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  • Webinar – 4/21/23 – Surrender Prevention Series: Jumping – GoodPup

    Webinar – 4/21/23 – Surrender Prevention Series: Jumping – GoodPup

    This is the fourth installment of GoodPup’s new webinar series: Surrender Prevention; Addressing Common Behavioral Challenges.

    During the spring webinar series, GoodPup will break down how to provide some preventive management and simple solutions for addressing a variety of common behavioral challenges experienced with the welcoming of new family members. The series begins in January with House Training struggles including common setbacks and the demands encountered within different lifestyles. Then they’ll dabble into other challenges during the following months including barking, jumping, mouthiness, crate concerns and reactivity to unfamiliar people.

    This month’s topic is: Jumping!

    There are a variety of reasons that dogs jump.  It may provide a solution for them to get what they want or need.  Or, it may just be a way for them to express themselves; to communicate.  And, while jumping is a normal behavior for our dogs, if left unaddressed, it can certainly become an undesired and even unsafe one.

    In this webinar GoodPup will focus on how best to address our dogs that love to jump. We’ll identify different reasons why our dogs jump. Then we’ll explore how to prevent the jumping from becoming a problem and we’ll build some plans together as a group to help us solve when jumping is already a problem. This is one team discussion you won’t want to miss.

    GoodPup will be following their April webinar with a May webinar on mouthy behavior.  Again, they’ll discuss various situations where dogs express mouthiness; talk about how to use management to help prevent the behavior from ever starting and lastly look at some problem solving tips with dogs that are already displaying the behavior as a concern.

    Register for this free webinar here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/surrender-prevention-series-jumping-tickets-604107099597

    Presenter:

    Kait Hembree VTS (Behavior), CVT, KPA CTP
    Head of Training at GoodPup

    Kait Hembree and her team designed the GoodPup Training Program using the latest scientific research and positive reinforcement training techniques. Kait’s career in Animal Behavior spans decades. She has extensive experience working with behavior modification both in and outside veterinary practices and animal shelters. She regularly consults as a dog behavior expert across the country.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/surrender-prevention-series-jumping-tickets-604107099597

  • Online Conference – 6/13/23 – The Solutions Summit – The AAWA (fee applies for non-members)

    Online Conference – 6/13/23 – The Solutions Summit – The AAWA (fee applies for non-members)

    Our long history of innovation inspired our June 13 virtual event, The Solutions Summit. Our staff designed the summit to inspire us all to continue thinking outside the proverbial “box” — and, indeed, to think outside our shelter walls — to address our most pressing challenges.

    We’ll start the day off with a keynote address from Dr. Michael Blackwell of the University of Tennessee’s Program for Pet Health Equity. Dr. Blackwell will propose answers to the following questions: Are your mission and personal, professional, and organizational goals aligned with what your community needs? and Are your organization’s policies and procedures aligned with societal needs?

    Enjoy solutions-focused discussions on big issues like access to care, staff retention, and building momentum for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. And learn from your colleagues who will share their own solutions, large and small. Free for full members of The Association.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://learning.theaawa.org/solutions-summit

  • Webinar – 4/27/23 – It’s Raining Cats and Kittens: How to Save More Feline Lives This Kitten Season – HASS

    Webinar – 4/27/23 – It’s Raining Cats and Kittens: How to Save More Feline Lives This Kitten Season – HASS

    It’s raining cats and…kittens. Kitten season is upon us and feline lifesaving is front of mind. We’ve convened a panel of experts to share their best kitten season tips, tools, and tricks to help you save lives this year—and prevent a seasonal population boom in years to come.

    Our Q&A-style panel includes Peter Wolf, Senior Strategist for Shelter and Community Research at Best Friends Animal Society; Monica Tarant, Chief Innovation Officer: Feline Lifesaving at Cincinnati Animal CARE with the Give Them Ten Movement; Danielle Bays, Senior Analyst for Cat Protection and Policy, the Humane Society of the United States; Marnie Russ, National Kitten College Program Administrator at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington and Co-Founder of the National Kitten Coalition; and Neil Hay, Senior Director of Operations at Austin Pets Alive!. Vincent Medley, Director of Human Animal Support Services, will moderate.

    Register below and send questions in advance to webinars@americanpetsalive.org. We’ll see you live for a cat-tastic night on Thursday, April 27 at 5 p.m. CT.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/2616740581796/WN_NMLK-YrQRDO0xqsX-Ah9bA

  • Celebrate ACO Appreciation Week with California for All Animals

    Celebrate ACO Appreciation Week with California for All Animals

    Field officers have to be adept at handling not only stressed animals but stressed people too. We appreciate their hard work and dedication every day, and we can’t say it enough. National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week offers us a chance to pause and acknowledge the care and assistance they provide.

