Webinar - 3/14/24 - Breaking Down Barriers: Insights into the HASS Competitive Pet Placement Project - HASS
2024-03-14 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
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

Online Event - 1st Tuesdays - All Call - California for All Animals
2024-03-16 12:00 - 13:00
The All Call is a twice-monthly, California community call for animal well-being professionals. The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity. The call is a mix of presentations, storytelling, open discussion, and Q&A time.
The All Call is hosted by the California for All Animals team, Nadia Oseguera-Ramón, Ivy Ruiz, and Allison Cardona. You only need to register one time. Calls are sometimes recorded; recap emails with supplemental resources are sent post-call. Find past call resources and recordings, including the recent Multicultural Engagement Community of Practice series, at the Cal for All Animals website.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call

Online Course – Starts 3/18/24 – Introduction to Shelter Medicine – VIN (fee applies)
2024-03-18
Course Information:
Why is my local animal shelter vaccinating puppies so many times? Why are they spaying these kittens so young? Why aren’t my usual treatments working for upper respiratory infections in adopted kittens?
Perhaps you’re a private practitioner seeing pets recently adopted from the local shelter. Maybe you’re interested in helping at that shelter. Or perhaps you’ve taken a new position and are new to shelter medicine. Maybe it’s time for a change and you’re considering getting involved in animal welfare. If you’re interested in learning more about the basics of shelter medicine to better support your local shelter and your clients, this course is for you!
Learning Objectives: Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to

describe a comprehensive preventive medicine approach, including an intake protocol for dogs and cats entering animal shelters.
describe how vaccination strategies in shelters differ from private practice.
discuss the pros and cons of FeLV/FIV screening in shelters.
discuss which disinfectant classes are recommended for use in animal shelters and how efficacy against various pathogens differs.
describe the use of trained support staff to effectively and efficiently provide care for all pets entering the shelter.
discuss the management of common shelter diseases including:

Feline upper respiratory tract disease
Canine infectious respiratory disease
Canine parvovirus and feline panleukopenia
Canine distemper virus
Dermatophytosis

discuss strategies to reduce kennel stress and common behavior challenges in shelter-housed dogs, including pharmaceutical interventions, environmental management, and behavior modification.
discuss balancing disease risk with the enrichment benefits of conspecific play (playgroups) in shelter-housed dogs.

Level and Prerequisites: This basic VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists actively interested in shelter medicine.
Credit Approval: This course is approved for 2 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists. (RACE 20-1139748)
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.vin.com/ce/SHEL103-0324.htm

Online Meeting - Mondays - Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie - Maddie's Fund
2024-03-18 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-03-25 11:00 - 12:00
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 $10,000 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.
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://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations

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/

Online Event - 3/20/24 - Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 1 - Maddie's Fund
2024-03-20 09:00 - 13:00
Camp Maddie is back with its second offering! Join us on March 20th and April 3rd from 9 am-1 pm PT (12 pm-4 pm ET) for a focus on dog behavior. The free, virtual event will consist of two half-days that will include presentations, short videos and Q&A sessions. At Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition, we’ll talk about determining which dogs are safe to rehome, keeping dogs happy and healthy while in your care, and finding them homes.
Hear from a wonderful lineup of speakers including Dr. Chris Pachel, Dr. Wailani Sung, Mike Shikashio, Bobbie Bhambree, Ferdi Yau, and more!
Who should attend? This event is perfect for those involved in animal shelters and foster-based organizations, dog trainers, behaviorists, foster caregivers, and veterinarians.
Post Event Workshops: At the end of each event, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a series of follow-up workshops, diving deeper into some of the presentation topics with our esteemed speakers.
Continued Education Credits: Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition participants will be eligible for up to 8 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) and National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA)continued education credit hours.
Come make new friends and unleash your organization’s potential, one dog at a time.
Register once for both days:

Wednesday, March 20, 2024: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Pacific (12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern)
Wednesday, April 3, 2024: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Pacific (12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern)

