Shelter Learniverse

Online Seminar - 9/5/23 - Working With Difficult Customer Behaviors - CVMA (fee applies)
2023-09-05 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
CVMA Online Seminars are convenient interactive presentations offering CEUs held in real-time. This learning platform allows you to participate from anywhere with internet access – from your practice, your home, or anywhere you have an internet connection. Attending is as easy as a few mouse clicks. You will only need internet access and either computer audio, a headset, or a telephone.
This seminar is open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary hospital staff, and veterinary students only.
Webinar is live and interactive. Webinar may be recorded by the CVMA for internal use and training purposes. All other recordings are prohibited.

Course Description

This interactive course focuses on individual skill development in effectively managing challenging behaviors. There are three things we drive home in this course: respond to behaviors and not people, read and respond with rational thinking, and it is hard for us to learn new ways of reading and responding to behaviors we consider negative or challenging. This course gives you a toolbox of strategies to deal effectively with challenging behaviors.
Objectives
At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to do the following:

Describe factors of human behavior that cause customers to behave in challenging ways
Identify your personal “hot buttons” and learn to control your immediate response
Apply communication strategies to prevent escalation and resolve the situation
Identify tools that help you manage your emotions after a difficult interaction

This course qualifies for 1.0 CEU.

Date and Time

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 | 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Registration closes August 29, 2023

WEBSITE LINK: https://cvma.net/continuing-education/upcoming-ce/cvma-online-seminar-working-with-difficult-customer-behaviors-september-5-2023/cvma-online-seminar-working-difficult-customer-behaviors-september-5-2023/

Online Course –9/9/23 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)
2023-09-09 14:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
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 of attendance 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.
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/the-neighborhood-cats-tnr-certification-workshop-sept-2023/

Online Course - 9/16/23 - Return-to-Field: How Shelters Save Community Cats - Community Cats Podcast
2023-09-16 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
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/

Online Certificate Program – Starts 9/18/23 – Animal Shelter Behavioral Management Certificate Program – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)
2023-09-18
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.
UPCOMING DATES: 9/18/2023 – 11/12/2023
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 your care.
Anyone seeking a behavior specialist position with an animal shelter or rescue organization.

What You Will Learn

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.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs): 4.8 CEUs
Course Code: UNSM 050
Course Price: $399
WEBSITE LINK: https://education.pacific.edu/education/professional-development/certificate-programs/leadership-health-certificates

Online Course –10/3/23 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)
2023-10-03 11:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
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 of attendance 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.
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/the-neighborhood-cats-tnr-certification-workshop-october-3-2023/

Online Course – Starts 10/9/23 – Creating Desirable Behavior Around Distractions – IAABC (fee applies)
2023-10-09
Michele Pouliot demonstrates and explains how to train reliable behaviors around surprises, temptations, and all those daily events that present challenges for dogs. Trainers working with companion and sports dogs, as well as guide dogs, will benefit from this!
This course will help you:

Identify what environmental cues trigger undesirable behaviors in each individual dog
Create an effective training plan, teaching the dog to choose desirable behavior without human prompting in mild, and even highly distracting situations
Successfully manage challenging situations for both dog and handler

Full Students have instructor support in the class Forum to ask any questions you have during the course.
Auditors have access to course material only.
Course Begins: October 9, 2023
Duration: 4 weeks
Instructor: Michele Pouliot
WEBSITE LINK: https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/creating-desirable-behavior-around-distractions/

Online Course – Starts 10/15/23 – Fundamentals of Animal Behavior and Learning – IAABC (fee applies)
2023-10-15
By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Think scientifically about animal training and behavior consulting for all species.
Break training into component principles.
Analyze environmental events that maintain behavior.
Recognize how labels such as “aggressive” or “submissive” cloud your thinking and work.
Establish accurate descriptions of animals who are said to be “confident,” “creative,” “a problem solver,” and how you should approach those learners.
Understand the common principles at play in different animals & species.
Directly assess behavior and train more humanely and effectively by cutting through the jargon.

Duration: 4 weeks
Instructor: JoAnna Platzer, B.Sc. & Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

This four-week course will begin on the specified start date. The first three weeks will explore the scope of the course. There will be no new content in the fourth week which is reserved for completing final projects, discussion and synthesizing the course content.
Students will have access to the course for 1 year from the date of their most recent IAABC Foundation purchase.

