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  • Town Hall – 12/17/20 – 2020: When plans change. – Best Friends

    Town Hall – 12/17/20 – 2020: When plans change. – Best Friends

    2020: When plans change.

    As a year complete with an ongoing pandemic, political division and social tension around systemic racism comes to an end, now is the time for reflection. Navigating the chaos has changed how animal welfare is conducted. How does that impact our strategic plans and how can we use our learnings the most impactful way possible?

    Join us as we sit down with three completely different organizations and ask them all the same thing: “What does strategic planning mean to you and why is it more important now than ever?”

    Moderator:
    Bethany Heins, director, operations & strategic projects, national programs

    Panelists:
    • Becca Britton, executive director, Neighborhood Pets
    • Paula Powell, director, El Paso Animal Services
    • Brent Toellner, sr. director of national programs, Best Friends Animal Society

    Thursday, December 17th @ 6PM EST – Register Here

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://network.bestfriends.org/tools-and-information/best-friends-town-halls

  • Webinar – 1/18/21 – The New Normal: Spay/Neuter by Five Months of Age – National Kitten Coalition

    Webinar – 1/18/21 – The New Normal: Spay/Neuter by Five Months of Age – National Kitten Coalition

    The National Kitten Coalition is excited to host Dr. Philip Bushby and Esther Mechler from the Feline Fix by Five program of Marian’s Dream to present on sterilizing kittens by five months of age.

    There is confusion in the general public and private veterinary community about the optimum time to spay/neuter felines. For many, the recommended time has been six months of age. By that time a cat may be pregnant and shelters are overflowing. For that reason, Marian’s Dream embarked on a campaign to push the recommended age for felines back by four weeks. Dr. Bushby will present his findings on why the change is recommended, specific concerns that people have raised, and the research that supports the change.

    Veterinarians often wait until cats are 6 months old before spay/neuter. The AVMA, AAHA, AAFP and the ASV disagree with waiting that long. The new normal is prior to 5 months of age. Several factors have led to this change:

    1. Mammary neoplasia is the 3rd most common cancer in cats and 85 to 90% of feline mammary tumors are malignant. Spay before 5 months of age significantly reduces mammary neoplasia.
    2. Spay/Neuter prior to 5 months of age reduces unplanned and unwanted litters of kittens.
    3. Castration prior to 5 months of age significantly reduces sexual behaviors which often cause relinquishment of cats to animal shelters.

    It is safe to spay/neuter cats that young. Surgeries are easier, faster and safer. There are no adverse physiologic or orthopedic effects from spay/neuter prior to 5 months of age. Cats in shelters should be sterilized prior to adoption. Owned cats should be sterilized after the kitten vaccination series, but before 5 months of age.

    *The recording for this webinar will be available on NKC’s Archived Webinar page (https://kittencoalition.org/resources/archived-webinars/) within a few weeks after the webinar ends.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4058934446112442126

  • Webinar – 12/10/20 – Recruiting the Next Generation to Your Agency – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Webinar – 12/10/20 – Recruiting the Next Generation to Your Agency – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    How many of you have heard the words “well, we’ve always done it that way” as an excuse to not grow and change? As leaders, it is our responsibility to grow teams with unique points of view to gain fresh ideas and perspectives and ensure growth, change, and continued success in our organizations.  Many leaders, in our industry as well as others, tend to be a bit controlling, and since many of us have done just about every job in animal welfare, we may think we know how to do it all.  We aren’t wrong about knowing how to do it, but do we know how to do it best? This session is designed to discuss how leaders within animal welfare can approach recruitment, retention, and promotion to foster a diverse team of subject matter experts to help take their organization to the next level.

     

    Other Webinars in this Series Include:

     

     

    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.

     

     

    Presenters:

     

    Dr. Josh Fisher has an educational background in population management/medicine, public health, veterinary sciences, informatics, and healthcare administration.  He has been working in the veterinary medical/animal welfare field for over 15 years holding management roles in private practices, cooperate practices, the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, county government, and now as the Animal Services Director for the City of Charlotte/Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

    A strong advocate for professional development and growth in the animal welfare industry, Josh seeks to involve staff in continued education and training opportunities as well as in cutting edge industry research.  His professional interests focus on disease reduction/prevention, advanced marketing/placement and intake reduction tactics, strategic planning, and staff career development in the area of animal welfare.  His projects include increasing interest of veterinary/veterinary technician students in the animal welfare industry as well as working with community veterinarians to break down barriers, develop relationships, and increase involvement in community-focused animal welfare (animal control and sheltering) practices.