    This week at California for All Animals, we’re sharing the stories of just a few of the many amazing field officers working across the state. Join us in celebrating the ways they’re collaborating to build safer, healthier, more compassionate communities for animals and people, one conversation at a time.

    For officers like Christina Avila, working in animal welfare can be as challenging as it is rewarding. Nine years ago, Christina decided to step away, but after a year off, she was back, this time as a senior officer at City of Perris Animal Control, and everything changed. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say Christina changed everything. Find out how she went from total burnout to lighting a fire under her team to adopt a culture of support and create new opportunities for pets and people in her community.

    Visit the California for All Animals website to meet Christina Avila, and check back throughout the week for more ACO stories to come!

    Photo: Senior Animal Control Officer Christina Avila, center, celebrates a mobile spay/neuter community event with her team. Credit: City of Perris.

    Read Christina’s Story
  • Online Event – 5/2/23 – Your PPG Shelter & Rescue Divisional Meetup – SFACC FETCH: Helping Long-term Shelter Dogs Thrive via Consistency and Enrichment – PPG

    Online Event – 5/2/23 – Your PPG Shelter & Rescue Divisional Meetup – SFACC FETCH: Helping Long-term Shelter Dogs Thrive via Consistency and Enrichment – PPG

    Location: Login to Zoom directly or watch this event live-streamed in the PPG Member Group on Facebook

    Hosts: K Holden Svirsky & LT

    Guest: Pauline Le and Jessica McEntee

    A casual presentation with live group chat and Q&A. Informal, Fun & Educational Just For PPG Members

    Location: Login to Zoom directly or watch this event live-streamed in the PPG Member Group on Facebook

    Recorded: Yes, this event is recorded and will be available in the PPG member Group on Facebook.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://petprofessionalguild.com/event-5216805

  • Webinar – 5/20/23 – Targeted TNR & Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck – Community Cats Podcast

    Webinar – 5/20/23 – Targeted TNR & Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck – Community Cats Podcast

    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-2023/

  • Hybrid Conference – 5/4/23 to 5/7/23 – IAABC Foundation Animal Behavior Conference – IAABC (fee applies)

    Hybrid Conference – 5/4/23 to 5/7/23 – IAABC Foundation Animal Behavior Conference – IAABC (fee applies)

    Are you interested in animal behavior and training? If so, you won’t want to miss the IAABC Foundation Conference 2023 coming to Houston and via livestream May 4-7th. The IAABC Foundation, sister organization to the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (the IAABC), will be hosting its annual conference at the The Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria, and you’re invited to join us for four days of learning, networking, and fun.

    This year’s conference features a fantastic lineup of speakers, including experts in dog behavior, cat behavior, horse behavior, and more. You’ll have the opportunity to attend a variety of educational sessions and workshops, covering topics such as:

    • Canine behavior and shelter assessments
    • Feline behavior and shelter enrichment strategies
    • Equine shelter behavior and training techniques
    • Collaboration of Veterinary Medicine and Behavior in a Shelter environment
    • And much more!

    In addition to the educational sessions, the IAABC Foundation is hosting 4 unique off-site events including a visit to the Friends For Life Shelter and BARC Animal Shelter. You’ll also have the chance to network with fellow animal behavior enthusiasts, connect with exhibitors and vendors, and participate in special events such as a silent auction and a cocktail reception.

    A scholarship is available to marginalized communities. Also, IAABC members receive an additional discount, so if you’re not already a member, now is the perfect time to join!

    Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business and connect with like-minded individuals. Register now for the IAABC Foundation Conference in Houston. See you there!

    If you have any questions, contact the IAABC Foundation at questions@iaabcfoundation.org. If you’re interested in looking for a ride or room share, join the conversation at this Facebook Event Page. The event social media toolkit is available for you to use if you would like to share this event with your family, friends and colleagues on social media.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://iaabcfoundation.org/2023-animal-behavior-conference/

  • Online Course – Starts 6/4/23 – Fundamentals of Animal Behavior and Learning – IAABC (fee applies)

    Online Course – Starts 6/4/23 – Fundamentals of Animal Behavior and Learning – IAABC (fee applies)

    By the end of this course, you will be able to:

    • Think scientifically about animal training and behavior consulting for all species.
    • Break training into component principles.
    • Analyze environmental events that maintain behavior.
    • Recognize how labels such as “aggressive” or “submissive” cloud your thinking and work.
    • Establish accurate descriptions of animals who are said to be “confident,” “creative,” “a problem solver,” and how you should approach those learners.
    • Understand the common principles at play in different animals & species.
    • Directly assess behavior and train more humanely and effectively by cutting through the jargon.

