Shelter Learniverse

Conference - 4/7/26 to 4/10/26 - Animal Care Expo 2026 - Humane World for Animals (fee applies)
2026-04-10 04:30 - 09:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Animal Care Expo is the largest international professional development conference and trade show for animal welfare professionals and volunteers. Experts from all aspects of animal welfare will come together from across the globe to learn about the latest programs, share best practices, gain inspiration and build lasting connections. The conference features an international trade show promoting the latest animal care products and services from a wide range of exhibitors. With a variety of session topics, learning labs, networking opportunities and social events, Animal Care Expo has something for everyone who cares about companion animals.
Join us April 7-10, 2026 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA!
WEBSITE LINK: https://humanepro.org/expo

Online Meeting - Mondays - Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie - Maddie's Fund
2026-04-13 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-20 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-04 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-11 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-18 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-25 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-01 11:00 - 12:00 and 3 more dates | Virtual
Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly 50-minute Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative space to share exciting new programs and research, discuss uncomfortable topics, connect with peers in the industry, and more, all while sharing a common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.
Who Should Join?
Executive directors, animal well-being leaders, shelter workers, pet support professionals, volunteers, rescue organizations and anyone who shares the common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.
Win Ca$h for Attending!
Each month, Maddie’s Fund will be giving away up to $5,000 in grants. You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch on-demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms shared in the chat during the calls.
Register Today
Join us each Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET to receive support and learn about innovative ideas other organizations across the country are seeing success with. If you registered prior to July 2025 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025
All calls are recorded and uploaded to the Community Conversations page on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025

Online Event - Third Wednesdays - Shelter Med LIVE - UC Davis KSMP
2026-04-15 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-20 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-06-17 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Shelter medicine bridges gaps in veterinary care access, ensuring animals are sterilized, vaccinated, and have the medical treatment they need before going home to the people and communities who care for them. Shelter Med LIVE is the place where vet professionals connect around what it takes to make shelter medicine happen every day—from intake triage to MacGyvering creative fixes. Every third Wednesday, join your UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program host Dr. Jenn Bennett and special guests for real talk and real solutions.
Ask questions (or send them in ahead of time). This isn’t a lecture—it’s a conversation for everyone who wants to talk shop about shelter medicine. Kick back and recharge with your colleagues in the middle of a long week.
This event has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit by 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

Online Event - 4/18/26 - Feline Behavior Summit 2026 - Community Cats Central (small fee applies)
2026-04-18 07:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Join Community Cats Central for an exciting virtual summit designed to deepen your understanding of feline behavior and improve your ability to support cats in your home, shelter, or rescue organization.
Understanding cat behavior is crucial for building positive relationships with cats, reducing stress, and preventing behavior-related issues that can lead to relinquishment or abandonment. This event features some of the animal welfare industry’s most trusted authorities on feline behavior, who will lead a variety of workshops covering a wide range of cat behavior concerns.
You’ll gain valuable insights into new concepts, tools, and techniques that can be immediately applied to help resolve common behavioral challenges.
In addition to the informative workshops, enjoy fun cat trivia and prizes that will enhance your experience, along with opportunities to network with fellow professionals and volunteers in the animal welfare community. This is a great chance to connect with others who share your passion for improving the lives of cats.
Date: April 18, 2026 Time: 10:00 – 5:00 PM ET
Cost: $25
REGISTER NOW: https://communitycatscentral.thinkific.com/courses/feline-behavior-summit-2026

Webinar - Fourth Thursdays - HASS Connect - HASS
2026-04-23 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
You are invited every fourth Thursday of the month, to join fellow leaders from national, government, and non-profit animal welfare organizations for a strategic roundtable discussion focused on the most pressing challenges facing our field. From staffing shortages and volunteer engagement to community trust, and the evolving role of shelters, this session invites candid dialogue, shared learning, and collaborative problem-solving. Whether you’re leading a municipal agency, nonprofit organization, or national initiative, your insights and experiences are vital to finding solutions.
*You only need to register for the series once.
Time: 1-2 p.m. CT
Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/eYjSHEXEQ–_PxoL4pH2_g#/registration

