Drawing from almost 20 years of experience working with feral cats, the folks at Neighborhood Cats have gathered together their favorite ways of catching the wiliest of felines. Whether it’s putting in a clear rear door, using Spam as bait, wrapping your trap with green garden netting or training a cat to enter a trap, you’re bound to learn something new that will improve your trapping success.
Blog
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Webinar – 4/1/21 – When The Evidence Needs A Home: Best Practices for Pre-Conviction Forfeiture Statute Use – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
Animals seized in the course of cruelty cases have unique needs, which can pose challenges involving evidence preservation, unanticipated drains on law enforcement resources, and harm to the animals themselves. Join Animal Legal Defense Fund Senior Staff Attorney David B. Rosengard to discuss how various versions of state pre-conviction forfeiture statutes offer ways to overcome these hurdles, providing better outcomes for all involved.
Webinars in this Series with the ALDF include:
- The Status of Animals in Criminal Animal Cruelty Cases
- Oct 29: Understanding Wildlife Animal Cruelty
- Jan 21, 2021: Preserving the Bond: the Veterinarian’s Role in Pre-Empting Animal Cruelty
- April 1: When the Evidence Needs a Home: Pre-Conviction Forfeiture (this webinar)
- July 15: Prosecuting Farmed Animal Cruelty
Or click here to view and register for other upcoming NACA webinars on the JCH Platform.
The National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) was formed in 1978 for the express purpose of assisting its members to perform their duties in a professional manner. We believe only carefully selected and properly trained animal control personnel can correct community problems resulting from irresponsible animal ownership. NACA’s purpose is to preserve the Human/Animal Bond by insisting on responsible animal ownership.
Founded in 1979, the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. The Animal Legal Defense Fund accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting legislation harmful to animals, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.
Presenters
As a senior staff attorney in the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Criminal Justice Program, David Rosengard works with stakeholders across the criminal justice system to pursue justice on behalf of animal cruelty victims. One of his focus areas is amicus briefs, where he raises appellate-level arguments aimed at enabling courts to reach decisions that not only address the needs of the animals involved in individual cases, but to also better position animals as a whole within the law. David additionally helms the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s groundbreaking work helping animals who have been harmed by criminal cruelty achieve the legal status of crime victims, including efforts to expand Courtroom Animal Advocate Programs which allow pro bono attorneys and law students to act as counsel for those animal crime victims in court.David co-edited and contributed to the second edition of Animal Law in a Nutshell and has published law review articles aimed at assisting prisoners in securing vegan meals (“Three Hots and a Cot and a Lot of Talk”: Discussing Federal Rights-Based Avenues for Prisoner Access to Vegan Meals) as well as illuminating the critical impact legal recognition of animal sentience has on constitutional considerations (A Dog is Not a Stereo: The Role of Animal Sentience in Determining the Scope of Owner Privacy Interests Under Oregon Law). David also teaches animal law at his alma mater—Lewis & Clark Law School, where he graduated twice with honors, as both a J.D. and an Animal Law LL.M. student. While a student at Lewis & Clark Law School, David clerked for the Center for Animal Law Studies, Co-Directed L&C’s Student ALDF chapter, worked in Kenya on wildlife and animal cruelty issues, was an Animal Law Review Editor-in-Chief, and represented the state of Oregon in criminal court on behalf of the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office as a certified law student.
Prior to embarking on his legal career, David earned a B.A. with honors in History and Gender Studies from Claremont McKenna College, and worked in higher education, where he focused on sexual assault prevention and response, peer counseling, crisis management, co-curricular education, sex-blind housing programs, and community justice.
David lives in Saint Helens, Oregon with his spouse and a bevy of rescue animals: two cats (Aldor and Papaya) and three dogs (Ace Octavus, Ellie May, and Puck).
