Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

Blog

  • Webinar – 9/16/25 – Doors Wide Open: Strategies to expand access to care that work – How Field Officers are Addressing Pet Transport Barriers Directly in the Community – Maddie’s Fund

    Webinar – 9/16/25 – Doors Wide Open: Strategies to expand access to care that work – How Field Officers are Addressing Pet Transport Barriers Directly in the Community – Maddie’s Fund

    Join Open Door Veterinary Collective (ODVC) for a second series of lively conversations on the third Tuesday of the month, from 12 pm – 12:30 pm Pacific Time, as we explore innovative and practical solutions that organizations are using to address barriers to accessing pet care and resources in their communities. We’ll share successful strategies through short 30-minute presentations, panel discussions, video snippets and Q&A sessions.

    Join us on September 16 for a dynamic 30 minute webinar in the ODVC + NACA Partnership Series, spotlighting innovative, community-based solutions led by Field Officers. This interactive session features two organizations sharing how they have integrated pet rides into field services to reduce barriers and increase access to care. Learn how this proactive, compassionate approach is helping families stay together the real-life impact of offering transport solutions. Whether you’re exploring new ways to serve or scaling what works, this conversation will inspire practical steps forward.

    Panelists:
    Dr. Christina Avila, Animal Control Supervisor, City of Perris (California)
    Spencer Conover, Assistant Director, Pasco County Animal Services (Florida)

    Who should attend? Everyone is welcome! This series is perfect for those interested or involved in access to veterinary care.

    Each session will be recorded and viewable on-demand within a few days after the event.

    Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards CAWA CEs as well as from the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA).

    Come make friends and learn to make access to care more achievable for all involved!

    Register for the series here: https://maddies.fund/DoorsWideOpenWebcastSeriesRegister

    Engage with guest speakers on the Forum discussion thread:
    https://forum.maddiesfund.org/discussion/how-field-officers-are-addressing-pet-transport-barriers-directly-in-the-community

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

  • Online Meeting – Mondays – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Meeting – Mondays – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Maddie’s Fund

    Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly 50-minute Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative space to share exciting new programs and research, discuss uncomfortable topics, connect with peers in the industry, and more, all while sharing a common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Who Should Join?
    Executive directors, animal well-being leaders, shelter workers, pet support professionals, volunteers, rescue organizations and anyone who shares the common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Win Ca$h for Attending!
    Each month, Maddie’s Fund will be giving away up to $5,000 in grants. You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch on-demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms shared in the chat during the calls.

    Register Today
    Join us each Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET to receive support and learn about innovative ideas other organizations across the country are seeing success with. If you registered prior to July 2025 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
    https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025

    All calls are recorded and uploaded to the Community Conversations page on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025

  • Online Meeting – 8/25/25 – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Coupled Up: Matching Pets and People Through Barrier-Free Adoptions – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Meeting – 8/25/25 – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Coupled Up: Matching Pets and People Through Barrier-Free Adoptions – Maddie’s Fund

    Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly 50-minute Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative space to share exciting new programs and research, discuss uncomfortable topics, connect with peers in the industry, and more, all while sharing a common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Who Should Join?
    Executive directors, animal well-being leaders, shelter workers, pet support professionals, volunteers, rescue organizations and anyone who shares the common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Win Ca$h for Attending!
    Each month, Maddie’s Fund will be giving away up to $5,000 in grants. You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch on-demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms shared in the chat during the calls.

    Register Today
    Join us each Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET to receive support and learn about innovative ideas other organizations across the country are seeing success with. If you registered prior to July 2025 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
    https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025

    All calls are recorded and uploaded to the Community Conversations page on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025

  • Webinar – 8/19/25 – Bridging the Gap: Establishing Relationships Between Social Services and Animal Welfare – BestyBnB

    Webinar – 8/19/25 – Bridging the Gap: Establishing Relationships Between Social Services and Animal Welfare – BestyBnB

    Pets can create a barrier to social services. Whether that is a survivor seeking help for domestic violence, people who are experiencing homelessness needing shelter, or those facing a mental health crisis. Pet owners will often delay seeking help because they have nowhere for their pets to go. When organizations are siloed, we may miss opportunities for interventions that can support those in need and potentially prevent further harm to both people and pets. This presentation will give an overview of the special bond trauma survivors share with their pets and the unique challenges they may face when seeking services, tips for pet advocacy that you can provide to your community, and how BestyBnB helps to bridge the gap between animal welfare and social services.

    In this session, you will learn:

    • The important bond between trauma survivors and their pets and the unique challenges they face when seeking services.
    • Tips for implementing pet advocacy in your community.
    • How BestyBnB works to bridge the gap in services between social services and animal welfare.

    Who should attend?

    • Animal welfare managers and staff
    • Mental health program managers and staff
    • Domestic violence program managers and staff
    • Victim advocates
    • Social service providers working with survivors

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.mybestybnb.com/trainings/bridging-the-gap

  • Virtual Conference – 9/16/25 to 9/18/25 – 2025 G2Z Summit – Equity in Access: Inclusive Solutions for Companion Animal Challenges – Getting 2 Zero (fee applies)

    Virtual Conference – 9/16/25 to 9/18/25 – 2025 G2Z Summit – Equity in Access: Inclusive Solutions for Companion Animal Challenges – Getting 2 Zero (fee applies)

    Whatever role you play in the companion animal management and welfare puzzle, you need to attend the 10th National G2Z Summit.

