Shelter Learniverse

Online Meeting - Mondays - Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie - Maddie's Fund
2025-09-15 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-22 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-29 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-06 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly 50-minute Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative space to share exciting new programs and research, discuss uncomfortable topics, connect with peers in the industry, and more, all while sharing a common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.
Who Should Join?
Executive directors, animal well-being leaders, shelter workers, pet support professionals, volunteers, rescue organizations and anyone who shares the common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.
Win Ca$h for Attending!
Each month, Maddie’s Fund will be giving away up to $5,000 in grants. You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch on-demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms shared in the chat during the calls.
Register Today
Join us each Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET to receive support and learn about innovative ideas other organizations across the country are seeing success with. If you registered prior to July 2025 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025
All calls are recorded and uploaded to the Community Conversations page on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2025

Virtual Conference - 9/16/25 to 9/18/25 - 2025 G2Z Summit - Equity in Access: Inclusive Solutions for Companion Animal Challenges - Getting 2 Zero (fee applies)
2025-09-16, 2025-09-17 | Virtual
Whatever role you play in the companion animal management and welfare puzzle, you need to attend the 10th National G2Z Summit.
Experts from all facets of companion animal management and welfare, from Australia and beyond, will join together to learn about the latest programs, share best practices, gain inspiration, and build lasting connections.
This is your unique opportunity to access affordable continuing education opportunities in a variety of related disciplines. You will hear from presenters from different backgrounds and all types of organisations, including leaders in advocacy and community engagement, animal management services, shelter medicine and animal care, fundraising and development, and more. From the big picture challenges to the individual dilemmas, our speakers have got something for everyone.
Take advantage of networking opportunities where you can make connections, share knowledge, gain advice and draw inspiration from the experiences and outlooks of your global colleagues.
The three-day Summit will be packed with informative and engaging sessions from diverse perspectives, sharing actionable insights across the whole spectrum of companion animal management and sheltering.
This is the event the animals in your care and in your community, and their people, want you to attend.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.g2z.org.au/10th-national-g2z-summit-and-workshop.html

Webinar - 9/16/25 - Doors Wide Open: Strategies to expand access to care that work - How Field Officers are Addressing Pet Transport Barriers Directly in the Community - Maddie's Fund
2025-09-16 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
Join Open Door Veterinary Collective (ODVC) for a second series of lively conversations on the third Tuesday of the month, from 12 pm – 12:30 pm Pacific Time, as we explore innovative and practical solutions that organizations are using to address barriers to accessing pet care and resources in their communities. We’ll share successful strategies through short 30-minute presentations, panel discussions, video snippets and Q&A sessions.
Join us on September 16 for a dynamic 30 minute webinar in the ODVC + NACA Partnership Series, spotlighting innovative, community-based solutions led by Field Officers. This interactive session features two organizations sharing how they have integrated pet rides into field services to reduce barriers and increase access to care. Learn how this proactive, compassionate approach is helping families stay together the real-life impact of offering transport solutions. Whether you’re exploring new ways to serve or scaling what works, this conversation will inspire practical steps forward.
Panelists:
Dr. Christina Avila, Animal Control Supervisor, City of Perris (California)
Spencer Conover, Assistant Director, Pasco County Animal Services (Florida)
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).
Come make friends and learn to make access to care more achievable for all involved!
Register for the series here: https://maddies.fund/DoorsWideOpenWebcastSeriesRegister
Engage with guest speakers on the Forum discussion thread:
https://forum.maddiesfund.org/discussion/how-field-officers-are-addressing-pet-transport-barriers-directly-in-the-community
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/DoorsWideOpenWebcastSeriesRegister

Online Training – 9/17/25 – Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop Presented by Dr. Rachel Geller – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)
2025-09-17 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
As a Surrender Prevention Specialist, you may be the difference between a cat losing her home and staying in her home. Join this session to learn what surrender prevention is and why it works.
Instructed by Dr. Rachel Geller, she will share real examples, with proven results, setting the potential surrenderer and cat on the road to a happy relationship together and keeping the cat in her home.
We’ll cover how to empathize with cat owners, working around their limitations (financial, time, patience), and focus on the 3 most common reasons for surrender: litter box problems, scratching (and not on the scratching post!), and inter-cat aggression.
Take advantage of the interactive format, extensive handouts, and video footage of actual techniques. This session is being recorded and recordings will be shared. Attendees will receive a certificate after taking a short quiz.
This session is led by Dr. Rachel Geller, founder of All Cats All the Time, Inc. and lasts 1.5 hours, including an optional 15-minute Q&A session. Registration is just $10.00.
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/surrender-prevention-certification-workshop-sept-2025/

