Shelter Learniverse

Webinar – 1/17/24 – Level Up Your Cat Housing: Game-Changing Upgrades Are Within Reach – Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge
2024-01-17 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Register Now!

Discover innovative, proven strategies to transform your feline housing and get cats purring! With this webinar, you’ll be prepared to level up your shelter’s housing even with limited resources. UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program veterinarians Dr. Becky Stuntebeck and Dr. Denae Wagner will unveil tips and tactics for creating environments that work better for cats and for your team. From DIY cozy nooks to interactive play zones and portals, you’ll learn the how-tos of housing that puts cats at ease, supports animal health and staff safety, and encourages adoptions. You’ll also discover keys to supercharging cat care and overall welfare regardless of housing.
Don’t wait – get all the info you need to get ahead while cat population numbers are lower. Register today and revolutionize cat housing and care in your shelter!
You‘ll learn:

How to improve your cat housing
Setup & strategies that meet cat, staff, & shelter needs
Double-compartment housing benefits for cats & staff

To invite others, download, print, share, and post the flyer at your shelter.

Register Now!

Click the image to download the flyer, then print, share, and post it at your shelter to invite other staff members

To register, scan this code with your phone’s camera.
This webinar is brought to you by the Maddie’sⓇ Million Pet Challenge Learniverse at the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program.

Webinar - 1/17/24 - Aligning DEI Programming with Strategy - The AAWA
2024-01-17 12:00 - 13:00
Toward a Culture of Belonging and Inclusion in Animal Welfare
Would your leadership like to start or expand your DEI initiatives? Having trouble getting buy in from your staff, board, or community? Learn how Marin Humane partnered with a consultant to align their DEI programming with their strategic plan and priorities. Marin Humane found by connecting the dots, they began thinking more creatively about addressing critical needs in their community.
The presenters will share examples of projects and programming implemented during a nine-month capacity-building engagement. You will walk away with a menu of projects and programs plus sample project charters, including a job description review with revision and plans for board diversification.
Session Objectives:

Understand the key factors that drive organizational effectiveness through DEI goals and objectives
Develop DEI plans that integrate with organizational strategies and priorities
Deploy viable short, mid, and long-term DEI projects and programming to address improvements to talent acquisition, engagement, and retention; organizational morale; mission-driven programming; and board development

WEBSITE LINK: https://learning.theaawa.org/p/1-17-24

Webinar - 1/21/24 - Antimicrobial Use in the Clinic: What’s My Perfect Drug Match? Swipe Right on Microbe Killers - VETGirl
2024-01-21 17:00 - 18:00
Hey..ho..it’s what you NEED to know!
In this complimentary, 1-hour VETgirl – Antech webinar, Scott Weese and Michelle Evason will discuss key aspects of (and common questions on) clinical antimicrobial use in dogs and cats. Tune in to learn about practical management of common & emerging antimicrobial and stewardship topics, along with freely available evidence- and expert-based resources to help with veterinary antimicrobial use, preventive care, and pet-owner communication!
Thanks to sponsorship from Antech, this webinar is FREE to all! (Remember: you must be logged in as a free Basic, ELITE Trial or ELITE member to register for the live event)
WEBSITE LINK: https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/january-21-2024-antimicrobial-use-in-the-clinic-whats-my-perfect-drug-match-swipe-right-on-microbe-killers/

Webinar – 1/24/24 – Telemedicine and Vaccine Clinics in California: What Shelters Need to Know About Legislative Updates for 2024 – Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge
2024-01-24 10:00 - 11:30
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT NOW – CLICK HERE
January 24, 2024 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
We’ve got amazing news about access to care in animal shelters for 2024. Thanks to groundbreaking veterinary telemedicine and vaccine legislation, your California shelter can ring in the new year with fewer restrictions around who can provide essential care and how, freeing up your team to more easily meet medical needs in the shelter or community.
Discover how your shelter can:

Empower RVTs to take charge of vaccine clinics (even if your vet is elsewhere)
Provide increased access to wellness care for pets in your community
Use telemedicine to expand the veterinary care your shelter can provide, whether an animal is in foster or in the field, working with staff or contract veterinarians
Increase access to care for underserved pets and their people and decrease unnecessary intake
Use telemedicine to increase veterinary care for animals in the shelter

This must-see webinar will set the stage for everything you do this year. Register today and invite your field officers, veterinary staff and community partners, so you can turn the page to better care together!

Powered by partnership. This webinar is brought to you by the Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge Learniverse at the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, San Francisco SPCA’s Shelter PALS program, and CalAnimals. By sharing our diverse expertise and working together to find the intersections where California law impacts animal shelters, we’ve formulated holistic shelter practices that allow you to better leverage the law.

