Webinar - 8/7/25 - Prop 129: One Year Later - The Bridge Club
2025-08-07 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
It has been one year since the Veterinary Professional Associates (VPA) in Colorado was passed. The very controversial legislation has caused confusion, stress and uncertainty for many. This conversation will discuss where it stands today, what is happening and what is planned.
WEBSITE LINK: https://thebridgeclub.com/event/prop-129-one-year-later/

Online Course - Application period opens 8/8/25 - Fall 2025 Instructor-Led Courses - Maddie's Fund
2025-08-08
Looking to implement a new program, learn more about a specific subject and create positive change for pets and people in your community? Maddie’s Fund® Online Instructor-Led Courses provide an interactive educational opportunity for those who are looking to benefit from the wisdom of established innovative programs. They’re the catalyst you need to take your programs and learning to the next level! All courses are free #ThanksToMaddie!
These courses require completion of:

Self-paced online materials
Zoom classes with your instructor and classmates (The length and number of Zoom classes are course-dependent, but can range from 4 to 6 classes, at 60, 75, or 90 minutes.)
Final project
Course Evaluation Survey

Class size is limited and the selection process is competitive.
To be eligible, your organization must be a U.S.-based 501c3 or government animal welfare organization. All Maddie’s University courses are pre-approved for NACA and CAWA CE (continuing education) credits.
Application period: August 8 – August 18, 2025. Fall 2025 Courses begin the week of September 8, 2025
Fall 2025 Course Offerings
Adoption Counseling
Developing Your Own Kitten College
Feline Lifesaving: Essential Cat Programs for Shelters
Fostering Dogs with Behavior Concerns: Supporting Dogs and People (2 SECTIONS)
Humane Education: Tools & Techniques to Expand Your Reach
Live Better: The Power of You (2 SECTIONS)
Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge Shelter Consultations
Marketing Communications 101: The Essentials of Community Connection (2 SECTIONS)
Pet Support Services: Culture, Collaboration, and Case Management
Shelter Clinic Management
Learn more about each course’s information including course descriptions, instructors, class dates and meeting times on Maddie’s University: https://university.maddiesfund.org/online-instructor-led-courses

Online Meeting - Mondays - Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie - Maddie's Fund
2025-08-11 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-08-18 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-08-25 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-01 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-08 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 $5,000 in grants. You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch on-demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms shared in the chat during the calls.
Register Today
Join us each Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET to receive support and learn about innovative ideas other organizations across the country are seeing success with. If you registered prior to July 2025 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025
All calls are recorded and uploaded to the Community Conversations page on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025

Webinar - 8/12/25 - Unlocking Insights from USDA APHIS Inspection Reports: Navigating Data and AI Applications - Life of Riley at Spring Point
2025-08-12 11:00 - 12:30
Explore the USDA APHIS Inspection Report database on licensed dog breeder compliance—its scope, strengths, and limitations—and learn how to effectively navigate and analyze this valuable public data. We’ll share how we leverage this public data to uncover patterns and demonstrate an AI powered app to enhance understanding and promote animal welfare compliance.
Speakers from Life of Riley partner JVR Shelter Strategies:
Dr. Jyothi V. Robertson, Owner and Principal Consultant
Ross Mauck, Consultant & Senior Data Analyst
WEBSITE LINK: https://lor.dog/webinars/

Webinar - 8/13/25 - Role of Shelter Vets During Disasters: What You Need to Know and Resources to Help! - CalAnimals
2025-08-13 10:00 - 11:00
When a disaster breaks out in your county, animal services is the lead agency responsible for the evacuation, sheltering, and care of the animals that are affected. And in some instances, animal care includes addressing injuries associated with the disaster, as well as illnesses that can arise from stress, diet changes, and other factors during emergency sheltering. We will discuss your role as the veterinarian, some key things to consider, resources to help you manage through it all, and how to request help when you need it.
Speaker: Ashley Patterson, DVM MPH
CVET – UC Davis
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7jgXAUYbTaKArwKzF7w_YQ

Webinar - 8/13/25 - The Med, the Myth, the Legend: Animal Behavior Medications in the Shelter - Best Friends
2025-08-13 13:00 - 14:00
Are behavior medications appropriate to use in the shelter? If so, how do we use them and what medications do we choose? This session will dispel myths about medication use, review go-to medications, and provide example frameworks you can use in your organization.
Presented by: Dr. Abbie Atteberry DVM, MS, CAWA, Elite FFCP
National Shelter Medicine; Best Friends Animal Society
WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/4717437859110/WN_iRsWQsmFS4aikwy3tfGwsg

