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 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
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#/

Online Event - 1st and 3rd Tuesdays - All Call - California for All Animals
2024-02-20 12:00 - 13:00
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

Online Course - Starts 2/21/24 - Lifesaving by the Numbers: Effective Population Management in Animal Shelters - VIN (fee applies)
2024-02-21
Course Information:
Proactive population management is a cornerstone of health and welfare for shelter populations. Reducing length of stay in animal shelters reduces the risk of infectious disease, as time in the shelter is the top risk factor. Behavioral welfare is improved when animals spend less time in the shelter.
Strategies to reduce length of stay include daily population rounds, tracking animal flow through the shelter and removing bottlenecks, pathway planning, open selection, managed admissions, and fast-tracking of highly adoptable pets. The course will also cover practical strategies to build efficiency in medical programs, as many of the common bottlenecks are related to the provision of veterinary care. Additionally, while daily population rounds are crucial for collaboration across shelter teams and are key to ensuring animals keep moving on their shelter pathway, they can be challenging to implement, particularly in large shelters.
Presenter: Erin Katribe, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)
Course Open: February 21-March 9, 2024
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Wednesday, February 28, 2024; 8:00-10:00 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 2
RACE Category: 2 hours Medical
Learning Objectives: Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to

discuss the benefits of reducing length of stay on individual animal health, lifesaving capacity of the shelter, and individual animal behavioral welfare.
define capacity for care in a shelter.
discuss how to determine average or median length of stay.
define pathway planning.
dDiscuss the following strategies for reducing length of stay:

Pathway planning
Fast-tracking
Open selection
Managed intake/admissions and intake diversion

discuss the goals and practical implementation of daily population rounds.
discuss the importance of tracking key metrics in shelter populations, including length of stay, intake and outcome metrics, and disease incidence metrics.

Level and Prerequisites: This basic VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists interested in strategies to reduce length of stay while also reducing infectious disease spread in the shelter setting.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.vin.com/ce/SHEL102-0224.htm

Online Event – 2/21/24 and 2/28/24 – Back Where They Belong: An online solution-sharing summit to get animals home faster, easier, better – Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge
2024-02-21 09:00 - 14:00
Register Now!
Back Where They Belong: A solution-sharing summit to get animals home faster, easier, better.
February 21 and 28, 2024 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Join your colleagues nationwide for two half-days of actionable programs that you can begin to implement today to slow the number of animals coming into the shelter and get the ones that do back home faster, easier, better.
Whether it’s getting community cats back to their hangouts and caretakers or reuniting dogs and their families, we know there’s no place like home sweet home for animals and their people. Of course we want new homes for animals who need them, but sometimes we forget how easy and impactful prioritizing going home again can be. From reducing shelter crowding to protect animals from disease and allow your team to provide better care, to building support and positive relationships in the community, the payoff is powerful for population management and beyond. And when we go all in on return to home, we reconnect with the reason we do this work: to do our best to give each animal we meet the right outcome–in the right place.
At this two-day virtual gathering, frontline staff will each share the most effective ways they’re incorporating return-to-home goals into everyday processes, protocols and community programming to ensure animals spend more nights at home, not in the shelter.
Learn more and register at www.sheltersummit.com!

Powered by partnership. This event is brought to you by the Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge Learniverse at the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program.

Invite your team
Download, print, and share this flyer and post it at your shelter to invite other staff members!
Click to download the flyer

Online Event – 2/22/24 – American Black History Series: Environmental Justice and Black Farming and Why They Matter – CARE
2024-02-22 15:00 - 16:00
Get curious with representatives from CARE’s Environmental Justice, Community Animal CARE, and CARE Center teams. What is Environmental Justice and how is that different from Environmental Protection? What is the Black Farmers Act and why is it needed? Aline Silva interviews Akisha Townsend Eaton, Rae Williams, and Tre Law to share important historical information for Black land owners and farmers, how it intersects with Environmental Justice, and why we should all care about this to benefit humans and animals.
Speakers: Akisha Townsend Eaton, Rae Williams, Tre Law, and Aline Silva
CARE is hosting our 3rd annual American Black History Month Series. This speaker series aims to raise $250,000 towards African American Veterinary Scholarships for students at Tuskegee’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
American Black History Month: Dark Shadows are Evidence of our Ascent.
CARE is telling the stories of suffrage and pain. While the dark shadows were meant to destroy black people, the fact that we can tell our own narratives, is evidence that we have risen.
You must register ahead of the event to receive your registration link. Please click on the link to sign up. While registration is FREE, we are asking everyone to contribute towards our Dr. Jodie G Blackwell Black Veterinary Scholarship fund. Donate Here.
WEBSITE LINK: https://careawo.org/american-black-history/

