Shelter Learniverse

Webinar - 5/28/24 - Diagnostic Testing in Shelters and Low-Resource Situations - VETGirl
2024-05-28 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
No money, no problem!
In this 1-hour, VETgirl small animal webinar, Dr. Lena DeTar, DACVPM, DABVP-SMP will talk about the philosophical approach to diagnostic testing and options that are commonly available in animal shelters or low-resource environments. Tune in as Dr. DeTar draws from her experience in shelters, field clinics, and access to care scenarios to provide practitioners with the tools necessary to refine/re-define their “basic” database!
Not a VETgirl ELITE member? Get your learning on with the #1 veterinary CE resource – clinically relevant, practical, and accessible 24/7 on your own time! Don’t miss out – click HERE to check out your options, including our new 14-day, no-commitment ELITE Trial.
WEBSITE LINK: https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/may-28-2024-diagnostic-testing-in-shelters-and-low-resource-situations/

Online Event - Fourth Thursdays - Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection - Maddie's Fund
2024-05-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
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 Event - 5/23/24 - Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection: Removing Behavior-Related Barriers to Adoption - Maddie's Fund
2024-05-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
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.
Session Topic: Removing Behavior-Related Barriers to Adoption
Guest Speaker: Devan Amundsen, Animal Welfare United
Dog training is always a highly valued resource at a shelter or rescue. However, when we look at the realities of dog training and the behavioral effects of the shelter environment, we find that training in a shelter can be difficult to justify. So what do we do about the behavior-related barriers to placing dogs out into homes? This presentation will explore that topic, and offer concrete solutions for some of our toughest behavior challenges.
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 - 5/23/24 - How to Create the Future - Nonprofit AF
2024-05-23 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
Are you ready for a radically inclusive, radically strength-based, and radically visionary approach to systems change?
In your work to create a better world, you deserve to have approaches that actually change things. Not just changing a government policy or two, but true systems change, where we change the whole situation, the whole field.
That requires that we FIRST change how we’re THINKING about the situation. Because only when we change the way we see things do things really change.
Join Nonprofit AF’s Vu Le and Creating the Future’s Hildy Gottlieb as they explore what it really takes to create the humane, healthy, equitable world we want to live in.
Vu and Hildy will introduce a framework that will shift your thinking from reacting incrementally to what’s wrong in our communities, to creating what is possible. From scarcity and going it alone, to the power of radical inclusion and Collective Enoughness – sharing and building upon each other’s strengths.
If you’re tired of working your tail off to achieve only incremental, baby-step results, come join the conversation! Registration is free. We look forward to seeing you on May 23rd.
(Illustration by Camila Leão for Fine ActsxOBI, CC license 4.0)
WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ms7zsNX8SRels9RGk60W7A#/

Webinar - 5/22/24 - Whiskers on the Way: A Fear Free Guide to Kitten Season Preparation - Fear Free
2024-05-22 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Kitten season brings many challenges and opportunities for shelter staff and the rescue community. Kittens are subject to illness and significant fear, anxiety, and stress during their most vulnerable period, and preparing now can help you make a positive impact on their physical and emotional wellbeing. Join us on May 22 at 8 p.m. ET, with Elite Fear Free Certified® Veterinary Technician, Tabitha Kucera, RVT, KPA-CTP, CCBC, VTS (Behavior), as we discuss how you can prepare for a successful kitten season.
In this webinar, you will learn:

How to reduce FAS in kittens
Techniques for handling and socializing kittens
How to create a safe and supportive environment for kittens in need
Practical strategies and tips, such as disinfecting with an effective product such as Rescue, for ensuring the physical and emotional wellbeing of kittens in your care

WEBSITE LINK: https://fearfreellc.webinargeek.com/whiskers-on-the-way-a-fear-free-guide-to-kitten-season-preparation

