Shelter Learniverse

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

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

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

Webinar - 12/11/25 - Disasters and Large Animal Evacuation: Best Practices and Preparedness - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2025-12-11 12:00 - 13:15
Natural disasters can strike any moment, and it’s crucial to ensure the safety of human lives and our beloved animals during these events. Evacuating large animals is a complex and often under-discussed aspect of disaster preparedness. This webinar will examine the essential steps and strategies for safely evacuating large animals and establishing an evacuation site during emergencies.
This webinar has been certified by the National Animal Care & Control Association and is approved for 1 Continuing Education Unit.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/webinar-on-disasters-and-large-animal-evacuation-best-practices-and-preparedness/

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

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

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

Online Event - 12/19/25 - December Feline Chat and Chuckle with Marci Koski – Paths To Becoming a Feline Behavior Consultant - PPG
2025-12-19 12:00 - 13:00
Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat with Marci Koski about paths to becoming a feline behavior consultant.
PPG members, you can log in via Zoom if you prefer. The link is in your event confirmation email.
This event will be live-streamed on Facebook from the main PPG Facebook page.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/december-feline-chat-and-chuckle-with-marci-koski/

Online Course – Starts 1/5/26 – The Thinking Animal: Cognition and its Role in Behavior – IAABC (fee applies)
2026-01-05 00:00 - 23:59
** IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ONLINE WEEKLY MEETINGS **
Meetings are not recorded
Meetings take place on Mondays at 2:00 pm Eastern (first meeting January 12th)
Meetings are 1 hour in duration
There are 4 meetings for this course
What’s going on in an animal’s head (even when they’ve decided it’s a great idea to stick their head in a wasp’s nest) is a complex, fascinating, and vital part of understanding their behavior!
This 4-week course will introduce some key questions in animal cognition, including:

How do animals understand time?
Do animals have good short- and long-term memories?
Can animals comprehend numbers, logic and other abstract concepts?
How can we use animal cognition to make more effective and enjoyable behavior interventions for animals and humans?

Your instructor, Dr. Kristina Spaulding, CAAB, will guide you and your fellow students through exercises and discussions designed to engage and excite you about this ever-growing field of research!
WEBSITE LINK: https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/the-thinking-dog-cognition-and-its-role-in-behavior/

Online Course – Starts 1/5/26 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program Winter 2026 Session – UC Davis KSMP Shelter Learniverse
2026-01-05 08:00 - 17:00
Are you ready to take your career in animal sheltering to the next level? Offered by the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Shelter Learniverse as part of Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge, the Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program empowers frontline animal shelter workers to provide exceptional care, grounded in best practices, with a focus on improving outcomes for animals and communities.
Through engaging online courses, you’ll gain expertise in:

Best practices to reduce animal stress.
Foundational animal care and medical care to enhance your skills.
Behavior, training, and enrichment for healthier, happier animals.
Population management to optimize shelter resources.
Daily care best practices that streamline your workflow and maximize impact.

Whether you’re new to shelter work or a seasoned professional, this program equips you with the tools, knowledge, and recognition to make a greater difference.
Why Become Certified?

Advance your career with professional credentials.
Learn practical, actionable skills to improve daily operations.
Gain confidence in providing high-quality care for every animal.

Start learning today and become part of the growing movement to transform animal sheltering.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 12/5/25.
Certification is currently free, #ThanksToMaddie!
This program is most relevant for individuals working in public shelters or private shelters with municipal contracts. Enrollment is limited; applicants from these shelter types will be prioritized for this session.
Learn more about upcoming sessions and apply at https://tinyurl.com/SCS-General

Webinar - 1/8/26 - Maddie's Insights - Consentful Contact: Pilot Study on Human–Dog Touch - Maddie's Fund
2026-01-08 12:00 - 13:00
Understanding and respecting an animal’s signals during interactions can significantly enhance their welfare and improve the human-animal interactions. In this presentation, Dr. Amir Sarrafchi will discuss his research on how dogs respond behaviourally when allowed to choose or refuse human contact. Drawing from his work on animal agency and consent, Dr. Sarrafchi will explore how these concepts can be practically applied in everyday animal care, shelter environments, and adoption programs.
The session will translate research findings into simple, effective strategies that caretakers, trainers, and shelter staff can use to promote consent-based handling and improve welfare outcomes.
Learning Objectives

Recognize behavioural indicators that reflect a dog’s comfort or discomfort during human interaction
Understand the importance of agency and consent in enhancing animal welfare and fostering a more humane relationship between humans and animals
Apply practical strategies for incorporating choice and consent into daily care, training, and shelter routines

Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit until 10/14/2027 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
About the speaker
Dr. Amir Sarrafchi is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. His PhD research focused on animal behavior and the impact of providing animals with agency and consent on their welfare during human-animal interactions. He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and a Master’s in Applied Ethology and Animal Biology.
During his PhD, Dr. Sarrafchi investigated how allowing animals, particularly horses and dogs, to exercise choice during interactions with humans influences their behavioral and physiological responses. His recent work explores how promoting agency can improve welfare outcomes in both companion and working animals. Dr. Sarrafchi is passionate about bridging the gap between science and practice to enhance the daily care, handling, and understanding of animals.
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister

In-Person Workshop - 1/13/25 to 1/16/25 - Shelter Behavior & Enrichment Workshop - Shelter Playgroup Alliance (fee applies)
2026-01-13 00:00 - 2026-01-16 23:59
Don’t miss out on this hands-on workshop to build essential skills for safely working with dogs in the shelter over four days at Berkeley Animal Care Services. You will work in small groups along side experienced, certified coaches to build your skills in a supportive and constructive environment. Join us January 13-16, 2026, and you will earn a Certificate of Completion, as well as the confidence and skills to improve the lives of the animals in your care.
​This workshop is limited to 20 participants. Register to secure your spot now!
Who: Shelter Staff & Volunteers
What: Behavior & Enrichment Workshop
When: January 13-16, 2026
Where: Berkeley Animal Care Services, 1 Bolivar Dr, Berkeley, CA 94710
Cost: $800
​CEUs: 27 (CCPDT), 20 (IAABC)
No prerequisites are required to attend this workshop. This is a special offering open to all shelter staff and volunteers, regardless of the status of online course work.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.shelterdogplay.org/in-person-workshops