Webinar - 9/17/25 - Veterinarians Are the Heart: Your Role in Addressing Animal Cruelty in Your Community - HumaneVMA
2025-09-17 17:00 - 18:30 | Virtual
Presented by: Dr. Kris Otteman, DVM, ABVP, CAWA and Linda Fielder, CAWA
This webinar session will equip veterinary professionals with the knowledge and tools to recognize, document, and respond to signs of animal cruelty. Led by experts in veterinary forensics, animal welfare, and legal advocacy, the presentation explores the vital link between animal abuse and human violence and how veterinarians can play a pivotal role in protecting both animals and people. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a meaningful impact in your community.
Learning Objectives:

Understand the connection between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence
Alleviate concerns voiced by others about reporting animal cruelty including safety concerns
Articulate the differences between forensic veterinary medicine and traditional veterinary medicine
Identify what is considered relevant evidence in animal cruelty cases
Review resources available to find and understand laws in a specific geographic area
Create policies and procedures to prepare the practice to respond and report and be prepared when a case is suspected, or you are asked to assist in your community

WEBSITE LINK: https://humanevma.memberclicks.net/webinar-veterinarians-are-the-heart

Training - 9/19/25 to 9/21/25 - G2Z2025 Feline HQHVSN Workshop - Getting 2 Zero (fee applies)
2025-09-19 - 2025-09-21 | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Created specifically to fill a gap for veterinary professionals, the G2Z2025 Feline HQHVSN Workshop is the only event of its kind in Australia.
We are delighted to be welcoming Dr Becky Morrow (DVM, Grad Cert Veterinary Forensics, Grad Cert Shelter Medicine, MS, CAWA), Assistant Teaching Professor (Penn State University), Adjunct Assistant Professor (University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine) and President and Medical Director of Frankies Friends, to Australia, to deliver the Feline HQHVSN Workshop.
The Feline HQHVSN Workshop consists of one dry lab day on 19th September with all participants. The day includes theory and some practical skills such as ties and knots.
Depending on numbers (up to 100 participants total) the group will split into two groups to undertake the wet lab days on 20th September and 21st September. Each participant team attends one day of the two. The wet lab will be focussed on desexing cats – 50 each day so one male and one female per team.
The goal is to have 100 participants that are made up of 50 veterinarians and 50 nurses/techs/practice manager. We are aiming for a ‘team’ (or more) from each workplace so that there is more than one person taking the knowledge and skills back to the workplace and because much of the value of HQHVSN lies in the processes and non-surgical aspects of the model.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.accelevents.com/e/g2z2025

Online Training - 9/20/25 - Return-to-Field: Saving the Lives of Community Cats - Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)
2025-09-20 11:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
It used to be that a feral cat had little chance of exiting a shelter alive after he entered. But that’s no longer the case. In recent years, more and more shelters have adopted Return-to-Field (RTF) programs. Instead of euthanizing healthy community cats (whether feral, friendly or otherwise), the shelter will spay or neuter, eartip and vaccinate, then return the cat back to where he was found.
We’ll cover the policies behind RTF, the mechanics of implementing the program, current controversies over the RTF of friendly cats, and how to combine RTF with TNR in general to lower cat populations and create sustainability.
Take advantage of the interactive format, extensive handouts, and real-life video footage from actual projects. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and access to a dedicated Facebook group for ongoing networking with fellow TNR advocates.
This session is led by Susan Richmond, Executive Director, and Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, and lasts 2 hours, followed by an optional 15-minute Q&A session. Registration is just $10.00.
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/return-to-field-saving-the-lives-of-community-cats-presented-by-neighborhood-cats-sept-2025/