    It is a passion of Josh’s to bring a level of awareness to the animal welfare industry in such a way that young adults and college students make the decision to pursue animal welfare as a profession rather than falling into it by chance.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/recruiting-the-next-generation-to-your-agency/

  • CASCAR Zoom Call for California Shelters – 12/10/20 – SF SPCA Shelter PALS: Leveraging Your Medical Team – UC Davis KSMP

    CASCAR Zoom Call for California Shelters – 12/10/20 – SF SPCA Shelter PALS: Leveraging Your Medical Team – UC Davis KSMP

    Are you fully leveraging your medical talent?  

    Calling all executive and medical directors!

    This Thursday, Brandy Kuentzel and Bruce Wagman of SF SPCA Shelter PALS will be back at CASCAR discussing how to optimize your medical talent and the legalities of staff and volunteers performing specific medical tasks in your shelter.

    If you’ve ever wondered:

    • Can vaccines be administered during hold periods?
    • Do shelters need a premise permit?
    • What if we don’t have a veterinarian on site – can we use standing protocols?
    • Is microchipping or administering snap tests the practice of veterinary medicine?

    This CASCAR meeting is for you!

    In this one hour presentation, the PALS team will dive into why shelters are challenging the status quo, what we can and can’t do (yup, let’s talk about those premise permits), the tasks your key personnel are permitted to do and excluded from doing, and how you can use volunteer talent to support your medical team.

     

    Join the Call
    When: Dec 10, 2020 09:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
    Register in advance for this meeting:
    https://sheltermedicine.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJQtdO-srDItyMz7xy-ZsncbcFa6s8kKZg

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Can’t make it? As always, a recording will be made available at www.sheltermedicine.com/cascar/.

  • No Money? No Problem: Moving from Surrender to Support on Any Budget

    No Money? No Problem: Moving from Surrender to Support on Any Budget

    A pet guardian shouldn’t have to choose between making rent or buying groceries and a trip to the vet for vaccinations or an overdue wellness exam, but this is exactly the choice too many face. A recent Access to Care Coalition Report coupled with American Veterinary Medical Association data revealed that 59 million pets live with guardians making under $20,000 a year, and one out of every four households has experienced a barrier to veterinary care in the last two years.

    San Francisco SPCA Director of Community Medicine Jena Valdez, DVM, is working to narrow this gap with a community clinic model that provides preventative pet care to historically underserved neighborhoods in her city. In a new UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program webinar, Valdez shares the path to opening a reduced-cost walk-in preventative care clinic as part of the SF SPCA’s efforts to ensure all San Francisco pets and guardians have access to humane care by 2030.

    Sustainable from year one, the SF SPCA Walk-in Wellness/Call-Ahead Clinic is an accessible and practical model for all shelters, regardless of their budget or access to eager donors. In fact, Valdez noted, the clinic ended up using exactly $0—zip!—of the $50,000 initially budgeted to get the project off the ground.

    If you’re hoping to make a difference in access to care in your shelter or community—or if you just want to be inspired to dream big!—join us in celebrating the clinic’s first birthday and learn how to start and sustain your own community clinic. Discover how Valdez and staff made the case to SF SPCA senior leadership and board to open the clinic and how they’ve succeeded in making it sustainable, scalable, and valuable to pets and their people.

  • Webinar – 12/17/20 – Treatment Options for Dogs Showing Aggression Due to the Emotion of Fear and/or Frustration – Kris Glover, CCAB – PPG (fee applies)

    Webinar – 12/17/20 – Treatment Options for Dogs Showing Aggression Due to the Emotion of Fear and/or Frustration – Kris Glover, CCAB – PPG (fee applies)

    CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT (pending), IAABC (pending), KPA (pending)

    This talk will discuss the use of desensitization and counter conditioning along with their associated tools, for reducing a dog’s aggression caused by fear and/or frustration.

    Learning Objectives

    • What is desensitization and when should it be used?
    • What is counter conditioning and when should it be used?
    • What tools can we use to aid our use of desensitizing and counter conditioning a dog to something they are fearful of and/or frustrated by.
    • The pros and cons of these tools.
    • The importance of not applying ‘a one size fits all’ approach for behaviour modification.
    • Real life tips for real life walking environments.
    • Case studies, for group discussion.

    About Your Presenter

    Kris Glover – Clinical Animal Behaviourist

     

    Kris has been employed by Dogs Trust as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist since April 2018. In February 2019 she took on the role of Manager for the Clinical Animal Behaviour team. Previous to her employment with Dogs Trust she was self-employed and ran a private behavioural and training practise based in Berkshire from 2004-2018. 