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

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

Webinar - 3/23/24 - Trapper’s Tips and Tricks - Community Cats Podcast and Neighborhood Cats
2024-03-23 11:00 - 13:30
Are you ready to enhance your trapping skills and outsmart even the cleverest of feral cats? Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to learn from the experts at Neighborhood Cats, drawing from over 20 years of invaluable experience.
Discover ingenious techniques, including using Spam as bait, implementing clear rear doors, wrapping traps with green garden netting, and even training cats to enter traps! Whether you’re a seasoned trapper or just starting, there’s something here for everyone to elevate your trapping success.
Secure your spot today and unlock the secrets to effective feral cat management!
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/trappers-tips-and-tricks-presented-by-neighborhood-cats-march-2024/

Webinar - 3/25/24 - For Dog's sake, can you stop that? Canine-Friendly Body Language Improvements for Humans - Dogs Playing for Life (fee applies)
2024-03-25 09:00 - 11:30
Dogs are resilient and oh-so-forgiving! These qualities make them endearing as companions, along with their ability to love unconditionally. So, why do some dogs struggle to understand us when we are offering affection or when we want to help them, not harm them? In this session, we will focus on the HUMAN handling that contributes to unwanted behavior, even “aggression”. Get ready to rethink your approach as we reveal the common and widely accepted and taught handling errors that set dogs up for failure. Through extensive video examples, we will demonstrate alternative handling techniques that help dogs to trust and thrive!
This webinar will demonstrate:
– Examples of handling that causes negative behavior compared to handling that promotes desired behavior
– Demonstration of handling that induces trust and learning with dogs that are too afraid to respond initially to food rewards or affection
– Comprehensive discussion around the correct use of pressure and release and why this is a critical skill for shelter canine handlers to master to save more dogs
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://dogsplayingforlife.com/webinars/

Online Conference - 3/26/24 to 3/28/24 - My Dog Is My Home Conference 2024: Together We Thrive - My Dog Is My Home (fee applies)
2024-03-26, 2024-03-27, 2024-03-28
Join us for My Dog Is My Home’s Co-Sheltering Conference 2024: Together We Thrive. This year’s conference aims to create a virtual space where advocates, providers, policy makers, and people with lived experience can work hand in hand to redefine the landscape of care and transform pathways to housing for people and animals together.
Be a part of the powerful movement driving systemic shifts to support the human-animal bond in homeless services.
*Scholarships are available #ThanksToMaddie. Please complete this form to apply for financial assistance. The scholarship application portal will close on March 22, 2024 at 9pm Eastern Time.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.mydogismyhome.org/2024-cosheltering-conference

Webinar - 3/27/24 - Kitten 101: A Veterinarian’s Perspective - The National Kitten Coalition
2024-03-27 16:00 - 17:00
The accessibility to individuals willing to foster kittens is crucial to their survival, but fostering kittens, especially neonatal kittens, can seem daunting to community members or even seasoned fosters. This presentation will touch on many aspects of kitten care: recommended supplies, the importance of quarantine, determining kitten age and gender, neonatal kitten care, age-appropriate nutrition, and preventative care, as well as common medical ailments that may be encountered while fostering.
Given that the speaker has the dual perspectives of being a veterinarian and a neonatal kitten foster, the hope is that whether the listener is a community member, affiliated with a rescue organization, manages a foster program, or is a member of the shelter or veterinary communities, this Kitten 101 lecture will provide useful insights and ultimately help save more kittens.
WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2417109683242/WN_w7woqcCPQZ-Ppb1S-ZzRqg

Webinar - 3/28/24 - Rescue Organization Essentials: California Laws, Resources, and More! - CalAnimals
2024-03-28 10:00 - 11:00
CalAnimals deeply appreciates the incredibly important work of rescue organizations throughout California. As adoption partners to shelters statewide, your success matters. Please join us for this important webinar to learn about state laws that affect your work, get the scoop on what’s happening with respect to insurance for rescues, and explore ideas that will help us get more pets into loving homes. We’ve compiled additional resources and training to assist you. Don’t miss out!

WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-C5qQMgKSwaHtjlViw80eA#/registration

Webinar - 3/28/24 - The Power of Pets: How Pet-friendly Domestic Violence Shelters Aid Healing, Build Morale, and Support Fundraising - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2024-03-28 10:00 - 11:30
What happens when we support people in crisis and their pets? Join this interactive discussion to learn how creating a pet housing program not only removes a significant barrier to service, but also provides tremendous support in the healing process for people in crisis. You don’t have to be an animal lover to see how including pets in programming can have a powerful effect on everyone involved – from pets, to pet parents, to staff.
This will be an engaging discussion that requires only an open mind and the willingness to shift your lens. Attendees will leave feeling energized and ready to take on the next steps to creating a pet housing program!
NACP and D-SAACP Advocates can earn 1 CEU by attending this webinar through the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP)® and the DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP). Founded in 1975, the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) is dedicated to the professionalization, leadership and future of the victim advocacy field. To learn more about NOVA, visit trynova.org.
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: Katie Campbell is the Director of Collaboration and Outreach for RedRover, with more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit world. She has worked with diverse communities across racial, ethnic, and economic lines in positions ranging from front-line service to management roles. This has included working closely with survivors of domestic violence, as well as other individuals at risk, and with many nonprofits serving these communities.
Katie is a firm believer that more can be accomplished when organizations work together and with the community, rather than in silos. With this foundation, she provides training and assistance on how to create and sustain community-based pet programs, which includes the importance of recognizing pets in domestic violence, the power of collaboration, and the potential role of pet programs in fundraising.
In partnership with Greater Good Charities’ Rescue Rebuild program, Katie created and spearheads the Don’t Forget the Pets collaborative project. The project aims to support and connect representatives from animal welfare organizations and human services organizations to create pet housing programs to support people and pets in crisis.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/the-power-of-pets-how-pet-friendly-domestic-violence-shelters-aid-healing-build-morale-and-support-fundraising/

Webinar - 3/28/24 - Marketing for Community Connection: Words Matter - HeArts Speak
2024-03-28 11:00 - 12:00
An organization’s voice, tone and language are foundational components of marketing and communications, and ultimately can help shape how your community receives your messages. Even more critically, words and language influence how your audience perceives your organization and services well into the future.
In a highly specialized field like animal services, it’s easy to get drawn into “insider-speak” or forget that most community members, despite owning or interacting with pets, aren’t familiar with our particular jargon and terminology. Whether writing an adoption bio, a social post, or a flyer, the language choices you make can change the trajectory of your message and dictate the relationship you have with the public.
This webinar looks at how our marketing efforts — from our social media posts to our signage — can welcome more community members to our mission through the words we choose and the consideration we give to our audience.
Speaker: Caitlin Quinn, Board member of HeARTs Speak, Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida
Caitlin is passionate about working with animal services organizations to reimagine the way they tell their stories and connect with the community. She has served in the animal welfare field since 2008, most recently spending eight years as the director of operations at HeARTs Speak, where she now volunteers as a board member and subject matter expert.Caitlin now teaches shelter marketing for the University of Florida Master’s in Shelter Medicine program and works as a freelance creative consultant and educator. Caitlin lives in the Hudson Valley, NY with her husband and a petite, somewhat-sassy, and definitely adorable, brindle dog named Sally.
About HeARTs Speak: HeARTs Speak is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that unites art and advocacy to increase the visibility of shelter animals. We’re dedicated to changing the way the world sees shelter animals through programs that leverage creativity and collaboration to ensure more animals are Seen and Saved.
Learn more: https://heartsspeak.org/our-mission/
WEBSITE LINK: http://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0BSMIM15TUaLE6Tmi8rF6Q

Webinar - 3/28/24 - Shelter Behavior Roundtable: Changing How We Talk About Behavior Dogs and Cats - ASPCAPro
2024-03-28 12:00 - 13:00
How we talk about the pets in our care matters. Whether counseling an adopter about the sassy cat they are interested in or talking with staff about the reactive behavior they observed in a new dog, the words we use will affect the pathway for that animal. Join our panel of experts as they dig into the issue of how we talk and think about some of our more challenging shelter animals. Panelists will share examples and tools with attendees that can be implemented quickly into daily operations.
Takeaways

The importance of using objective behavior language.
Tips and tools to develop standardization in behavior language across an organization.