Want to invite others to this webinar?
Download, print, and share this flyer and post it at your shelter to invite other staff members!
Click to download this flyer

Webinar - 1/24/24 - Grief & Loss in Veterinary Medicine - BlackDVM Network
2024-01-24 16:00 - 17:00
Euthanasia is an experience, not a procedure or event. The experience of the loss of an animal companion, no matter how dignified, well-planned, and peaceful, initiates a physiological, cognitive, and emotional process which is unique to the individual. This program explores the experience of loss not only for the human “pet parent,” but also for the other animals who shared in the life of the deceased. Humans and animals have parallel emotional circuitry built into the limbic system of the brain. There is much about the emotional experience of loss that we have in common with our animal companions. Listeners will be challenged to imagine foreign perspectives and re-think the human-animal bond, anthropomorphism, and mortality itself.
This webinar will equip you with skills to:

Challenge assumptions about patients, clients, and the end of life
Become comfortable allowing animals to show their emotional needs
Engage better with clients, patients, and colleagues

WEBSITE LINK: https://www.blackdvmnetwork.com/event-details/grief-loss-in-veterinary-medicine

Webinar - 1/25/24 - In It for the Long Haul: Combatting Compassion Fatigue and Enhancing Resiliency for Animal Welfare Professionals - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2024-01-25 12:00 - 13:15
The animal protection field is both incredibly rewarding and challenging. This webinar will discuss the causes and symptoms of compassion fatigue and provide a suite of skills for building and maintaining a healthy and intentional culture of skillful communication, openness, and personal responsibility.
Topics to be covered:

A shared language and understanding of the causes and symptoms of compassion fatigue
Skills that can be used to build and maintain a healthy and intentional culture
Communication, openness, and personal responsibility related to compassion fatigue

This webinar has been certified by the National Animal Care & Control Association and is approved for 1 Continuing Education Unit. Please refer to your NACA membership portal for current CEU submission process. Current NACA Members who attend the live presentation or watch the recording will be able to download a jointly issued attendance certificate that includes the National Animal Care & Control Association logo. Visit the NACA training page for a complete list of future trainings.
About the Presenter:
Hilary Anne Hager is the Vice President of Outreach, Engagement and Training for the Humane Society of the United States. She has spent the last twenty years in the animal protection field, working at two different animal shelters, volunteering in wildlife rehabilitation, and as a member of the board of directors for several organizations, including a chimpanzee sanctuary, a “friends-of” nonprofit group supporting a municipal shelter, and a state federation of animal welfare organizations. She teaches compassion fatigue workshops around the country to help provide members of the animal protection community the support and resources to maintain their own well-being while working in a challenging and emotionally-charged environment. Hilary holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/in-it-for-the-long-haul-combatting-compassion-fatigue-and-enhancing-resiliency-for-animal-welfare-professionals/

Webinar - 1/25/24 - In Whose Best Interest? with Karen Deeds - FDSA (fee applies)
2024-01-25 18:00 - 19:00
This webinar will not outline any training or behavior modification. What it will do is present your options for dogs with serious behavior problems and give you a framework about how to make an educated decision regarding those options. Is management alone an appropriate option? Or is your problem too severe to chance management failure? Is the problem one that can be responsibly transferred to another owner and/or another environment successfully? The same variables to help determine what option is best for you, will also be critical in determining if training and behavior modification are a viable option as well as how successful that option may be. The agonizing decision to discuss behavioral euthanasia with your veterinarian can also be analyzed logically by using these same variables. This can be a difficult topic. But it is important to keep in mind, in whose best interest we decide.
Whether you are part of a rescue group, shelter staff, or volunteer, dedicated dog owner, professional trainer or behavior consultant, or a veterinarian working with a client, this webinar will help to make an appropriate decision regarding a dog in your care.
Join Karen Deeds as she takes you through over 20 variables about the dog, the environment, and the people involved to help you determine what option is best for a dog with serious behavior issues.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/webinars

Webinar - 1/31/24 - The Vomiting Dog - VETGirl
2024-01-31 17:00 - 18:00
In this complimentary, 1-hour VETgirl – Ceva Animal Health webinar, Dr. Harry Cridge, MVB, MS, PG Cert Vet Ed, DACVIM (SAIM), DECVIM-CA, FHEA, MRCVS reviews emesis and management of vomiting in dogs and cats. Tune in as he reviews differentials, recognition of dehydration and treatment!
Thanks to sponsorship from Ceva Animal Health, the recording of this webinar will be available to view free and On-Demand until December 31, 2024. (Remember: you must be logged in as a free Basic, ELITE Trial or ELITE member to register for the live event)
Not a VETgirl ELITE member? Get your learning on with the #1 veterinary CE resource – clinically relevant, practical, and accessible 24/7 on your own time! Don’t miss out – click HERE to check out your options, including our new 14-day, no-commitment ELITE Trial.
WEBSITE LINK: https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/january-31-2024-the-vomiting-dog/