Webinar - 9/23/25 - Who You Gonna Call? Finding and Utilizing Experts in Animal Cruelty Investigations - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2025-09-23 12:00 | Virtual
The advice, services, and opinions of experts can elevate the quality of your animal cruelty investigations tenfold. Whether you need to consult on the nutritional needs of an unusual species or engage a forensically-trained veterinarian to determine the extent of a traumatic injury, partnering with subject matter experts is an important way to ensure your investigations are comprehensive, your seizures and protective custody plans provide victim animals with appropriate care and handling, and your criminal cases equip prosecutors with the detailed information they need when considering charges.
This webinar will introduce you to types of experts and where to find them, offer tips for building strong relationships with these partners, and provide examples of cases where the participation of an expert-led to positive outcomes. This webinar is a great opportunity to start thinking about how your effectiveness and impact can be magnified whether you are a one-person agency or part of a large organization.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/who-you-gonna-call-finding-and-utilizing-experts-in-animal-cruelty-investigations/

Webinar - 9/23/25 - Vaccination Protocols: Tailoring Protection for Every Patient - Maddie's Fund
2025-09-23 12:00 - 13:15 | Virtual
Still have questions about the new vaccination guidelines established in 2024? Need an update on the recommendations for neo-natals in your program? This presentation explores the essential role of vaccination to protect vulnerable populations, prevent outbreaks, and improve overall animal welfare. Designed for veterinary medical staff as well as shelter staff interested in improving their understanding of vaccination, this session will cover best practices for vaccine selection and scheduling, as well along with the latest recommendations for vaccination of neonates in high-risk environments.
Join Dr. Erica Schumacher, Outreach Veterinarian & Clinical Instructor at the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine on Tuesday, September 23 at 12n Pacific / 2pm Central / 3pm Eastern.
Sign up here for this 75-minute webinar to get your questions answered: https://maddies.fund/WebcastVaccinationProtocolsRegistrationSept2025
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Recognize the Role of Vaccination in Disease Prevention – Understand how vaccination helps protect vulnerable populations, prevent outbreaks, and improve overall animal welfare.
Develop Tailored Vaccination Protocols – Learn how to customize vaccine selection and scheduling based on species, lifestyle, risk factors, and environmental considerations.
Apply Best Practices for Vaccine Administration – Identify proper techniques for vaccine handling, storage, and administration to maximize efficacy and minimize adverse reactions.
Incorporate the Latest Recommendations for Neonatal Vaccination – Explore updated recommendations for vaccinating neonates, especially in high-risk environments.

Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.25 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.25 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been submitted for approval for 1.25 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
Have questions or comments for the guest speaker? Leave them on the discussion thread: https://maddies.fund/ForumVaccinationProtocolsSept2025
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/WebcastVaccinationProtocolsRegistrationSept2025

Webinar - 9/24/25 and 10/1/25 - Lifesaving Labs: Managed Intake - Best Friends
2025-09-24 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-01 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Supercharge your shelter’s lifesaving with Best Friends’ Lifesaving Labs, a virtual series spotlighting five impactful topics designed to help increase your organization’s save rate. Each session features proven programs, engaging workshops, and dynamic discussion panels to spark ideas, share strategies, and support your lifesaving goals. Catch up on-demand or join upcoming live sessions on Wednesdays at 2pm ET!
September & October: Managed Intake

September 24 at 2pm ET: Session #1
October 1 at 2pm ET: Session #2

You’ll also have opportunities like:

Chance for you and your organization to engage in real-time discussions, and ask questions
Resources to help you put action behind the information in your shelter
Opportunities for your organization to submit proposals and be selected for funding to implement featured topics
Recording of the sessions for your reference

WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/1817549180061/WN_McXDOqvQTiK7gcEopvveAw#/registration

Online Event - 9/25/25 - Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection - The Human Side of Shelter Work: Building Compassion Satisfaction and Resilience (Part 1) - Maddie's Fund
2025-09-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Working in animal shelters can be deeply meaningful—and emotionally draining. In this session, Valerie Bogie, MSSW, Veterinary Social Worker, defines key terms while sharing fresh strategies to help you to increase your well-being and continue the work you are so passionate about!
Attendees will learn:

The signs and impact of secondary trauma, burnout, burden transfer and compassion fatigue
Navigating moral distress and tough ethical dilemmas
The importance of compassion satisfaction—and how to cultivate it
Tools to better understand yourself, build resilience, and practice sustainable self-care

This webinar is for anyone working in or around animals in shelters—especially those feeling the weight of the work. Leave with renewed clarity, practical tools, and a reminder that you matter, too.
About Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection: 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 - 9/25/25 - From Kennels to Clicks: What Marketing Strategies Actually Drive Adoptions - Best Friends
2025-09-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Want more adoptions? The data is in — and your marketing strategy might be the key. Join us on September 25 at 4pm ET as we reveal the results of a recent animal welfare marketing survey that shows what really works when it comes to increasing pet adoptions.
Whether your shelter is already performing above average or you’re looking for fresh ways to engage your community, this session will provide actionable insights you can put into practice right away. We’ll dig into how marketing efforts across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and your shelter’s website impact adoption success, and how listing pets consistently on Adopt a Pet and Petfinder plays a vital role. You’ll learn which tactics are working, where your shelter stands compared to others, and how to celebrate the areas where you shine while identifying where you can reach further.
Panelists include Michelle Dunivan, Senior Director of Insights and Analytics at Best Friends Animal Society; Caitlin Quinn, Adjunct Instructor, University of Florida, and freelance communications consultant; and Jessica Arias, Director of Animal Services, City of Burlington, NC. Kasey Spain, Senior Manager of Network Engagement and Shelter Pet Data Alliance, will moderate.
If you’re ready to connect your community work to real adoption results, this webinar is your roadmap. Walk away with practical ideas, inspiration, and a clear call to action: keep doing what’s working, and grow where you can.
WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/4917520773897/WN_3dBw2fQqRR6UwB3AhFf6uA#/registration

Hybrid Conference - 9/26/25 to 9/28/25 - Aggression in Dogs Conference - Puppyworks (fee applies)
2025-09-26 06:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-27 06:00 - 18:30, 2025-09-28 06:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Join the world’s foremost experts on aggression in dogs!
In a Nutshell

Attend Online or In-Person
14 Renowned Speakers
14 Groundbreaking Sessions
Save Additional $10 with Discount Code Puppyworks10
Exchange Ideas with a Community of your Peers

19.5 CEUs​
CCPDT, IAABC, KPA, PPAB, IACP, and PPGA (Whether you attend in-person, online or watch the recordings)
​In-Person Location:
Hilton Charlotte University Place
8629 Jm Keynes Drive
Charlotte, NC 28262
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.puppyworks.com/conference

Webinar - 9/30/25 - Before Four Weeks: Updated Vaccination Recommendations for Neonatal Puppies and Kittens - UC Davis KSMP
2025-09-30 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
We know that the single best way to protect neonatal and juvenile animals from infectious disease is to care for them in an environment where exposure to disease is low, but those environments can be hard to find! Despite efforts to find low-risk housing options for these vulnerable animals, underage puppies and kittens still sometimes end up being housed in animal shelters or other environments where exposure risk is real. Previous recommendations have been to wait until 4 weeks of age to begin vaccination, potentially missing opportunities to provide protection as early as possible.
In this webinar, we’ll explore updated recommendations for early vaccination of neonatal and juvenile puppies and kittens in environments that present meaningful risk. We’ll cover the science, the supporting literature, and most importantly, how to apply these new guidelines in a shelter setting.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Describe the immunological basis for vaccine protocols in neonatal animals
Summarize the literature supporting early vaccination in high‑risk environments
Identify scenarios where early vaccination is recommended due to disease risk
Apply updated vaccine protocols in animal shelters
Adapt vaccination strategies for use in other high‑exposure settings

This webinar has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval, as well as 1.5 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credit by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) and National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA).
Can’t make it live? Register to receive a recording and resources after the event.
Presenters: Kate Hurley, DVM, and Sandra Newbury, DVM
Register now: http://www.shelterlearniverse.com/webinars

