Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

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  • Conference – 3/27/25 to 3/30/25 – 2025 ABVP Symposium – ABVP (fee applies)

    Conference – 3/27/25 to 3/30/25 – 2025 ABVP Symposium – ABVP (fee applies)

    ABVP welcomes all members of the veterinary team to its annual Symposium! Take a look at our AMAZING program offering more choices and hands-on workshops than ever before.

    We are excited for you to experience what we have planned! This year, we are offering more scientific tracks and hands-on workshops than ever before, ensuring there is something for every member of the veterinary team. Don’t wait to sign up for a hands-on workshop — spots will fill up quickly!

    WEBSITE LINK: https://abvp.com/symposium/

  • Hybrid Conference – 4/26/25 and 4/27/25 – Feline Health Symposium – Health Breakthroughs for EveryCat: Focusing on Future Therapies for Feline Heart Disease and Beyond – EveryCat Health Foundation (fee applies)

    Hybrid Conference – 4/26/25 and 4/27/25 – Feline Health Symposium – Health Breakthroughs for EveryCat: Focusing on Future Therapies for Feline Heart Disease and Beyond – EveryCat Health Foundation (fee applies)

    EveryCat Health Foundation and North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine are excited to partner once again for a feline health symposium!

    Join us on April 26-27, 2025 at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh, NC for Health Breakthroughs for EveryCat: Focusing on Future Therapies for Feline Heart Disease and Beyond.

    The focus this year is feline heart disease, including feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with some very exciting news being announced!

    This symposium will feature two tracks:
    a two-day track for veterinary professionals offering continuing education credits, and
    a one-day track for non-veterinary professionals.

    Featured speakers include:
    Joshua Stern, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Cardiology),
    Jose Novo Matos DVM DipECVIM (Cardiology) MRCVS,
    Ronald H. L. Li, DVM, MVetMed, PhD, DACVECC,
    Alex Lynch, BVSc(Hons) DACVECC MRCVS,
    Margaret Gruen, DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB, Fear Free Certified
    and many others!

    Both in-person and live stream options are available!

    WEBSITE LINK: https://felinesymposium.squarespace.com/

  • Webinar – 3/22/25 – The Puppy Playbook: Avoiding Common Behavior Problems – PPG (fee applies)

    Webinar – 3/22/25 – The Puppy Playbook: Avoiding Common Behavior Problems – PPG (fee applies)

    This webinar is for puppy guardians, breeders, and trainers. It focuses on how to prevent behavioral problems in dogs in the future.

    How we raise our puppies from conception to adulthood can prevent behavioral problems in many dogs. These are anxieties, separation, aggressive dogs, and nervousness. This is for the majority of dogs; there are exceptions, but there is so much we can do to prevent future problems.

    Webinar Objectives – What You Will Learn

    1. How breeders can raise robust puppies.
    2. How puppy guardians can raise more robust, independent puppies with good socialization, routine, and training
    3. How trainers can integrate exercises into classes to help  owners/guardians teach good habits to prevent future problems

    Presenter – Robin Bates

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/the-puppy-playbook-avoiding-common-behavior-problems-with-robin-bates/

  • Webinar – 3/11/25 – Loose Leash Walking Success for Clients with Mobility Disabilities – PPG (fee applies)

    Webinar – 3/11/25 – Loose Leash Walking Success for Clients with Mobility Disabilities – PPG (fee applies)

    Loose leash walking can be far more challenging to train than it appears, and for clients with mobility disabilities, it can present even greater difficulties. Veronica Sanchez, M.Ed., CDBC, CPDT-KA, explores how mobility disabilities can affect a client’s ability to train loose-leash walking and presents practical training techniques and strategies to help clients succeed.

    Learning Objectives

    • How mobility disabilities can affect clients working on leash walking
    • How loose leash walking criteria may need to be adapted for clients with mobility disabilities
    • Techniques for introducing leash walking when the handler uses a wheelchair, walker, or other adaptive equipment
    • The importance of precise positioning for dogs walking on leash with clients who have mobility disabilities, and strategies for training positioning
    • Key foundation behaviors that support loose leash walking
    • Simple, effective strategies to help clients practice leash walking while navigating their disability

    Presenter – Veronica Sanchez M.Ed, CABC, CPDT-KA

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/loose-leash-walking-success-for-clients-with-mobility-disabilities-with-veronica-sanchez/

  • Webinar – 3/4/25 – Apartment Living: How To Work Around Challenges of Living with Pets in an Apartment – PPG (fee applies)

    Webinar – 3/4/25 – Apartment Living: How To Work Around Challenges of Living with Pets in an Apartment – PPG (fee applies)

    Are you struggling to share your life with your pets while living in an apartment? Or have you recently relocated your life and family to an apartment and are now experiencing unique challenges with your dog’s behavior?

