Join us for a 30-minute panel discussion introducing the Social Work Guidelines in Animal Welfare Settings, a groundbreaking new resource created by and for social workers working in animal welfare organizations across North America.

Whether your organization already employs a social worker, you are exploring how social work can enhance your mission, or you are simply curious about how social work skills fit into animal welfare, this panel conversation is for you.

Developed through a year-long participatory action research project funded by the ASPCA, the Guidelines provide a roadmap for social work practice in animal welfare settings at the individual, organization, and community/policy levels.

Discussion topics include:

• How animal welfare organizations can use the guidelines to strengthen human and animal well-being
• Common challenges and strategies for successful implementation
• Ways non-social work staff can engage with and benefit from the guidelines
• Bring your lunch and your curiosity. This will be an engaging, real-world conversation about advancing both ends of the leash.

Panelists and Guidelines Co-Authors:
Kayla Anderson, Veterinary Social Worker, The Program for Pet Health Equity
Kelly Bremken, Veterinary Social Worker, Oregon Humane Society
Laurie Maxwell, Director of Veterinary Social Work, MedVet
Augusta O’Reilly, President, International Veterinary Social Work Association
Alexis Telfair-Garcia, Director of Social Work Program Development, Austin Pets Alive!

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

WEBSITE LINK: https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1QXhCo6QRRSKBYInJ_Ki0Q#/registration

With thorough cleaning and sanitation, you can significantly lower the risk of virus and disease transmission in your shelter or home.

Join us for a presentation on the current protocols and best practices for cleaning and sanitization when handling and caring for kittens. We will discuss effective products and procedures for disinfecting rooms, cages, bedding, and litter boxes to help keep your kittens safe and healthy.

In this concise 30-minute session, Dr. Emily Coleman, DVM, will share essential cleaning protocols and product recommendations to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases. The presentation will be followed by a live Q&A, giving you the chance to ask questions and get advice on your sanitation challenges.

Speaker: Emily Coleman, DVM

WEBSITE LINK:  https://kittencoalition.org/event/sanitation-and-cleaning-for-kitten-caregivers-2/

In many communities, animal services rise and fall with the priorities of local government—and if you’re not part of the conversation, you’re likely missing out on funding, partnerships, and critical support. Whether you’re operating under a city contract, connected to law enforcement, or simply the only game in town for animal welfare, knowing how to work with your local leaders is key. Join Mike Wheeler, Director of Cabot Animal Support Services, as he shares his straightforward, proven approach to building relationships with decision makers—and how you can do it, too.

WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SIllF2-WSxOrlLsSuADZ2Q#/registration

Discover how the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) turns everyday animal care records into powerful, visual evidence of welfare over an animal’s entire life. This innovative, cloud-based tool scores physical, behavioral/psychological, environmental, and procedural factors—revealing trends, pinpointing key events, and helping you take targeted action to improve quality of life.

Whether you’re caring for animals, conducting research, or making the case for change, AWAG’s data-driven insights make animal well-being measurable, actionable, and easy to communicate.

Learning outcomes:

•  Describe the structure and utility of the AWAG in assessing canine welfare
• Understand the scoring and interpret what scores mean
• Identify the factors scored in dogs
• Recognise predictors of behaviour disorders and their implications for clinical
  practice
• Explore future applications of the AWAG and utilise its potential to improve well-
  being

Guest Speakers:

• Rachel Malkani, Veterinary and Animal Welfare Scientist, Clinical Animal Behaviorist, Founder and Board Member of the Dog Friendly Clinic
• Sarah Wolfensohn, OBE, BSc, MA, VetMB, FRSB, DipECAWBM, FRCVS, Director, Welfare Assessment Technologies, Ltd.

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

Officers involved in animal law enforcement face many of the same liability risks as traditional law enforcement—plus some that are unique to working with animals. There’s nothing more emotionally charged than removing someone’s child or pet, and even when officers—whether police, deputies, animal control, or humane officers—do everything by the book, they may still face allegations or lawsuits.

Laws around child welfare investigations are well established. But in many cases, the legal framework around animal seizures is far less clear. That uncertainty makes it harder to do the right thing, the right way, at the right time—without violating the owner’s rights. Sometimes, doing what feels right can still land you in trouble.

This webinar will explore where civil liability risks tend to arise in animal investigations, how to protect yourself from claims of civil rights violations, and what real-world cases have taught us—both about what went wrong, and what could have been prevented.

WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/civil-liability-in-animal-investigations-avoid-becoming-homeless-while-protecting-animals/