Shelter Learniverse

Town Hall - 10/29/20 - Cats outside, it's going to be okay. - Best Friends
2020-10-29 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
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.
Panelists:

Don Riser, animal services manager, Hesperia Animal Services
Osby Montes, senior animal control officer, Hesperia Animal Services
Audra Mullins, animal control officer, Santa Rosa County Animal Services
Leah Massey, community cat program manager, The Humane Society of Charlotte
Bennett Simonsen, community cat programs manager, Pima Animal Care Center

Register here: https://bit.ly/37Aq532
WEBSITE LINK: https://network.bestfriends.org/tools-and-information/best-friends-town-halls

Town Hall - 11/12/20 - The Human Connection: save more lives by building stronger relationships in communities. - Best Friends
2020-11-12 15:00 - 16:00
The Human Connection: save more lives by building stronger relationships in communities.
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.
Register Here
WEBSITE LINK: https://network.bestfriends.org/tools-and-information/best-friends-town-halls

Town Hall - 12/17/20 - 2020: When plans change. - Best Friends
2020-12-17 15:00 - 16:00
2020: When plans change.
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. Navigating the chaos has changed how animal welfare is conducted. How does that impact our strategic plans and how can we use our learnings the most impactful way possible?
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?”
Moderator:
Bethany Heins, director, operations & strategic projects, national programs
Panelists:
• Becca Britton, executive director, Neighborhood Pets
• Paula Powell, director, El Paso Animal Services
• Brent Toellner, sr. director of national programs, Best Friends Animal Society
Thursday, December 17th @ 6PM EST – Register Here

WEBSITE LINK: https://network.bestfriends.org/tools-and-information/best-friends-town-halls

Town Hall - 1/14/21 - Let's Get Them Home - Best Friends
2021-01-14 15:00 - 16:00
Note: this event has been postponed by one week.
We all know that the best place for a pet is at home with their family and not in our shelters.
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.

Panelists:
– Gina Knepp, national shelter engagement director with Michelson Found Animals
– Shelly Simmons, division director, Greenville County Animal Care
– Shyanne Schull, director, Washoe County Regional Animal Services

WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/3416087439311/WN_MM044lUAShqwC52LJMcTcg

Town Hall - 1/28/21 - Out with the Old, In with the New: Switching Gears to Managed Intake - Best Friends
2021-01-28 15:00 - 16:00
Join us for our next town hall Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 6:00 pm Eastern.
Out with the old, in with the new; Switching gears to Managed Intake – 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.
WEBSITE LINK: https://network.bestfriends.org/tools-and-information/best-friends-town-halls

Town Hall - 2/11/21 - Activating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Animal Welfare: Part 1 - Best Friends
2021-02-11 15:00 - 16:00
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.
WEBSITE LINK: https://network.bestfriends.org/tools-and-information/best-friends-town-halls

Town Hall - 2/18/21 - Activating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Animal Welfare: Part 2 - Best Friends
2021-02-18 15:00 - 16:00

Town Hall - 4/8/21 - Elevate Lifesaving Work with Technology - Best Friends
2021-04-08 15:00 - 16:00
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.
Bethany Heins, director of strategy and network operations for Best Friends, will moderate a conversation with:

Brendaen Makechnie, vice president of business development and partnerships, GoodPup
Laurie Paquette, CEO, Buzz to the Rescues
Pam Siedler, founder, PetGiving

WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/9416176358709/WN_RYgl5evvQ3iOpr97rx-j7w

Town Hall - 7/7/21 - HASS Leadership Town Hall - HASS
2021-07-07 16:00 - 17:00
Curious about what’s going on with Human Animal Support Services? 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. Be a part of this exciting live webinar on Wednesday, July 7 at 6pm CT.
WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7416246587777/WN_gjtAVSa9RayUbJXIz7TX3w

Town Hall - 11/9/21 - People, Pets, and Policies: Towards Community Supported Animal Sheltering - Best Friends
2021-11-09 15:00 - 16:00
Join us for this town hall to learn new ways to engage your community, keep pets with their families, and increase lifesaving. You’ll hear from a panel of experts covering topics from the People, Pets, and Policies: Towards Community Supported Animal Sheltering manual. This manual is a collaboration between International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) and Best Friends Animal Society that seeks to reconcile the fiscal and logistical realities faced by local governments with the goal of reducing pet euthanasia and expanding opportunities to increase lifesaving and reduce costs.
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.
Moderator: Ledy VanKavage, senior legislative attorney for Best Friends Animal Society
Panelists:
– Chuck Thompson, executive director and general counsel, International Municipal Lawyers Association
– Ana Schumacher, assistant county attorney, El Paso, TX
– Rebecca Huss, general counsel, Best Friends Animal Society
WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/6416355232750/WN_hxPl7lXgR4y_RPVYPQYTZA

Town Hall - 11/18/21 - Successfully Marketing and Adopting Hard-to-Place Pets - Best Friends
2021-11-18 15:00 - 16:00
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.
Most organizations have at least a handful of animals with behavioral, medical or public perception challenges that can make finding adoptable homes more difficult. And for many, that number of hard-to-place pets is growing. In this townhall, the panelists will demonstrate how, with a little creative thinking, lots of transparency and some promotional efforts, even seemingly undesirable pets can land loving homes.
Following the presentation, there will be a live Q&A. Submit your questions ahead of time during registration or live at the event using the chat box.
Moderator: Bethany Heins – Director of Strategy and Network Operations, Best Friends
Panelist: Caitlin Quinn – Director of Operations, HeARTs Speak
If you have questions for the panel, you may submit them in advance during registration in the Questions & Comments box. For all other questions, please email the network team at bfnetwork@bestfriends.org.
WEBSITE LINK: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-town-halls