Online Event - Monthly - Journey You Own Meditation Gathering - JYO
2025-08-13 17:00 - 17:45, 2025-09-10 17:00 - 17:45
Create a shared, supportive space to explore grounding practices.
The guided meditations happen every month and typically run 30-45 minutes. All are welcome to these very low-key sessions, with videos on or off, whatever feels most comfortable to you. No speaking is necessary unless you’d like to share at the end of the session.
Attendees register once and can attend any of the monthly meditation dates. Don’t forget to add the dates to your calendar to ensure you don’t miss out on any sessions.
About the Host
Jyothi Robertson is a student of meditation practice for 40+ years and trauma-sensitive grounding practices formally for the past three years. She was raised by parents who practice meditation and lead spiritual teachings for members of their Indian community. She began pursuing her own formal exploration of spirituality as an anthropology major at Princeton University and conducted fieldwork for her thesis while living at an ashram (spiritual center) in India in 1996. As a veterinarian, she is interested in highlighting the spiritual connection between all living beings.
Jyothi has completed certifications in trauma-sensitive mindfulness, advanced trauma-sensitive meditation, deep listening, DEI, and since 2019, has been receiving training in Buddhist meditation practices and philosophy. As a student learning meditation, she is interested in exploring these practices with others in community.
WEBSITE LINK: https://jyo.world/meditation-gathering/

Webinar - 8/14/25 - Generating Government Buy-in - HASS
2025-08-14 11:00 - 12:00
In many communities, animal services rise and fall with the priorities of local government—and if you’re not part of the conversation, you’re likely missing out on funding, partnerships, and critical support. Whether you’re operating under a city contract, connected to law enforcement, or simply the only game in town for animal welfare, knowing how to work with your local leaders is key.
Join Mike Wheeler, Director of Cabot Animal Support Services, on August 14 at 1 p.m. CST, as he shares his straightforward, proven approach to building relationships with decision makers—and how you can do it, too.
Don’t miss this chance to learn how to turn government allies into champions for your mission.
WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/8017544188746/WN_DjcP0u9xTvC_VqEUVFLNEQ#/registration

Online Course - Application period closes 8/18/25 - Fall 2025 Instructor-Led Courses - Maddie's Fund
2025-08-18

Webinar - 8/19/25 - Bridging the Gap: Establishing Relationships Between Social Services and Animal Welfare - BestyBnB
2025-08-19 12:00 - 13:00
Pets can create a barrier to social services. Whether that is a survivor seeking help for domestic violence, people who are experiencing homelessness needing shelter, or those facing a mental health crisis. Pet owners will often delay seeking help because they have nowhere for their pets to go. When organizations are siloed, we may miss opportunities for interventions that can support those in need and potentially prevent further harm to both people and pets. This presentation will give an overview of the special bond trauma survivors share with their pets and the unique challenges they may face when seeking services, tips for pet advocacy that you can provide to your community, and how BestyBnB helps to bridge the gap between animal welfare and social services.
In this session, you will learn:

The important bond between trauma survivors and their pets and the unique challenges they face when seeking services.
Tips for implementing pet advocacy in your community.
How BestyBnB works to bridge the gap in services between social services and animal welfare.

Who should attend?

Animal welfare managers and staff
Mental health program managers and staff
Domestic violence program managers and staff
Victim advocates
Social service providers working with survivors

WEBSITE LINK: https://www.mybestybnb.com/trainings/bridging-the-gap

Webinar - 8/20/25 and 8/27/25 - Legal Survival Guide for Dog Pros: Trainers, Shelters, Rescues, Walkers - Puppyworks (fee applies)
2025-08-20 10:00 - 12:30, 2025-08-27 10:00 - 12:30
YOU’RE IN THE BUSINESS OF HELPING DOGS, NOT WORRYING ABOUT LAWSUITS!
A no-nonsense dive into the critical legal and contractual issues that directly impact your work with training, boarding, day-care, grooming, shelter/rescue, vet clients, dog walking.
If you’re still relying on handshake deals, generic forms, or the belief that “nothing will go wrong,” Think again. If it can go wrong it will, at some point.
Don’t Get Bitten by the Fine Print: Legal Must-Knows for Dog Professionals
We’ll show you exactly what needs to be in writing, where the biggest legal risks hide, and how to protect yourself with clear contracts, powerful disclaimers, and proactive communication. Whether you’re a solo operator, part of a facility, or leading a team, this training will empower you to reduce liability, earn trust, and run your entity confidently.
What You Don’t Know Can & Will Cost You
This is not just another box to check, it’s a must-attend event for any professional or entity handling dogs who wants to protect their future and ensure they stay in business. What you don’t know can absolutely come back to bite you.
Presenter: Attorney Kenneth M. Phillips
4.5 CEUs
CCPDT& IAABC
EARLY BIRD: $10 Off
$59* / Individual
$49* / Groups 4+
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.puppyworks.com/dogbitelaw

