine context.
    • Join a supportive community and invest in your career at no cost: This professional development program is free for you and your shelter, removing barriers to growing your skillset.

    When and where:

    The Fellowship year will kick off September 9-12, 2025, in Davis with an in-person workshop and orientation event. Weekly one-hour virtual meetings and regional field trips will follow. 

    Thanks to generous support from KSMP donors, the UC Davis KSMP California Shelter Medicine Fellowship is completely free to you and your shelter. All program costs and travel expenses will be covered.

    This fellowship might be for you if:

    • You’re a California veterinarian who’s been working in or with an animal shelter for five years or less.
    • You’re ready to collaborate with a small group of peers who share your commitment to shelter medicine, curiosity, and compassion for humans and animals.
    • You want practical tools to expand your shelter medicine expertise and navigate challenging situations while exploring what holds you—and your shelter—back from achieving shared goals.
    • You’re ready to dig into critical topics at the heart of shelter medicine, like the pros and cons of euthanasia decision-making models.
    • You believe that meaningful change is possible. The focus of this fellowship isn’t to solve every challenge facing your shelter, but to guide you in identifying your sphere of influence and an area of focus that speaks to you.

    How to apply: 

    Complete this short application by July 18. Email clkarsten@ucdavis.edu with any questions.

  • Online Event – 11/4/25 – All Call: Connecting Shelter Medicine and Mobile Outreach – California for All Animals

    Online Event – 11/4/25 – All Call: Connecting Shelter Medicine and Mobile Outreach – California for All Animals

    After nearly four years and 71 calls, we hope you’ll be a part of our final All Call conversation on the intersection of shelter medicine and community outreach.

    On Tuesday, November 4, at 12 p.m. PT, Shelter Outreach Veterinary Assistant Ehani Hunter will share her journey from San Diego Humane Society’s shelter medicine team to their traveling HQHVSN clinic. Whether you’re curious about community-based veterinary work or exploring different pathways in shelter medicine, this conversation will offer inspiration for how vet professionals can adapt and grow within the field.

    Invite a colleague and gather in gratitude for this community we’ve made together!

    The All Call is a California community call for animal well-being professionals. The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity. The call is a mix of presentations, storytelling, open discussion, and Q&A time.

    The All Call is hosted by the California for All Animals team, Nadia Oseguera-Ramón, Ivy Ruiz, and Allison Cardona.  You only need to register one time. Calls are sometimes recorded; recap emails with supplemental resources are sent post-call. Find past call resources and recordings, including the recent Multicultural Engagement Community of Practice series, at the Cal for All Animals website.

    Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call

  • Online Event – 10/7/25 – All Call – Meeting Challenges Together: Lessons from Fresno Animal Center’s Evolution – California for All Animals

    Online Event – 10/7/25 – All Call – Meeting Challenges Together: Lessons from Fresno Animal Center’s Evolution – California for All Animals

    Connect with your California colleagues—only two All Calls left!

    Central Valley animal welfare organizations and pet owners are meeting shared veterinary challenges with innovation and collaboration to make sure animals get the care they need. Fresno Animal Center Director Alma Torres and her team have built powerful local and regional partnerships—and they’re seeing real results.

    At the October 7 All Call, Alma and colleagues Candace Krider, DVM, (Medical Director, Fresno Animal Center) and Samantha Yang (Division Manager, City of Fresno) will walk us through key strategies that have helped the shelter and community navigate difficult times and keep moving forward.

    You’ll learn how they’ve:

    • Established a medical clinic and coordinated with partner organizations to expand spay/neuter access
    • Launched new community programs to provide free microchips, vaccines, and pet food
    • And reduced barriers through initiatives like fee-waived reclaims and free adoptions to keep and bring more pets and people together.

    Bring your questions to the conversation and leave with lessons you can adapt for your own shelter. Register for the All Call.

    The All Call is a California community call for animal well-being professionals. The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity. The call is a mix of presentations, storytelling, open discussion, and Q&A time.

