Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

Blog

  • CASCAR Zoom Call for California Shelters – 5/18/21 – Dave Hachey & Dr. Lucas Pantaleon  – CASCAR – UC Davis KSMP

    CASCAR Zoom Call for California Shelters – 5/18/21 – Dave Hachey & Dr. Lucas Pantaleon – CASCAR – UC Davis KSMP

    We have an interesting little treat for this coming CASCAR call Tuesday May 18th at 1 pm – we will be hearing from our friends Dave Hachey and Dr. Lucas Pantaleon, part of the team that brought us Rescue, aka accelerated hydrogen peroxide, about a new air purifier they are helping bring to the market. Given the way Rescue transformed shelter sanitation in many places, when Dave says he’s on to something we tend to pay attention over here at team KSMP. They have a little presentation about the product and then we will have Q and A. This is not a sales pitch, really intended to be an informative exchange so we can ask questions and understand the science and potential of a novel approach to pathogen inactivation in the air. I hope we might start seeing some of the technology in other congregate spaces as well so we might as well get a jump on learning about it!

    That may not take up all the time we have, in which case we can talk about whatever is on folks’ minds or kick back early. One thing that is on my mind and that I hope to talk about in more depth in an upcoming CASCAR call is the hints of increasing dog intake/in-shelter populations that have been mentioned on this list. If this is something you’re seeing, I’d love to hear about it. If this is something you’re NOT seeing, I’d also love to hear about it! I know there’s been a lot of anxiety, which I share, about reopening and seeing shelters get inundated to pre-pandemic levels or beyond. On the other hand, I know not all reopening is necessarily a negative so I’d really appreciate getting some of the nuances and reasons behind what is happening out there now.

    CASCAR room link: https://sheltermedicine.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJQtdO-srDItyMz7xy-ZsncbcFa6s8kKZg

  • Webinar – 5/13/21 – Six Weeks in a Crate? Perioperative Behavior Strategies to Improve Patient Well-being – ACVB (fee applies)

    Webinar – 5/13/21 – Six Weeks in a Crate? Perioperative Behavior Strategies to Improve Patient Well-being – ACVB (fee applies)

    Imagine the frustration for you and the owner of the dog who re-broke its leg after an expensive surgery to repair it. In this webinar, stress and its effects on healing will be reviewed. Additionally, specific, concrete suggestions on how to prepare dogs and cats pre- and post-hospitalization will be presented, including ideas for management, behavior modification, and medications.

    About the Presenter

    Melissa Bain

    Dr. Melissa Bain is a veterinarian and Professor of Clinical Animal Behavior, and is board-certified by both the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and the American College of Animal Welfare. She received a Master’s degree in Advanced Clinical Research from the UC Davis School of Medicine in 2007. She is a past president of both the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. In 2016 she was selected as the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year, awarded by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and in 2019 she was selected to receive the Companion Animal Welfare Award from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Additionally, she is the Director of Professional Student Clinical Education for the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Her responsibilities include student and resident education, clinical case management, and research.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.dacvb.org/page/webinarseries#bain

  • Webinar – 6/2/21 – How to Handle Aggression Calls When you Don’t Handle Aggression – PPG (fee applies)

    Webinar – 6/2/21 – How to Handle Aggression Calls When you Don’t Handle Aggression – PPG (fee applies)

    This webinar is for the dog trainer, shelter worker, rescue worker, groomer, or animal control officer. When someone calls with a “my dog is aggressive/ has bitten etc” call and that isn’t your “lane” how do we ethically and effectively get those owners seeking help to proper professionals in a quick, informative, and safe way?

    Learn to address this without leaving an owner trying to handle the abyss of our unregulated industry only to end up with the wrong person and an all-around bad experience we hear and see all too often.