Suited For
Animal behavior and shelter professionals and volunteers.
Presenters
Dr. Miranda K. Workman, Ph.D., Shelter Behavior Training Liaison, ASPCA
James Pumphrey, Executive Director Wenatchee Valley Humane Society
Kara Montalbano, Director of Marketing & Community Relations, Potter League for Animals
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.aspcapro.org/training/webinar/shelter-behavior-roundtable-changing-how-we-talk-about-behavior-dogs-and-cats

Online Event - Fourth Thursdays - Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection - Maddie's Fund
2024-03-28 12:00 - 13:00
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 - 3/28/24 - Exploring the HASS Playbook: Strategies for Supporting People and Pets - HASS
2024-03-28 15:00 - 16:00
Heard about the HASS Playbook, but not sure how it can support your own community? The HASS Playbook is a complete collection of best practices and how-to guides created for animal welfare organizations to implement programs rooted within the HASS mission and four HASS pathways. In it, you’ll find innovative opportunities to rise above sheltering system challenges and increase your capacity for care for the people and pets in your community. Join Eliza Torres, Education and Implementation Manager, for an expert overview of the Playbook, the accompanying self-assessment tools, and how you can get started. Vincent Medley, Maddie’s® Director of Human Animal Support Services, will moderate.
Register below and join us live on Thursday, March 28 at 5 p.m. CT. After the live event, a recording will be distributed to all registrants within 3 business days. The Playbook was made possible #ThanksToMaddie.
WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/7816739797796/WN_jLrF1GvQTeCTAn-rV4GXzg#/registration

Online Event - 1st and 3rd Tuesdays - All Call: Engaging Latine Community Members - California for All Animals
2024-04-02 12:00 - 13:00
More than one in three Californians identified as Hispanic or Latino in the 2020 census; nearly 16 million Latine residents contribute to the power and vibrancy of communities across the state. At the April 2 All Call, panelists Jessica Lopez (Executive Director, The PAW Mission), Miguel Ruelas (Co-founder, Patitas y Palabras Translation Services, and Director of Community Animal Care, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity), and Suliana Lutin (Managing Attorney, Lutin Law Group, and Founder, Casa Sulis Animal Society, Inc.) will discuss how we can partner with current and potential Latine pet owners, community cat caregivers, fosters, and volunteers, to bring and keep more pets and people together and out of shelters.
Join the call to solve for barriers, language and otherwise, in our own processes that can exclude and harm Latine community members, including folks who are undocumented. Through this conversation, we’ll identify the basics of culturally responsive materials and engagement so that we can build from the compassion, leadership, and creativity that already exists in our communities!
Submit your questions for the panelists in advance.
About the All Call: The All Call is a twice-monthly, California community call for animal well-being professionals that occurs on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday. The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity. The call is a mix of presentations, storytelling, open discussion, and Q&A time.
The All Call is hosted by California for All co-leaders Allison Cardona and Nadia Oseguera and is enriched by rotating facilitators. You only need to register one time. Calls are sometimes recorded; recap emails with supplemental resources are sent post-call.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call

Webinar - 4/2/24 - Seven Practices to Live Better and Work Better - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2024-04-02 12:00 - 13:15
The average American worker spends at least one-third of their life at work. Research indicates that our experiences in the workplace have a direct impact on our mental, emotional, financial, and physical well-being. These factors, in turn, influence how we make decisions, communicate, and relate to ourselves, others, and our communities.
We believe we can create a more compassionate and peaceful life by developing the skills and mindsets to Live Better and Work Better. In this webinar, we’ll explore seven key practices designed to unlock your untapped wisdom and potential, enabling you to lead a more intentional life —both at home and at work.
By delving into the power of self-worth, gratitude, curiosity, radical acceptance, boundaries, forgiveness, and compassion, we will gain insight into how our thoughts, feelings, and actions shape our reality. Your future self will thank you!
Presenters

Angel Guzmán, a multi-dimensional leader, entrepreneur, and professional violinist, boasts over twenty years of experience in various domains.