Webinar - 2/7/24 - Your Case Study-Canine Aggression with Dr. C Calder and Dr. S Emmons - PPG (fee applies)
2024-02-07 12:00 - 13:00
Dr Calder and Dr Emmons will present a Canine Aggression Case Study in this webinar.
This is a case report of Opie who presented for generalized anxiety, aggression towards unfamiliar people, aggression towards familiar people, and aggression at the veterinary hospital. Medical conditions that contributed to his behavior and medication intervention along with training and behavior modification.
WEBSITE LINK: https://petprofessionalguild.com/event-5584132

Webinar - 2/8/24 - Access to Care Includes Access to Dignity - Life of Riley
2024-02-08 11:00 - 12:00
Speakers from Companions and Animals for Reform & Equity (CARE) will present on the positive impact of Racial Equity Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) training on vets, shelters and people.

Dr. Azalia Boyd, Chief Veterinary Medical Officer, Urban CAC Program & Chairperson, CARE Veterinary Advisory Committee
Alina M. Luna, Ph.D., Dean, Circle of Learning & Leadership
Dr. Raye Taylor, Senior Veterinary Medical Officer, Rural Community Animal CARE
James Evans, Founder & CEO

WEBSITE LINK: https://lor.dog/webinars/

Webinar - 2/8/24 - Maddie's Insights: The Influence of Field Trip and Sleepover Programs on Shelter Dog Welfare - Maddie's Fund
2024-02-08 12:00 - 13:00
Animal shelters can be stressful for dogs, but human interaction, such as foster caregiving, can improve their experience. In this webcast, Dr. Gunter will discuss multiple studies she and her team have carried out as part of the Arizona State University/Virginia Tech Maddie’s Nationwide Fostering Study in which we studied the effects of field trip and sleepover programs on the welfare of dogs living in shelters. Their initial studies investigated the physiological impacts of these programs, and their published study examined how field trips and sleepovers influenced dogs’ likelihood of adoption and length of stay. They also explored factors related to the performance of these programs. Overall, their findings support the implementation of these programs. Learn how you can use short-term fostering programs to improve the welfare of dogs in your shelter as they await adoption.
Learning Objectives:

Describe potential stressors that make shelters stressful for dogs
Relate how human social interaction can improve the welfare of dogs in the shelter
Extrapolate the different activities dogs likely engage in during field trips and sleepovers
Discuss the research findings about field trips and sleepovers
Differentiate how field trips and sleepovers impact dogs’ proximate and distal welfare

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been submitted for approval for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.
Register once for all Maddie’s Insights webcasts here: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcasts
After the webcast, continue the conversation on this thread in Maddie’s Pet Forum: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsFosterCareImpact
About the presenter:
Dr. Lisa Gunter, Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare at Virginia Tech

Before beginning her graduate studies, Dr. Lisa Gunter worked for nearly a decade with dogs in animal shelters and with pet dogs and their owners. The goal of Lisa’s research is to better the lives of companion animals and their owners. To this aim, she has investigated the breed labeling of shelter dogs, their breed heritage, shelter housing and social interactions, temporary and long-term fostering, short-term outings, behavioral indicators of welfare, post adoption interventions focused on owner retention – and more recently, fostering during the pandemic and safety net programs to help keep people and their pets together. Under the mentorship of Clive Wynne, Lisa earned her Master’s in 2015, and her PhD in 2018 as a graduate student in the behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology program at Arizona State University.
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcasts

Webinar - 2/13/24 - Better Futures for Animals – And With – Animals: The Canine Cellmates Model for Post-Conviction Animal Care Programs - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2024-02-13 10:00 - 11:15
Join Deputy District Attorney Jill Hollander and Animal Legal Defense Fund Managing Attorney David B. Rosengard for a discussion of programs that pair defendants (either via diversion or as part of a sentence) with high euthanasia-risk animals in need of socialization and behavioral support.
We will examine the penological goals these programs prioritize, they ways they safeguard animal interests, and their impact in the broader community. This presentation will additionally walk through Fulton County, Georgia’s Canine Cellmates program as a case study. The program prevents men who have been charged or convicted of crimes from experiencing the myriad traumatic life disruptions and setbacks incarceration causes because courts can offer participation in Canine Cellmates as a diversion program or incarceration alternative. Successful completion of Canine Cellmates also allows participants the ability to have charges dismissed or eligible convictions expunged.
For this reason, the program not only saves Fulton County financial resources associated with court and incarceration costs, but it also saves the county financial resources successful participants might otherwise need, had they not learned the foundational skills Canine Cellmates provides. Furthermore, the program’s human graduates experience family restoration, increased employability, and low recidivism rates. These graduates become model citizens for teaching compassion to other humans and animals, which promotes the vitality of a strong community within a One Health-oriented ecosystem.
This webinar has been certified by the National Animal Care & Control Association and is approved for 1 Continuing Education Unit. Please refer to your NACA membership portal for current CEU submission process. Current NACA Members who attend the live presentation or watch the recording will be able to download a jointly issued attendance certificate that includes the National Animal Care & Control Association logo. Visit the NACA training page for a complete list of future trainings.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/better-futures-for-animals-and-with-animals-the-canine-cellmates-model-for-post-conviction-animal-care-programs/