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/when-the-evidence-needs-a-home-best-practices-for-pre-conviction-forfeiture-statute-use/
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Webinar – 3/18/21 – Reuniting and Renesting Orphaned Wildlife – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse
Does your agency or organization get calls about birds and squirrels fallen out of nests, very young raccoons seen without mom, or fawns and baby rabbits alone in fields or backyards? Whether or not you respond to these types of calls or refer them to a wildlife rehabilitator, this webinar will help you determine and achieve the best outcome for these animals. (Spoiler alert: many of these baby animals are probably not actually orphaned!) Learn how to know when intervention is necessary, how to reunite dependent young with their parents whenever possible, and how to best work with wildlife rehabilitators when reuniting is not possible.Other Webinars with HSUS:- March 18: Reuniting Orphaned Wildlife (this webinar)
- May 18: Animal Cruelty Investigations and the Fourth Amendment
- June 8: Helping Wild Animals in Distress
- Aug 3: Did They Actually Live Happily Ever After? Debunking Translocation Myths
- Oct 28: Solving Problems with Cougars and Bears
- Nov 11: Preparing for Court: Tips for Effective Testimony about Animal Crimes
Or click here to view and register for other upcoming NACA webinars on the JCH Platform.
The National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) was formed in 1978 for the express purpose of assisting its members to perform their duties in a professional manner. We believe only carefully selected and properly trained animal control personnel can correct community problems resulting from irresponsible animal ownership. NACA’s purpose is to preserve the Human/Animal Bond by insisting on responsible animal ownership.
Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States and its affiliates around the globe fight the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together with millions of supporters, the HSUS takes on puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries, and together with its affiliates, rescues and provides direct care for over 100,000 animals every year. The HSUS works on reforming corporate policy, improving and enforcing laws and elevating public awareness on animal issues.
Presenters
John Griffin has 20+ years of field experience ranging from resolving conflict issues with raccoons to protecting great apes. As Senior Director of Urban Wildlife Programs for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), John oversees field service and policy programs that resolve conflicts with wildlife. John has provided trainings and consultation for animal care and control, municipal agencies and state agencies. He has led workshops at national, state and regional conferences, and has been a speaker at academic and international conferences. John has also worked extensively with the professional wildlife rehabilitation community as well as to reform the commercial wildlife control industry and serves on advisory boards and working groups with those focuses. John is published on a number of topics and was recently a National Geographic Expedition team member exploring raccoon behavior in urban areas.WEBSITE LINK: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/reuniting-and-renesting-orphaned-wildlife/
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Online Conference – 3/25/21 to 3/27/21 – BSAVA Congress 2021 – BSAVA (fee applies)
Prioritising your time and needs, our annual BSAVA Congress is going fully virtual in 2021!
Join us and veterinary professionals from across the globe for an immersive, interactive event.
We are bringing all the elements you know and enjoy from a physical event into the platform – there will be lectures complete with live Q&As, keynotes and panel discussions, networking, and the virtual exhibition filled with the latest news, products & services from leading industry suppliers.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2021/en/page/home
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Webinar – 3/24/21 – Puppy and Kitten Behavioral Toolbox: Aggression, Anxiety, Medications and Treatment – ACVB (fee applies)
We all look forward to puppy and kitten appointments, but when the patient shows signs of an emotional disorder, things get muddy. Join us for this video and picture filled webinar where you will learn which treatments have been proven to work for fear, aggression, and anxiety in puppies and kittens (and which ones do not), how to recognize abnormal behavior patterns and the early interventions which can help to slow the progression of emotional disorders.
Lisa Radosta DVM, DACVB graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000 and completed a residency in Behavioral Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. During her residency she was awarded the ACVB Resident research award two years in a row. She is the owner of Florida Veterinary Behavior Service in southeast Florida and co-owner of Dog Nerds, a website for owners whose pets have behavior disorders.
She lectures nationally and internationally and has written chapters for textbooks including: Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat; Blackwell’s Five Minute Veterinary Consult; Decoding your Cat and Canine; and Feline and Small Animal Pediatrics. She is the coauthor of From Fearful to Fear Free, the ultimate guide for fearful dogs.
Her research has been published in Journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science, Journal of Veterinary Behavior and The Veterinary Journal and she has written review articles for Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Compendium, NAVC, Veterinary Team Brief, Clinician’s Brief and AAHA Newstat. She has served on the Fear Free Executive Council and the AAHA Behavior Management Task Force.