Online Lectures: Each week there will be several short videos (10-20 minutes each; typically 60-90 minutes total per week) that will discuss the topics for that week.

Online Readings with Reading Guides: Each week you will have a scientific reading with a guide to help you navigate the reading. The paper will exemplify the principles being discussed that week.

Online Assignments: During Weeks 1-3, you will have 1-2 short online assignments each week. Some of these will entail you giving an example and then giving feedback on examples provided by a few of your fellow students.

Online Posts: During Weeks 2-4 you will post two questions, comments or reflections relevant to the material from the previous week to the discussion forum. You will also respond to at least two of your fellow students’ posts from that week (= a total of four posts per week). Your questions and responses will be graded based on their thoughtfulness and completeness.

Final Project: During Week 4, you will complete a final project/paper in which you will synthesize the topics covered to cohesively analyze and scientifically critique publicly available training videos and handouts.1

WEBSITE LINK: https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/fundamentals-of-animal-behavior-and-learning/

Online Course - Starts 10/16/23 - Compassion Fatigue Strategies Plus - University of Florida - Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program (fee applies)
2023-10-16
Today’s animal welfare and veterinary medical professionals are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for animals, people, and the organizations that heal, connect, and protect them. If that’s you, it’s easy to feel like nothing you do is ever good enough. The work feels never-ending. Taking care of your own needs might seem impossible.
Transforming empathic distress (aka compassion fatigue) is absolutely possible for you and your staff. That’s why the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida is once again offering its Compassion Fatigue Strategies online course with certified compassion fatigue educator Jessica Dolce.
This course will help you recognize signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma, learn how to reduce stress injury, increase your self-care and team-care practices, build compassion satisfaction, restore resiliency, and make successful changes in your life and in your organization.
By the end of class you’ll:

Have 6 strategies to help you do the work you love, without being sidelined by compassion fatigue and burnout, so that you can feel energized and happy again
Know which self-care and stress management practices work for you
Have a personal mission statement so that you can feel clear about why you do this work even when it’s challenging
Have clear and manageable goals, so that you can make lasting changes in your sleep, diet, friendships, or anything else that really matters to you
Feel comfortable using super simple meditation practices, so that you can restore your balance
Clearly understand how and when to get professional mental health help, without shame
Know how to collaborate with your staff and coworkers on these issues so that you can all benefit from what you learned in the course

Early registration at $299 until Sept. 1st. Regular registration after Sept 1st is $349.
WEBSITE LINK: https://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/education/continuing-education/compassion-fatigue-strategies/

Online Course – Starts 10/18/23 – Dog Lifesaving Course – Best Friends (fee applies)
2023-10-18
Best Friends and Southern Utah University’s Dog Lifesaving Course is designed for anyone who wants to positively impact the lives of dogs in shelters, whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey.
Join us as we empower you with the knowledge, tools, strategies, and steps to start making changes immediately to increase dog lifesaving and enhance the lives of dogs at your organization.
The online Dog Lifesaving Course engages animal services practitioners, shelter staff, volunteers, and advocates in lessons and discussions around saving the lives of dogs.
During this seven-week, university-endorsed college online course, you’ll learn from experts in the field and explore proven ways to save the lives of dogs in animal shelters through adoption, dog behavior and well-being, foster programs, canine handling, shelter medicine, and much more.
At its core, the course focuses on how lifesaving can be increased.
WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends.org/learn/dog-lifesaving

Online Course - Starts 10/18/23 - Principles of Contemporary Animal Services Certificate Course - Best Friends (fee applies)
2023-10-18
The Principles of Contemporary Animal Services certificate course is a great way to develop an understanding of the animal services profession by learning about the field’s history, current state, and future possibilities.
The certificate course is built around contemporary best practices provided by experts and organizations in the field to give you a well-rounded view of the profession. With course content curated by Best Friends Animal Society as well as leading practitioners and researchers in the field, you will have access to a wide range of earned expertise, perspectives, information, and resources.
Choose from two participation options:

POCAS Certification – successful completion earns an SUU Institutional Certificate and one Continuing Education Unit (CEU), $399
POCAS Fast Track – successful completion earns three credits that may articulate into undergraduate or participating master’s degree programs at Southern Utah University, $699

WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends.org/learn/principles-animal-services

Online Course -10/18/23 - Mission Possible: Solving Separation Anxiety - PuppyWorks (fee applies)
2023-10-18 10:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
This webinar will reveal the not commonly believed fact that indeed resolution of Separation Anxiety is truly possible.
We will review multiple aspects about separation anxiety including the why, the what, and the how to proceed. In addition, the considerable research about separation anxiety over the past 4 decades will be incorporated as it is extremely helpful in working with this very nuanced behavior issue.
A structured approach to creating separation anxiety plans has turned a once considered impossible training task into a doable one with successful resolution of even the most severe appearing separation anxiety cases being attainable.
A few of the key elements of this training discussion will include the following and more:

Myths about Separation Anxiety
Systematic Desensitization and What That Really Means
Absence Management Creativity and Solutions
The Possibility of Prevention?
Feeding Toys not Necessarily a Fixit
Confinement and its Impact on SA
“Spoiling” a Dog with SA Might Surprise You
Obedience Training is not the Panacea

About the Presenter:
Malena DeMartini-Price is renowned in the dog training world for her expertise in dog separation anxiety issues. She is the author of the books Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs (Dogwise. 2014) and the new edition: Separation Anxiety in Dogs- Next Generation Treatment Protocals & Practices (Dogwise 2020).
She has contributed articles on separation anxiety to multiple publications such as the Association of Professional Dog Trainers’ (APDT) Chronicle of the Dog, Pet Professional Guild’s (PPG) Barks From the Guild, and various national magazines such as The Bark.
Malena has dedicated her career to finding better ways to treat separation anxiety and oversees a team of highly experienced and uniquely qualified Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers.
She lectures on SA at professional dog training workshops and conferences around the world, including everything from large professional conferences to small venues. She also has been interviewed widely on this topic and multiple videos and podcasts have been produced. Malena is an honors graduate of the esteemed Academy for Dog Trainers, where she studied under Jean Donaldson, and is a member of the APDT, the Pet Professionals Guild, and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.puppyworks.com/malena-ellen

Online Course – Starts 10/19/23 – Professional Dog Training Mentorship with Sue Alexander - Shelter Behavior Hub (fee applies)
2023-10-19
Are you interested in learning how to train dogs? Whether you are new to the field, or an old hand, this course takes you from recognizing and addressing stress in dogs through teaching dogs specific skills, and changing emotional responses.
New course, starting October 19, with Instructor Sue Alexander CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC. Sue is joined by Trish McMillan MSc CPDT-KA, the owner of the Shelter Behavior Hub and the author of the Shelter Dog Behavior Mentorship, and by Laura Harper, MSc, CPDT-KA, one of the senior instructors at Dogs in the Park, Sue’s school. Shelter Dog Training Mentorship is a ground-breaking comprehensive course that focuses on how to train dogs. This course takes you from recognizing and addressing stress in dogs though teaching dogs specific skills, and changing emotional responses.
32.5 Continuing Education Credits Approved for CCPDT and IAABC!
20 Continuing Education Credits approved for CPDT and 10 Continuing Education Credits for CBCC!!
The Dog Training Mentorship begins on October 19, 2023 with the class meetings at 10:30am or 7:30pm EST (you only need to come to one!).
WEBSITE LINK: https://trish-s-school-bcb6.thinkific.com/courses/2023B-PDTM-dog-training-mentorship

Online Certificate Program – Starting 10/23/23 – Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program – Shelter Operations – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)
2023-10-23
Society’s relationship to pets continues to evolve. The majority of people consider their pets to be beloved family members and expect their local animal shelter to work diligently to save the lives of the dogs and cats that enter the facility. This program will provide the knowledge you need to assume a management or leadership role at an open-admission animal shelter. You’ll learn how to maximize a shelter’s lifesaving potential through program management, community engagement, and shelter operations while at the same time preparing yourself for an exciting career.
The five courses are:

Leadership covering strategic planning, analyzing operations, decision-making, managing people and processes to achieve results, organizational responsibilities, and working with a board of directors.
Shelter Operations covering adoptions, animal care and sheltering fundamentals, animal behavior and enrichment, and customer service.
Community Program Development covering volunteers, foster care, spay/neuter, pet retention, events, and community relations.
Animal Health and Clinic Operations covering understanding shelter medicine, basic animal health considerations and care, euthanasia decisions, and clinic operations.
Marketing and Development covering development fundamentals, fundraising strategies, marketing fundamentals, adoption promotion, social media and websites, and media relations.