Online Event - 2/22/24 - What Found Feels Like Contest Deadline - Maddie's Million Pet Challenge
2024-02-22 17:00
Join Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge in making 2024 the year we amplify What Found Feels Like and celebrate animals going home in the shelter and community. It’s the year we shine a light on the bright spots and Return-to-Home solutions you’re advancing, starting with the Back Where They Belong summit February 21 and 28. Every dog and cat returned home counts—and for the people who’ve been missing them, the impact is immeasurable!
Submit your photos, videos and stories of dogs and cats heading back to the people, places, and animal pals they know and love by February 22 at 5 pm PT. We’ll draw two $100 gift card winners who will be announced at the closing session of the Back Where They Belong summit on February 28.
Register for the summit and bring your team; everyone is welcome, and it’s free, #ThankstoMaddie!
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddiesmillionpetchallenge.org/found/

Online Course – Starts 2/26/24 – Compassion Fatigue Strategies Plus – University of Florida – Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program (fee applies)
2024-02-26
Today’s animal welfare and veterinary medical professionals are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for animals, people, and the organizations that heal, connect, and protect them. If that’s you, it’s easy to feel like nothing you do is ever good enough. The work feels never-ending. Taking care of your own needs might seem impossible.
Transforming empathic distress (aka compassion fatigue) is absolutely possible for you and your staff. That’s why the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida is once again offering its Compassion Fatigue Strategies online course with certified compassion fatigue educator Jessica Dolce.
This course will help you recognize signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma, learn how to reduce stress injury, increase your self-care and team-care practices, build compassion satisfaction, restore resiliency, and make successful changes in your life and in your organization.
By the end of class you’ll:

Have 6 strategies to help you do the work you love, without being sidelined by compassion fatigue and burnout, so that you can feel energized and happy again
Know which self-care and stress management practices work for you
Have a personal mission statement so that you can feel clear about why you do this work even when it’s challenging
Have clear and manageable goals, so that you can make lasting changes in your sleep, diet, friendships, or anything else that really matters to you
Feel comfortable using super simple meditation practices, so that you can restore your balance
Clearly understand how and when to get professional mental health help, without shame
Know how to collaborate with your staff and coworkers on these issues so that you can all benefit from what you learned in the course

Early individual registration is $299 per person by January 26, 2024. Regular individual registration is $349 per person January 27, 2024 through February 26, 2024.
WEBSITE LINK: https://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/education/continuing-education/compassion-fatigue-strategies/

Grant Opportunity - 2/26/24 - Open Arms Challenge Registration Period Begins - Maddie's Fund
2024-02-26
Join us for the all-inclusive 2024 Open Arms Challenge! This grant Challenge is like no other. For the entire month of April 2024, animal shelters, foster-based organizations and public charities are encouraged to create a new program or expand an existing one focused on keeping pets and people together. Beginning in 2024, there will only be one Challenge per year.
Apply to participate in the 2024 Open Arms Challenge between February 26 – March 6, 2024.
Interested organizations can apply through the Maddie’s Fund grants portal until 5pm PT on March 6, 2024.
To be considered to PARTICIPATE in this Challenge, your organization must be:

A U.S.-based government agency or 501c3 public charity
A shelter, foster-based organization or other animal welfare organization focused on keeping pets and people together or animals in their communities
Focused on dogs and/or cats
An active participant in Shelter Animals Count
Current on all grant reporting for any prior Maddie’s Fund grants

If you have any questions, please contact grants@maddiesfund.org
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.maddiesfund.org/open-arms-challenge-2024.htm

Online Meeting - Mondays - Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie - Maddie's Fund
2024-02-26 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