She has been interviewed for Cat Fancy, Dog Fancy, Palm Beach Post, NAVC Clinician’s Brief, Sun Sentinel, WebMD, AAHA trends, Real Simple, Good News for Pets, DVM 360 and AAHA News Stat. She has appeared on Lifetime television, Laurie Live, local news in southeast Florida, Mitch Wilder’s Amazing Pet Discoveries, Nat Geo Wild, Animal Planet, Steve Dale’s Pet Talk and Dogs, Cats and Scapegoats.
WEBSITE LINK: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7485931871706344207
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Online Workshop – 4/24/21 and 4/25/21 – The Power of Choice And How It Can Decrease Stress in Dogs – Loose Leash Academy (fee applies)
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Do you work with dogs who have big behavior issues and are stressed to the max?
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Do you want to learn more about how giving dogs choices can help decrease their stress and improve behavior?
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Do you want to add more to your toolbox for assessing and modifying behavior in stressed dogs?
Join Irith Bloom (CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CSAT, KPA CTP, VSPDT, CBATI, TAGteacher, VSDTA Faculty, DWA Faculty) and Kristina Spaulding (PhD, CAAB) for two days of interactive learning with working spots for 6 dogs. Irith and Kristina will present on the power of giving dogs choices and how it can decrease dogs’ stress and modify their behavior in a positive way. This workshop will help you hone your assessment and training/behavior plan development skills so you can work more successfully with dogs who are stressed out and have behavior issues.
This workshop is open to trainers, behavior consultants, veterinarians, shelter staff, and anyone else interested in learning more about the power of choice and how it can help decrease stress and improve behavior.
When: April 24th and 25th, 2021
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM US Pacific Time Each Day
Where: Via Live Stream
In this workshop the following topics will be covered:
What is stress?
Definitions and function
Physiology of stress
Why is chronic stress bad?
Effects on health, learning/memory, and behavior
Research on stress
How can we reduce stress?
Stress during development
Control (or the lack thereof)
Adding choice to daily life
Improving coping mechanisms
Enrichment
Cooperation from the animal learner
Training
Petting
Husbandry
Walks
“Room of one’s own”
Why don’t we already do this?
Human need for control
Lack of understanding/cultural fog
Delayed reinforcement (for human)
Teaching animals to make better (by human standards) choices
The matching law and why it matters
Foundation skills for a choice-rich life
Setting up the environment for success
The Schedule – subject to change
DAY ONE
Lecture: What is stress?
Definitions and function
Physiology of stress
Activity: How do you and your dog react to stress?
MORNING BREAK
Lecture: Why is chronic stress bad?
Effects on health, learning/memory, and behavior
Research on stress
Activity: Evaluate your dog’s chronic stress load
LUNCH BREAK
Lecture: How can we reduce stress?
Stress during development
Control (or the lack thereof)
Control as a mediator of stress
Activity: Giving your dog more control
BREAK
Lecture: Adding choice to daily life
Improving coping mechanisms
Enrichment
Activity: Evaluating enrichment options
END OF DAY
DAY TWO:
Lecture: Cooperation from the animal learner
Training
Petting
Husbandry
Walks
“Room of one’s own”
Activity: Choose what you want to
BREAK
Lecture: Why don’t we already give animals more choices?
Human need for control
Lack of understanding/cultural fog
Delayed reinforcement (for human)
Activity: Evaluate your own need for control
LUNCH BREAK
Lecture: Teaching animals to make better (by human standards) choices
The matching law and why it matters
Research on sub-optimal choice making
Cognitive bias in non-human animals
Activity: Matching law activity
BREAK
Lecture: Foundation skills for a choice-rich life
Setting up the environment for success
Activity: Foundation skill related activity
Speaker Bios
Irith Bloom, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CSAT, KPA CTP, VSPDT, CBATI, VSDTA Faculty, DWA Faculty
Irith Bloom is the owner of The Sophisticated Dog, a pet training company based in Los Angeles. She has been training animals since the 1980s and has worked with everything from chickens and rabbits to dogs and horses—not to mention humans. A biologist by training, Irith is fascinated by the science of learning and presents at conferences and seminars worldwide. Her writing has been published both online and in print. She is on the board of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) and Chair Emeritus of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).