Webinar - 9/30/25 - Beyond the Page: Meet the Authors Shaping DEI in Veterinary Medicine - Bridging Gaps in Veterinary Care: Equity, Access, and Innovation - MCVMA
2025-09-30 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association (MCVMA) is launching a new webinar.
Beyond the Page: Meet the Authors Shaping DEI in Veterinary Medicine is a groundbreaking webinar series that brings to life the voices behind Elsevier’s Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine, Parts 1 & 2 – the first comprehensive, open-access DEI publications in veterinary medicine.
Thanks to a generous grant from Maddie’s Fund®, MCVMA secured permanent open access to these volumes. Now, Beyond the Page takes this knowledge further with live, interactive conversations that connect scholarship to action.
Our first installment features none other than Dr. Michael Blackwell, Director of the Program for Pet Health Equity at the University of Tennessee, former Chief of Staff in the Office of the Surgeon General of the U.S., and recipient of the AVMA’s 2025 Frederick Douglass Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award.
We’ll discuss his chapter, “Bridging Gaps in Veterinary Care: Equity, Access, and Innovation,” which explores practical strategies for closing gaps in care, addressing inequities, leveraging innovation, and reimagining how our profession can better serve diverse communities.

Join us! September 30 5pm PT 8pm ET
Read the chapter for free now at: mcvma.org/publications
Register for our free webinar to be part of this inspiring conversation: https://bit.ly/MulticulturalVMABeyondthePage

Online Event - 10/2/25 - Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection: Smarter Systems for Stronger Support - Maddie's Fund
2025-10-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Long Stay Pet Workshop
With every shelter stuffed to bursting, finding fosters and adopters is crucial. For some pets this is simple, but others are harder to place. In this workshop, we’ll discuss your favorite long stay pets to identify strategies for marketing them to fosters and adopters. This workshop is not just for foster staff– it’s open to anyone who is interested in marketing pets who are harder to place!
Make sure to bring information about your own favorite or most challenging long stay. We’ll choose several and work through them together, discussing what works, what doesn’t work and some innovative new ways that can get extra attention and help them find the right home. We’ll discuss how we talk about behavioral and health challenges in bios and social media and discuss the optimal ways to be frank about issues while also not deterring potential adopters. We’ll look at different social media channels and how to optimize content about those pets for those channels to get the message across and help these pets put their best paw forward. Be prepared for a fun, frank and useful webinar with a lot of workshopping and participation!
To submit a question for our presenters or a long stay pet you’d like to discuss during the workshop, please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/i1K3jAvzsJCfRtBs6
Guest Speaker: Finnegan Dowling, Shelter Program and Engagement Manager, Mutual Rescue
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

Hybrid Conference - 10/4/25 - Spectrum of Care Symposium: Incorporating Accessible Strategies into Your Daily Practice - UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (fee applies)
2025-10-04 07:30 - 17:00 | Virtual
Join us at the UC Davis Spectrum of Care Symposium: Incorporating Accessible Strategies into Your Daily Practice at UC Davis, where veterinary professionals come together to explore practical, evidence-based approaches to providing high-quality care across a range of clinical settings and client circumstances. Topics include applying research to real-world practice, accessible diagnostic strategies for cardiac disease, and collaborative, compassionate end-of-life care.
Why Attend?
UC Davis, home to one of the top veterinary schools in the world, provides the perfect backdrop for collaborative learning and professional growth. Attendees will benefit from expert-led sessions and networking with like-minded professionals committed to advancing inclusive and client-centered care.
Experience Davis
Beyond the conference, enjoy the charm of Davis—a vibrant college town known for its bike-friendly streets, welcoming atmosphere, and thriving food and arts scene. Whether you’re enjoying local coffee shops, scenic campus paths, or nearby vineyards, Davis offers a relaxed yet inspiring environment for your professional development.
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm (PDT)
Statutorily Approved CE Credit: Up to 7 hours (pending approval)
Location: In-Person at Gladys Valley Hall, Davis, CA or Live Interactive Virtual Symposium
WEBSITE LINK: https://ce.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/symposia-article/ucd-spectrum-care-symposium-how-incorporate-contextualized-care-your-daily