Online Event - 8/21/25 - Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection - Making the First Move: Approaching Cats with Care - Maddie's Fund
2025-08-21 12:00 - 13:00
Making the First Move: Approaching Cats with Care
Building on Cracking the Cat Code, this session explores how to apply the Considerate Approach when working with cats in shelter environments. Through video examples, you’ll learn how to thoughtfully and confidently approach cats in different settings — from cages to carriers. Gain practical tools to reduce stress, improve adoption readiness, and advocate effectively for the cats in your care.
Guest Speaker: Tabitha Kucera, RVT, KPA-CTP, CCBC, VTS (Behavior)
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

Online Meeting - 8/25/25 - Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie - Coupled Up: Matching Pets and People Through Barrier-Free Adoptions - Maddie's Fund
2025-08-25 11:00 - 12:00

Webinar - 8/27/25 - Mid-Year Momentum: What the 2025 Data Is Telling Us About Animal Shelter Trends - Shelter Animals Count
2025-08-27 11:00 - 12:00
Join us for a data-packed session featuring the latest data from Shelter Animals Count, highlights from Hill’s 2025 State of the Shelter Report, and new animal-level data insights and survey analysis from the year.
This webinar will be recorded.
Unlocking Animal Data Series – Powered by Hill’s Pet Nutrition
In 2025, Shelter Animals Count and Hill’s Pet Nutrition are teaming up to bring you the Unlocking Animal Data Series—a year-long content series designed to move beyond basic shelter metrics and uncover the insights shaping the future of animal welfare. This exclusive series features deep-dive webinars, data-driven blogs, and access to the latest national trends from SAC’s robust dataset.
Whether you’re looking to strengthen your foster program, prepare for kitten season, or navigate big dog challenges, this series delivers practical tools, actionable insights, and industry expertise.
WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pajHUUUaRm-OCM5vcgI12Q

Webinar - 8/28/25 - Unlocking AI for Animal Shelters - CalAnimals
2025-08-28 10:00 - 11:00
Join us for a live webinar led by Kristen Hassen of Outcomes Consulting Group, designed specifically for animal shelter professionals. This interactive, fast-paced session will teach you how to easily integrate AI into operations to save time, streamline processes, and improve outcomes. Whether you’re just getting started with AI or looking to expand your AI toolkit, this session will provide actionable insights and real-world examples to help your team work smarter and save more lives.
Presenter:
Kristen Hassen, Outcomes Consulting Group
WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bGIkW78gQHypC701UZpbAQ#/

Online Event - 9/2/25 - All Call: Lessons from Growing Front Street’s HOAP Program - California for All Animals
2025-09-02 12:00 - 13:00
Since the Homeless Outreach and Assistance Program (HOAP) launched in May 2022, Sacramento’s Front Street Animal Shelter has managed to not only sustain but also grow partnerships with pet owners and community organizations. In its first two years alone, the HOAP team supported 1,510 people experiencing homelessness, helped 2,713 animals, administered over 7,908 treatments and coordinated $380,000 in emergency veterinary services. Now they’re making care even more accessible with a new mobile veterinary clinic.
On September 2, join Program Coordinator Jenna Topper for behind-the-scenes insights into the program as it heads into year four. You’ll discover how the HOAP team:

Built and sustained partnerships with pet owners and community organizations to deepen impact.
Balanced program growth and sustainability while handling a large volume of services.
Overcame challenges to expand access to care delivered with respect and dignity.

Bring your questions to the conversation and take away real-world strategies you can apply in your own shelter. Connect with your colleagues—only three calls left! Register for the call.
The All Call is a 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 Nadia Oseguera-Ramón and Ivy Ruiz. 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 Event - 9/4/25 - Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection: Smarter Systems for Stronger Support - Maddie's Fund
2025-09-04 12:00 - 13:00
Feeling overwhelmed by an unmanageable foster roster? Struggling to keep caregivers engaged or streamline onboarding? You’re not alone—and there’s a better way forward.
In this webinar, we’ll explore how SICSA restructured its foster program over the past year to boost engagement, ease staff workload, and improve care for animals. Learn how they:

Streamlined our foster roster through a full audit and re-engagement campaign
Combined and modernized our dog and cat foster manuals
Introduced specialized mentor roles to support caregivers across programs
Launched a new, self-paced onboarding process with the help of Google automations and ChatGPT
Piloted a bottle baby nursery for staff foster caregivers to grow neonatal capacity