    Like any unique environment, apartment living provides specific training challenges for you and your pet. Sometimes, a short potty break can provide lots of close and intense stimuli that your dog may not be comfortable with. What about internal noises from neighbors, elevators, and many other unpredictable stimuli that impact your dog’s comfort level?

    This webinar will cover some essential elements to consider when choosing an apartment. We will also look at some of the protocols and training processes that can be implemented to help your dog comfortably acclimatize to apartment living alongside conditioning programs to help modify problematic behaviors you may be experiencing.

    Learning Objectives

    • Understand what the “nice to haves” are when looking to rent.
    • Review a list of things you can begin to work on in preparation for moving into an apartment.
    • Understand the beneficial exercises you can work on to help your dog adjust to stairs, neighbors, elevators, close quarters, and strange people.
    • Understand and learn some great management activities and routines to help prevent the escalation of problems while you work through a training plan.

    Presenter – Yvette Van Veen PCT-A

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/apartment-living-how-to-work-around-challenges-of-living-in-an-apartment-presented-by-yvette-van-veen/

  • Online Certificate Program – Starts 5/19/25 – Animal Shelter Behavioral Management Certificate Program – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)

    Online Certificate Program – Starts 5/19/25 – Animal Shelter Behavioral Management Certificate Program – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)

    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.

    Dates: 5/19/25 – 7/13/25

    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 – 013
    Certificate Price: $429

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://uc.pacific.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=2133958

  • Online Certificate Program – Starts 4/14/25 – Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program – Marketing and Development – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)

    Online Certificate Program – Starts 4/14/25 – Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program – Marketing and Development – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)

    Society’s relationship to pets continues to evolve. The majority of people consider their pets to be beloved family members and expect their local animal shelter to work diligently to save the lives of the dogs and cats that enter the facility. This program will provide the knowledge you need to assume a management or leadership role at an open-admission animal shelter. You’ll learn how to maximize a shelter’s lifesaving potential through program management, community engagement, and shelter operations while at the same time preparing yourself for an exciting career.

    The five courses are:

    • Leadership covering strategic planning, analyzing operations, decision-making, managing people and processes to achieve results, organizational responsibilities, and working with a board of directors.
    • Shelter Operations covering adoptions, animal care and sheltering fundamentals, animal behavior and enrichment, and customer service.
    • Community Program Development covering volunteers, foster care, spay/neuter, pet retention, events, and community relations.
    • Animal Health and Clinic Operations covering understanding shelter medicine, basic animal health considerations and care, euthanasia decisions, and clinic operations.
    • Marketing and Development covering development fundamentals, fundraising strategies, marketing fundamentals, adoption promotion, social media and websites, and media relations.

    Each of these courses include live video conference sessions with top experts in the field providing students valuable contacts within the field. Additionally, alumni have access to exclusive networking opportunities and receive notification of employment opportunities.

    You can sign up for individual courses or all five for a discount. All five must be completed to get a certificate.

    Who will benefit from the program?

    • Professionals seeking a career change to something more personally fulfilling.
    • New shelter directors.
    • Shelter directors or managers wishing to improve their organization’s live release rate and sustainability.
    • People working in the animal welfare field who wish to advance into management roles.
    • Board members of animal shelters.

    Credit for program/courses

    Upon completion of all five courses, you will receive a Certificate in Animal Shelter Management from the University of the Pacific.

    Each course earns:

    • Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the University of the Pacific
    • Association of Animal Welfare Advancement CAWA Continuing Education (CE) credits

    Individual courses (6 CEUs): $399
    Certificate/all courses (30 CEUs): $1,495, special bundle pricing if you register for ALL courses up front ($500 discount!)

    Schedule and Registration

    Each of the five online courses are six weeks long and are offered sequentially. The entire program is about seven months long, and a new round starts again after a short break. More information on start dates of each course and the registration form can be found on the University of the Pacific website. 