Each of these courses include live video conference sessions with top experts in the field providing students valuable contacts within the field. Additionally, alumni have access to exclusive networking opportunities and receive notification of employment opportunities.
You can sign up for individual courses or all five for a discount. All five must be completed to get a certificate.
Who will benefit from the program?

Professionals seeking a career change to something more personally fulfilling.
New shelter directors.
Shelter directors or managers wishing to improve their organization’s live release rate and sustainability.
People working in the animal welfare field who wish to advance into management roles.
Board members of animal shelters.

Credit for program/courses
Upon completion of all five courses, you will receive a Certificate in Animal Shelter Management from the University of the Pacific.
Each course earns:

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the University of the Pacific
Association of Animal Welfare Advancement CAWA Continuing Education (CE) credits

Schedule and Registration
Each of the five online courses are six weeks long and are offered sequentially. The entire program is about seven months long, and a new round starts again after a short break. More information on start dates of each course and the registration form can be found on the University of the Pacific website.
​WEBSITE LINK: https://uc.pacific.edu/public/category/courseCategoryCertificateProfile.do?method=load&certificateId=192577

Online Course - 11/5/23 - CAVMRC Online Disaster Response Training - CVMA (fee applies)
2023-11-05 09:00 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
With over 2,700 volunteers, the California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps (CAVMRC) provides emergency veterinary medical care to animals in disasters. As part of the CAVMRC’s mission to train and credential veterinary professionals to support animal and public health during a disaster, the CAVMRC is offering low-cost, interactive online continuing education for veterinarians, RVT’s, and veterinary assistants.
By registering for this course, you are also registering to become a volunteer member of the CAVMRC, if you are not already a current member. CAVMRC membership is free and participation is strictly voluntary. This course is only available to CAVMRC members.

Course is live and interactive.

Course Information

Animals in Disasters – Common Medical Conditions (7.5 CEUs)
This course provides detailed information on emergency/critical care topics that can benefit you in everyday practice as well as during a disaster response. Course instructors are Tracy Julius, DVM; Grant Miller, DVM; Ashley Patterson, DVM; Jessica Robertson, DVM, DACZM; and John Madigan, DVM, DACVIM, DACAW.
Course topics:

The Basics of Poultry Husbandry, Handling, and Veterinary Care
Housing Considerations for Poultry in Emergency Shelters: Zoonotic Disease Considerations
The Ins and Outs of Large Animal Disaster Response
Burn Management
UC Davis CVET Team: Working with the CAVMRC to Help Animals in Disasters
Deployment in the CAVMRC

Date/Time

Sunday, November 5, 2023
Log in: 8:45 AM
Class: 9:00 AM-4:30 PM
Lunch: 12:30 PM-1:00 PM

CEUs

Maximum of 7.5 CEUs. The CVMA is a statutorily-approved California CE provider.
WEBSITE LINK: https://cvma.net/continuing-education/upcoming-ce/cavmrc-online-disaster-response-training-november-05-2022/cavmrc-online-disaster-response-training-information-november-5-2023-2/

Online Certificate Program - Starts 12/4/23 - Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program - Community Program Development - Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)
2023-12-04

Online Event – 12/5/23 – The National Kitten Coalition Veterinary Conference 2023 Recording Available Now – National Kitten Coalition (fee applies)
2023-12-05
Due to popular demand, we have made the 2023 National Kitten Coalition Veterinary Conference recorded sessions available for purchase. Access these recordings, and achieve up to 6.75 RACE® CE credits for $55.
The National Kitten Coalition Veterinary Conference took place on October 8, 2023. Recordings of the eight sessions are available here. You can watch the sessions in any order, but you must purchase the entire conference to access the individual sessions.
Each session includes the recorded presentation, any handouts provided by the speakers, and a RACE® Quiz. You must watch the entire video and successfully pass the RACE® Quiz to receive a certificate of completion.
RACE® continuing education credit is available to veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians/nurses in jurisdictions which recognize RACE® approval. Please see individual sessions for the amount and type of CE.
Session recordings, handouts and optional CE quizzes will be accessible through December 31, 2023.
*CE credit may only be awarded once either for attending the live session or for viewing the recorded session and successful completion of the CE Quiz, and RACE® CE is only valid in jurisdictions which recognize RACE® approval.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.pathlms.com/nkc/courses/60834