Webinar - 5/22/24 - Considering Communication: Strategies To Improve Behaviour Change in Clients - PPG (fee applies)
2024-05-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
As dog trainers, we often excel at changing dog behaviour, but may forget the importance of communication skills. Our role as animal advocates and client advisors requires us to excel at communication too. Our ability to share our knowledge and coach new skills ultimately facilitates changing our client’s behaviour in order to change their dog’s behaviour. Good communication builds relationships, gets buy-in, creates passion, develops patience and fosters motivation when our clients are feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, confused or frustrated. Yet, relatively little of our education encompasses communication skills. This webinar focuses on communication strategies for obtaining a case history, the practical use of empathy and compassion, and providing constructive, personalised coaching and reinforcing feedback. We will discuss the value of silence, the use of analogies and humour, our own body language, and how to measure your communicative success. After all, good communication is a skill we can develop if we are self-aware enough! Participants will learn tips for tailoring communication for each individual client to optimise outcomes for training success.
Learning objectives:

Understand the role communication skills play in building relationships with clients
Identify opportunities to provide reinforcing feedback to clients
Identify opportunities to provide constructive coaching to clients

Presenter: Petra Edwards PhD, BSc (Animal Behaviour) (Hons) Cert IV TAE. PCT-A, TAGTeach Level 2
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/considering-communication-strategies-to-improve-behaviour-change-in-clients/

Webinar - 5/21/24 - Saving Lives: Mindfulness in Animal Welfare - HASS
2024-05-21 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
Animal welfare professionals struggle with maintaining their mental health for a multitude of factors including challenges with work-life balance, traumatic experiences within the shelter, and more. It’s up to the industry to care for the PEOPLE that are doing the life-saving by creating care opportunities for better mental health in the shelter. Join panelists Dr. Jyothi V. Robertson, Founder of JVR Strategies & Journey You Own along with José Ocaño, Founder & CEO of Hatching, to discuss the importance of mindfulness in animal welfare and best practices the industry can implement today to support the people who save pets.
WEBSITE LINK: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/2317152070307/WN_7PBiaCntTXKdj1bKbmLZBw#/registration

Online Event - 5/21/24 - All Call: Advocating for Funding with the HASS Budget Calculator - California for All Animals
2024-05-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
On May 21, Dr. Ellen Jefferson and Maggie Lynch will join the call to introduce the new HASS budget calculator, which was created to address the persistent underfunding of animal services. This workshop will cover how to use the calculator tool and its results to advocate for budgets appropriate to meet the public’s expectations around humane care and shelter lifesaving. Bring your questions and data inputs, and we’ll work through examples together!
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.
About the Presenters
Dr. Ellen Jefferson, DVM, is the President and CEO of Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) and leads APA!’s national outreach arm, American Pets Alive!. In 2020, at the start of the COVID pandemic, Dr. Jefferson responded to the urgent need to keep pets out of shelters and with people by launching Human Animal Support Services (HASS), a collaborative movement to transform animal services to support the bond between pets and people. Dr. Jefferson has received multiple national awards for her work, including the first-ever Rich Avanzino Leadership Award and the Maddie’s® Fund Inaugural Hero Award. She serves on the Mars Advisory Board for the Global Index to End Pet Homelessness and the Shelter Advisory Council for Pedigree Foundation.
Maggie Lynch, Senior Director of Research and Development, oversees the strategy for meeting the research and data needs of Austin Pets Alive!, including for the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) project. Maggie has been a leader at APA! since 2015, first as the head of the philanthropy team and moving to R&D leadership in 2022. She brings a background in academic research, performance measurement, program budgeting, and executive management to her R&D role, along with a talent for telling the story of the “why” of social change and for translating research and data into tools for bringing about substantial change in animal welfare.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call

Webinar - 5/21/24 - Community Cats 2024: Saving Free-Roaming Cats' Lives in the Most Humane Way Possible - CalAnimals
2024-05-21 10:00 - 11:15 | Virtual
One of the most important work of shelters these days is serving local communities by engaging in life-saving, humane – and legal — community cat programs (CCP) for outdoor-living cats. If you want to know about the issues, and how to do CCPs right, join us for a walk through the challenges, particulars, and legalities of community cats in California, prepared by the San Francisco SPCA’s Shelter PALS (Shelter Policy and Legal Services) program.
When it comes to community cats in California, the sheltering industry is much stronger together. Standardizing CCP operations across the state will help people, animals, and local governments, so that we can lift up communities who do not yet have them, avoid problems in communities who already have CCPs, and best position the movement to defend CCPs against any challenges.
In this 75-minute webinar, attendees will learn the factual and legal basics of community cats, how to support those programs with local ordinances, and also how to sign up your shelter for free legal support to set up or shore up the CCP in your own community.