    Learning Objectives

    • Identify ways this person can manage their situation in the immediate.
    • Get them to quickly understand why a vet visit for this is necessary.
    • Get them to understand that they are being referred out.
    • Know how to find someone you can refer to and what evidence-based resources the owner has access to learn from in the meantime

    About Your Presenter

    Tabitha Davies CPDT-KA, ACDBC, FF-C, CTDI

    Tabitha was born and raised in a small town in Ontario, Canada and moved to Southern California in the 90’s. She always dreamed of being a veterinarian, during high school she started an internship program that provided her the opportunity to work as a veterinary technician in a clinic located in Palm Desert.

    Shortly after starting the internship, she quickly realized how many dogs were being euthanized for behavior issues and how little access there was to trainers in the area. Tabitha discussed her concerns with the veterinarians and with their encouragment started to pursue her education in canine behavior.

    Tabitha spent the next year raiding local libraries and reading every book on training, behavior and the evolution of canids. She eventually graduated highschool and continued working as a veterinary technician while training her own dogs and horses.

    Tabitha has been training professionally for over 17 years and handling behavior cases for the past 9 years. She is currently certified with CPDT-KA, ACDBC, FF-C, CTDI, and is working towards PCBC-A. She has a farm which includes goats, horses, chickens, tortoises, turtles, pig, cat, and dogs and all of them are rescued or adopted. Tabitha also has three wonderful children and my best friend, the man who keeps us all together.

     

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://petprofessionalguild.com/event-4280745

  • Webinar – 6/2/21 – Noise Phobia update. The newest, greatest and latest in the diagnosis and treatment of noise phobia – VETGirl

    Webinar – 6/2/21 – Noise Phobia update. The newest, greatest and latest in the diagnosis and treatment of noise phobia – VETGirl

    “It’s not just all about fireworks and thunderstorms!”

    In this VETgirlZoetis veterinary CE webinar, where Dr. Lisa Radosta, DACVB reviews what’s new with noise phobia. Noise phobia affects almost 50% of the dogs in the United States. Noise phobia is the behavioral chameleon masquerading as generalized anxiety, inappropriate elimination and global fear. Join us to learn the latest research, treatments and patient presentations.

    Thanks to sponsorship from Zoetis, this webinar is free to all!

    Not a VETgirl ELITE member? VETgirl ELITE members receive 100+ hours of RACE-approved, online veterinary CE/year ($249). That way, you know that you have flexibility to view any of our webinars (including small animallarge animalveterinary technicianleadershippractice management) and listen to our podcasts when you have time.

    All the webinars are recorded and can be viewed 24/7 after their release date for CE credit. If you’re watching the recording later on, don’t forget to take the CE quiz with it when you’re done to get your CE certificate!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/june-2-2021-noise-phobia-update-the-newest-greatest-and-latest-in-the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-noise-phobia/

  • Webinar – 6/2/21 – YouTube LIVE: Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease: Clinical Conundrums – VETGirl

    Webinar – 6/2/21 – YouTube LIVE: Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease: Clinical Conundrums – VETGirl

    If you don’t know what CIRD stands for, here’s why you need to attend this free CE!

    Join us for a complimentary, 30-minute VETgirl – Merck Animal Health YouTube LIVE event, where Dr. Carol Reinero, DVM, PhD, DACVIM reviews Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD), providing practical clinical guidelines helpful in disease management. In dogs with an acute onset of respiratory signs, learn about how a comprehensive history and physical examination can be used to increase the suspicion of CIRD. You will also learn about preventative measures, specific diagnostic tests, and when and with what we should treat (including antimicrobial guidelines).

    Thanks to sponsorship from Merck Animal Health, this YouTube LIVE event is free to all. Get free RACE-approved CE when you watch it LIVE!