In addition to her Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge & Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA) and Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA) certifications, Irith is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC); a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT); a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP); a Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Trainer (VSPDT); a Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor (CBATI); and certified in TAGteach, a positive-reinforcement method for teaching humans. She is on the faculty at Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behavior as well as DogBiz’s Dog Walking Academy.
Irith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania. Her company, The Sophisticated Dog, LLC, offers online virtual training to clients worldwide, as well as in-person training in a limited area of Los Angeles, California. Irith volunteers with National English Shepherd Rescue; the Los Angeles County 2020 Healthy Pets Healthy Families Coalition (a One Health initiative aimed at improving the health and well-being of people and their pets throughout Los Angeles County); and Wallis Annenberg PetSpace
Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB
Dr. Kristina Spaulding owns Smart Dog Training and Behavior LLC. She has a PhD in biopsychology – the study of the biological basis of behavior – and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist through the Animal Behavior Society. Kristina has been in the dog training and behavior profession for 20 years.
In addition to working with behavior clients, Dr. Spaulding teaches a variety of online courses and webinars on the science of behavior. She conducts staff training on dog behavior for local veterinary clinics and animal shelters, and regularly presents on the science of animal behavior at training and behavior conferences.
In addition, Dr. Spaulding is a member of the APDT Education Committee. As a member of this group, she helps the APDT develop and evaluate their educational resources. In 2019, Dr. Spaulding received the Association of Professional Dog Trainer’s (APDT’s) Member of the Year Award. She is also a member of the Fear Free Advisory Group and an authorized Speaker for Fear Free which advocates for minimizing fear, anxiety and stress for pets around the country. She chairs the Quality of Care task force for Meeting of the Minds, a coalition of top dog professionals across the country charged with improving quality of life for our dogs.
Before opening Smart Dog, Dr. Spaulding earned her B.S. in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. In college, she volunteered for a year at the local humane society. She was then hired by the same shelter. During her time at the animal shelter, she and a coworker established a training program for shelter dogs and their volunteer walkers to make the dogs more adoptable. She also served as an assistant trainer at Dog’s Best Friend, which was owned at that time by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell. In 2000, Dr. Spaulding moved to Minnesota where she worked as a dog trainer at a local dog training school before moving to her permanent home in upstate New York.
WEBSITE LINK: https://thelooseleashacademy.com/seminars-list/power-of-choice
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Webinar – 3/11/21 – Room for One More: Introducing a New Dog or Cat to the Household – Dr. Christopher Pachel – Dog iBox
Introducing new pets to an existing pet household can be a daunting or intimidating task for dog and cat owners, and problems associated with these introductions are easier to avoid than they are to solve once they’ve occurred. Knowing how to guide your clients through this process will decrease the risk of conflicts and increase the integration success rate for your patients. This presentation will cover strategies and concepts critical to navigating this process successfully.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.dog-ibox.com/market/catalog/live-webinars/live-webinars-english-c-34/room-for-one-more-introducing-a-new-dog-or-cat-to-the-household.html
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Webinar – 4/29/21 – Your End of the Leash Part Two: Breathe! It’s good for you (and your dog!) – Suzanne Clothier (fee applies)
This webinar is the second in the Your End of the Leash series, which focuses on helping handlers become the best possible partners for their dogs.
No matter how smart your dog may be, no matter how much he knows or can do, he still depends on you as his partner.
Would you want a partner who was tense with gritted teeth and tight breathing? Or would you prefer a relaxed partner, whose movements and expression showed enjoyment in working with you?
This webinar focuses on the simple but oh-so complicated basic of life itself: breathing. We’ll cover:
- Breathe! Why in and out is the best choice
- Breathing as communication – what you tell your dog (maybe without meaning to)
- Effects of breathing on learning & performance
- Observing breathing patterns in yourself and others
- Coaching others
You’ll learn practical techniques to help yourself (and your students) create greater awareness about breathing, along with ways to practice here, there and everywhere.
Bonus: what you learn in your quest to become your dog’s best partner turns out to be helpful in the rest of your life! Breathing awareness can help you relax, reduce tension and stress, and understand how your breathing can affect others.
JOIN US!
ALL WEBINARS ARE RECORDED. A link will be sent to you 48 hours after the completion of the webinar for you to access the recording and watch at your convenience.
