Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

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  • Webinar – 7/29/25 – Caring for Each Other: What to do if ICE comes to your vet clinic – MCVMA and AAVMP

    Webinar – 7/29/25 – Caring for Each Other: What to do if ICE comes to your vet clinic – MCVMA and AAVMP

    In the current tumultuous political climate, knowing our rights and caring for our communities is more important than ever. The increased abductions and deportations happening by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been tearing apart families and communities. These deportations are targeting BIPOC, primarily affecting Latinx and Asian-American communities. Veterinary medicine is not immune to the impacts. Our colleagues, employees, clients, and patients can all be affected. Aside from the devastating human impacts, pets could be separated from their family members with no warning or ability to plan for their care. This could lead to increased strain on shelters and rescues, increase barriers to accessing veterinary care, and lead to the loss of some of our most vulnerable veterinary colleagues. Knowing our rights can help us protect each other.

    Join us for a live presentation by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, hosted by the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association and the Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals:

    Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6317513410672/WN_2QsiDAgfQXypMQhisY3mVg

  • Hybrid Conference – 7/18/25 to 7/22/25 – AVMA Convention 2025 – AVMA (fee applies)

    Hybrid Conference – 7/18/25 to 7/22/25 – AVMA Convention 2025 – AVMA (fee applies)

    AVMA is proud to host the 40th World Veterinary Association Congress in conjunction with AVMA Convention 2025. We’ll be bringing together the global veterinary community for an experience unlike any other: high-quality education, exciting events, and the incredible opportunity to meet colleagues from all over the world. Join us July 18-22, in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It’s the premier veterinary event you don’t want to miss!

    Early-bird rates have been extended!
    In order to make AVMA Convention and the WVA Congress more accessible to the whole veterinary community, we’ve dropped the cost of regular registration by $100! That means everyone can attend the veterinary event of the summer at the lowest possible rates. Don’t miss out on these savings.

    Virtual program
    Can’t make it to Washington, D.C.? The virtual program lets you stream up to 200 hours of select CE sessions from the comfort of your home. Sessions can be viewed live or on demand and will be available through the end of the year. To see which sessions are included, visit the CE schedule and filter by “Live Stream/On-Demand Sessions.”

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.avma.org/events/avma-convention

  • Online Course – 7/30/25 – Return to Home Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Online Course – 7/30/25 – Return to Home Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Leave all your assumptions about ‘dumped, abandoned, or unwanted’ stray cats at the door! Imagine if every stray cat entering our shelters was treated as a beloved pet with a family searching for them. How can we streamline the process of reuniting lost pets with their owners—without overburdening our dedicated staff and volunteers or filling up shelter space with lengthy stray holds?

    In this session, we’ll explore straightforward, effective strategies and processes you can implement to support the owners of lost cats, become a valuable resource for those who find stray cats, and boost the rates at which cats in our shelters are joyfully reunited with their families.

    Take advantage of the interactive format and earn your certificate of completion after passing a short quiz. Plus gain access to an exclusive Facebook group to network with other cat-focused volunteers and professionals.

    This workshop is presented by Corinne Bourgoin, Shelter Operations Supervisor at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), and lasts 1.5 hours, including an optional 15-minute Q&A session. Registration is just $10.00.

    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://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/1212988267258063447

  • Online Event – 7/27/25 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Online Event – 7/27/25 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Are you ready to be part of the solution for feral and stray cats in your neighborhood? Our expert instructors will teach you best practices for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and colony management. Learn what TNR is and why it works. We’ll cover getting along with neighbors, preparations for trapping, trapping itself (including entire colonies at once), feeding, providing winter shelter, and more. Take advantage of the interactive format, extensive handouts, and video footage of actual projects. Attendees will receive a certificate after taking a short quiz and gain access to an ongoing Facebook group for networking with other TNR activists. Instructed by Neighborhood Cats.

    Session duration is 2.5 hours, followed by an optional 15-minute Q&A session.

    $10 Fee

    Registration Link

  • Online Event – 7/19/25 – 2025 Online Feline Leukemia Day – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Online Event – 7/19/25 – 2025 Online Feline Leukemia Day – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    The Community Cats Podcast in partnership with the Tompkins Foundation for FeLV Advocacy will once again host the highly anticipated Online Feline Leukemia Day. This one-day event is dedicated exclusively to supporting cats affected by feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a retrovirus that impacts a cat’s immune system and makes them more vulnerable to illness. Although FeLV is often misunderstood, many cats with the virus can live fulfilling, happy lives with proper care and support.

    Designed for animal shelter staff, veterinarians, caregivers, and pet parents who care for these special kitties, the event will offer insights into the latest advancements in FeLV treatment and diagnosis, along with best practices for managing FeLV-positive cats in shelter settings.

    Sessions will cover critical topics, including approaches to reduce virus transmission, ways to create enriching environments that enhance the well-being of FeLV-positive cats, and effective strategies for educating the public on FeLV misconceptions and care. Expert speakers from across the animal welfare community will provide practical strategies and answer questions, equipping attendees with the knowledge needed to make a meaningful difference for cats with FeLV. This event is an invaluable opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and connect with others committed to improving the lives of FeLV-positive cats.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/2025-online-feline-leukemia-day-conference/

  • Webinar – 7/22/25 – Culture = Success: The Secret to Building a Positive Workplace Culture in Animal Welfare – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Webinar – 7/22/25 – Culture = Success: The Secret to Building a Positive Workplace Culture in Animal Welfare – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    The animal welfare industry is understaffed and facing worker turnover, like employers around the country. The effects are dire: animal shelter workers are burned out, and animals’ lives are at risk. But in the face of these challenges, Pasco County Animal Services (PCAS) in Florida has zero vacant positions and hasn’t had an opening in an entry-level position in over 14 months. PCAS Assistant Director Spencer Conover attributes this success to a positive workplace culture built through inspiration, leadership, recognition, equal pay, and training.