Presenter: Bruce Wagman, Attorney, SFSPCA Shelter PALS

WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p_hreMMiT-C-fSfGkhUpXA#/

Webinar - 5/20/24 - Successful Dog Adoption Placement in Families - PPG (fee applies)
2024-05-20 13:30 - 14:30 | Virtual
Join Michelle Stern for this webinar where attendees will learn more about how best to place rescue/shelter/breeder dogs into families with children.
We will discuss some of the challenges for parents raising dogs and kids together. We will focus on decompression, safety, and management for new adopters. During the webinar, we will also discuss what to look for when it comes to matching dogs with families, red flags, and conversation prompts to guide families during the adoption/placement process.
Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn about the challenges of placing dogs with families who have children.
The canine body language to look for during the meet & greet phase.
How shelter and rescue staff can implement a strategy to help families pick a suitable dog making adoptions more successful in families with kids

WEBSITE LINK: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/successful-dog-adoption-placement-in-families-with-kids-with-michelle-stern/

Online Meeting - Mondays - Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie - Maddie's Fund
2024-05-20 11:00 - 12:00 | 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 $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. If you registered prior to May 2024 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvo2024Registration
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/CommunityConvo2024Registration

Online Certificate Program – Starts 5/20/24 – Animal Shelter Behavioral Management Certificate Program – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)
2024-05-20 | Virtual
The shelter environment is a very stressful place that affects the psychological well-being of the animals. Comprehensive behavior programs are essential to keep the animals behaviorally and emotionally healthy during their stay. This eight-week course will give you the knowledge and skills to develop an effective behavior program aimed at improving the welfare of the animals in your care.
05/20/2024 – 7/14/2024 – Now available for registration.
Who will benefit from this program?

Anyone currently affiliated with an animal shelter or rescue organization who wants to learn more about animal behavior as it relates to the shelter/foster environment.
Anyone who wants to improve the emotional wellbeing of the animals in your care.
Anyone seeking a behavior specialist position with an animal shelter or rescue organization.

What You Will Learn

Gain knowledge on how to read dog and cat animal body language and signaling
Learn techniques for safe, humane handling of the animals
Understand how the shelter environment effects the emotional wellbeing of the animals and how to use stress reduction techniques to improve welfare
Gain knowledge on how to keep the animals physically, mentally, and socially stimulated through shelter-wide enrichment programs
Understand the value of effective canine and feline behavior assessments
Obtain the knowledge and skills needed to implement training and behavior modification techniques to improve the behavior and emotional state of the shelter animals
Obtain skills needed to ensure quality customer service for adoption counseling and follow-up.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs): 4.8 CEUs
Course Code: UNSM 050
Course Price: $399
WEBSITE LINK: https://uc.pacific.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=2133958

Online Course – Starts 5/20/24 – Professional Dog Training: Science & Application – IAABC (fee applies)
2024-05-20 | Virtual
Training is simple, but it’s not easy! There’s canine learning to understand, practical skills and timing to master, and of course, the human part of the equation to consider. Professional Dog Training: Science & Application is a comprehensive 20-week program designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed as a dog trainer.
Program Highlights:

Each module features lectures and materials packed full of information and designed by a practicing dog training and behavior professional.
You won’t just be watching videos – throughout the program you will engage in weekly online meetings, projects, assignments, and topic-based discussions.
We learn better together! The program is designed using a community learning model; your active participation contributes to everyone’s educational experience and the success of the program.
Assessment of your work is iterative; you are always given an opportunity to improve!