Webinar - 2/14/24 - Living with Claws: Confidently Provide Guidance to Feline Owners - HSVMA
2024-02-14 17:00 - 18:00
This discussion will equip the veterinary team with information and tools to educate pet parents on alternatives to declawing. By ending the elective onychectomy procedure we are protecting the welfare of our feline patients, but we also must know how to help pet parents live in harmony with cats and their claws. With a plethora of information out there, this discussion will streamline what you need to know today to set your pet parents up for success tomorrow.
Learning Objectives:

Discuss the reason cats have claws and why they have a need to scratch
Provide training on how to select appropriate scratchers and where to put them in the home
Troubleshooting difficult cases (like curtain climbers!)
Summarize the five pillars of environmental enrichment to help improve the welfare of cats and discuss why lacking these in the home can lead to destructive and unwanted behaviors.

Presented by: Ashlie Saffire, DVM ABVP (feline)
WEBSITE LINK: https://hsvma.memberclicks.net/webinar-living-with-claws

Webinar - 2/17/24 - From the Backyard to the Front Page: Building a TNR Movement - Community Cats Podcast
2024-02-17 11:00 - 13:00
Are you passionate about making a paws-itive impact on your community’s free-roaming cat population? If so, don’t miss our upcoming webinar: “So many cats, so few trappers… and veterinarians… and holding space… and transporters.”
Hosted by the pioneers of the community Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program in New York City, this webinar is your gateway to learning how to mobilize your community effectively. Whether you live in a bustling urban area or a suburban paradise, we understand the challenges you face and have tailored this session to provide practical insights.
Don’t miss out on this invaluable opportunity to make a difference! Whether you’re a seasoned trapper or a cat enthusiast looking to contribute, this webinar is for you.
Anyone is welcome to join on Saturday, February 17, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM ET.
📌 Registration is now open! Secure your spot: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4813235730668081753
Let’s come together and create a brighter, safer future for our feline friends. Share the news with your fellow cat lovers, and let’s make this webinar a success!
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/from-the-backyard-to-the-front-page-building-a-tnr-movement-presented-by-neighborhood-cats-feb-2024/

Webinar - 2/20/24 - Audience-Centric Marketing Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations - Hearts Speak
2024-02-20 11:00 - 12:00
On 2/20 at 2:00pm ET, tune in to our FREE webinar with Giveffect for a session dedicated to elevating your marketing efforts through audience-centric strategies.
In this webinar, you’ll learn how to effectively identify and segment your audience to create personalized communications that connect with your community. We’ll show you how to refine your core messages to align with your audiences for greater impact. Expect to gain insights into essential tools and practical steps to successfully implement your audience-engaged marketing plan.
Don’t miss this chance to transform your outreach and engagement!
WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8817062941861/WN_cUGCewLsQSCrLZnki-SCIg#/

Webinar - 2/28/24 - The Case for Feline Fix by Five - National Kitten Coalition
2024-02-28 11:00 - 12:00
Join us on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 2:00pm ET for a deep dive into Feline Fix by Five.
Learn about early spaying/neutering procedures and get talking points to address any concerns your local veterinarians or potential adopters may have.
The National Kitten Coalition (NKC) is excited to host a webinar on early spaying/neutering in recognition of National Spay/Neuter & Feline Fix by Five Awareness Month. We are delighted to have Dr. Phil Bushby, DVM, MS, DACVS, Feline Fix by Five Veterinary Consultant & Marcia Lane Endowed Chair of Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, as our guest speaker.
Eligible registrants will be entered into our SnuggleSafe® Giveaway*! Attendees will receive two extra entries in the prize draw.
*The SnuggleSafe® Giveaway is available to all residents of the forty-eight (48) contiguous United States and the District of Columbia. To participate in the giveaway, you must register before the start of our webinar, “The Case for Feline Fix by Five,” on February 28, 2024. By registering for the webinar, you will automatically be entered into the drawing for a chance to win a SnuggleSafe® Microwave Heatpad.
To increase your chances of winning, we encourage you to attend the webinar, as attendees will receive two extra entries in the prize draw. We will announce the winners during the webinar and give away 2 SnuggleSafe® Microwave Heatpads.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity and register now!
WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4617086374868/WN_lIwXW9ZFTQSBh0nt3a1K2Q