Online Event - 12/7/23 - Camp Maddie: Foster Edition! - Maddie's Fund
2023-12-07 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Camp Maddie is a new learning series beginning with a virtual half-day foster edition on Thursday, December 7, 9am-1 pm PT (12 pm-4 pm ET). At Camp Maddie, we will cover various topics in to-the-point presentations, panel discussions, strategy-sharing seminars, videos and question and answer sessions. The focus will be on recruiting foster caregivers for adult dogs. Presenters will discuss breaking down barriers in the foster field, how they recruit foster caregivers and provide insight into strategies they use to make fostering accessible in their communities.
Maddie’s Fund will also be giving $200 grants to (4) lucky participants who join us live at Camp Maddie: Foster Edition on 12/7!
Topics and featured programs include:

Dog Foster Recruitment Strategies that are Working Right Now
Low-Barrier Onboarding for High Community Engagement
Maximizing Placements through Collaboration at Operation Kindness
Expanding Foster Programs with Foster+ at Dallas Pets Alive!
Doggy Day Out Marketing Process at KC Pet Project
Foster Dog Social Events at Animal Welfare League of Arlington
Innovative Foster Caregiver Recruitment Techniques at Palm Valley Animal Society
Converting Pet Finders to Foster Caregivers at Austin Pets Alive!
and more!

Who should attend? Everyone is welcome! Camp Maddie is perfect for those interested or involved in existing foster care programs, foster coordinators, marketing, leadership and operations enthusiasts.
WEBSITE LINK: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/campmaddiefoster

Online Course - Starts 1/8/24 - Cat Lifesaving Course - Best Friends and Southern Utah University (fee applies)
2024-01-08
Best Friends Animal Society and Southern Utah University’s Cat Lifesaving Course is designed for anyone who wants to positively impact the lives of cats and kittens in shelters, whether you’re an animal services practitioner, volunteer, or advocate.
During this seven-week, university-endorsed, online course, you’ll learn from experts in the field and explore proven ways to save the lives of cats in animal shelters through adoption, community cat programming, foster programs, strategic intake, shelter medicine, and much more.
Join us as we empower you with the knowledge, tools, strategies, and steps to start making changes immediately, increase lifesaving, and enhance the well-being of cats in your care.
WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends.org/learn/cat-lifesaving

Online Course - Starts 1/8/24 - Principles of Contemporary Animal Services Certificate Course - Best Friends and Southern Utah University (fee applies)
2024-01-08

Online Course – Starts 1/10/24 – Shelter Dog Behavior Mentorship with Trish McMillan – Shelter Behavior Hub (fee applies)
2024-01-10
Is your shelter struggling to meet the needs of your dog population? Do you feel like your SOP’s aren’t meeting industry standards? Are you facing challenges related to intake, meeting the needs of dogs in your care, or finding appropriate placement? The Shelter Dog Behavior Mentorship is your opportunity to take your shelter’s canine program to the next level. This 13 week deep dive into all things shelter behavior will help you create evidence-based policies and procedures for your shelter behavior department.
This intensive course will cover all aspects of shelter behavior, from intake to post-adoption support. With the help of your peers from all over the world, we will explore science and best practices in building your shelter behavior programming to meet and exceed industry standards, and to give every dog in your care the best shot at a new home. There will be an emphasis on creating written policy and protocols for your department.
WEBSITE LINK: https://trish-s-school-bcb6.thinkific.com/courses/2024A-sdbm-shelter-dog-behavior-mentorship