    NOTE: To attend this YouTube LIVE session, there is no “registration.” To attend, simply go to our YouTube Page at the time of the event where the webinar will be hosted, LIVE! Clicking on the link above will allow you to also set a reminder! Subscribe to our channel here also so you never miss another video! 1 week before the presentation, the registration link will be updated with the specific YouTube page for the LIVE event!.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/june-2-2021-youtube-live-canine-infectious-respiratory-disease-clinical-conundrums/

  • Online Event – 6/3/21 – Live from the Ranch – Ken Ramirez with Emma Parsons and Clive D.L. Wynne, Ph.D. – Karen Pryor Academy

    Online Event – 6/3/21 – Live from the Ranch – Ken Ramirez with Emma Parsons and Clive D.L. Wynne, Ph.D. – Karen Pryor Academy

    Join Ken Ramirez, KPCT’s Chief Training Officer, for a free virtual event live from The Ranch on Thursday, June 3, at 12:00 pm (PT). Ken will be joined by Emma Parsons to demonstrate new techniques from the Click to Calm protocol and show how they can be applied to all dogs, whether they are reactive, shy, or just easily excited. Then, Ken and Clive D.L. Wynne, Ph.D. will explore his latest book and papers, including the efficacy of the clicker and dominance theory. The episode will include live training demos, audience Q & A, and so much more!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://theranch.clickertraining.com/live/

  • Webinar – 6/7/21 – MAC 2021 Webinar Series – The Future of Sheltering: Human Animal Support Services – Massachusetts Animal Coalition

    Webinar – 6/7/21 – MAC 2021 Webinar Series – The Future of Sheltering: Human Animal Support Services – Massachusetts Animal Coalition

    What if there was a way animal welfare organizations could meaningfully address and solve the root causes of why animals enter shelters in the first place? The Human Animal Support Services (HASS) project is a collaborative effort of more than 500 animal welfare experts, 40 shelters and 36 working groups that are aiming to do just that. In the process, big lessons are being learned, revolutionary changes are happening, barriers in the community are broken down as the community becomes more involved – all allowing animals and people to stay together.

    Learn about:

    • The different components of HASS, how these components work to break down barriers making adoption, fostering, vet care etc accessible to all communities and how you can easily implement them in your organization.
    • Proven strategies for reducing intake and housing more pets outside of the shelter.
    • Embracing technology, repurposing staff, and accomplishing the HASS model without a lot of extra funding.
    • Utilizing Volunteers in ways you never imagined to make all of this possible.

    Speaker Information

    Kristen Hassen is the Director of Maddie’s American Pets Alive!, overseeing the Maddie’s Academy, Human Animal Support Services, and other lifesaving initiatives. Kristen formerly served as the Director of Pima Animal Care Center, an open admission, government animal shelter in Tucson, Arizona with an intake of 20,000 animals annually and a live release rate of 93%. While at PACC, Kristen launched many of the Human Animal Support Services initiatives, including building the nation’s largest municipal shelter foster program, with 5,500 pets going to foster care annually. Before that, Kristen served as the Deputy Director at Austin Animal Center, in Austin, Texas and the Assistant Director at Fairfax County Animal Shelter in Fairfax, Virginia.

    WEBSITE LINK:  http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=dmv5lydab&oeidk=a07ehw9aaoj0f484258

  • How to Decrease Decibels and Decrease Stress

    How to Decrease Decibels and Decrease Stress

    Close your eyes for a minute. What do you hear? Maybe birds chirping, a gentle breeze rustling leaves, a happy cat purring. Or, more realistically, phones ringing, doors slamming, the clang of dishes being cleaned, trash bins being emptied, and the persistent hum of the people around you. Which soundtrack puts you at ease, and which makes you want to pull your hair out (or, if you’re a cat, squeeze into the corner of your hidebox)? Noise levels affect our mood and well-being, and of course the same is true for shelter animals, with a little added pressure: Eat well, get good sleep, and put your best self forward for potential adopters!

    If we want to improve animals’ health and well-being while they’re in the shelter and give them the best chance at finding a home, we need to think beyond optimizing cages and kennels to optimizing the rest of the shelter environment, and University of British Columbia researcher Bailey Eagan has some helpful tips on where to start. Based on data gathered at the British Columbia SPCA, Bailey and her fellow researchers found cats exhibited more fear behavior when noise levels in the shelter were highest and more maintenance behavior like eating or grooming when sound levels were lowest, and that, overall, sound affects behavior and likely also cat welfare and should be controlled as much as possible. 