Webinar - 2/28/24 - Data: Looking Back and Forward - The AAWA
2024-02-28 12:00 - 13:00
In 2023, animal shelters and rescues in the United States faced a third consecutive year of high intake with adoption rates unable to keep pace. The resulting crisis is mounting, with organizations across the country over capacity and under stress. Join us to analyze key data insights, challenges, and successes from 2023, then peek into what Shelter Animals Count (SAC) has planned for 2024.
SAC experts Samantha Hill, Director of Data and Technology, and Emily Tolliver, Director of Communications, will offer an exclusive opportunity to stay ahead in the constantly evolving landscape of animal welfare.
WEBSITE LINK: https://learning.theaawa.org/p/2-28-24

Webinar - 2/29/24 - Beyond the Save Rate: Integrating People into the Sheltering Equation - HASS
2024-02-29 15:00 - 16:00
Having a 90% or higher save rate has become the gold standard for measuring the success or failure of an animal shelter or rescue, and it will continue to be an important metric. The problem is that the save rate focuses only on a singular point in a complex societal issue. The more the animal welfare industry learns about people and pets, the more we realize that the trouble is less about the pets in the shelter and more about the “people problems” that put them there to begin with. Dr. Ellen Jefferson, President and CEO of Austin Pets Alive!, covered this topic in her recent Psychology Today article. Now, she’s joining us alongside Cole Wakefield, Executive Director of The Good Shepherd Humane Society, to discuss in a live webinar. Read the article, bring your questions, and join us to participate in what is sure to be a lively discussion. Vincent Medley, Maddie’s® Director of Human Animal Support Services, will moderate.
WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/7816739797796/WN_BbAxiIkKT5a0npxBae_Aaw#/registration

Webinar – 3/1/24 – Fancy Footwork: Practical Handling and Training Solutions for the Entire Shelter – Dogs Playing for Life (fee applies)
2024-03-01 09:00 - 10:30
While playgroups are the foundation of our shelter training program, teaching shelter teams how to implement a generalized, effective, and enjoyable way to handle and train their dogs is another essential aspect of our canine programming! In this webinar, we will teach the fundamentals of our “Fancy Footwork” techniques that focus on achieving good leash manners through the use of your FEET instead of your hands. Come learn this unique and highly effective approach that promotes dogs happily walking softly by your side, offering tons of eye contact, and wowing adopters! This new approach to leash work will enhance your handling skills and increase your ability to train ALL dogs, even those that are highly aroused, stressed, fearful, or not motivated by food, all in an effort to improve quality of life and lifesaving for dogs living in shelters.
Additionally, we will teach you how to implement our critically important kennel routines. The kennel areas of our nation’s shelters can be one of the most challenging and distressing environments that dogs–and their handlers–ever face. DPFL kennel routines have been developed and taught to shelters across the country in an effort to combat these challenges and to provide safer and more successful ways for dogs and people to maneuver through the kennels.
This is a 1.5-hour presentation followed by a Q&A session. This webinar will NOT be recorded and is scheduled on EASTERN TIME.
WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MrNY3gfvTWCwAJTbtrwoPg#/registration

Webinar – 3/6/24 – DPFL’s Approach to On-Leash Reactivity – Dogs Playing for Life
2024-03-06 09:00 - 11:30
Reactivity on the part of dogs living in shelters is a rampant issue that can contribute to behavioral deterioration, increased length of stay, and even loss of life. From a misdiagnosis of “aggression” to dogs whose reactive behavior escalates to problematic and potentially unsafe levels, learning how to help dogs suffering from reactivity issues is a crucial need shared by our entire industry.
While this webinar can be attended as a standalone course, we will build on our Fancy Footwork approach to handling and training to offer practical training, handling, and safety solutions to on-leash reactivity for dogs living in shelters.
This is a 2-hour presentation followed by a 30 min Q&A session. This webinar costs $20 and you will receive the recording the next day.
WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iq_I5tgJRJmyQKtCwt4kPg#/registration

Webinar - 3/6/24 - Return to Home: A Workshop on Keeping Cats with Their Families - Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)
2024-03-06 10:00 - 11:30
Join us for an eye-opening workshop that will revolutionize the way we view “dumped, abandoned, or unwanted” stray cats. Titled “Leaving Preconceived Notions Behind,” this session is not just a workshop; it’s a call to action!
Anyone is welcome to join on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET.
Secure your spot for this transformative workshop by clicking here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/4979716084764565599
For any inquiries or additional information, feel free to reach out to Stacy at stacy@communitycatspodcast.com.
Let’s create a community that sees the potential in every stray cat, working together to reunite them with their loving families! Share this opportunity with fellow cat advocates and make a paw-sitive impact.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/return-to-home-workshop/