Online Course – 1/17/24 – Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)
2024-01-17 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
As a Surrender Prevention Specialist, you may be the difference between a cat losing her home and staying in her home. Join this session to learn what surrender prevention is and why it works. Instructed by Dr. Rachel Geller, she will share real examples, with proven results, setting the potential surrenderer and cat on the road to a happy relationship together and keeping the cat in her home. We’ll cover how to empathize with cat owners, working around their limitations (financial, time, patience) and focus on the 3 most common reasons for surrender: litter box problems, scratching (and not on the scratching post!) and intercat aggression. Take advantage of the interactive format, extensive handouts, and video footage of actual techniques. Attendees will receive a certificate after taking a short quiz.
#ThanksToMaddie, scholarship opportunities are available! If you or someone you know would like to be considered for a complimentary registration, please fill out the form here.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/surrender-prevention-certification-workshop-jan-2024/

Online Certificate Program – Starts 1/29/24 – Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program – Animal Health and Clinic Operations – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)
2024-01-29
Society’s relationship to pets continues to evolve. The majority of people consider their pets to be beloved family members and expect their local animal shelter to work diligently to save the lives of the dogs and cats that enter the facility. This program will provide the knowledge you need to assume a management or leadership role at an open-admission animal shelter. You’ll learn how to maximize a shelter’s lifesaving potential through program management, community engagement, and shelter operations while at the same time preparing yourself for an exciting career.
The five courses are:

Leadership covering strategic planning, analyzing operations, decision-making, managing people and processes to achieve results, organizational responsibilities, and working with a board of directors.
Shelter Operations covering adoptions, animal care and sheltering fundamentals, animal behavior and enrichment, and customer service.
Community Program Development covering volunteers, foster care, spay/neuter, pet retention, events, and community relations.
Animal Health and Clinic Operations covering understanding shelter medicine, basic animal health considerations and care, euthanasia decisions, and clinic operations.
Marketing and Development covering development fundamentals, fundraising strategies, marketing fundamentals, adoption promotion, social media and websites, and media relations.

Each of these courses include live video conference sessions with top experts in the field providing students valuable contacts within the field. Additionally, alumni have access to exclusive networking opportunities and receive notification of employment opportunities.
You can sign up for individual courses or all five for a discount. All five must be completed to get a certificate.
Who will benefit from the program?

Professionals seeking a career change to something more personally fulfilling.
New shelter directors.
Shelter directors or managers wishing to improve their organization’s live release rate and sustainability.
People working in the animal welfare field who wish to advance into management roles.
Board members of animal shelters.

Credit for program/courses
Upon completion of all five courses, you will receive a Certificate in Animal Shelter Management from the University of the Pacific.
Each course earns:

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the University of the Pacific
Association of Animal Welfare Advancement CAWA Continuing Education (CE) credits

Schedule and Registration
Each of the five online courses are six weeks long and are offered sequentially. The entire program is about seven months long, and a new round starts again after a short break. More information on start dates of each course and the registration form can be found on the University of the Pacific website.
​WEBSITE LINK: https://uc.pacific.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=21282#courseSectionDetails_2946837

Hybrid Course - Sign-up deadline 2/1/24 - Behavior and Enrichment Academy & Resources (BEAR) - San Diego Humane Soicety
2024-02-01
Registration is now open for Behavior and Enrichment Academy & Resources (BEAR), an innovative new educational program created by Shelter Playgroup Alliance and San Diego Humane Society. Sign up today for the Spring 2024 cohort beginning Feb. 1!
At the end of this rigorous, multi-phase educational program, participants will be prepared to perform the key tasks of a shelter behavior professional. The BEAR program includes four distinct online phases and three corresponding in-person workshops at San Diego Humane Society in San Diego, California. Consisting of approximately 200 hours of learning, the entire curriculum can be completed in as little as two years!
The BEAR program is designed to prepare current shelter staff and volunteers to transition to behavior-focused roles, and private trainers to transition to a shelter environment. It can also benefit animal welfare professionals who want to incorporate behavior-related tasks into their existing roles, including veterinary staff who want to bring low stress and/or fear free handling into their practice.
Visit sdhumane.org/BEAR to learn more and register! The deadline to sign up for the Spring 2024 cohort is Feb. 1, 2024 at 5 p.m. PST.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.sdhumane.org/behavior-and-training/resources/bear-program.html