Instructor: Camille Asmer CDBC, IAABC-ADT, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA
Presenters include:
Lauren Novack; Renee Hall; Kathrine Christ; Tabitha Kucera; Michelle Mullins; Erin Jones; Dante Camacho; Allie Bender; Emily Strong; Alicia Harantschuk; Jackie Laubacher
Module topics include:
Principles of Learning Science; Practical Learning Applications; Body Language & Communication; Training & Management Tools; Puppy Fundamentals; Enhancing Animal Welfare & Management Through Enrichment; Husbandry & Cooperative Care Strategies; Client Communication; Client Instruction; Teaching Group Classes; Practical Ethics for Dog Trainers
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WEEKLY ONLINE MEETINGS**

Meetings are a safe space to ask questions, share your experiences, and learn from peers. They are not recorded.
Meetings take place on Mondays at 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time. The first meeting is May 27th.
Meetings are 60 minutes in duration
There are 20 meetings for this program

WEBSITE LINK: https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/professional-dog-training-science-application/

Webinar - 5/18/24 - Targeted TNR & Getting the Most Bang for your Buck - Community Cats Podcast
2024-05-18 11:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
The more cats you fix, the more impact your TNR program will have, right? Wrong! Spay/neuter volume alone is rarely enough by itself to keep consistently reducing a community’s free-roaming cat population over time.
Another aspect to the program needs to be identifying areas of high need (meaning, lots of cats) and then focusing TNR resources at that location in order to achieve high sterilization rates.
Discover what targeting is, why it’s so important and how you can do it no matter how large or small your program currently is.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/targeted-tnr-getting-the-most-bang-for-your-buck-presented-by-neighborhood-cats-may-2024/

Hybrid Conference - 5/15/24 to 5/18/24 - Animal Care Expo 2024 - HSUS (fee applies)
2024-05-18 06:00 - 10:30, 2024-05-17 06:00 - 21:00, 2024-05-16 05:30 - 16:00, 2024-05-15 05:00 - 18:00 | Henry B. González Convention Center, San Antonio, TX, United States
Animal Care Expo is the largest international educational conference and trade show for animal welfare professionals and volunteers. We are excited to host Expo 2024 in San Antonio, TX, May 15-18 at the Henry B. González Convention Center, where we expect to welcome over 2,500 attendees. Experts from all facets of animal welfare around the globe will join together to learn about the latest programs, share best practices, gain inspiration, and build lasting connections.
Animal Care Expo 2024 offers:

Nearly 100 workshops across 12 tracks.
An expansive exhibit hall providing the opportunity to engage with animal welfare organizations, vendors and sponsors, learning about the latest products and services in the industry.
Continuing education opportunities in a variety of disciplines.
Networking opportunities where you can share knowledge, gain advice and draw inspiration from the experiences and outlooks of your global colleagues.
A dog park with adoptable dogs and cattery with adoptable cats where attendees can take some time from their day to unwind and cuddle with adorable animals.
Plus, several delicious plant-based meals throughout the conference.
Hands-on community service activities are planned for the exhibit hall as well as out in the community on May 15 (more to come).

Altogether, the networking and educational opportunities at Animal Care Expo yield professional and personal dividends for attendees that last throughout the year and beyond.
WEBSITE LINK: https://humanepro.org/expo

Online Event - 1st Tuesdays - All Call - California for All Animals
2024-05-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
The All Call is a twice-monthly, California community call for animal well-being professionals. The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity. The call is a mix of presentations, storytelling, open discussion, and Q&A time.
The All Call is hosted by the California for All Animals team, Nadia Oseguera-Ramón, Ivy Ruiz, and Allison Cardona. You only need to register one time. Calls are sometimes recorded; recap emails with supplemental resources are sent post-call. Find past call resources and recordings, including the recent Multicultural Engagement Community of Practice series, at the Cal for All Animals website.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call