Webinar - 3/10/24 - Ectoparasites: Do We Really Want Them to Take a Bite? - VETGirl
2024-03-10 17:00 - 18:00
Take a bite out of prevention!
In this complimentary, 1-hour, VETgirl–Ceva Animal Health webinar, Dr. Susan E. Little, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology) will review how ectoparasites feed and examine the timing of effectiveness of available control products throughout this intricate process. Tune in for a review of preventive measures taken before feeding begins to ensure the highest level of canine comfort and health!
Thanks to sponsorship from Ceva Animal Health, the recording of this webinar will be available to view free and On-Demand until December 31, 2024. (Remember: you must be logged in as a free Basic, ELITE Trial or ELITE member to register for the live event)
WEBSITE LINK: https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/march-10-2024-ectoparasites-do-we-really-want-them-to-take-a-bite/

Webinar - 3/11/24 - Creating Behaviour Modification Plans in Challenging Environments (shelter) with Tom Candy - PPG (fee applies)
2024-03-11 09:00 - 10:00
This webinar looks at how we can create successful behaviour modification plans in challenging environments. From shelters to busy households, learn how to work around challenges.

Understand the importance of BMPs in shelters
Learn how to introduce HAPPIER Bmps for challenging enviroments
Learn about setting appropriate goals for BMPS

About the presenter
A passion for animal welfare and training led Tom (he/him) to undertake a BSc (Hons) in Bio-veterinary science and a MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Lincoln (UK). Having started volunteering in rescue at the age of 15, Tom has been involved in a variety of aspects of rescue including fundraising, home checking, transporting and general day to day operations.
Currently Tom works as a Senior Training and Behaviour advisor with the UK’s largest canine welfare organisation, where he supports the training and behaviour teams across the southwest. Tom is responsible for supporting and advising managers and Training and Behaviour Advisors on matters relating to behavioural concerns and helping to promote higher levels of welfare for dogs.
Tom is a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (UK) and a Certified Canine Behaviour Consultant and Certified Shelter Behaviour Specialist with the International association of Animal Behaviour Consultants. He has been luckily enough to speak on several Shelter behaviour related topics across webinars, pods casts, workshops and Conferences both in the UK and internationally including America, Canada, Spain and most recently at the International Companion Animal Welfare Conference in Bulgaria where he presented on meeting dogs needs in a kennel environment and ran workshops on topics such as enrichment and training as part of everyday life in kennels.
WEBSITE LINK: https://petprofessionalguild.com/event-5380017

Webinar – 3/14/24 – Stranger Danger! Advocating for and Advancing Your Human-Reactive Dogs – Dogs Playing for Life (fee applies)
2024-03-14 09:00 - 11:30
At DPFL’s Stranger Danger webinar, you will learn how to work with dogs that are wary of strangers by building their confidence and helping them to develop the skills to meet new people (and potential adopters) happily and successfully! Even for the private dog trainer or dog owner, the skills taught in this webinar will help support your stranger danger dog to expand their comfort level when meeting new people at home!
This webinar will demonstrate:
— DPFL’s Assess and Progress approach: fluttering between assessing and influencing behavior to determine how a dog might respond WITHOUT proper human support to determine what training is necessary for successful placement
— Comprehensive Tool Selection: determining what tool will best support the dog while keeping the handler and others safe during the learning process
— Principles vs. Methods: determining what approach will teach the dog as efficiently and effectively as possible
— Creative Proofing: conducting training with the goal of solid generalization of new skills so that dogs are able to work for multiple handlers with clarity and confidence
Come learn how to safely and effectively reach this segment of the canine population through in-depth behavior analysis, dynamic video examples, and practical approaches designed for anyone who is trying to find solutions for the dogs who need this extra human support.
This is a 2-hour presentation followed by a 30 min Q&A session. This webinar costs $20 and you will receive the recording the next day.
WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z84y1ScFTSSpwJVjFPSd5w#/registration

Webinar - 3/14/24 - Maddie's Insights - Increasing Engagement in Kitten Fostering Programs: Lessons Learned from High Kitten Intake Zip Codes in Los Angeles County - Maddie's Fund
2024-03-14 12:00 - 13:00
Maddie’s Insights are a series of webinars about the latest research in animal well-being and how you can use the findings in your shelter and community.
Join us on on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 12noon Pacific / 3pm Eastern when Debra Olmedo and Greg Miller of the ASPCA will provide an overview of recent research aimed at identifying ways to increase awareness and engagement in kitten fostering programs among residents of areas with high intake of kittens to animal shelters. They will discuss the project methodology, what they learned about awareness, interest, and concerns related to fostering, and what opportunities this research highlighted for increasing fostering program engagement.

Registration link https://maddies.fund/MIwebcasts
Learning Objectives:

What are the experiences with fostering kittens and actions taken for cats by residents living in high kitten intake zip codes in Los Angeles County?
How do barriers to participating in kitten fostering programs potentially differ for residents in these areas of LA County?
What are the potential benefits of developing and implementing community-informed strategies?
What are some strategies to increase awareness and engagement in kitten fostering program among residents of high kitten intake areas?

