Town Hall

Best Friends Presents: Why does our instinct tell us that a cat outside needs to be taken to a shelter? Once at the shelter, should cats be limited to indoor adoption outcomes? Are we really saving them? Join us for a holistic discussion around cats. Lead by Michelle Logan, director of national embed programming for Best Friends Animal Society, we will explore how as an industry we can best serve our community and its cats.

Best Friends Presents: How animal control and community organizing can build sustainable change. Join us for an in-depth conversation between Scott Giacoppo (Director of National Municipal and Shelter Support) and Kenny Lamberti (Director of Grassroots Advocacy) as they examine the why and how behind relationship centered connections.

Best Friends Presents: As a year complete with an ongoing pandemic, political division and social tension around systemic racism comes to an end, now is the time for reflection. Join us as we sit down with three completely different organizations and ask them all the same thing: “What does strategic planning mean to you and why is it more important now than ever?”

Best Friends Presents: Return to owner, also known as return to home, programs are always evolving. Gone are the days of a simple tag check. Technology is advancing, communication is better than ever, and more pets are making back home. Join us as Tawny Hammond, director of learning advancement for Best Friends, moderates a conversation with national experts on proactive ways to get pets back to their families.

Best Friends Presents: Join us for this town hall to learn how changing your intake procedures saves lives, keeps families together, and fosters a positive relationship with your community. This week's panelists will walk you through their experience implementing this program from kick-off to tracking your progress and managing distractors.

Best Friends Presents: Join us for a two part discussion on Best Friend Animal Society's approach to DE&I work. Come with an open mind and leave with actionable next steps for your organization. The discussions will be moderated by José Ocaño, senior director of people and culture for Best Friends, and featuring James Evans, president for CARE, and Julie Castle, chief executive officer for Best Friends. Also joining will be the Best Friends Culture Council Co-Chairs.

Best Friends Presents: Join us for a two part discussion on Best Friend Animal Society's approach to DE&I work. Come with an open mind and leave with actionable next steps for your organization. The discussions will be moderated by José Ocaño, senior director of people and culture for Best Friends, and featuring James Evans, president for CARE, and Julie Castle, chief executive officer for Best Friends. Also joining will be the Best Friends Culture Council Co-Chairs.

Best Friends Presents: Join us on Thursday, April 8 at 6:00 PM Eastern time, as we meet with three Friends of the Network vendors who are working hard to provide services to help advance the important work being done in the animal welfare industry. They will share how their services can help elevate your lifesaving work using technology. Each offers a unique service such as app-based dog training, online fundraising and website creation.

HASS Presents: Join us to hear the latest on this innovative project from Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Kristen Hassen, two members of the HASS Executive Team. What has the HASS team been doing over the last year? What plans does HASS have for the next 6 months? Tune in to get the answers to these questions, status updates, and an inside look at Human Animal Support Services.

Best Friends Presents: Learn about the newest trends in community supported animal sheltering to keep dogs and cats in their homes and out of our shelters. Topics covered will include tips on how to work with your city attorney, reckless owner and breed neutral dangerous dog laws, pet inclusive housing ordinances, effective community cat programs, and processes to avoid liability.

Best Friends Presents: Join us for this town hall to learn how to break down barriers and build new possibilities for the pets most often overlooked. You’ll hear from Caitlin Quinn, Director of Operations at HeARTs Speak, and Tori Fugate, Chief Communications Officer at KC Pet Project.

Best Friends Presents: All dogs, big and small, deserve a safe place to call home. During this town hall, Best Friends staff members will share a pilot program they created and are using at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to help the most challenging dogs enjoy life and develop positive relationships with humans.

NACA Presents: Register for a discussion on the NACA Guideline on Appointment-Based Pet Intake into Shelters.

Best Friends Presents: During this town hall, Best Friends staff will address confusion around the community-supported sheltering movement and discuss the powerful intersection when the roles of the shelter, field services, government and the public come together to support the welfare of animals in a community.

Best Friends Presents: During this townhall, our expert panel will discuss everything you need to know about kitten foster programs. We'll share resources and proven strategies that can be adapted based on your organization’s needs - whether you are thinking about starting a new program or looking to enhance your current one. We’ll also briefly cover the benefits of participating in the Best Friends National Kitten Foster Campaign.

Best Friends Presents: During this town hall, panelists from three organizations varying in size and location will discuss how they increased collaboration with their community by being transparent and maximizing community resources. They will share examples of how they were able to empower and support the public using effective communication strategies.

HASS Presents: Join us for a thought-provoking live discussion where we will delve into the past, present, and future of the Human Animal Support Services project. Hear from Vincent Medley, Maddie's® Director of Human Animal Support Services, joined by leaders of our HASS pilot shelters who will share their experiences in HASS pilot shelters and their insights into the evolution of HASS.