The shelter environment is a very stressful place that affects the psychological well-being of the animals. Comprehensive behavior programs are essential to keep the animals behaviorally and emotionally healthy during their stay. This eight-week course will give you the knowledge and skills to develop an effective behavior program aimed at improving the welfare of the animals in your care.
Instructor: Kelley Bollen, MS, CABC
Who will benefit from this program?
- Anyone currently affiliated with an animal shelter or rescue organization who wants to learn more about animal behavior as it relates to the shelter/foster environment.
- Anyone who wants to improve the emotional wellbeing of the animals in shelter or rescue care.
- Anyone seeking a behavior specialist position with an animal shelter or rescue organization.
Learning objectives
- Gain knowledge on how to read dog and cat animal body language and signaling
- Learn techniques for safe, humane handling of the animals
- Understand how the shelter environment effects the emotional wellbeing of the animals and how to use stress reduction techniques to improve welfare
- Gain knowledge on how to keep the animals physically, mentally, and socially stimulated through shelter-wide enrichment programs
- Understand the value of effective canine and feline behavior assessments
- Obtain the knowledge and skills needed to implement training and behavior modification techniques to improve the behavior and emotional state of the shelter animals
- Obtain skills needed to ensure quality customer service for adoption counseling and follow-up as well as supporting foster caregivers with animals in their care.
Course structure
- Online course – work at your own pace
- Weekly recorded lecture given by instructor Kelley Bollen
- Weekly reading and viewing assignments
- Weekly writing assignments
- Weekly discussion forums
- Live Q&A sessions with instructor Kelley Bollen
Pre-requisites:
Must be currently affiliated with an animal shelter or rescue organization as a staff member or volunteer. No behavioral degrees or certifications required.
Credits, course code, cost
Continuing Education Units (CEUs):
CAWA – 4.8 CEUs
CCPDT – 4 CEUs for Trainers & 12 CEUs for Behavior Consultants
IAABC – 18 CEUs
Certificate Price: $429
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.humanenetwork.org/animal-shelter-behavior-course