    Experts from all facets of companion animal management and welfare, from Australia and beyond, will join together to learn about the latest programs, share best practices, gain inspiration, and build lasting connections.

    This is your unique opportunity to access affordable continuing education opportunities in a variety of related disciplines. You will hear from presenters from different backgrounds and all types of organisations, including leaders in advocacy and community engagement, animal management services, shelter medicine and animal care, fundraising and development, and more. From the big picture challenges to the individual dilemmas, our speakers have got something for everyone.

    Take advantage of networking opportunities where you can make connections, share knowledge, gain advice and draw inspiration from the experiences and outlooks of your global colleagues.

    The three-day Summit will be packed with informative and engaging sessions from diverse perspectives, sharing actionable insights across the whole spectrum of companion animal management and sheltering.

    This is the event the animals in your care and in your community, and their people, want you to attend.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.g2z.org.au/10th-national-g2z-summit-and-workshop.html

  • Online Event – 9/13/25 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Online Event – 9/13/25 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (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 2.5-hour session includes an optional 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://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/tnr-certification-workshop-presented-by-neighborhood-cats-sept-2025/

  • Online Conference – 10/19/25 – 2025 NKC Veterinary Conference – National Kitten Coalition (fee applies)

    Online Conference – 10/19/25 – 2025 NKC Veterinary Conference – National Kitten Coalition (fee applies)

    The National Kitten Coalition Veterinary Conference (NKCVC) is the only veterinary conference dedicated entirely to kitten care!

    This full-day virtual event, scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 2025, will feature presentations by leading veterinary experts covering a wide range of specialized topics, including developmental milestones, behavioral insights, medications, medical protocols, surgical techniques, and more. All registered participants will have access to the recorded sessions and optional quizzes through December 31, 2025, in addition to the live conference.

    The NKCVC is a kitten-focused, virtual event intended for veterinarians, veterinary technicians/nurses, those currently enrolled in veterinary or veterinary technician schools, veterinary staff members in private practices and shelters, and those involved in veterinary education and research.

    Take advantage of Early Bird registration today and don’t miss the opportunity to secure your spot at a discounted rate!

    WEBSITE LINK:  http://kittencoalition.org/the-national-kitten-coalition-veterinary-conference/

  • Webinar – 9/11/25 – Maddie’s Insights – Gatekeeping Pet Ownership: The Impacts of Adoption Discrimination – Maddie’s Fund

    Webinar – 9/11/25 – Maddie’s Insights – Gatekeeping Pet Ownership: The Impacts of Adoption Discrimination – Maddie’s Fund

    The animal welfare field has been discussing low-barrier adoption processes as a best practice for more than a decade, yet recent research by Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity has found that BIPOC families are still more likely than white families to be denied during the adoption process. The findings highlight the critical need to move discussions from “low-barrier adoptions” to “making pet ownership accessible to all.”

    Attendees will learn about:

    • the prevalence and impact of shelter/rescue adoption discrimination in four U.S. cities (Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Minneapolis)
    • solutions for increasing access to pet ownership for BIPOC families

    Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

    Have questions or comments related to this topic? Share your thoughts on the discussion thread:

    https://maddies.fund/InsightsAdoptionDiscriminationSept2025

    Register at: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister

  • Webinar – 8/13/25 – Role of Shelter Vets During Disasters: What You Need to Know and Resources to Help! – CalAnimals

    Webinar – 8/13/25 – Role of Shelter Vets During Disasters: What You Need to Know and Resources to Help! – CalAnimals

    When a disaster breaks out in your county, animal services is the lead agency responsible for the evacuation, sheltering, and care of the animals that are affected. And in some instances, animal care includes addressing injuries associated with the disaster, as well as illnesses that can arise from stress, diet changes, and other factors during emergency sheltering. We will discuss your role as the veterinarian, some key things to consider, resources to help you manage through it all, and how to request help when you need it.

    Speaker: Ashley Patterson, DVM MPH
    CVET – UC Davis

    Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7jgXAUYbTaKArwKzF7w_YQ

  • Conference – 11/4/25 to 11/6/25 – The Annual Conference 2025 – The AAWA (fee applies)

    Conference – 11/4/25 to 11/6/25 – The Annual Conference 2025 – The AAWA (fee applies)

    The Annual Conference from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, November 4-6

    Plus a pre-conference daylong: The Network Live – November 3

    Atlanta, GA

    Questions? Email learning@theaawa.org

    Deepen your expertise with skill-building content tailored for intermediate and advanced professionals. You’ll leave with practical tools, fresh insights, and new strategies to bring back to your organization. Conference Tracks:

    • Collaborative & Strategic Leadership
    • Communications & Marketing
    • Fundraising
    • Strategic Workforces

    This conference is as much about the people as it is the programming. You’ll have ample opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the country—representing a wide array of roles, perspectives, and lived experiences.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://theaawaconference.org/