Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

Tag: webinar

  • Webinar – 7/24/24 – Who let the dogs out? Unleashing solutions: Finding solutions to the problem of Fiji’s free-roaming dog population – Getting 2 Zero

    Webinar – 7/24/24 – Who let the dogs out? Unleashing solutions: Finding solutions to the problem of Fiji’s free-roaming dog population – Getting 2 Zero

    Overpopulation of dogs is an issue in Fiji, similar to many other South Pacific and industralized nations worldwide. This presentation explores results from a door-to-door survey in the Tavakubu ward of Lautoka, highlighting the impacts of human behavior in maintaining free-roaming dog populations, including ownership apathy, indiscriminate feeding, and low compliance with responsible pet ownership practices. Our findings underscore the importance of understanding the negative impacts of “toxic charity” and emphasize the need to shift from predominantly shelter-based strategies and free-of-charge services to promoting responsible dog ownership and caregiver behaviors. Outputs of this study underscore the importance of ongoing evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) studies to understand how animal welfare initiatives can support community behavior changes that foster sustainable, long-term dog population management strategies.

    This event will be recorded and the recording will be available the day after the event.

    Speakers:

    Casey Quimby – Co-Founder and Managing Trustee, Animals Fiji

    Casey is an Animerican-Fijian with nearly 15 years of experience operating a shelter and multiple veterinary clinics throughout Fiji. Casey has been a pivotal figure in the region’s animal welfare efforts. She earned her Master’s Certificate in Shelter Medicine from the University of Florida in 2018 and has been at the forefront of data collection and population management in Fiji over the past four years. Her dedication to developing evidence-based, research-informed strategies has significantly contributed to sustainable and humane solutions for companion animal population management in local communities.

    Dr Jessica Hoopes – Animals Fiji Volunteer

    Jessica is a Canadian Veterinarian with over 10 years’ experience working in veterinary and shelter medicine and animal management in Canada, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica, and Australia. Her experiences working in the Pacific Islands have underscored the importance of developing evidence-based, research informed strategies for addressing free roaming cat and dog populations, that are tailored to the needs of the local community. While currently working as the One Health Research Coordinator for Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC), she spent the past 5 years remotely supporting rescue groups in Fiji in developing a framework for baseline data collection with the hopes of informing sustainable and humane solutions for companion animal population management.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.g2z.org.au/g2z-webinars-and-online-events.html

  • Webinar – 12/2/23 – Neighborhood Cats Trapper Certification Webinar – Community Cats Podcast

    Webinar – 12/2/23 – Neighborhood Cats Trapper Certification Webinar – Community Cats Podcast

    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 Susan Richmond, executive director, and Bryan Kortis, national programs director. Session duration is 2.5 hours, followed by an optional 15-minute Q&A session. Workshops held monthly.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/the-neighborhood-cats-tnr-certification-workshop-dec-2023/

  • Webinar – 12/12/23 – The Roundtable: Liability Insurance Challenges – The AAWA

    Webinar – 12/12/23 – The Roundtable: Liability Insurance Challenges – The AAWA

    Animal sheltering organizations face growing challenges with acquiring affordable liability insurance coverage.  As the number of claims (including some in the seven-figure range) continues to rise, even those shelters with solid track records are paying the price.  Serious dog bites seem to be at the epicenter of this insurance crisis.  Animal welfare organizations are struggling to find coverage at all, and when they do find it the cost can be prohibitive.

    In this discussion co-hosted by CalAnimals and The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, we will have a candid conversation with two representatives from the insurance industry who will share the big picture of what – from their inside perspective – is causing insurance challenges and what organizations can do to mitigate their risks and improve their chances of securing coverage.

    The Roundtable Panel:

    • David Denniston, Director of Risk Management, McNeil and Company
    • Damien Zillas, Compliance Coverage Counsel, Nonprofits Insurance Alliance

    Moderated by:

    • Jim Tedford, CAWA, President & CEO, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
    • Jill Tucker, CAWA, CEO, California Animal Welfare Association

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://learning.theaawa.org/p/RT-12-12-23

  • Webinar – 11/2/23 – Let’s Talk About Pet Cancer – Moose’s March

    Webinar – 11/2/23 – Let’s Talk About Pet Cancer – Moose’s March

    Moose’s March, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about pet cancer and offering unwavering support to pets and their pet parents, and Pets Are Family, invite you to take a proactive step in your pet’s well-being. On Thursday, November 2, at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Moose’s March will host an engaging and empowering webinar called “Let’s Talk About Pet Cancer” on Early Pet Cancer Detection. This enlightening virtual event sponsored by Volition Veterinary will be conducted via Zoom.

