Shelter Learniverse

Webinar - 11/10/25 - Civil Liability in Animal Investigations: Avoid Becoming Homeless while Protecting Animals - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2025-11-10 10:00 - 11:15 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Officers involved in animal law enforcement face many of the same liability risks as traditional law enforcement—plus some that are unique to working with animals. There’s nothing more emotionally charged than removing someone’s child or pet, and even when officers—whether police, deputies, animal control, or humane officers—do everything by the book, they may still face allegations or lawsuits.
Laws around child welfare investigations are well established. But in many cases, the legal framework around animal seizures is far less clear. That uncertainty makes it harder to do the right thing, the right way, at the right time—without violating the owner’s rights. Sometimes, doing what feels right can still land you in trouble.
This webinar will explore where civil liability risks tend to arise in animal investigations, how to protect yourself from claims of civil rights violations, and what real-world cases have taught us—both about what went wrong, and what could have been prevented.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/civil-liability-in-animal-investigations-avoid-becoming-homeless-while-protecting-animals/

Webinar – 11/12/25 – Shelter Traffic Jam: Quick Wins to Clear the Way and Keep Animals Moving – UC Davis KSMP
2025-11-12 10:00 - 11:30
Re-Scheduled to 11/12 due to Zoom outage
Different shelters, same traffic jam: Too many animals, not enough exits, and teams fighting burnout in the gridlock. Overcrowding compromises care. Stress shoots up and decision-making stalls. But you’re not powerless—whether you’re frontline staff, a volunteer, in a leadership role, or a veterinary professional, you can drive real change. This session will equip you with immediate steps to reduce harm and break up traffic jams today.
With Drs. Kate Hurley and Cindi Delany, you’ll explore balancing intakes and outcomes for better welfare, using daily monitoring and pathway planning to move animals faster, and making tough euthanasia decisions when no safe live outcomes exist.
After this session, you’ll be able to:

Understand Capacity for Care basics, your roadmap to getting every animal the right outcome at the right time.
Spot warning signs that put animals and staff at risk.
Use proven harm-reduction strategies to protect health and well-being.
Make confident, humane decisions to guide animal outcomes.
Implement quick wins to improve flow, outcomes, and support your team’s morale and mission.

Whether you’re trying to survive another overwhelming week or map your way to more sustainable practices under pressure, this is for you. Because when you’re operating beyond capacity, every decision matters.
Ready to take back control? Register now.
Presenters: Dr. Cindi Delany, DVM, KPA-CTP, FFCP and Dr. Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVM, DABVP
This webinar has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit by RACE, CAWA, and NACA.
Can’t make it live? Register to receive the recording and resources after the event, accessible through the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Shelter Learniverse, #ThanksToMaddie!
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.shelterlearniverse.com/events

Webinar - 11/13/25 - Generating Government Buy In - HASS
2025-11-13 11:00 - 12:00
In many communities, animal services rise and fall with the priorities of local government—and if you’re not part of the conversation, you’re likely missing out on funding, partnerships, and critical support. Whether you’re operating under a city contract, connected to law enforcement, or simply the only game in town for animal welfare, knowing how to work with your local leaders is key. Join Mike Wheeler, Director of Cabot Animal Support Services, as he shares his straightforward, proven approach to building relationships with decision makers—and how you can do it, too.
WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SIllF2-WSxOrlLsSuADZ2Q#/registration

Webinar - 11/13/25 - Maddie's Insights: The Animal Welfare Assessment Grid - Maddie's Fund
2025-11-13 12:00 - 13:00
Discover how the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) turns everyday animal care records into powerful, visual evidence of welfare over an animal’s entire life. This innovative, cloud-based tool scores physical, behavioral/psychological, environmental, and procedural factors—revealing trends, pinpointing key events, and helping you take targeted action to improve quality of life.
Whether you’re caring for animals, conducting research, or making the case for change, AWAG’s data-driven insights make animal well-being measurable, actionable, and easy to communicate.
Learning outcomes:

Describe the structure and utility of the AWAG in assessing canine welfare
Understand the scoring and interpret what scores mean
Identify the factors scored in dogs
Recognise predictors of behaviour disorders and their implications for clinical
practice
Explore future applications of the AWAG and utilise its potential to improve well-
being

Guest Speakers:

Rachel Malkani, Veterinary and Animal Welfare Scientist, Clinical Animal Behaviorist, Founder and Board Member of the Dog Friendly Clinic
Sarah Wolfensohn, OBE, BSc, MA, VetMB, FRSB, DipECAWBM, FRCVS, Director, Welfare Assessment Technologies, Ltd.

WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister

Webinar - 11/18/25 - Doors Wide Open: Social Work Guidelines in Animal Welfare Settings - Open Door Veterinary Collective
2025-11-18 12:00 - 12:30
Join us for a 30-minute panel discussion introducing the Social Work Guidelines in Animal Welfare Settings, a groundbreaking new resource created by and for social workers working in animal welfare organizations across North America.
Whether your organization already employs a social worker, you are exploring how social work can enhance your mission, or you are simply curious about how social work skills fit into animal welfare, this panel conversation is for you.
Developed through a year-long participatory action research project funded by the ASPCA, the Guidelines provide a roadmap for social work practice in animal welfare settings at the individual, organization, and community/policy levels.
Discussion topics include:

How animal welfare organizations can use the guidelines to strengthen human and animal well-being
Common challenges and strategies for successful implementation
Ways non-social work staff can engage with and benefit from the guidelines
Bring your lunch and your curiosity. This will be an engaging, real-world conversation about advancing both ends of the leash.

Panelists and Guidelines Co-Authors:
Kayla Anderson, Veterinary Social Worker, The Program for Pet Health Equity
Kelly Bremken, Veterinary Social Worker, Oregon Humane Society
Laurie Maxwell, Director of Veterinary Social Work, MedVet
Augusta O’Reilly, President, International Veterinary Social Work Association
Alexis Telfair-Garcia, Director of Social Work Program Development, Austin Pets Alive!
Facilitator: Janet Hoy-Gerlach, PhD, LCSW, LISW-S, Director of Veterinary Social Work, Open Door Veterinary Collective
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1QXhCo6QRRSKBYInJ_Ki0Q#/registration

Webinar - 11/19/25 - Big Dogs, Big Challenges: Data-Driven Solutions to Move Dogs Out of Shelters - Shelter Animals Count
2025-11-19 11:00 - 12:00
Large dogs continue to be one of the biggest challenges for shelters across the country—often staying longer, facing more barriers to adoption, and contributing to capacity pressures. But shelters and rescues are finding creative, data-driven solutions to help these dogs move from crowded kennels into loving homes.
In this session, we’ll highlight strategies that organizations are using to overcome the challenges of placing big dogs, from innovative foster programs to targeted adoption promotions and community partnerships. You’ll also hear how data is helping shelters identify what works, where gaps remain, and how to adapt programs for greater impact.
Whether your kennels are full or you’re looking to build stronger pathways for large dogs, this webinar will provide practical ideas and inspiration you can put into action right away.
This webinar will be recorded.
WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Btr6qVDTRbS2bCGa1KFQMg#/registration

Webinar - 12/3/25 - Sanitation and Cleaning for Kitten Caregivers - National Kitten Coalition
2025-12-03 16:30 - 17:00
With thorough cleaning and sanitation, you can significantly lower the risk of virus and disease transmission in your shelter or home.
Join us for a presentation on the current protocols and best practices for cleaning and sanitization when handling and caring for kittens. We will discuss effective products and procedures for disinfecting rooms, cages, bedding, and litter boxes to help keep your kittens safe and healthy.
In this concise 30-minute session, Dr. Emily Coleman, DVM, will share essential cleaning protocols and product recommendations to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases. The presentation will be followed by a live Q&A, giving you the chance to ask questions and get advice on your sanitation challenges.
Speaker: Emily Coleman, DVM
WEBSITE LINK: https://kittencoalition.org/event/sanitation-and-cleaning-for-kitten-caregivers-2/

Webinar - 12/8/25 - Resolving Barking Dog Conflicts in Your Community - CalAnimals
2025-12-08 14:00 - 15:00
Presenter: Stuart Clough, NoiseNet
Noise complaints are often the largest source of calls to an animal management team. And animal noise can be a major issue when it is incessant, particularly at night.
But resolving barking cases is hard, time consuming and gathering evidence to prove what is going on is always challenging, sometimes impossible. Barking cases also take time away from solving other problems that are often deemed more important.
Stuart Clough from NoiseNet has been working with ACO’s in Australia and the US to resolve thousands of animal noise complaints. He will describe why noise creates a serious issue for many people, and how understanding why can make it much easier to resolve these cases through mediation.
He will also talk about the use of technology to help resolve noise complaints but also how this technology can be used to help assess animal welfare and to engage with owners who have animals they are struggling to socialise / control. The first alert of a dangerous dog is often a barking complaint – so this provides an opportunity to solve emerging issues before they become a problem.
WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_S6BgFBjeQ7OMEQXqEl3T0A