    Duration: 4 weeks

    Instructor: JoAnna Platzer, B.Sc. & Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

    This four-week course will begin on the specified start date. The first three weeks will explore the scope of the course. There will be no new content in the fourth week which is reserved for completing final projects, discussion and synthesizing the course content.

    Students will have access to the course for 1 year from the date of their most recent IAABC Foundation purchase.

    Online Lectures: Each week there will be several short videos (10-20 minutes each; typically 60-90 minutes total per week) that will discuss the topics for that week.

    Online Readings with Reading Guides: Each week you will have a scientific reading with a guide to help you navigate the reading. The paper will exemplify the principles being discussed that week.

    Online Assignments: During Weeks 1-3, you will have 1-2 short online assignments each week. Some of these will entail you giving an example and then giving feedback on examples provided by a few of your fellow students.

    Online Posts: During Weeks 2-4 you will post two questions, comments or reflections relevant to the material from the previous week to the discussion forum. You will also respond to at least two of your fellow students’ posts from that week (= a total of four posts per week). Your questions and responses will be graded based on their thoughtfulness and completeness.

    Final Project: During Week 4, you will complete a final project/paper in which you will synthesize the topics covered to cohesively analyze and scientifically critique publicly available training videos and handouts.1

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/fundamentals-of-animal-behavior-and-learning/

  • Online Course – Starts 6/1/23 – Creating Desirable Behavior Around Distractions – IAABC (fee applies)

    Online Course – Starts 6/1/23 – Creating Desirable Behavior Around Distractions – IAABC (fee applies)

    Michele Pouliot demonstrates and explains how to train reliable behaviors around surprises, temptations, and all those daily events that present challenges for dogs. Trainers working with companion and sports dogs, as well as guide dogs, will benefit from this!

    This course will help you:

    • Identify what environmental cues trigger undesirable behaviors in each individual dog
    • Create an effective training plan, teaching the dog to choose desirable behavior without human prompting in mild, and even highly distracting situations
    • Successfully manage challenging situations for both dog and handler

    Full Students have instructor support in the class Forum to ask any questions you have during the course.

    Auditors have access to course material only.

    Course Begins: June 1, 2023
    Duration: 4 weeks
    Instructor: Michele Pouliot

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/creating-desirable-behavior-around-distractions/ 

  • Webinar Series – 5/6/23, 5/20/23, and 6/3/23 – The Art of Raising a Happy, Healthy Kitten – National Kitten Coalition

    Webinar Series – 5/6/23, 5/20/23, and 6/3/23 – The Art of Raising a Happy, Healthy Kitten – National Kitten Coalition

    The National Kitten Coalition and the EveryCat Health Foundation are hosting a three-part Webinar Series. If you are planning to or have recently added a new kitten to your family, or are looking for information to share with new kitten families in your community, this series will provide crucial information for raising a kitten into a happy, healthy cat.

    Part One: Getting Ready for Your New Family Member May 6th, 2023, 12:00 – 1:30 pm EDT.
    This session will cover:
    -Selecting The Right Kitten (evaluating your needs and expectations, where to go, what questions to ask)
    -Preparing Your Home (kitten proofing, necessary supplies, litterbox logistics)
    -Where To Go For Help (finding the support you need)

    Part Two: Raising a Happy Kitten May 20th, 2023, 12:00 – 1:30 pm EDT.
    This session will cover:
    -Socialization (kitten kindergarten, introduction to new experiences)
    -Understanding Behavior (environmental enrichment, appropriate play)
    -Fear Free Handling (training techniques)

    Part Three: Raising a Healthy Kitten June 3rd, 2023, 12:00-1:30 pm EDT.
    This session will cover:
    -Routine Vet Care: (finding a cat-friendly practice, vaccines, spay/neuter)
    -Normal Development: (growth and nutrition)
    -Common Health Issues: (what to watch for to help decide when to go to the vet)

    This series is free to attend, thanks to our generous sponsors! Register once for access to all three events! You will utilize the same link to attend all three sessions.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3294773884135102303