If you need CEUs for IAABC or PPAB, instructions on how to get those CEUs will be made available during the webinar. CEUs for IAABC and PPAB are pending.
If this is your first time using GoToWebinar do not forget to test your connection. GoToWebinar offers a test webinar so you can trouble shoot ahead of time. You can find some tips and tricks at the link below provided by GoToWebinar: https://support.goto.com/webinar?c_prod=g2w&c_name=plogin
WEBSITE LINK: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1095548300685667597
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Webinar – 4/15/21 – Permission, Not Permissive – Suzanne Clothier (fee applies)
Have you ever wondered how to be positive in your training and relationship with dogs, and yet not end up just being run over or dragged here & there?
It can be really challenging to find the balance between positive and pushover. It all comes down to understanding the different between permission and being permissive.
This webinar tackles the confusion, and gives you some practical solutions that are simple and effective. Dogs appreciate the clarification! And you’ll learn how to be fair and consistent without having to harden your heart, deprive or ignore your dog.
We’ll cover:
- Explicit, implicit or complicit?
- What does your dog believe?
- Setting boundaries & non-negotiables
- Compromise & criteria
- Now/not now exercises
It can be so disheartening to hear a trainer tell you, “Oh you’re just too soft on that dog” or “Just make him do it” or “Never say NO!” Confusing, isn’t it? It doesn’t have to be. Empathy, compassion, clarity and compromise should not be dirty words in dog training.
This webinar is going to give you the tools to find the right balance for you and your dog while strengthening the relationship. Join us – your dog will thank you!
ALL WEBINARS ARE RECORDED. A link will be sent to you 48 hours after the completion of the webinar for you to access the recording and watch at your convenience.
If you need CEUs for IAABC or PPAB, instructions on how to get those CEUs will be made available during the webinar. CEUs for IAABC and PPAB are pending.
If this is your first time using GoToWebinar do not forget to test your connection. GoToWebinar offers a test webinar so you can trouble shoot ahead of time. You can find some tips and tricks at the link below provided by GoToWebinar: https://support.goto.com/webinar?c_prod=g2w&c_name=plogin
WEBSITE LINK: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/207913663093666061
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Online Conference – 3/8/21 to 3/9/21 – 2021 Great Lakes Animal Welfare Conference – Michigan Humane (fee applies)
The 2021 Great Lakes Animal Welfare Conference (GLAWC) is moving online March 8-9 to keep everyone safe. Just because you can’t gather with all of your animal welfare industry peers doesn’t mean the sharing of knowledge stops. GLAWC 2021 will feature two days full of virtual sessions hosted by the brightest minds in our industry.
We’re proud to announce Humane Rescue Alliance president and CEO Lisa LaFontaine as our keynote speaker! As the keynote speaker at GLAWC, Lisa will be speaking about how COVID-19 has changed animal welfare organizations’ relationship with our communities. From her unique perspective as the President and CEO of the first regional, community-based, multi-state animal welfare organization in the nation, Lisa will discuss how COVID-19 took us from daily operations to helping fill the gap in services left by the necessary restrictions established in the early days of the pandemic.
Animal welfare organizations have gone through a lot this year. Lisa will kick off our conference by helping us reflect on lessons learned and how we should be forging ahead.
What’s to Expect at GLAWC 2021
Our excellent keynote will kick off two days of dynamic, educational programming full of “news you can use” – information you can put to use in your own organization right away! We’re bringing back our “Ask the Experts” sessions, where you can ask national leaders in behavior, like Pam Hill, and shelter medicine, like Dr. Jeanette O’Quin, YOUR questions.
Steve Kaufman, CAWA, from PetSmart Charities will talk about the past, present, and future of adoptions, and we’ll have breakout sessions on setting cat adopters up for success and about barriers to adoption. Hilary Hager, a Senior Director from HSUS, will give an interactive two-part session on resilience/compassion fatigue, which is critically important during these challenging times, and she will also talk about making the most of your volunteer power.
As a special feature, Michigan Humane’s behaviorist, Katelin Thomas, will provide a three-part session on dog behavior, covering common behavior problems from causes to treatment and also addressing how to assess dogs with behavior issues for adoption.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.michiganhumane.org/event/virtual-great-lakes-animal-welfare-conference/