Webinar - 12/9/25 - Vet Med Legislation Year-End Updates - The Bridge Club
2025-12-09 17:00 - 18:00
To advance veterinary medicine, strong legislative action is essential. This year-in-review conversation offers valuable insight into the policy shifts shaping the future of the profession—and what to expect in 2026. It’s a must-attend for anyone looking to understand what’s happening beyond the exam room.
WEBSITE LINK: https://thebridgeclub.com/event/end-of-year-update-on-vet-med-legislative-updates/

Webinar - 12/10/25 - What Happens When They Go Home? - Petszel
2025-12-10 10:00 - 11:00
Animal welfare organizations work tirelessly every day to care for animals in their community. For many of these animals, adoption is the goal. But what happens after that pet heads home with their new person? Join us as we take a deep dive into data from nearly 40,000 post-adoption surveys sent to pet parents throughout the United States.
Data were collected over a 6-month period in 2024, and included time points one day, one week, and one month after adoption. We will explore data surrounding the most common (and less common) challenges that adopters faced, giving organizations actionable insights to help better prepare pets for their post-adoption journey and prepare staff to better serve pet parents with post-adoption issues before they get out of hand. In addition, we will look at questions around adopters’ engagement with veterinary care, training, pet loss prevention, and more.
Speakers: Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DABVP & Michael Greenberg, DVM
WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RkK4_loHQim5f_wJA4KWhw#/registration

Webinar - 12/10/25 - Expanding Veterinary Access in Shelters: Creative Models That Drive Lifesaving - Best Friends
2025-12-10 13:00 - 14:00
Access to veterinary care has become a significant barrier to lifesaving in animal shelters. Traditional staffing models can no longer meet the medical needs of growing shelter populations. This session explores creative, flexible veterinary relationship models that expand access to care without relying solely on hiring a full-time on-site veterinarian. We will cover practical approaches including regional veterinary partnerships, telemedical support, community-based care, shared-care networks, veterinarian of record models, protocol-driven care, and leveraging non-DVM staff under appropriate oversight. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to bring more veterinary support into their shelter, reduce bottlenecks to lifesaving, and improve outcomes for animals even in resource-limited environments.
Presented by: Dr. Colleen Guilfoyle, DVM
National Shelter Medicine; Best Friends Animal Society
WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/4717437859110/WN_iRsWQsmFS4aikwy3tfGwsg#/registration

Webinar - 12/11/25 - Maddie's Insights: Exploration of Opportunities for Barriers and Bias During Off Site Animal Adoption Events with Dr. Lexis Ly - Maddie's Fund
2025-12-11 12:00
This webcast presentation shares findings from a large survey of 484 U.S. animal shelter and rescue organizations on adoption event practices and adopter screening procedures. Participants will learn about common processes in adoption decision-making, the role of implicit bias in these processes, and how organizational procedures can affect both the speed and equity of pet adoptions. The session will highlight areas for animal shelter professionals to reflect on their own adoption practices and consider strategies for reducing barriers while supporting successful matches between people and pets.
Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit until 10/14/2027 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Lexis Ly, Researcher
Lexis Ly, PhD, is researcher with a background in companion animal issues and One Welfare. Her previous work used animal shelter and community data to understand how to maintain human-animal bonds, help animal shelter services provide equitable services, and reduce intake and increase adoption of shelter animals.
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister

Webinar - 12/16/25 - Doors Wide Open: Pawsitive Peer Support: Helping Each Other Without the Heavy Load - Open Door Veterinary Collective
2025-12-16 12:00 - 12:30
Join Open Door Veterinary Collective for a second series of lively conversations as we explore innovative and practical solutions that organizations are using to address barriers to accessing pet care and resources in their communities.
Animal welfare work is rewarding – and often emotionally intense! In this 30-minute webcast, we’ll explore how to support each other in ways that strengthen connection without adding emotional strain. You’ll learn practical tools for peer debriefs that allow space for processing difficult experiences without “trauma dumping”, including strategies to listen with care, respond with empathy, and keep both the speaker and the listener/supporter resilient!
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Explain the difference between healthy peer support and trauma dumping.
Use low-impact debrief techniques to process challenging situations with colleagues.
Apply active listening skills that reduce emotional overload for both parties.
Understand how to compassionately set boundaries around support provision.

Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards CAWA CEs as well as from the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA).
Speaker: Janet Hoy-Gerlach, PhD, LCSW, LISW-S, Director of Veterinary Social Work, Open Door Veterinary Collective
Come with your lunch and your questions! This will be an engaging, real-world conversation about advancing human and animal well-being together.
Who should attend? Everyone is welcome! This series is perfect for those interested or involved in access to veterinary care. Each session will be recorded and viewable on-demand within a few days after the event.
Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards CAWA CEs as well as from the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA).
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/DoorsWideOpenWebcastSeriesRegister