Webinar - 5/14/24 - WILD TO WONDERFUL! Socialized Kitten = Happy Adopter - The National Kitten Coalition
2024-05-14 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Join NKC for a special presentation by guest speaker Mike Phillips, LVT from Urban Cat League. Learn about preparing shy, saucy, or under-socialized kittens for adoption and learn the right follow-through strategies for success.
This comprehensive presentation will guide you through each step of the process to transform rescue kittens from wild to wonderful, and it will share valuable resources that will help ensure the adoption process is successful.
WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7817109692002/WN_95iM5r9ORgebjEvH9XkveA

Online Meeting - Mondays - Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie - Maddie's Fund
2024-05-13 11:00 - 12:00 | 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 $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. If you registered prior to May 2024 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvoRegistration2024
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/CommunityConvo2024Registration

Webinar - 5/9/24 - Management vs Training for Behavior Problems - FDSA (fee applies)
2024-05-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Training for behavior problems is different from training basic obedience, in that it involves finding and motivating behaviors incompatible to your problem ones, plus changing the underlying emotions that can give rise to those problems in the first place! Let’s talk about those familiar ABCs, but let’s break them down into A-B, and B-C!
Additionally, avoiding rehearsal of behavior issues is an important part of their resolution. Most people are working at stopping the display of undesirable behaviors while they’re happening, but the best way to do this is to have a set of skills that are so well practiced that they are almost a script you can follow! Management is a skill unto itself, and has to be addressed separately from the specific behavior change needed long term.
In this webinar Dr. Cook will go over:

The structure and goals of behavior modification, and whether you need a new A, a new B, or a new C!
How management is crucial to reducing unwanted behaviors
Movement skills: Magnets and hand touch
Stationary skills: Perching and treasure hunt
Home skills: Mat skills, interruptions, and solo play

If you have a dog with a behavior issue, getting a handle on how management and training are different — both in their goals and their execution — is crucial to your success!
Presenter: Amy Cook, PhD
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/webinars

Online Seminar - 5/7/24 and 5/9/24 - Keeping Families Together: How to Support Domestic Violence Survivors and Their Pets - CVMA (fee applies)
2024-05-09 17:30 - 18:45, 2024-05-07 12:30 - 13:45 | Virtual
In this session, we will discuss the link between domestic violence and pets and how the veterinary community can increase access to veterinary care for survivors and pets by supporting pet housing programs at domestic violence shelters. Studies show that 65% of domestic violence survivors have a pet, but nearly half delay or avoid leaving abusers out of concern for their pets.
Veterinary professionals are likely to interact with survivors and their pets and have the opportunity to identify signs of potential abuse, respond to situations of crisis, and connect survivors to resources. Helping survivors and their pets stay together requires collaboration between human services, animal services, and veterinary services. Establishing lines of communication, providing resources, and sharing expertise between veterinary providers and human services removes significant barriers.
After this session, veterinary professionals will feel confident on how to navigate next steps in building relationships in their communities and supporting local pet-housing programs at domestic violence shelters.
Date and Time

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 | 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Registration closes May 3, 2024

Thursday, May 9, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

Registration closes May 7, 2024

This course qualifies for 1.5 CEU.

CVMA Online Seminars are convenient interactive presentations offering CEUs held in real-time. This learning platform allows you to participate from anywhere with internet access – from your practice, your home, or anywhere you have an internet connection. Attending is as easy as a few mouse clicks. You will only need internet access and either computer audio, a headset, or a telephone.
This seminar is open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary hospital staff, and veterinary students only.
Webinar is live and interactive. Webinar may be recorded by the CVMA for internal use and training purposes. All other recordings are prohibited.

WEBSITE LINK: https://cvma.net/continuing-education/upcoming-ce/cvma-online-seminar-domestic-violence-webinar/cvma-online-seminar-domestic-violence-webinar-information/