    During her 16 year career in the pet behaviour industry she has seen over 4000 dog behaviour cases, and around 1000 cat behaviour cases. Behaviour problems she has worked with range from separation related issues, sound phobias, people and dog aggression as well as some more unusual cases such as idiopathic overnight bed wetting. 

    She very much enjoys working with humans and their pets, and has a special interest in how the relationship between dog and owner influences the success of behavioural rehabilitation programmes. 

    Kris has a BA (Hons) degree in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling, a MSc also in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling and is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (accredited through ASAB).

     

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://petprofessionalguild.com/event-3970074

  • Webinar – 12/10/20 – Understanding Aggression in Dogs – Sezan Ozgunay, CCAB – PPG (fee applies)

    Webinar – 12/10/20 – Understanding Aggression in Dogs – Sezan Ozgunay, CCAB – PPG (fee applies)

    CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT (pending), IAABC (pending), KPA (pending)

    This talk covers the meaning of ‘aggression’ and explores the possible differentials for aggressive behaviour in dogs. Treatment of aggression is not discussed.

    Learning Objectives

    • Terminology busting. Understand the common phrases or words used when discussing ‘aggression’ in dogs.
    • Recognise the underlying emotions that can result in aggressive behaviour, and the possible motivations for aggression.
    • Rule out emotional/motivational differentials for aggression based on observation and history.
    • Appreciate a range of additional factors that could influence the expression of aggressive behaviour in dogs

    About Your Presenter

    Sezan Ozgunay – Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB)

    Sezan is a Regional Clinical Animal Behaviourist for the Dogs Trust, where she has worked for the past 4 years. She is qualified with a BSc and MSc in Welfare and Behaviour Sciences, as well as being a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB). Sezan’s past experiences include working as a behaviour consultant at the University of Bristol, before travelling to Melbourne to work as a Training and Behaviour advisor for the RSPCA. Sezan is passionate about education and enjoys translating evidence-based concepts into practical advice that works for both people and animals. She is particularly fond of in helping owners understand and get the best from their relationships with their ‘high drive’ dogs.


    WEBSITE LINK:  https://petprofessionalguild.com/event-3970141

  • Online Course – Starts 1/26/21 – Animal Behavior Consulting: Principles & Practice – IAABC (fee applies)

    Online Course – Starts 1/26/21 – Animal Behavior Consulting: Principles & Practice – IAABC (fee applies)

    Animal Behavior Consulting: Principles & Practice

    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 on-line meetings with a Course Mentor discussing each learning module.

    Please note, there is no auditing option for this course.

    Date Register
    Course begins: January 26th, 2021
    Weekly online meetings begin: Tuesday, Feb. 2nd at 1 pm Eastern
    Duration: 12 weeks
    Mentor: Barbara Davis, CPDT-KA, CDBC    		 Register Now

     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

    New Registration options:

    • Principles & Practice PLUS includes professional review and direct feedback/recommendations on the Functional Assessment and Intervention Design (FAID) assignment from experts in the field.
    • Our regular Principles & Practice option still includes weekly mentor meetings, but no FAID review is included.

    DOWNLOAD SYLLABUS

    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

    Required Reading

    • How Dogs Learn by Drs. Burch & Bailey (this is not just for dogs!)
    • How 2 Train A ______ by Dr. Patricia Barlow-Irick

    Principles & Practice discount code at Dogwise.com is IAABC10

     

    Class Schedule

    This twelve-week course will begin on the specified start date and includes 12 weekly online meetings. All meetings are one hour in length with the exception of Week 7 which is a two hour meeting. Students will have access to the course material for 60 days after the course ends.

    Course Completion/CEU Requirements

    Students should expect to spend an average of 8-10 hours per week on course material and viewing, depending on individual speed of learning and the week’s materials. Weekly group mentor meetings via video conference and a multi-week functional assessment assignment are requirements for successful completion of the course. Students who miss more than two meetings will not receive credit for the course.

    Registration Information

    P&P P&P PLUS
    CEUs 30 (CCPDT);
    36 (IAABC, KPA, RACE)    		 30 (CCPDT); 36 (IAABC, KPA);
    43 (RACE)
    IAABC & KPA Member Cost $1870* $2125*
    Non-Member Cost $2200 $2500

    *IAABC Members – log into your member account for the discount code
    *KPA Members – contact KPA for the discount code

    Online Course Cancellation Policy:

    • Full refunds available more than 30 days before program start.
    • 50% refund available 16 – 30 days before program start.
    • No refunds available 15 or fewer days before program start.