    Lower the Volume on a Budget

    Yes, you can decrease decibels on a budget! Follow Bailey’s practical advice below for reducing four common sources of shelter noise.

    1
    2
    3
    4
    1

    Opening and closing doors and cupboards

    Budget fix: Use silicone or felt pads and line doors with weather-stripping tape. Try to keep doors closed when possible, which helps create a noise barrier.

    Splurge: Spring for a commercial door closer. 

    2

    Stainless steel enclosures rattle when opened or closed

    Budget fix: Add Plasti Dip coating to areas where metal meets metal, which can decrease sound by as much as 60 decibels. 

    Splurge: Install a ShorLine Quiet-Closing Latch.

    3

    Cleaning and filling metal food dishes

    Budget fix: Replace metal dishes with rubber-coated dishes or place a towel under the dish.

    4

    Filling and transporting garbage bins

    Budget fix: Place a foam pad between the bottom of the garbage bag and the bin and use a quiet dolly to move bins around.

    Though cats are especially sensitive to environmental stress, minimizing noise levels is good for dogs and humans too. Bailey points out that while hearing damage begins with prolonged exposure to sound measured at 70 decibels for humans and 100 decibels for dogs, noise levels in animal shelters can reach up to 120 decibels.

    For more tips on measuring and minimizing sound in your facility and the importance of preserving some peace and quiet for animals as shelters open back up—and an impactful demonstration of just how loud routine shelter activities can get—watch Bailey’s fascinating presentation to CASCAR, the California Animal Shelter COVID Action Response group (presentation slides available here).

  • Online Event – 5/25/21 – Maddie’s® Candid Conversations Series – Dr. Jyothi V. Robertson, Shelter Strategies – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Event – 5/25/21 – Maddie’s® Candid Conversations Series – Dr. Jyothi V. Robertson, Shelter Strategies – Maddie’s Fund

    Join us for an open, informal 30-minute conversation and Q+A with Dr. Jyothi V. Robertson, President and Founder of JVR Shelter Strategies.

    In this discussion with Maddie’s Fund Executive Leadership Team member Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Dr. Robertson postulates how different fields (environment, education, etc.) are interwoven, and that relying on an animal-centric focus keeps us from examining some of the systemic, root causes of the issues we face. Bringing new conversations to animal welfare can lead to more diversity, inclusion, equity that will offer a fresh perspective on how an individual may face multiple types of overlapping discrimination and how that affects our work and success.

    Afterwards, continue the conversation with Dr. Robertson on Maddie’s Pet Forum.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYscu-qrj0oHdTfvmmzypVmIwzFVQ39Ak78

  • Conference – 9/10/21 to 9/12/21 – Midwest Animal Sheltering Conference – Missouri Coalition of Animal Care Organizations

    Conference – 9/10/21 to 9/12/21 – Midwest Animal Sheltering Conference – Missouri Coalition of Animal Care Organizations

    Join Missouri Coalition of Animal Care Organizations for the Midwest’s annual conference designed exclusively for animal rescues and shelters. Whether you’re a rescue volunteer, executive director, foster coordinator, or shelter veterinarian, the conference offers sessions for all levels of engagement. Workshops and sessions feature nationally-renowned speakers that present on hot topics in animal sheltering and rescue. The conference offers an invaluable opportunity to network and form vital relationships with your colleagues that are facing the same challenges as you every day. We come together to celebrate your victories and to find solutions to common problems, because collectively we can save more lives and have happier animals while doing it.

    DETAILS
    The 2021 Midwest Animal Sheltering Conference will take place at Stoney Creek Conference Center in Columbia, MO on September 10-12, 2021. Hotel rooms will be available at Stoney Creek.
    Full details at https://www.missourianimals.org/aboutmasc.

    SPONSORS
    Please e-mail masc@missourianimals.org if your organization would like to sponsor or exhibit at the conference.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://fb.me/e/eprLstWuX