    Moose’s March is thrilled to invite pet owners, animal lovers, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and anyone concerned about pet health to join this enlightening webinar. The event will be hosted by Steve Dale, a renowned figure in the world of pet advocacy and education.

    During this webinar, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a candid discussion on the critical issue of pet cancer. The distinguished panel of experts joining Dale includes:

    • Dr. Thomas Buttera
    • Dr. Rebecca Timmons
    • David Stansfield
    • Kristin Wuhrman 
    • Tricia Montgomery, Founder of Moose’s March

    The experts will delve into the importance of early cancer detection in pets, offering valuable insights and expertise on this pressing matter. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and participate in meaningful conversations with fellow pet parents, veterinarians, and veterinary technicians.

    Tricia Montgomery, Founder of Moose’s March, says the event is just a small part of this passion project to memorialize her late PitBull Moose, who died of cancer in 2022.”Empowering pet parents with knowledge is at the heart of our mission. Join us in this webinar to take charge of your pet’s health and be part of a community dedicated to pet well-being.” To register for the event, visit this link. 

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DCJxOOFOQl-mKHNjAkRLyQ

  • Curbing Disease as Intake Rises: Prevent, Fight and Win Today

    Curbing Disease as Intake Rises: Prevent, Fight and Win Today

    Click “Course Home Page” Button below to take this course hosted on
    Maddie’s®️ University.



    Course Home Page button links to Maddie's University

    Does it seem like animals keep getting sick no matter what you do, especially right now with intake numbers climbing in many shelters? Does URI have to be status quo for summer? Is parvo inevitable? Have you wondered what else you can do to get ahead of these vicious cycles?

    From animal care attendants to RVTs and beyond, everyone in the shelter has the power to have a big impact on animal health. Whether you’re providing daily care for animals or reviewing care and intake protocols, in this webinar, you’ll learn practical steps to relieve the strain on animals and team members when infectious diseases and intake numbers are climbing. UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program veterinarians Dr. Aziz and Dr. Stuntebeck answer questions and arm shelter staff with the information needed to squash the most concerning infectious diseases in your shelter.

    This short, self-paced course has been approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credit by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by National Animal Care and Control Association. 

    This course has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit until July 24th, 2025 in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval. Upon completing the course and passing the quiz, upload your certificate to https://CEBroker.com. This is the broker used by the AAVSB to track your continuing education credits.

    Please contact learniverse@sheltermedportal.com if you have any questions or concerns about this course.

  • MMPC Learniverse – Power of YES! Removing Barriers from Animal Shelter Adoption

    MMPC Learniverse – Power of YES! Removing Barriers from Animal Shelter Adoption

    Click “Course Home Page” Button below to take this course hosted on
    Maddie’s®️ University.



    How can we eliminate adoption barriers to get pets adopted?

    While nearly 70% of US households have a pet, only a fraction of those animals are adopted from animal shelters. This course looks at barriers that typically push potential adopters away from animal shelters and towards other options. In addition to examining adoption barriers and the misconceptions that help them persist, we look at strategies that can lower these hurdles, help more animals reach a live outcome and a happy life, and help animal shelters embrace and welcome all members of their community.

    This short, self-paced course has been approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by National Animal Care and Control Association. 

    This course has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit until November 7, 2024 in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval. Upon completing the course and passing the quiz, upload your certificate to https://CEBroker.com. This is the broker used by the AAVSB to track your continuing education credits.

    Please contact  learniverse@sheltermedportal.com if you have any questions or concerns about this course.

    Removing Barriers Discussion Group

    You can also join the discussion about these concepts over on Maddie’s® Pet Forum in the Power of Yes – Removing Barriers Discussion Group.

    Click to visit the Discussion Group (will open in a new window/tab).
  • Online Event – 11/1/23 – ASPCA®-AAWA Research Forum – ASPCA and The AAWA

    Online Event – 11/1/23 – ASPCA®-AAWA Research Forum – ASPCA and The AAWA

    Don’t miss this FREE online event showcasing how to help vulnerable pets using data. Whether you love geeking out over data, want to help pets in your community—or both—you don’t want to miss the ASPCA®-AAWA Research Forum online on November 1 from 12 – 5 p.m. ET. Last year, nearly 1000 of your colleagues registered for the Forum to explore new research results in community and shelter animal welfare.

    Get access to cutting-edge research that supports your lifesaving work, including studies on:
    • Taking up the Reins on Equine Welfare
    • Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation Perspectives on Rez Dogs on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, U.S.A
    • Why Didn’t They Do That? How Behavioral Economics Should Be Shaping How We Deliver Options to Our Clients
    • Returning a shelter animal: The role of animal and owner characteristics

    Attendees will leave with practical suggestions for applying what they’ve learned to benefit their communities and are eligible for CAWA and NACA credit!