Online Course - Starts 2/6/24 - Medical Aspects of Community Cat and Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release Programs - VIN (fee applies)
2024-02-06
Course Information:
In shelters across the country, dramatic increases in feline lifesaving have been accomplished through the implementation of community cat programs. Community cat programming consists of a combination of proactive, targeted trap-neuter-vaccinate-release (TNVR) and shelter-neuter-return (SNR) programming as a live outcome pathway for cats that enter the shelter system.
In this course, learn techniques to safely handle community cats in the high-quality, high-volume, spay/neuter clinic or private practice setting, preventive care protocols for TNVR/SNR cats, how to design a multi-modal anesthetic protocol appropriate for TNVR/SNR cats, surgical techniques for efficient sterilization, techniques for prevention and management of surgical complications, and management of common conditions found in free-roaming cats that enter the shelter or present for sterilization surgery (ectoparasites, traumatic injuries, upper respiratory tract disease).
Presenter: Erin Katribe, DVM, MS, ABVP (Shelter Medicine)
Course Open: February 6-23,2024
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesday, February 13, 2024; 8:00-9:30 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 1.5
RACE Category: 1.5 hours Medical
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to

describe programs that shelters may implement to increase live outcomes for cats.
describe the components of a comprehensive community cat program.
discuss the impact of targeted TNR programming on feline populations.
describe preventive care protocols for community cats.
describe principles of managing feral/unsocialized cats in an HQHVSN setting.
discuss options for anesthetic protocols in TNR/SNR cats for sterilization.
discuss techniques for efficient sterilization surgery.
discuss techniques for prevention of surgical complications in high-risk cases and management of these complications when they occur.
describe techniques to safely handle unsocialized cats in the HQHVSN setting.
discuss strategies to prevent transmission of infectious disease in the HQHVSN setting.
describe options for treatment/management of these infectious diseases in TNR/SNR cats and compare/contrast with management of privately-owned pet cats:

Feline upper respiratory tract disease
Notoedres cati
Otodectes
Injuries associated with trauma (fractures, wounds, spinal trauma)

Level and Prerequisites: This basic VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians, and veterinary technicians/technologists actively interested in Community Cat and Trap-Nueter-Vaccinate-Release programs.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.vin.com/ce/MULT315-0224.htm

Online Course - Starts 2/21/24 - Lifesaving by the Numbers: Effective Population Management in Animal Shelters - VIN (fee applies)
2024-02-21
Course Information:
Proactive population management is a cornerstone of health and welfare for shelter populations. Reducing length of stay in animal shelters reduces the risk of infectious disease, as time in the shelter is the top risk factor. Behavioral welfare is improved when animals spend less time in the shelter.
Strategies to reduce length of stay include daily population rounds, tracking animal flow through the shelter and removing bottlenecks, pathway planning, open selection, managed admissions, and fast-tracking of highly adoptable pets. The course will also cover practical strategies to build efficiency in medical programs, as many of the common bottlenecks are related to the provision of veterinary care. Additionally, while daily population rounds are crucial for collaboration across shelter teams and are key to ensuring animals keep moving on their shelter pathway, they can be challenging to implement, particularly in large shelters.
Presenter: Erin Katribe, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)
Course Open: February 21-March 9, 2024
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Wednesday, February 28, 2024; 8:00-10:00 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 2
RACE Category: 2 hours Medical
Learning Objectives: Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to

discuss the benefits of reducing length of stay on individual animal health, lifesaving capacity of the shelter, and individual animal behavioral welfare.
define capacity for care in a shelter.
discuss how to determine average or median length of stay.
define pathway planning.
dDiscuss the following strategies for reducing length of stay:

Pathway planning
Fast-tracking
Open selection
Managed intake/admissions and intake diversion

discuss the goals and practical implementation of daily population rounds.
discuss the importance of tracking key metrics in shelter populations, including length of stay, intake and outcome metrics, and disease incidence metrics.