Angel’s journey began in Tucson, Arizona, where in high school he owned and managed a mariachi group. This early venture taught him essential business and leadership skills. While pursuing his studies at the University of Arizona, Angel simultaneously built and expanded his small business. He also embarked on a career with Wells Fargo Bank. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and business administration, he stepped into supervisory and management roles, gaining valuable corporate leadership and sales training. His time on the Wachovia-Wells Fargo East Coast conversion team honed his expertise in change management.
Transitioning from corporate banking, Angel joined the State of Arizona to work on the Financial Exploitation Unit for Adult Protective Services. His success led to overseeing the investigative team, training law enforcement agencies, and shaping effective policies to address allegations of financial exploitation.
A professional musical opportunity knocked, and Angel embraced it. He began performing as a violinist at Disney’s Epcot Center and then Disney’s California Adventure Park. Additionally, he collaborated with a professional mariachi group, participating in tours and studio recordings and projects in Los Angeles, CA.
During tours and breaks, Angel pursued further education. He became a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor, eventually transitioning into a small business accountant and consultant.
Throughout his diverse career, Angel discovered that our thoughts, communication, and decision-making directly impact how we lead and present ourselves—whether at work or elsewhere.
In 2023, Angel co-founded Hatching with his husband José. Angel’s journey exemplifies adaptability, resilience, and a passion for growth both personally and professionally.

José Ocaño is a proud Chicano who had humble beginnings growing up in a small barrio in Tucson, AZ. At eighteen years old, José started his career working as a kennel technician in one of the largest animal shelters in Arizona, eventually working his way up to become the Executive Director of that organization.
During his time at Pima Animal Care Center, José gained insight into the importance of cultivating emotional intelligence, engaging in compassionate communication, and embodying authentic leadership. José believes that as leaders we work for our teams and that exceptional leadership involves a commitment to personal growth as well as fostering the development of those under their guidance.
In 2017, after a decade of working to transform that organization, José joined Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit organization.
At Best Friends, José was responsible for leading dynamic teams, including Human Resources, Learning and Staff Development, Employee Experience, DEI, and Organizational Culture initiatives. He also served as a strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and members of the Senior Leadership Team. Through a people-first lens, José and his team stewarded a workplace culture that was employee and value-centric which positioned Best Friends to win multiple Top Workplace Awards since 2020.
In 2023, José left Best Friends to start a Personal and Professional Development company, Hatching.
Hatching is a purpose-driven company aimed at fostering a more compassionate world by helping people and organizations develop the skills and mindsets to #LiveBetter and #WorkBetter.
José resides by the beach in Santa Monica, CA with his husband and two dogs, Zoe and Nugget, showing that anything is possible with an intentional mindset, support, and the skills to go after your dreams!

WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/seven-practices-to-live-better-and-work-better/

Online Event - 4/3/24 - Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition Day 2 - Maddie's Fund
2024-04-03 09:00 - 13:00

Webinar - 4/3/24 - Vector Vigilance: Understanding and Managing Vector-borne Pathogens of Dogs and Cats - VETGirl
2024-04-03 17:00 - 18:00
Vector Villain!
In this complimentary, 1-hour, VETgirl–Antech webinar, Dr. Brian Herrin, DVM, PhD, DACVM will discuss the common arthropod vectors and the pathogens they can transmit to dogs and cats. Ticks, fleas, heartworm, and Lyme may be things your practice sees every day, but new products, diagnostics, and medical recommendations might have muddied your plans. We’ll clear it up with up-to-date information on best diagnostic, treatment, and management practices! Don’t see these issues very often?? You’re in luck, but maybe not for long! We’ll talk about where these vectors are moving so you can begin to assess which patients might be at risk in your practice!
Thanks to sponsorship from Antech, the recording of this webinar will be available to view free and On-Demand until December 31, 2024.
WEBSITE LINK: https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/april-3-2024-vector-vigilance-understanding-and-managing-vector-borne-pathogens-of-dogs-and-cats/

Online Event - First Thursdays - Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection - Maddie's Fund
2024-04-04 12:00 - 13:00
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

