Learn about the 4 Rights of animal sheltering and dive deep into the "Right Outcome"

The Right Outcome is the one that best supports the well-being of animals, honors the connections between humans and pets, stabilizes communities, and maintains public health and safety. When we serve animals in the right place, at the right time, and provide the right care while working within our capacity, we make it possible to achieve the right outcome.

 This course discusses Return-to-Home principles as well as barriers to adoption from animal shelters and strategies for avoiding decision fatigue while making decisions with compassion, empathy, and clarity.

As part of the Maddie’s®️ Million Pet Challenge’s Learniverse program, subject matter experts from the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program will discuss guiding principles that animal welfare professionals can use to make decisions, train their staff and engage the public.

You’ll also learn about programs you can use at your shelter to lead animals to the right outcome while making the best possible use of your resources and reducing the burden on your staff. Finally, you’ll see how other animal shelters have successfully implemented these programs.

This short, self-paced course has been approved for 2.0 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 2 hours of continuing education credit until October 20, 2024 in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.

PLEASE CONTACT:  learniverse@sheltermedportal.com if you have any questions or concerns about this course.

Four Rights Discussion Group

You can also join the discussion about these concepts over on Maddie’s® Pet Forum in the 4 Rights Discussion Group.

Click to visit the Discussion Group (will open in a new window/tab).

What are the Four Rights?

With the Maddie’s®️ Million Pet Challenge, the Five Key Initiatives of the Million Cat Challenge have expanded to include other species at risk in shelters and evolved into the Four Rights.  

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, and to the Right Outcome.

Learn more about  Maddie’s®️ Million Pet Challenge Learniverse.  #ThankstoMaddie