Online Event - 2/27/24 - The Roundtable: HR with an Eye on DEI -The AAWA
2024-02-27 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for a discussion with industry leaders about building a fair and just workforce. Learn how they’re recruiting and onboarding talent through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Panelists will share highlights and challenges they experienced along the way, while attendees will walk away with next steps for updating their recruitment and onboarding initiatives. This session will benefit hiring teams and hiring managers who are preparing to recruit new talent at their shelters and organizations.
The Roundtable Panel:

Meshia Burrell, Vice President of People and Culture, The Anti-Cruelty Society
Aubrey Daniels, HR Manager, Pasado’s Safe Haven
Mark Neff, Executive Director, Forsyth Humane Society

Moderated by Jasmin Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
This roundtable has been approved for 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit.
WEBSITE LINK: https://learning.theaawa.org/p/RT-2-27-24

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

Online Event – 2/29/24 – American Black History Series: Myth Busting and Bridging Gap - The Ins and Outs of Black Veterinarians Building in Underserved Communities – CARE
2024-02-29 15:00 - 16:00
Join CARE’s American Black History Month series conversation with Dr. Azalia Boyd, Chief Veterinary Medican Officer, and Dr. Tierra Price, Founder, BlackDVM Network. Topics: Discussing issues, false narratives, stereotypes, and perceptions that can create divides. Using this space to educate builds community and connection to change the inequities impacting the communities.
Speakers: Dr. Tierra Price and Dr. Azalia Boyd
CARE is hosting our 3rd annual American Black History Month Series. This speaker series aims to raise $250,000 towards African American Veterinary Scholarships for students at Tuskegee’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
American Black History Month: Dark Shadows are Evidence of our Ascent.
CARE is telling the stories of suffrage and pain. While the dark shadows were meant to destroy black people, the fact that we can tell our own narratives, is evidence that we have risen.
You must register ahead of the event to receive your registration link. Please click on the link to sign up. While registration is FREE, we are asking everyone to contribute towards our Dr. Jodie G Blackwell Black Veterinary Scholarship fund. Donate Here.
WEBSITE LINK: https://careawo.org/american-black-history/

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

Online Event - 1st and 3rd Tuesdays - All Call - California for All Animals
2024-03-05 12:00 - 13:00
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.
On March 5, Monica Dangler and Kaitlyn Pappas will share how Pima Animal Care Center used Petco Love Lost to double the number of animals returned home in the community.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call

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/

Grant Opportunity - 3/6/24 - Open Arms Challenge Registration Period Deadline - Maddie's Fund
2024-03-06 17:00

Online Event - 3/7/24 - Live from the Ranch - Paws in Practice: Husbandry Behaviors for Dogs & Empowering Pet Guardians Online - Karen Pryor Academy
2024-03-07 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for the next episode of Live from The Ranch, where Ken Ramirez will collaborate with teacher and trainer Laura Monaco Torelli. Laura will demonstrate essential behaviors for veterinary care and coach Ken on teaching these behaviors to his dog, Marlin. Learn the importance of teaching your dog behaviors for medical care and observe how to virtually coach others!
Tune in on YouTube on March 7 at 1:00 pm PT for this free virtual event with live audience Q&A.
WEBSITE LINK: https://theranch.clickertraining.com/live/#next

Online Conference - 3/9/24 and 3/10/24 - 4th Annual Modern & Ethical Training Conference (MET) - Puppyworks (fee applies)
2024-03-09
6 great trainers will talk about their experiences, give advice and practical solutions.
Over 18 hours of expertise and advice for the daily life of professional trainers & their clients.
You can watch the lectures live on the day of the conference or at any time during the following 6 months.
MET conference 2024 has been approved by CCPDT and IAABC organizations for 18 CEUs.
You can listen to the lectures of Czech trainers in the original version or access a high-quality translation in English, so that you do not miss a word of expertise!
Gain practical procedures with proven results.
No waiting and commuting – enjoy the conference from the comfort of your couch with your dog partner by your side.