Online Event - 10/7/25 - All Call - Meeting Challenges Together: Lessons from Fresno Animal Center's Evolution - California for All Animals
2025-10-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Connect with your California colleagues—only two All Calls left!
Central Valley animal welfare organizations and pet owners are meeting shared veterinary challenges with innovation and collaboration to make sure animals get the care they need. Fresno Animal Center Director Alma Torres and her team have built powerful local and regional partnerships—and they’re seeing real results.
At the October 7 All Call, Alma and colleagues Candace Krider, DVM, (Medical Director, Fresno Animal Center) and Samantha Yang (Division Manager, City of Fresno) will walk us through key strategies that have helped the shelter and community navigate difficult times and keep moving forward.
You’ll learn how they’ve:

Established a medical clinic and coordinated with partner organizations to expand spay/neuter access
Launched new community programs to provide free microchips, vaccines, and pet food
And reduced barriers through initiatives like fee-waived reclaims and free adoptions to keep and bring more pets and people together.

Bring your questions to the conversation and leave with lessons you can adapt for your own shelter. Register for the All 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

Webinar - 10/8/25 - Incubators—All of Your Questions Answered - National Kitten Coalition
2025-10-08 16:30 - 17:00 | Virtual
Join us for a fast-paced, informative webinar designed specifically for kitten caregivers: Incubators—All of Your Questions Answered. In just 15 minutes, we’ll walk through the essentials of incubator use for neonatal kittens—what to look for, how to set up and monitor safely, and common troubleshooting tips. Then, stay for a live 15-minute Q&A session where you can ask your own questions or listen in as others share theirs. Whether you’re fostering, working in a shelter, or supporting fragile feline lives in any capacity, this session is for you.
Can’t attend live? No problem—register anyway! All registrants will receive a recording link after the event so you can watch on your own time. Click here to register for this FREE webinar!
WEBSITE LINK: https://kittencoalition.org/event/incubators-all-of-your-questions-answered/

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

Webinar - 10/9/25 - Organizational Culture - HASS
2025-10-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Explore organizational culture in animal welfare—where compassion meets collaboration to drive lifesaving impact. You will learn how cultivating a strong, inclusive culture can fuel innovation, sustain momentum, and transform outcomes for animals in your community.
WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YpDVpC_qQ_uGO3Wm3IaG2g#/registration

Webinar - 10/9/25 - Maddie's Insights: Shelter Practices & Barriers in the Use of Anxiety Medications & Alternatives - Maddie's Fund
2025-10-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Fear, anxiety, and stress are common challenges for cats and dogs in shelter environments, yet little is known about how shelters use psychoactive medications and non-medication alternatives to address these welfare concerns. This presentation will include findings from a recently published study examining which psychoactive medications (such as gabapentin, trazodone, and fluoxetine) and non-medication alternatives (such as pheromones and nutraceuticals) are most commonly used in shelters in North America, how shelter staff perceive their efficacy and ease of administration, and the barriers such as cost, uncertainty about efficacy, and time constraints that limit their use, when warranted.
In addition to highlighting key differences between cats and dogs in reported treatment frequency, this presentation will explore how factors such as shelter type, intake volume, and staff roles influence anxiety-medication decision-making. Attendees will gain a comprehensive overview of current practices, perspectives, and challenges to support them in evaluating and applying this information within their own animal care. Based on the barriers identified, the session will conclude with a research-informed discussion on practical strategies to address these challenges and identify priority areas for future work.
Guest Speaker: Bailey H Eagan, PhD, MSC
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister

Webinar - 10/9/25 - Building a Safety Net of Connections and Resources for Your Community - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2025-10-09 12:00 - 13:15 | Virtual
Human service and animal welfare organizations can significantly support each other’s missions while enhancing the interactions of the people they serve. People will often seek help for their pets before seeking help for themselves, and at the same time, pets sometimes present a barrier to accessing essential services. Here lies an opportunity to ensure that communities have access to and are aware of what services are available, especially in times of crisis or change.
By understanding and sharing available resources in the community, your organization can provide each person with a more individualized approach to ensure all aspects of their situation are being addressed while furthering your mission.
The audience will learn:

How to connect with other organizations
What information is relevant to their front-line staff serving community members
How to build a database of resources
Questions to ask to better serve guests/community members

WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/building-a-safety-net-of-connections-and-resources-for-your-community/