Town Hall - 12/2/21 - Innovative Ways to Work with At-Risk Dogs - Best Friends
2021-12-02 15:00 - 16:00
All dogs, big and small, deserve a safe place to call home. But dogs with challenging behaviors often need a little extra help and out-of-the-box thinking to move them toward adoption. 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. They will introduce you to techniques to help at-risk dogs cope, some of which you can emulate in a shelter environment. You’ll hear about the non-traditional use of traditional tools and get the resources you need to help your agency’s challenging dogs progress safely.
Moderator: Bethany Heins – Director of Strategy and Network Operations, Best Friends Animal Society
Panelists: Michelle Logan – Director of National Shelter Embed Programming, Best Friends Animal Society
Tierney Sain – National Mentorship Program Specialist, Best Friends Animal Society
Following the presentation, there will be a live Q&A. Submit your questions ahead of time during registration in the Questions & Comments box or live during the event using the chat box. For all other questions, please email the network team at bfnetwork@bestfriends.org.
WEBSITE LINK: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-town-halls

Town Hall - 1/18/22 - Appointment Based Pet Intake Discussion - NACA
2022-01-18 09:00 - 10:00
Register for a discussion on the NACA Guideline on Appointment-Based Pet Intake into Shelters.
Zoom Link: Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoceisrTkuEtAfkD1Iu9TaVEgk3lghyNeb
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Video link: https://vimeo.com/662318707/8f609d064b
Link to submit questions in advance: https://forms.gle/DPCX2QGgyU9AEBCU6
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.nacanet.org/live-townhall/

Town Hall - 1/27/22 - Community-Supported Sheltering: Aligning all stakeholders in the welfare of animals in your community - Best Friends
2022-01-27 15:00 - 16:00
Community-supported sheltering is not just “the latest trend;” it’s a natural progression for shelters and communities that want to maximize lifesaving. Where once our industry frequently viewed the public with suspicion, today we are reaching outside the walls of our facilities to engage the community as an important partner in our lifesaving work. 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.
Following the presentation, there will be a Q&A. Submit your questions ahead of time during registration or live during the event using the chat box. If you are interested in this event but unable to attend live, you can register and you will receive the recording when it’s available.
Moderator: Brent Toellner – Senior Director, National Programs, Best Friends Animal Society
Panelists:

Sue Cosby – Senior Director of Lifesaving Centers, Best Friends Animal Society
Laura Donahue – Director, Legislation and Advocacy, Best Friends Animal Society
Scott Giacoppo – Director, National Shelter Support, Best Friends Animal Society

WEBSITE LINK: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-town-halls

Town Hall - 2/10/22 - The kittens are coming! Preparing your foster program ahead of kitten season. - Best Friends
2022-02-10 15:00 - 16:00
Kittens are cute and cuddly, but also one of the most vulnerable populations within a shelter. With kitten season right around the corner, now is the time to prepare so you’re ready when the kittens arrive. 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.
Following the discussion, there will be a Q&A. Submit your questions ahead of time during registration or live during the event using the Q&A box. If you are interested in this event but unable to attend live, you can register and you will receive the recording when it’s available.
Moderator: Fraily Rodriguez, Director, Lifesaving Centers – East, Best Friends Animal Society
Panelists:

Brittany Sorgenstein – Executive Director, Mission Hills Program, Best Friends Animal Society
Tammy Jo Hallman – Municipal & Shelter Support Specialist, Best Friends Animal Society

WEBSITE LINK: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-town-halls

Town Hall - 3/24/22 - Using transparency to empower and support your community - Best Friends
2022-03-24 15:00 - 16:00
Community-supported sheltering is a popular term in our industry right now. Navigating the intersection between the role of shelters, field services, government, and the public can be complicated. An integral part of a successful community-supported sheltering model is building trust with your community through transparency.
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.
Following the discussion, there will be a Q&A. Submit your questions during registration or live during the event using the chat box. If you are interested in this event but unable to attend live, you can register and you will receive the recording when it’s available.
Moderator: Michelle Dosson, Executive Director of Best Friends in Utah
Panelists:

Renee Gutierrez, Solano County (Fairfield, CA)
Jon Gary, Oklahoma City Animal Welfare (Oklahoma City, OK)
Debra Griggs, Animal Resources of Tidewater (Norfolk, VA)

WEBSITE LINK: https://network.bestfriends.org/proven-strategies/best-friends-town-halls

Town Hall - 2/9/23 - Sharing Stories, Shaping the Future: A HASS Town Hall - HASS
2023-02-09 15:00 - 16:00
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. This town hall is a unique opportunity to learn about the HASS project and engage in a meaningful discussion about the future of animal welfare.
The call will kick off with a brief introduction from Vincent, before delving into the discussion with our special guests. Register today and join live on Thursday, February 9 at 5pm CT to ask your questions and be a part of the conversation.
WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAkcO2qrD8qH9B1XNcVBGXi2711HOrnKIN3