WEBSITE LINK: https://www.puppyworks.com/met2024

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/

Online Certificate Program – Starts 3/11/24 – Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program – Marketing & Development – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)
2024-03-11
Society’s relationship to pets continues to evolve. The majority of people consider their pets to be beloved family members and expect their local animal shelter to work diligently to save the lives of the dogs and cats that enter the facility. This program will provide the knowledge you need to assume a management or leadership role at an open-admission animal shelter. You’ll learn how to maximize a shelter’s lifesaving potential through program management, community engagement, and shelter operations while at the same time preparing yourself for an exciting career.
The five courses are:

Leadership covering strategic planning, analyzing operations, decision-making, managing people and processes to achieve results, organizational responsibilities, and working with a board of directors.
Shelter Operations covering adoptions, animal care and sheltering fundamentals, animal behavior and enrichment, and customer service.
Community Program Development covering volunteers, foster care, spay/neuter, pet retention, events, and community relations.
Animal Health and Clinic Operations covering understanding shelter medicine, basic animal health considerations and care, euthanasia decisions, and clinic operations.
Marketing and Development covering development fundamentals, fundraising strategies, marketing fundamentals, adoption promotion, social media and websites, and media relations.

Each of these courses include live video conference sessions with top experts in the field providing students valuable contacts within the field. Additionally, alumni have access to exclusive networking opportunities and receive notification of employment opportunities.
You can sign up for individual courses or all five for a discount. All five must be completed to get a certificate.
Who will benefit from the program?

Professionals seeking a career change to something more personally fulfilling.
New shelter directors.
Shelter directors or managers wishing to improve their organization’s live release rate and sustainability.
People working in the animal welfare field who wish to advance into management roles.
Board members of animal shelters.

Credit for program/courses
Upon completion of all five courses, you will receive a Certificate in Animal Shelter Management from the University of the Pacific.
Each course earns:

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the University of the Pacific
Association of Animal Welfare Advancement CAWA Continuing Education (CE) credits

Schedule and Registration
Each of the five online courses are six weeks long and are offered sequentially. The entire program is about seven months long, and a new round starts again after a short break. More information on start dates of each course and the registration form can be found on the University of the Pacific website.
​WEBSITE LINK: https://uc.pacific.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=21282#courseSectionDetails_2946837

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

Online Training - Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop Presented by Dr. Rachel Geller - Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)
2024-03-13 16:00 - 17:30
Are you deeply committed to ensuring that cats remain in their cherished homes? Step into the role of a certified Surrender Prevention Specialist and become a catalyst for positive change in the lives of our feline friends. Join us on March 13th for an illuminating workshop led by the esteemed Dr. Rachel Geller.
Event Details: 📅 Date: March 13 🕒 Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EST 📍 Location: Virtual, register here
As a Surrender Prevention Specialist, you hold the power to bridge the gap between a cat losing its home and maintaining a joyful bond with its owner. In this workshop, Dr. Rachel Geller will explore the art of surrender prevention, drawing from real-life scenarios with proven outcomes. Uncover the effectiveness of surrender prevention strategies and your pivotal role in nurturing harmonious relationships between cats and their caregivers.
#ThanksToMaddie, scholarship opportunities are available! If you or someone you know would benefit from a complimentary registration, please complete the form here.
Key Topics Explored:

Grasping the concept and significance of surrender prevention
Cultivating empathy towards cat owners and addressing their constraints (financial, time, patience)
Real-world success stories of surrender prevention methodologies
Spotlight on the three primary reasons for surrender: litter box issues, inappropriate scratching, and intercat aggression
Interactive sessions, comprehensive handouts, and video demonstrations of effective techniques Upon successful completion of the workshop and a brief assessment, participants will receive a Surrender Prevention Certification. Furthermore, scholarships are still accessible for those eager to contribute to the welfare of cats in need.

Unable to attend on March 13? No problem! The workshop will be offered three times in 2024, providing ample opportunities to refine your expertise and understanding.
📚 Be a Part of Something Pawsitively Impactful! 📚 Join Dr. Rachel Geller and fellow cat enthusiasts on January 17th for an enlightening and empowering Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop. Let’s collaborate to preserve the sanctity of feline homes and fortify the bond between cats and their caregivers.
For additional information, to secure your spot, or inquire about scholarships, please visit https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/surrender-prevention-certification-workshop-mar-2024/
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/surrender-prevention-certification-workshop-mar-2024/

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