Webinar - 5/9/24 - Maddie's Insights: Impact of Classical Counterconditioning (Quiet Kennel Exercise) on Barking in Shelter Dogs - Maddie's Fund
2024-05-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
A major welfare concern in animal shelters is excessive barking from kenneled dogs. This contributes to noise pollution, can cause hearing damage, and has a negative impact on all animals within earshot. This study demonstrated that by implementing a simple classical counterconditioning exercise, consisting of instructing all ward passers-through to toss treats to each dog regardless of behavior exhibited, could change the emotional state of dogs from negative to more positive, thus reducing fear and frustration that often leads to excessive barking.
Data analysis showed that implementation of this simple exercise did reduce barking at clinically relevant levels even with a changing shelter population. Additionally, for each percent increase in compliance rate, there was an average decrease of 17.3 dB in the maximum decibel reading. Moreover, an overall positive change in attitude from most dogs towards visitors further showed the positive effects of the study.
Learning Objectives:

Attendees will learn to identify and apply basic learning theory, specifically focusing on Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning, to dogs in a kennel setting.
Attendees will learn to identify risks and consequences of noise pollution in shelters, and also ways to reduce it to improve welfare of all species in the shelter.

Can’t attend the live event? Register anyway! This webcast will be recorded, and a link will be sent a day after the live event ends.
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 approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.
Speakers:
@Sara Bennett, DVM, MS, DACVB (Behavior), she/her/hers
Clinical Assistant Professor, Veterinary Behavior Specialist
Department of Clinical Sciences
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
@Jamirelis Carrero (Jami)
DVM candidate
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
WEBSITE LINK: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister

Webinar - 5/8/24 - Place More Pets Now with These Easy Changes - Best Friends
2024-05-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Shelter and rescue workers like you are working tirelessly to save the lives of homeless dogs and cats across the country. Sometimes, we need to go back to the basics, like making it as easy as possible for people to adopt from or foster with you!
Join your peers from shelters and rescues, along with Best Friends staff, in a live Q&A discussion on open adoptions and fostering. This panel will feature Heather Owen, Executive Director & Co-Founder of One Tail at a Time; Lawrence Nicolas, President of Jacksonville Humane Society; Misha Goodman, Animal Care Services Director of Bernalillo County Animal Care and Resource Center; and Dawn Binion-Stewart, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) for Best Friends Animal Society.
This webinar will equip you with tangible advice for breaking down barriers in your adoption and foster processes to include your entire community. Register to join live and submit your questions when you register.
WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/7117134723360/WN_lfloMG4HQEuO3yIUlh2fDA#/

5/8/24 - How to be an Expert Witness in Animal Cruelty and Custody Cases - The AAWA
2024-05-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Three legal experts will discuss:

the role of the animal expert in court proceedings, including testimony in court as well as advising and educating attorneys
preparation for testimony, including cross-examination
best practices for the forensic witness
war stories and current trends

This session will reduce the fear of the unknown and instill confidence in testifying by explaining what is expected of an expert witness and outline things one should and should not do on the stand. Veterinarians often are especially reluctant to become involved with cruelty cases because of the fear of testifying in what they consider a potential adversarial situation and may feel they must make the entire case or speak in absolutes.
Target audience: veterinarians, animal control officers, anyone who may engage in an animal cruelty or custody investigation and be asked to testify as an expert.
Speakers:

Don Cocek, APA Fellow, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
Gillian Deegan, Prosecutor, Botetourt County, Virginia
Melinda Merck, DVM, Veterinary Forensics Consulting

WEBSITE LINK: https://bit.ly/49wCJ0o

Online Course – Starts 5/8/24 – Animal Behavior Consulting: Principles & Practice – IAABC (fee applies)
2024-05-08 | Virtual
The IAABC Animal Behavior Consulting Principles & Practice Course is a unique twelve-week multi-module course providing a comprehensive overview of the many facets of animal behavior consulting for all species. The course is appropriate for experienced behavior consultants and practitioners as well as those newer to the field with a strong interest in animal behavior. The course features weekly online meetings with a Course Mentor discussing each learning module.
Course Begins: May 8, 2024
Duration: 12 weeks
Instructor: Erin Jones, PhD, CPDT-KA, IAABC-ADT, CDBC
Course Highlights

27 renowned experts in the field
a comprehensive overview of Animal Behavior Consulting for all species
the only course to cover all facets of Animal Behavior Consulting
weekly online Mentor Meetings for ongoing support and further learning