     

    This program 720-25887 is approved by the AAVSB RACE to offer a total of 43.00 CE Credits (43.00 max) being available to any one veterinarian: and/or 43.00 Veterinary Technician CE Credits (43.00 max). This RACE approval is for the subject matter categories of:

    Category One: Scientific
    Category Two: Non-Scientific-Clinical
    Category Three: Non-Scientific-Practice Management/Professional Development using the delivery method(s) of: Interactive-Distance. This approval is valid in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE; however, participants are responsible for ascertaining each board’s CE requirements.

    If you have questions, email us at courses@iaabc.org.

     

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://m.iaabc.org/courses/principles-and-practice/

  • Online Certificate Program – Starting 3/8/21 – Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program – Marketing and Development – Humane Network/UOP (fee applies)

    Online Certificate Program – Starting 3/8/21 – Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program – Marketing and Development – Humane Network/UOP (fee applies)

    University of the Pacific Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program

    This award-winning online certificate program provides practical information and valuable networking for current sheltering professionals, those looking to advance their career, or move into the field of animal sheltering.

    ​The program’s courses include leadership, shelter operations, community program development, animal health/clinic operations, and marketing/development. 

    Next session starting March 8, 2021 – Marketing and Development

    Program Content

    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 includes 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.

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

     

    1. Leadership Training

    • Strategic Planning for Impact
    • Analyzing Operations and Decision Making
    • Managing People & Processes to Achieve Results
    • Organizational Responsibilities, Structure, and Board of Directors

    Date: 9/14/20 – 10/25/20
    Instructor: Bonney Brown
    Course Code: UNSM 005 51 (6 CEUs)

    2. Shelter Operations

    • Adoptions
    • Animal Care Fundamentals
    • Enrichment
    • Animal Behavior
    • Customer Service

    Date: 10/26/20 – 12/6/20
    Instructor: Denise Stevens
    Course Code: UNSM 010 51 (6 CEUs)

    3. Community Program Development

    • Community Relations
    • Volunteers
    • Foster Care
    • Spay/Neuter
    • Help Desk
    • Events

    Date: 12/7/20 – 1/24/21
    Instructor: Diane Blankenburg
    Course Code: UNSM 015 51 (6 CEUs)

    4. Animal Health and Clinic Operations

    • Understanding Shelter Medicine
    • Basic Animals Health Considerations and Care
    • Euthanasia Decisions
    • Clinic Operations

    Date:  1/25/21 – 3/7/21
    Instructor: Bonney Brown
    Course Code: UNSM 020 51 (6 CEUs)

    5. Marketing and Development

    • Development Fundamentals
    • Fundraising Strategies
    • Marketing Fundamentals
    • Adoption Promotion
    • Social Media and Websites
    • Media Relations

    Date: 3/8/21 – 4/18/21
    Instructor: Diane Blankenburg
    Course Code: UNSM 025 51 (6 CEUs)

    Individual courses (6 CEUs):  $299
    Certificate/all courses (30 CEUs): $1,395, special bundle pricing if you register for ALL courses up front ($100 discount)
    **This certificate program is not eligible for financial aid.**

     

    HUMANE NETWORK WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.humanenetwork.org/shelter-management-certificate

    UOP WEBSITE LINK:  https://uc.pacific.edu/public/category/courseCategoryCertificateProfile.do?method=load&certificateId=192577

  • Webinar – 12/15/20 and 1/31/21 – Playgroups Part 3: The How – Dogs Playing for Life

    Webinar – 12/15/20 and 1/31/21 – Playgroups Part 3: The How – Dogs Playing for Life

    PLAYGROUPS PART 3: THE HOW

    EARN 1.5 CAWA & IAABC CEU CREDITS

    With COVID-19 continuing to be a factor in our daily lives, we understand how challenging it’s been to get back to normal. But that doesn’t mean we should stand still and wait. Dogs Playing for Life is moving forward at full speed to continue to improve enrichment for shelter dogs across the nation.

    That’s why we’ve unveiled our 3-part Every Dog, Every Day! Webinar Series absolutely free of charge, thanks to the generosity of the Petco Foundation and the ASPCA. When you sign up, you’ll get access to three, 1.5-hour webinars with our Chief Program Officer, Mike Kaviani!

    Plus, each webinar course (three total) has been pre-approved for 1.5 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education unit (CEU) credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA), as well as 1.5 CEUs by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) AND 1.5 CEUs by the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). Please send us a request for CEU certification upon course completion!

    Part 1 attendees will be sent the signup links to parts 2 & 3 upon completing the first webinar. View the full webinar schedule below, but be sure to sign up for the first one!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://dogsplayingforlife.com/webinars/