Level and Prerequisites: This basic VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists interested in strategies to reduce length of stay while also reducing infectious disease spread in the shelter setting.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.vin.com/ce/SHEL102-0224.htm

Online Course – Starts 2/26/24 – Compassion Fatigue Strategies Plus – University of Florida – Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program (fee applies)
2024-02-26
Today’s animal welfare and veterinary medical professionals are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for animals, people, and the organizations that heal, connect, and protect them. If that’s you, it’s easy to feel like nothing you do is ever good enough. The work feels never-ending. Taking care of your own needs might seem impossible.
Transforming empathic distress (aka compassion fatigue) is absolutely possible for you and your staff. That’s why the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida is once again offering its Compassion Fatigue Strategies online course with certified compassion fatigue educator Jessica Dolce.
This course will help you recognize signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma, learn how to reduce stress injury, increase your self-care and team-care practices, build compassion satisfaction, restore resiliency, and make successful changes in your life and in your organization.
By the end of class you’ll:

Have 6 strategies to help you do the work you love, without being sidelined by compassion fatigue and burnout, so that you can feel energized and happy again
Know which self-care and stress management practices work for you
Have a personal mission statement so that you can feel clear about why you do this work even when it’s challenging
Have clear and manageable goals, so that you can make lasting changes in your sleep, diet, friendships, or anything else that really matters to you
Feel comfortable using super simple meditation practices, so that you can restore your balance
Clearly understand how and when to get professional mental health help, without shame
Know how to collaborate with your staff and coworkers on these issues so that you can all benefit from what you learned in the course

Early individual registration is $299 per person by January 26, 2024. Regular individual registration is $349 per person January 27, 2024 through February 26, 2024.
WEBSITE LINK: https://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/education/continuing-education/compassion-fatigue-strategies/

Online Conference - 3/9/24 and 3/10/24 - 4th Annual Modern & Ethical Training Conference (MET) - Puppyworks (fee applies)
2024-03-09, 2024-03-10
6 great trainers will talk about their experiences, give advice and practical solutions.
Over 18 hours of expertise and advice for the daily life of professional trainers & their clients.
You can watch the lectures live on the day of the conference or at any time during the following 6 months.
MET conference 2024 has been approved by CCPDT and IAABC organizations for 18 CEUs.
You can listen to the lectures of Czech trainers in the original version or access a high-quality translation in English, so that you do not miss a word of expertise!
Gain practical procedures with proven results.
No waiting and commuting – enjoy the conference from the comfort of your couch with your dog partner by your side.

WEBSITE LINK: https://www.puppyworks.com/met2024

Online Certificate Program – Starts 3/11/24 – Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program – Marketing & Development – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)
2024-03-11

Online Training - Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop Presented by Dr. Rachel Geller - Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)
2024-03-13 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Are you deeply committed to ensuring that cats remain in their cherished homes? Step into the role of a certified Surrender Prevention Specialist and become a catalyst for positive change in the lives of our feline friends. Join us on March 13th for an illuminating workshop led by the esteemed Dr. Rachel Geller.
Event Details: 📅 Date: March 13 🕒 Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EST 📍 Location: Virtual, register here
As a Surrender Prevention Specialist, you hold the power to bridge the gap between a cat losing its home and maintaining a joyful bond with its owner. In this workshop, Dr. Rachel Geller will explore the art of surrender prevention, drawing from real-life scenarios with proven outcomes. Uncover the effectiveness of surrender prevention strategies and your pivotal role in nurturing harmonious relationships between cats and their caregivers.
#ThanksToMaddie, scholarship opportunities are available! If you or someone you know would benefit from a complimentary registration, please complete the form here.
Key Topics Explored:

Grasping the concept and significance of surrender prevention
Cultivating empathy towards cat owners and addressing their constraints (financial, time, patience)
Real-world success stories of surrender prevention methodologies
Spotlight on the three primary reasons for surrender: litter box issues, inappropriate scratching, and intercat aggression
Interactive sessions, comprehensive handouts, and video demonstrations of effective techniques Upon successful completion of the workshop and a brief assessment, participants will receive a Surrender Prevention Certification. Furthermore, scholarships are still accessible for those eager to contribute to the welfare of cats in need.

Unable to attend on March 13? No problem! The workshop will be offered three times in 2024, providing ample opportunities to refine your expertise and understanding.
📚 Be a Part of Something Pawsitively Impactful! 📚 Join Dr. Rachel Geller and fellow cat enthusiasts on January 17th for an enlightening and empowering Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop. Let’s collaborate to preserve the sanctity of feline homes and fortify the bond between cats and their caregivers.
For additional information, to secure your spot, or inquire about scholarships, please visit https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/surrender-prevention-certification-workshop-mar-2024/
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/surrender-prevention-certification-workshop-mar-2024/