Presenters include:
Dr. Mary Burch; Dr. Dan Estep; Dr. Susan Friedman; Dr. Lore Haug; Dr. Suzanne Hetts; Dr. Karen Overall; Dr. Chris Pachel; Chirag Patel; Ken Ramirez; Kathy Sdao; Mychelle Blake; Veronica Boutelle; Kristin Buller, LSCW; Brian Burton; Steve Dale; Dr. Sheila D’Arpino; Jessica Dolce; Gail Fisher; Sarah Fraser; Dr. Evon Hekkala; Dr. Jessica Hekman; Dr. Elinor Karlsson; Theresa McKeon; Gina Phairas; Randi Rossman; Dr. Rise VanFleet; Miranda Workman
Topics covered include:
Learning Science; Applied Behavior Analysis; Functional Analysis and Intervention Design; Biology; Ethology; Genetics; Marker Training; Case Studies; Desensitization and Counter Conditioning; Program Management; Behavioral Medicine; LIMA Practices; TAGteach; Business Promotion and Social Media Strategies; Interpreting Scientific Studies; the Human Side of the Equation; Sheltering, Fostering and Enrichment; Animal Welfare Science; Compassion Fatigue
** IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WEEKLY ONLINE MEETINGS **

Meetings are not recorded
Meetings take place on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm Eastern (first meeting May 15th)
Meetings are 1 hour in duration with the exception of Week 7 (June 26th) which is 2 hours in duration
There are 12 meetings for this course

WEBSITE LINK: https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/animal-behavior-consulting-principles-practice/

Webinar - 5/7/24 - Press Pause on the Parvo Panic: Preventing a Case from Being an Outbreak - VETGirl
2024-05-07 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Did your parvovirus case turn into a parvovirus outbreak?
In this complimentary, 1-hour VETgirl–Elanco webinar, Dr. Brian DiGangi, MS, DABVP (Canine & Feline Practice, Shelter Medicine Practice) will explore current recommendations and new tools for managing canine parvovirus in shelter environments. Tune in and learn how to plan for safe and successful case management by refining preventive care and biosecurity practices.
Thanks to sponsorship from Elanco, the recording of this webinar will be available to view free and On-Demand until August 7, 2024.
WEBSITE LINK: https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/may-7-2024-press-pause-on-the-parvo-panic-preventing-a-case-from-being-an-outbreak/

Webinar - 5/7/24 - Tribal Law and Animal Law - NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
2024-05-07 12:00 - 13:15 | Virtual
Tribal nations came before and now co-exist with the United States. Each tribal nation’s relationship with the United States federal government and state governments is unique and layered with complex forms of oppression and injustice. These relationships become more complicated with advocacy for companion animals, domestic animals, and wildlife who live on federally recognized reservations, when many tribal nations are still fighting for basic human rights, civil rights, and federal recognition.
Given the expansiveness of tribal law and the uniqueness of each tribal nation, this webinar will highlight some common themes different tribal cultures share that are specific to animals; the struggles that occur in advocating for tribal nations’ needs and the needs of animals who live on reservations; and the challenges that exist with the imposition of mainstream culture onto tribal cultures.
This webinar will then propose collaborative methods with tribal nations that create solutions, which uplift all beings within tribal nations’ lands and legal jurisdictions.
Presenter

As a Criminal Justice Program Fellow, Jessica Chapman works with the ALDF to address crimes against animals, partnering with stakeholders across the criminal justice system to resolve both the impetus and impact of animal cruelty.
Jessica earned a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley where she double majored in Slavic Languages and Literature and Native American Studies (honors). She earned a J.D. (cum laude) from Michigan State University College of Law, where Jessica received the 2020 Wanda Nash Award from the Animal Law Section of the Michigan State Bar. Jessica earned an Animal law L.L.M. (magna cum laude) from Lewis & Clark Law School. While at Lewis & Clark, she was awarded the inaugural 2021 Outstanding Animal Law L.L.M. Graduate Award and earned placement in the Cornelius Honor Society.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/tribal-law-and-animal-law/