You’ll walk away with actionable ideas you can tailor to your own organization—whether you’re looking to overhaul your onboarding, clean up your database, or make fostering feel more accessible. This session is ideal for anyone ready to rethink old systems and build a stronger, scalable, sustainable foster program.
Guest Speaker: Michelle Misra, Foster Program Manager, SICSA Pet Adoption & Wellness Center
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 - 9/4/25 - Mike Shikashio - Arousal and Aggression - FDSA (fee applies)
2025-09-04 15:00 - 16:00
What does “arousal” have to do with aggressive behaviors in dogs? In some cases, arousal can be the catalyst for an intense, aggressive response, and can be directed at something a dog may not even be focused on. We may also see cases where a dog in a highly aroused state “spills over” into aggressive behavior.
Mike will first define this often-controversial topic and discuss why it is crucial to consider arousal as a factor in aggression cases. Prevention, management, and behavior change strategies will be highlighted!
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/webinars

Online Event - 9/9/25 - One Health Clinic Quarterly Coffee Hour - One Health Clinic
2025-09-09 14:30 - 15:30
One Health Clinic Quarterly Coffee HourWhen: Sep 9, 2025 from 02:30 PM to 03:30 PM (PT)
We will have our quarterly One Health Clinic coffee hour on September 9th, 2:30-3:30 Pacific. Please join us if you want to talk about your One Health Clinic activities, ask questions about how to set up a Clinic in your region, and to learn from others.
We can also discuss the new publication looking at 4 years of data from the flagship One Health Clinic in Seattle
If you have joined our free Toolkit , you will receive an email with the zoom link, but the Zoom link is here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://washington.zoom.us/j/99200444453?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 992 0044 4453
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Online Event - 9/10/25 - Turning the Tide for Big Dogs: Proven Strategies That Work - The AAWA
2025-09-10 11:00 - 11:30
Across the country, shelters are facing one of today’s biggest adoption challenges—finding loving homes for large dogs. But there’s hope, and there are solutions.
Join the Arizona Humane Society for an energizing Lunch & Learn that will show how big changes can start with bold ideas. You’ll discover how their team has not only increased big dog adoptions, but also dramatically reduced length of stay—transforming outcomes for some of their most overlooked companions.
Through a mix of:

Creative adoption incentives that spark interest
High-impact marketing campaigns that tell unforgettable stories
Innovative programs that meet both dogs’ and adopters’ needs

…the AHS team is creating a blueprint any shelter can adapt.
This special Lunch & Learn will take place on Wednesday, September 10, from 2-2:30 ET. Bring your questions—there will be time for a Q&A so you can take actionable ideas back to your own organization. Because every big dog deserves a big story—and a happy ending.
WEBSITE LINK: https://learning.theaawa.org/p/9-10-25

Webinar - 9/10/25 - Medical and Behavioral Data in Animal Shelters: A Lifesaving Tool - Best Friends
2025-09-10 13:00 - 14:00
Learn how medical and behavioral data can be transformed into powerful tools to prevent disease, improve welfare, reduce length of stay, and guide evidence-based decisions. Discover practical strategies to turn numbers into impact — and data into lives saved.
Presented by: Dr. Becca Boronat, MV, CAWA, National Shelter Medicine Veterinarian; Best Friends Animal Society
WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/4717437859110/WN_iRsWQsmFS4aikwy3tfGwsg#/registration

Webinar - 9/11/25 - Data Basics - From Intake to Insight: Buiding a Smarter Strategy with Data - HASS
2025-09-11 11:00 - 12:00
A webinar featuring Dr. Josh Fisher, Director, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control
WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XBs3-LokQU2ZJ8FYceRFLg#/registration

Webinar - 9/11/25 - Maddie's Insights - Gatekeeping Pet Ownership: The Impacts of Adoption Discrimination - Maddie's Fund
2025-09-11 12:00 - 13:00
The animal welfare field has been discussing low-barrier adoption processes as a best practice for more than a decade, yet recent research by Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity has found that BIPOC families are still more likely than white families to be denied during the adoption process. The findings highlight the critical need to move discussions from “low-barrier adoptions” to “making pet ownership accessible to all.”
Attendees will learn about:
• the prevalence and impact of shelter/rescue adoption discrimination in four U.S. cities (Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Minneapolis)
• solutions for increasing access to pet ownership for BIPOC families
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 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
Have questions or comments related to this topic? Share your thoughts on the discussion thread:
https://maddies.fund/InsightsAdoptionDiscriminationSept2025
Register at: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister

Online Course – Application deadline 9/13/25 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program Fall 2025 Session – UC Davis KSMP Shelter Learniverse
2025-09-13
Are you ready to take your career in animal sheltering to the next level? Offered by the 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.

Applications are being accepted for the Fall 2025 session starting 10/13/25! Start learning today and become part of the growing movement to transform animal sheltering.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 9/13/25.
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