    In this webinar, Spencer will discuss how PCAS created and sustains its positive workplace culture and how you can easily adapt these methods to help better retain team members and build a positive workplace culture of your own.

    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.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/culture-success-the-secret-to-building-a-positive-workplace-culture-in-animal-welfare/

  • Webinar – 7/8/25 – Overwhelmed, Overcrowded and Overburdened: Finding New and Creative Ways to Serve More with Fewer Resources – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Webinar – 7/8/25 – Overwhelmed, Overcrowded and Overburdened: Finding New and Creative Ways to Serve More with Fewer Resources – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Join us for a panel discussion featuring Municipal Shelters that have made remarkable strides in lifesaving by thinking outside the box and maximizing their capabilities with limited resources. This webinar is designed to inspire and empower shelters, showing that you don’t need a massive budget to help families keep their pets.

    Together, we’ll explore how collaboration and creativity can elevate animal welfare—focusing on the well-being of both animals and the people who love them. Our expert panel will share practical tips and strategies you can implement, even on a tight budget. Let’s work together to make a difference!

    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.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/overwhelmed-overcrowded-and-overburdened-finding-new-and-creative-ways-to-serve-more-with-fewer-resources/

  • Webinar – 7/10/25 – Bust the Bottleneck: Unlocking Flow in the Animal Care Ecosystem  – Best Friends

    Webinar – 7/10/25 – Bust the Bottleneck: Unlocking Flow in the Animal Care Ecosystem – Best Friends

    Creating more efficient flows with noses in and noses out doesn’t have to be complicated or resource intensive. With a few focused practices, you can reduce length of stay, avoid bottlenecks, and get more pets home faster. Pathway planning is a practical, proactive approach to managing your population, and it can work no matter your organization’s size, staffing, or resource level.

    Attendees will learn how to define common outcome paths, identify critical flow-through points, and kickstart daily rounds without feeling overwhelmed. With practical, real-world tools and examples, you’ll walk away with the confidence to take your first (or next) step toward more efficient, targeted lifesaving.

    Learn from three experienced panelists: Brent Toellner, Senior Director Lifesaving Programs, Best Friends Animal Society; Dr. Colleen Guilfoyle, National Shelter Medicine Veterinarian, Best Friends Animal Society; and Faith Wright, Director of Operations at Brandywine Valley SPCA.

    No matter your resources and staff, you can use what you have to star t reducing length of stay, improving kennel stress, and achieving better outcomes for the pets in your care. Register now and join us live on Thursday, July 10 at 3pm ET.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/2717496577685/WN_FCrMZnfZQuiBE67df9ac2A#/registration

  • Webinar – 7/24/25 – Find your popsicle hotline: Creating the ultimate adopter experience – CalAnimals

    Webinar – 7/24/25 – Find your popsicle hotline: Creating the ultimate adopter experience – CalAnimals

    Shelters and rescues are overflowing while millions of new pet-loving households have emerged in the past year alone. So why aren’t they adopting? The truth is adoption is losing ground. While pet ownership is booming, shelters remain the third choice behind breeders and family rehoming. It’s time for a radical shift.

    Join Petco Love for an eye-opening session on how to transform all facets of your adoption program into an irresistible first choice. We’ll break down customer psychology, challenge outdated strategies and introduce fresh, experience-driven adoption models that make saying “yes” to a pet effortless and exciting. Using innovative examples from across industries, like the simple “popsicle hotline” that gave Hollywood’s Magic Castle hotel an unheard-of boost in guest satisfaction and occupancy rates, this session will prove that you don’t have to spend big in order achieve exemplary service and drive customer loyalty.

    If you’re ready to attract more adopters, boost live outcomes and turn your shelter into the go-to destination for pet lovers, this is your call to action. Increasing adoptions and creating new families starts with creating an experience they can’t resist.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BXObpKnVQg-et-86J-bwKg#/registration

  • Webinar – 7/16/25 – Essential Rabbit Training for ACOs and Shelter Staff – CalAnimals

    Webinar – 7/16/25 – Essential Rabbit Training for ACOs and Shelter Staff – CalAnimals

    This webinar offers a detailed introduction to the philosophy, and best practices of the San Diego House Rabbit Society (SDHRS), with a focus on practical strategies for shelter staff, field ACOs, and adoption counselors who interact with rabbits in their roles.
    Led by SDHRS Executive Director Jennifer Lee, the session will walk through key components of our shelter model, the unique care needs of domestic rabbits, and the core educational framework we use to support adopters and animal welfare professionals.

    Key topics include:
    • Shelter layout and intake protocols at SDHRS
    • Rabbit behavior, communication, and humane handling
    • Standards for housing, daily care, and enrichment
    • Medical red flags, illness response protocols, and wellness indicators
    • Nutrition, litter box training, and sanitation practices
    • Public health and disease prevention, including RHDV2 protocols
    • Adoption readiness and what SDHRS requires from potential adopters

    Who should attend:
    Shelter employees, adoption counselors, animal control officers, and anyone involved in the intake, care, or placement of rabbits in shelter or rescue environments.
    This webinar is designed to give professionals in the field practical, replicable insights that elevate rabbit welfare and improve outcomes across the board.

    This webinar has been generously sponsored by We Mail For You for your printing, direct mail, and promotional item needs.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BCB00FM6RLq5eX8JFfl1iQ#/registration