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been submitted for approval for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister

Webinar - 3/14/24 - Surviving a High Profile Case: Living under Scrutiny and Not Jeopardizing the Case - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2024-03-14 12:00 - 13:15
This webinar will cover how to effectively do an animal case with public scrutiny and press interest. Animal cases garner a lot of press and sometimes the press coverage has implications for your case.
This webinar will offer tips on how to handle living under scrutiny and making sure your case is not jeopardized by it. We will discuss jury voir dire, opening and closing statements, and witness preparation with these considerations in mind.
This webinar has been certified by the National Animal Care & Control Association and is approved for 1 Continuing Education Unit. Please refer to your NACA membership portal for current CEU submission process. Current NACA Members who attend the live presentation or watch the recording will be able to download a jointly issued attendance certificate that includes the National Animal Care & Control Association logo. Visit the NACA training page for a complete list of future trainings.
Presenter:
Michelle Welch is a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Virginia Attorney General’s Office and the Director of the Animal Law Unit at the Attorney General’s Office. She is charged with taking all animal law questions in Virginia. She is called on by agencies all over the Commonwealth to act as a special prosecutor in animal cruelty and animal fighting cases. She frequently gives advice to local law enforcement authorities and prosecutors all over Virginia, across the nation, and internationally. She also trains prosecutors, animal control, and law enforcement officers on the state of Virginia animal law. She is a board member of the Virginia Animal Fighting Taskforce. Ms. Welch serves as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia to aid in animal fighting and animal crime prosecutions.
She is a senior faculty member for the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA). She is the Chair of the Animal Law Curriculum Advisory Committee for the APA. She serves as adjunct faculty for Animal Law at the University of Richmond Law School and William & Mary Law School. She has testified before a Congressional Caucus examining the enforcement of animal laws and the cooperation between state and federal partners. She has trained other countries on animal crime, including Greece, the United Kingdom, and Spain and she has advised on animal criminal cases in Columbia and Belgium.
She has received many honors for her work on behalf of animals. In 2022, she received the Ellen Glasgow Award for Humane Service from the Richmond SPCA for her work on behalf of abused animals. In 2020, she received the Humane Law Enforcement Award from HSUS for the seizure of zoo animals from a neglectful zoo (one of the first times in twenty years that law enforcement has intervened on behalf of zoo animals). In 2019, HSUS gave her and her Unit the Humane Law Enforcement Award for bringing to justice wildlife trafficker, resulting in the closing of 5 fox pens. In 2018, the Norfolk SPCA honored her with The Thomas M. Ammons III Animal Welfare Award. In 2014, she was named Prosecutor of the Year by the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. In 2013, she was named one of the Top 10 Animal Defenders in the Nation by Animal Legal Defense Fund. She was presented with the Albert Schweitzer Medal for her work on behalf of the animals in 2012 by the Animal Welfare Institute.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/surviving-a-high-profile-case-living-under-scrutiny-and-not-jeopardizing-the-case/

Webinar - 3/14/24 - Breaking Down Barriers: Insights into the HASS Competitive Pet Placement Project - HASS
2024-03-14 15:00 - 16:00
Over the last several months, HASS collaborated with a selection of HASS pilot shelters to identify any lingering shelter operation barriers to positive adoption outcomes as part of a formal Competitive Pet Placement (CPP) project. CPP is an initiative supported by PetSmart Charities that aims to make sure animal shelters are not making it harder for people to adopt and foster than it should be—and to make it easier for pets to get into homes. Join Kate McHugh-Westfall, Embedded Data and Implementation Coordinator, for an overview of this impactful project, including how preliminary foot traffic data informed barrier-busting solutions. Additionally, Regan Goins, Outcomes Manager for Cincinnati Animal CARE, and Jairus Hubbard, Adoptions Supervisor for LifeLine Dekalb County Animal Services, will join to share their experience and the impact of the Competitive Pet Placement project on their organizations. Vincent Medley, Maddie’s® Director of Human Animal Support Services, will moderate.
Register below and join us live on Thursday, March 14 at 5 p.m. CT. After the live event, a recording will be distributed to all registrants within 3 business days. Thank you to PetSmart Charities for supporting the Competitive Pet Placement project.
WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/7816739797796/WN__w1sPUHCSzW-zV33v6Qf4w#/registration