    The All Call is hosted by Nadia Oseguera-Ramón and Ivy Ruiz.  You only need to register one time. Calls are sometimes recorded; recap emails with supplemental resources are sent post-call. Find past call resources and recordings, including the recent Multicultural Engagement Community of Practice series, at the Cal for All Animals website.

    Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call

  • Online Event – 9/2/25 – All Call: Lessons from Growing Front Street’s HOAP Program – California for All Animals

    Online Event – 9/2/25 – All Call: Lessons from Growing Front Street’s HOAP Program – California for All Animals

    Since the Homeless Outreach and Assistance Program (HOAP) launched in May 2022, Sacramento’s Front Street Animal Shelter has managed to not only sustain but also grow partnerships with pet owners and community organizations. In its first two years alone, the HOAP team supported 1,510 people experiencing homelessness, helped 2,713 animals, administered over 7,908 treatments and coordinated $380,000 in emergency veterinary services. Now they’re making care even more accessible with a new mobile veterinary clinic.

    On September 2, join Program Coordinator Jenna Topper for behind-the-scenes insights into the program as it heads into year four. You’ll discover how the HOAP team:

    • Built and sustained partnerships with pet owners and community organizations to deepen impact.
    • Balanced program growth and sustainability while handling a large volume of services.
    • Overcame challenges to expand access to care delivered with respect and dignity.

    Bring your questions to the conversation and take away real-world strategies you can apply in your own shelter. Connect with your colleagues—only three calls left! Register for the call.

    The All Call is a California community call for animal well-being professionals. The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity. The call is a mix of presentations, storytelling, open discussion, and Q&A time.

    The All Call is hosted by Nadia Oseguera-Ramón and Ivy Ruiz. You only need to register one time. Calls are sometimes recorded; recap emails with supplemental resources are sent post-call. Find past call resources and recordings, including the recent Multicultural Engagement Community of Practice series, at the Cal for All Animals website.

    Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call

  • Online Event – 1st Tuesdays – All Call – California for All Animals

    Online Event – 1st Tuesdays – All Call – California for All Animals

    The All Call is a twice-monthly, California community call for animal well-being professionals. The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity. The call is a mix of presentations, storytelling, open discussion, and Q&A time.

    The All Call is hosted by the California for All Animals team, Nadia Oseguera-Ramón, Ivy Ruiz, and Allison Cardona.  You only need to register one time. Calls are sometimes recorded; recap emails with supplemental resources are sent post-call. Find past call resources and recordings, including the recent Multicultural Engagement Community of Practice series, at the Cal for All Animals website.

    Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call

  • Online Event – 7/15/25 – All Call – Shelter Solidarity: Supporting People, Pets and Communities During ICE Actions – California for All Animals

    Online Event – 7/15/25 – All Call – Shelter Solidarity: Supporting People, Pets and Communities During ICE Actions – California for All Animals

    Don’t miss the last call before our August break!

    Join us on July 15 at 12 p.m. PT as we explore how mass family separations are impacting our work, and how we can take action together. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is disrupting the safety and stability of our communities by targeting our neighbors and co-workers. When individuals face unexpected detention or move out of the U.S. to seek sanctuary, pets are often surrendered—and people become less likely to engage with organizations requiring identification for adoptions, RTO, or  volunteer work. As ICE drives distrust, engagement with vaccination, spay/neuter clinics or other community events may drop.

    Panelists will offer unique perspectives and practical strategies for supporting families and pets in our communities. This critical conversation will help us understand the changing landscape and develop responsive approaches so that we can act with care instead of fear, and protect each other.

    Panelists:

    • Alessandra Navidad (Arizona Animal Welfare League)
    • Ruby Montana (Bridge Pups Rescue)
    • Ki (Community Organizer, Los Angeles)

    Find past call resources and recordings, including the recent Multicultural Engagement Community of Practice series, at the Cal for All Animals website.

    The All Call is a California community call for animal well-being professionals. The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity. The call is a mix of presentations, storytelling, open discussion, and Q&A time.

    The All Call is hosted by the California for All Animals team, Nadia Oseguera-Ramón, Ivy Ruiz, and Allison Cardona.  You only need to register one time. Calls are sometimes recorded; recap emails with supplemental resources are sent post-call.

    Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call