Online Event - Fourth Thursdays - Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection - Maddie's Fund
2026-04-23 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-28 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us on the fourth Thursday of every month as we talk about dog and cat behavior – supporting pets in our community and animal shelters. Each month, we hear from speakers about topics of interest to our group, such as behavior medications, modifying animal behavior, assessing and improving animal welfare, and how organizations successfully provide behavior support to dogs and cats.
Who should join: Animal welfare staff and volunteers who are interested in dog and cat behavior, and everyone who works to keep pets out of shelters and in homes.
You only need to register once for all meetings: https://maddies.fund/MonthlyBehaviorRegistration
Can’t attend live? Register anyway and you will get a link to the recording within a day or two after each meeting.
All recordings and resources shared during the webcast will also be available in the Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection group on Maddie’s Pet Forum – https://maddies.fund/monthlybehaviorconnectionMPF
Maddie’s Fund does not share registration information.
The opinions expressed by webinar presenters are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Maddie’s Fund.
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/MonthlyBehaviorRegistration

Webinar - 4/27/26 - Lost & Found: They Don’t Have to Be Shelter Bound! - CalAnimals
2026-04-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
You won’t want to miss this important webinar to learn about proactive strategies that helped Washoe County Regional Animal Services achieve Return to Home RTH success of 63% of dogs and 8% of cats.
Presenter: Shyanne Schull, Director, Washoe County Regional Animal Services
WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YrXEFYRUSCGxBs8paItKrQ#/

Online Event - First Thursdays - Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection - Maddie's Fund
2026-05-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
About Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection:
Join us on the first Thursday of every month to discuss successful foster innovations and programs, collaborate with others in the field, answer questions and talk through complex foster-related issues.
Who should join: Foster managers, coordinators, volunteers and any staff who are interested in learning about what’s working in foster programs.
You only need to register once for all meetings: https://maddies.fund/MonthlyFosterRegistration
Can’t attend live? Register anyway and you will get a link to the recording within a day or two after each meeting.
All recordings and resources shared during the webcast will also be available in the Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection group on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://maddies.fund/monthlyfosterconnectionMPF
Maddie’s Fund does not share registration information.
The opinions expressed by webinar presenters are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Maddie’s Fund.
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/MonthlyFosterRegistration

Online Event - Monthly - Journey You Own Meditation Gathering - JYO
2026-05-13 17:00 - 17:45, 2026-06-10 17:00 - 17:45 | Virtual
Create a shared, supportive space to explore grounding practices.
The guided meditations happen every month and typically run 30-45 minutes. All are welcome to these very low-key sessions, with videos on or off, whatever feels most comfortable to you. No speaking is necessary unless you’d like to share at the end of the session.
Attendees register once and can attend any of the monthly meditation dates. Don’t forget to add the dates to your calendar to ensure you don’t miss out on any sessions.
About the Host
Jyothi Robertson is a student of meditation practice for 40+ years and trauma-sensitive grounding practices formally for the past three years. She was raised by parents who practice meditation and lead spiritual teachings for members of their Indian community. She began pursuing her own formal exploration of spirituality as an anthropology major at Princeton University and conducted fieldwork for her thesis while living at an ashram (spiritual center) in India in 1996. As a veterinarian, she is interested in highlighting the spiritual connection between all living beings.
Jyothi has completed certifications in trauma-sensitive mindfulness, advanced trauma-sensitive meditation, deep listening, DEI, and since 2019, has been receiving training in Buddhist meditation practices and philosophy. As a student learning meditation, she is interested in exploring these practices with others in community.
WEBSITE LINK: https://jyo.world/meditation-gathering/

Hybrid Conference – 6/18/26 to 6/21/26 – PacVet 2026 – CVMA (fee applies)
2026-06-18 08:00 - 19:00, 2026-06-19 08:00 - 19:00, 2026-06-20 07:00 - 17:00, 2026-06-21 08:00 - 12:05 | Virtual
The 2026 Pacific Veterinary Conference (PacVet), sponsored by the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), is where veterinary professionals from all walks of the profession come together for a one-of-a-kind educational experience in California. With nearly two decades of impact, PacVet continues to be a trusted destination for continuing education, professional connection, and industry discovery.
Choose from a wide range of CE tracks designed for veterinarians, technicians, practice managers, practice staff, and veterinary/RVT students—covering topics like small animal medicine, small animal surgery, practice management and ownership, avian/exotics, shelter medicine, and more! Plus, round out your educational journey with hands-on labs and practical workshops. Beyond the classroom, explore a lively exhibit hall filled with the latest tools, tech, and solutions for your practice.
Whether you are looking to learn, connect, or recharge by the coast, PacVet 2026 offers the perfect blend of education and inspiration in a setting that celebrates the profession and the people who shape it.
WEBSITE LINK: https://pacvet.net/