    Participate in a live Q&A with the researchers following the presentations.

    The Research Forum is for anyone interested in advancing animal welfare, including veterinarians, shelter leadership, staff, and volunteers. Register here for free: aspca.org/researchforum

    PS: Can’t attend live? Register anyway, and  email you the recordings.

    WEBSITE LINK:  http://aspca.org/researchforum

  • Online Course – 9/16/23 – Return-to-Field: How Shelters Save Community Cats – Community Cats Podcast

    Online Course – 9/16/23 – Return-to-Field: How Shelters Save Community Cats – Community Cats Podcast

    Presented by Neighborhood Cats. It used to be that a feral cat had little chance of exiting a shelter alive after he entered.  But that’s no longer the case.  In recent years, more and more shelters have adopted Return-to-Field (RTF) programs.  Instead of euthanizing healthy community cats (whether feral, friendly or otherwise), the shelter will spay or neuter, eartip and vaccinate, then return the cat back to where he was found. We’ll cover the policies behind RTF, the mechanics of implementing the program, current controversies over the RTF of friendly cats, and how to combine RTF with TNR in general to lower cat populations and create sustainability.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/return-to-field-how-shelters-save-community-cats-presented-by-neighborhood-cats-sept-2023/

  • Webinar – 9/27/23 – Keeping People and Pets Housed – The AAWA

    Webinar – 9/27/23 – Keeping People and Pets Housed – The AAWA

    Animal welfare advocates are on the front lines and able to provide information, guidance, and resources to people with pets facing housing challenges. This session will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to provide compassionate and effective case management for any program working with vulnerable pets. You will also learn how to collaborate with the human services sector in your community to improve outcomes in keeping people and pets together.

    Additionally, we will discuss laws that help tenants combat being denied housing due to their pets. Keeping pets housed requires keeping people housed. In 2022, the Humane Society of the United States launched its first pet-inclusive housing mentorship with the Cleveland Animal Protective League and Richmond SPCA. Attendees will see examples of geographic information system (GIS) mapping to identify areas of need in their communities and learn how to use a combination of data, policy change, and safety net programming to help families maintain or secure pet-inclusive housing.

    Presenters: 

    • Sharon Harvey, President & CEO, Cleveland Animal Protective League
    • Garrett Parsons, Pet Support Supervisor, Found House Interfaith Housing Network
    • Dianne Prado, Founder & Director, Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART LA)

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://learning.theaawa.org/p/9-27-23

  • New Course Helps Keep Animals on Track to the Right Outcome

    New Course Helps Keep Animals on Track to the Right Outcome

    Our goal for every animal in need is to get them as quickly as possible to the right outcome, whether that involves a trip to the shelter or assistance in the community. This could look like sterilizing, vaccinating, and returning a cat to their neighborhood home; reuniting a dog with their family; or helping a foster kitten make the move to their new family. The Right Outcome, the capstone course in the Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge Learniverse Four Rights series, is here to help you match each animal with the outcome that is right for them and make a plan to achieve it.

    Click “Course Home Page” Button below to take this course hosted on
    Maddie’s®️ University.



    First, you’ll learn how weigh all possible outcomes to identify the right one—the outcome that best supports the well-being of animals, honors the connections between humans and pets, stabilizes communities, and maintains public health and safety.

    Subject matter experts from the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program will outline the most important Return to Home principles that enable us to get animals back to the homes they already have and lead you through identifying and removing barriers that can work against reunification efforts or make it harder for animals who need new homes to find them.

    Finally, you’ll learn strategies for avoiding decision fatigue and promoting team clarity and consensus, so that you can make decisions with more confidence, compassion, and empathy, including determining when the right outcome for an animal is humane euthanasia to relieve suffering.

    This short, self-paced online training module (SPOT mod) has been approved for 2.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) and by National Animal Care and Control Association, as well as two hours of continuing education credit until October 20, 2024 in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.

    Right Outcome is the final course in a self-paced series that explores each of the Four Rights, an evolution of the Million Cat Challenge’s Five Key Initiatives and the foundation of Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge. Within the Four Rights, every element works in concert to support one another: animals and people are treated as individuals, empowering shelter staff to make the best decisions for everyone; community safety net services are in place and flourishing; and humane care within the shelter is provided, with appropriate outcomes for the animals that do come in, allowing shelters to deliver the Right Care, in the Right Place, at the Right Time, to the Right Outcome.

    Enroll today for free #ThankstoMaddie! The Right Place, The Right Time, The Right Care and other SPOT mods, along with cohort-style, coach-led Bootcamps, are available in the Maddie’s® Million Pet Learniverse at no cost.

    Do you have comments, questions, or ideas related to the Four Rights? Join the discussion on Maddie’s Pet Forum.