Webinar - 3/19/24 - Maximizing Your Reuniting and Re-nesting Strategies for Wildlife - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2024-03-19 12:00 - 13:15
Are you maximizing the ability of your agency to respond to calls about birds and squirrels that have fallen out of nests, very young raccoons seen without mom, or fawns and baby rabbits alone in fields or backyards?
This webinar will help you assess reuniting and renesting opportunities and achieve the best outcome for these animals. Learn how to know when intervention is necessary and focus on strategies that increase opportunities to reunite dependent young with their wild parent(s), including recognizing when community members can help and how to best facilitate that as an organization.
This webinar has been certified by the National Animal Care & Control Association and is approved for 1 Continuing Education Unit. Please refer to your NACA membership portal for current CEU submission process. Current NACA Members who attend the live presentation or watch the recording will be able to download a jointly issued attendance certificate that includes the National Animal Care & Control Association logo. Visit the NACA training page for a complete list of future trainings.
Presenter
John Griffin is the Senior Director of Urban Wildlife Programs for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). John oversees field and policy programs focused on implementing humane and effective approaches to resolving wildlife conflicts across the country. This work includes consulting with—and providing trainings and resources for—animal care and control professionals, law enforcement, wildlife responders and state and municipal agencies. John also assists with field programs requiring capture and chemical immobilization as well as disaster response and wildlife rescue. For nine years, he ran the HSUS’ Humane Wildlife Services program, which provided eviction and exclusion services. From 2015-2016 John was part of a National Geographic Expedition team exploring raccoon behavior in urban areas
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/maximizing-your-reuniting-and-re-nesting-strategies-for-wildlife/

Webinar - 3/21/24 - Community-based Animal Protection - Life of Riley
2024-03-21 11:00 - 12:00
We recognize that puppy mill rescues and advocacy groups are already skilled in the direct rescue and care of animals, as well as in passing legislation, pursuing litigation and the prosecution of animal crimes, and other legal techniques to protect the welfare of breeding dogs. This webinar series aims to complement existing skills, resources, and knowledge by introducing new perspectives, research and advocacy tools from other social justice movements, and discussing how learnings from different sectors might inform efforts to end puppy mills and other forms of animal cruelty.
Speakers:
From Humane Action Pittsburgh (HAP)

Natalie Ahwesh, Executive Director
Shannon Dickerson, Director of Operations

WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrcOGrrj4iGdLHR4WV8hkZnKdQwoXk_Gh3#/registration

Webinar - 3/21/24 - Read The Room: Awareness and Development of Context Cues - FDSA (fee applies)
2024-03-21 18:00 - 19:00
Context cues are stimuli in the environment- sights, sounds, smells and even social cues- that influence behavior and memory. Dogs are incredibly good at picking up on all sorts of context cues- it feels like they learn in pictures, where all parts of the environment are built right into what we are teaching. This is why it’s often said that dogs aren’t naturally very good at generalizing behaviors. To your dog, the behavior is part of that very specific snapshot, where it was learned!
In some situations, we actively train our dogs to ignore context cues. And we have to work pretty hard at this! For example, we generalize obedience cues in many different settings, with different handler positions and postures, and unusual distractions- so that our dog truly understands that our handler cues- like sit, down, stand and heel- are relevant, no matter what else is going on. No matter the context.
But in other situations, it is helpful if our dogs can learn to read the room: to examine the entire context and draw conclusions about suitable default behaviors for that setting. To ease into the most suitable arousal state simply because they know what is expected in that circumstance. And to do this by just recognizing the picture, rather than requiring handler cues or micromanaging. Default behaviors in certain contexts don’t just happen by magic though- well, at least not the desirable ones. If we don’t plan appropriately, it frequently happens that our dogs attach too much excitement, arousal, or animation to situations where, long term, we’d prefer they were a little calmer! We need to be a little bit strategic, looking at our training scenarios from the same viewpoint as our dogs, to ensure that the end goal emotional state and behaviors we are shaping in that context will best serve us and our dogs.
In this webinar, we’ll examine how expectations drive emotions, and how emotions drive behavior… and how crafting your dog’s expectations in specific contexts helps to build consistent appropriate emotional states and desirable behavior in similar situations in the future. We’ll look at how you can incorporate building context cues with a new puppy early on, so that while you are socializing and developing foundation skills, you’re also building valuable expectations in key environments that help, rather than harm, future goals. We’ll also discuss re-training for dogs who have already developed undesirable behaviors in certain contexts, and you’ll get tips about avoiding some of the most commonly poisoned context cues too! This webinar will help you learn to perceive the world ‘in pictures’ and give you the ability to appreciate all the ways you can anticipate your dog’s behavior based on their environment and their past experiences in similar situations. As a result, your dog will be better prepared to read the room!
This webinar is for you if your dog exhibits any of the following:

Struggles to settle in situations which should invite relaxing
Tends to be overexcited for vet visits, grooming, or even waiting their turn in class or at trials
Attempts to greet everyone they meet with excessive, overly friendly enthusiasm
Pesters you relentlessly while you are working, working out, or otherwise occupied
Whines, barks, or scratches in their crate or ex-pen in anticipation of release or due to FOMO
Has an inappropriate or undesirable behavior or arousal level in any routine situation

This webinar is also for you if you have a new puppy and want to avoid any of the above without sacrificing their socialization.
Presented by Erin Lynes
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/webinars