    ​WEBSITE LINK:  http://pacific.edu/education/professional-development/certificate-programs/animal-shelter-management

  • Webinar – 3/12/25 – Telemedicine and Vaccine Clinics in California: How to Use and Comply with the New Laws – CVMA and SF SPCA

    Webinar – 3/12/25 – Telemedicine and Vaccine Clinics in California: How to Use and Comply with the New Laws – CVMA and SF SPCA

    Join the San Francisco SPCA and CVMA (California Veterinary Medical Association)for an exclusive webinar Telemedicine and Vaccine Clinics in California: How to Use and Comply with the New Laws

    This informative session will feature Grant Miller, DVM, Director of Regulatory Affairs for CVMA, and Bruce Wagman, Special Counsel for the SF SPCA’s Shelter Policy and Legal Services program, who will share their expertise on 2025 legislative updates and best practices for veterinarians in private practice and shelters, shelter managers, registered veterinarian technicians, and veterinary assistants in California.

    Register now

    This program has been RACE-approved for 2 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.  

    This comprehensive course dives into recent legislative updates, including:

    • Expanded roles for Veterinarians, RVTs, and VAs under California law.
    • Key implications of:
      • SB 669, which establishes the capacity for vaccine/preventative care appointments and public vaccine clinics throughout the state.
      • AB 1399, enabling telemedicine to establish VCPRs and expand access to veterinary care.
    • Best practices for telemedicine practice.
    • Legal requirements for RVT-only vaccine/preventative medicine appointments and clinics.

    Learn how to integrate these changes into your practice to improve client and patient satisfaction, efficiency, and animal welfare while directly addressing limitations on access to veterinary care.

    • Understand the latest legal and regulatory updates.
    • Enhance veterinarians’ ability to provide services to clients and patients with telemedicine, and understand requirements for telemedicine.
    • Support community service, and animal and public health, with improved and increased abilities for access to veterinary care.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://bit.ly/4i63dti

  • Online Course Application Period – 2/28/25 to 3/11/25 – Spring 2025 Online Instructor-Led Courses – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Course Application Period – 2/28/25 to 3/11/25 – Spring 2025 Online Instructor-Led Courses – Maddie’s Fund

    Spring 2025 Courses begin the week of March 31, 2025

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

    These courses require completion of:

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

    Class size is limited and the selection process is competitive.

    To be eligible, your organization must be a U.S.-based 501c3 or government animal welfare organization. All Maddie’s University courses are pre-approved for NACA and CAWA CE (continuing education) credits.

    Application period: February 28 – March 11, 2025.

    Spring 2025 Course Offerings

    • Adoption Counseling
    • Cat Adoption Team’s Fostering 4 Rock Stars
    • Feline Lifesaving: Essential Cat Programs for Shelters
    • Field Services: Tools & Equipment
    • Fostering Dogs with Behavior Concerns: Supporting Dogs and People
    • Live Better: The Power of You
    • Humane Education: Tools & Techniques to Expand Your Reach
    • Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge Shelter Consultations
    • Marketing Communications 101: The Essentials of Community Connection
    • Pet Support Services: Culture, Collaboration, and Case Management
    • Shelter Clinic Management

    Learn more about each course’s information including course descriptions, instructors, class dates and meeting times on Maddie’s University: https://university.maddiesfund.org/online-instructor-led-courses

  • Webinar – 4/3/25 – Translating Adopters Welcome into other Shelter Programs – Humane World for Animals

    Webinar – 4/3/25 – Translating Adopters Welcome into other Shelter Programs – Humane World for Animals

    Adopters Welcome was developed by Humane World for Animals over a decade ago to encourage shelters and rescues to remove barriers to adoption. While so many individuals and organizations have embraced its framework, the need to think critically about adoption processes remains. In this updated four-part webinar series, attendees will learn how to identify barriers and develop the skills to create a more inclusive, welcoming, and conversational adoption program.

    Adopters Welcome is a community-centered philosophy that can easily translate into all aspects of animal shelter and rescue programs, including lost pet reclaims, access to veterinary care, foster programs, and more. Learn how to bring the Adopters Welcome framework into all parts of your work.

    Presenters

    • Summer Dolder | Adopters Welcome Trainer at Humane World for Animals
    • Audra Farrell | Adopters Welcome Trainer at Humane World for Animals
    • Carol Whaley | Adopters Welcome Trainer at Humane World for Animals

    (Photo by Shelby LaVigna/For Humane World for Animals)

    WEBSITE LINK: https://humanesociety.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AwU7_4WuRM2yxnoSoOaEYA#/registration