Webinar - 4/4/24 - Strategies for Training the Atypical Dog – Part 1: Concepts and Overview - FDSA (fee applies)
2024-04-04 15:00 - 16:00
This is Part One of a two-part webinar on working with “atypical” dogs. Both webinars are stand-alone webinars covering a different aspect of this topic, but they combine to cover the topic more broadly.
When we train our dogs, we are constantly asking them to solve puzzles. We are asking them to connect the dots between the cue (context cue or human initiated verbal / visual cue), their subsequent behavior (action), and the reinforcement. As our dog becomes more confident about the connection between these elements, they can respond more rapidly and with improved accuracy.
During the learning process there will be moments of frustration and confusion. Typical dogs deal with small amounts of frustration and confusion in a way that helps them find a solution to the puzzle. This leads to the dog attaining reinforcement, which results in them putting in the same or greater effort on future learning-oriented tasks.
Atypical dogs however do not respond in the same way. For a range of underlying reasons, the training puzzle itself may cause an excessive spike in arousal in these dogs. This is commonly referred to as the dog “stressing down” or “stressing up” depending on the observable behaviors. “Stressing down” behaviors may include shutting-down, stalling, looking away, appearing disinterested, freezing, moving slowly, or performing avoidance, escape, appeasement, or displacement behaviors. “Stressing up” behaviors may include barking at the human or at the task, whining, performing rapid sequences of random un-cued behaviors, anticipating cues, spinning, doing zoomies, lacking focus, and attempting to guess at the solution with little thought.
Beyond training pressures, these dogs may also struggle more than usual with environmental pressures. All dogs need a certain amount of desensitization and distraction training in order to successfully function in bigger environments, but the atypical dog may be extremely aware of stimuli in the environment. This requires additional training steps and more detailed monitoring.
In this “Part One” webinar we discuss:

The underlying factors that contribute to the development of an atypical dog, including genetic traits and the impact of prior learning.
Ways to identify the difference between a simple training gap, and a more complex problem.
When to use classical conditioning versus operant conditioning.
Methods for measuring the proportional impact the environment is having on our dog’s behavior.

We also look at a range of solutions that can create a more focused, happier, and more consistently successful training partner.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/webinars

Online Event – 4/4/24 – Live from the Ranch – Insights, Best Practices, & Anecdotes in Animal Training – Karen Pryor Academy
2024-04-04 15:30 - 16:30
Live from The Ranch is hitting the road, and will be broadcasting live from ClickerExpo in Portland, Oregon. Juliana DeWillems is taking over the interview seat and talking to 50+ year veteran of animal care and training, Ken Ramirez, about insights, best practices, and personal anecdotes about learning with animals. Ken has used positive reinforcement training with everything from butterflies to elephants to dogs.
Tune in live on YouTube on April 4, at 3:30 pm PT. Link in bio.
WEBSITE LINK: https://theranch.clickertraining.com/live/#next

Online Event – 4/6/24 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)
2024-04-06 11:00 - 13:30
Are you ready to be part of the solution for feral and stray cats in your neighborhood? Our expert instructors will teach you best practices for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and colony management. Learn what TNR is and why it works. We’ll cover getting along with neighbors, preparations for trapping, trapping itself (including entire colonies at once), feeding, providing winter shelter, and more. Take advantage of the interactive format, extensive handouts, and video footage of actual projects. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and gain access to an ongoing Facebook group for networking with other TNR activists. Instructed by Susan Richmond, executive director, and Bryan Kortis, national programs director.
Session duration is 2.5 hours, followed by an optional 15-minute Q&A session.
This course/webinar/series/conference has been approved for Continuing Educational Units by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). National certificate holders can submit for credit consistent with the NACA CEU policy located https://nacatraining.org/continuing-education-recertification/
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/the-neighborhood-cats-tnr-certification-workshop-april-2024/

Webinar - 4/8/24 - Playgroups: The Why, the What, and the How - Dogs Playing for Life
2024-04-08 08:00 - 11:00
Learn about all the ways in which DPFL Playgroups are transforming shelters all across the country! This webinar (formerly offered in three parts) will cover the Why, the What, and the How of playgroups.
Attendees will be introduced to dynamic video examples and impactful data and experiences from some of the over 350 shelters who have embraced the power of letting shelter dogs play!
This is a 3.5-hour presentation with Q&A at intervals throughout. This webinar will not be recorded.
This course has been pre-approved for 3 continuing education unit (CEU) credits for Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) and by the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP).
WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jEdkGmh4REqHRf42RarYaQ#/registration
