Shelter Learniverse Return to the Shelter Learniverse

Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

Blog

  • Online Course – Starts 1/6/25 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program – UC Davis KSMP Shelter Learniverse

    Online Course – Starts 1/6/25 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program – UC Davis KSMP Shelter Learniverse

    Are you ready to take your career in animal sheltering to the next level? Offered by the Koret Shelter Medicine Program Shelter Learniverse as part of Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge, the Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program empowers frontline animal shelter workers to provide exceptional care, grounded in best practices, with a focus on improving outcomes for animals and communities.

    Through engaging online courses, you’ll gain expertise in:

    • Best practices to reduce animal stress.
    • Foundational animal care and medical care to enhance your skills.
    • Behavior, training, and enrichment for healthier, happier animals.
    • Population management to optimize shelter resources.
    • Daily care best practices that streamline your workflow and maximize impact.

    Whether you’re new to shelter work or a seasoned professional, this program equips you with the tools, knowledge, and recognition to make a greater difference.

    Why Become Certified?

    • Advance your career with professional credentials.
    • Learn practical, actionable skills to improve daily operations.
    • Gain confidence in providing high-quality care for every animal.

    Applications are being accepted for the Winter 2025 session starting 1/6/25! Start learning today and become part of the growing movement to transform animal sheltering. 

    APPLICATION DEADLINE: 12/5/24.

    Certification is currently free, #ThanksToMaddie!

    This program is most relevant for individuals working in public shelters or private shelters with municipal contracts. Enrollment is limited; applicants from these shelter types will be prioritized for this session.

    This session has been filled. Learn more about upcoming sessions at https://tinyurl.com/SCS-General

  • Online Course – Application deadline 12/5/24 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program Winter 2025 Session – UC Davis KSMP Shelter Learniverse

    Online Course – Application deadline 12/5/24 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program Winter 2025 Session – UC Davis KSMP Shelter Learniverse

    Are you ready to take your career in animal sheltering to the next level? The Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program empowers frontline animal shelter workers to provide exceptional care, grounded in best practices, with a focus on improving outcomes for animals and communities.

    Through engaging online courses, you’ll gain expertise in:

    • Best practices to reduce animal stress.
    • Foundational animal care and medical care to enhance your skills.
    • Behavior, training, and enrichment for healthier, happier animals.
    • Population management to optimize shelter resources.
    • Daily care best practices that streamline your workflow and maximize impact.

    Whether you’re new to shelter work or a seasoned professional, this program equips you with the tools, knowledge, and recognition to make a greater difference.

    Why Become Certified?

    • Advance your career with professional credentials.
    • Learn practical, actionable skills to improve daily operations.
    • Gain confidence in providing high-quality care for every animal.

    Applications are being accepted for the Winter 2025 session starting 1/6/25! Start learning today and become part of the growing movement to transform animal sheltering. 

    APPLICATION DEADLINE: 12/5/24.

    Certification is currently free, #ThanksToMaddie!

    This program is most relevant for individuals working in public shelters or private shelters with municipal contracts. Enrollment is limited; applicants from these shelter types will be prioritized for this session.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://tinyurl.com/SCS-General

  • Online Meeting – Mondays – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Meeting – Mondays – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Maddie’s Fund

    Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly 50-minute Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative space to share exciting new programs and research, discuss uncomfortable topics, connect with peers in the industry, and more, all while sharing a common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Who Should Join?
    Executive directors, animal well-being leaders, shelter workers, pet support professionals, volunteers, rescue organizations and anyone who shares the common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Win Ca$h for Attending!
    Each month, Maddie’s Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants. You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch on-demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms shared in the chat during the calls.

    Register Today
    Join us each Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET to receive support and learn about innovative ideas other organizations across the country are seeing success with. If you registered prior to May 2024 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
    https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvoRegistration2024 

    All calls are recorded and uploaded to the Community Conversations page on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvo2024Registration

  • Online Certificate Program – Starts 1/27/25 – Animal Shelter Behavioral Management Certificate Program – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)

    Online Certificate Program – Starts 1/27/25 – 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.

    01/27/2025 – 3/23/2025 Registration now available.

    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

    Course Price: $429

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

  • Webinar Series – 1/7/25, 1/8/25, 1/14/15, & 1/15/25 – Canine Defensive Handling – Puppyworks (fee applies)

    Webinar Series – 1/7/25, 1/8/25, 1/14/15, & 1/15/25 – Canine Defensive Handling – Puppyworks (fee applies)

    Register for this live webinar in four 2 hour sessions presented by Michael Shikashio and Trish McMillan. A crucial skillset for all dog trainers, shelter & rescue personnel to maintain safety in dangerous situations!

    Live Sessions

    A live webinar in four 2 hour sessions
    Tuesdays & Wednesdays
    January 7, 8, 14 & 15
    Or watch the recordings afterwards anytime, anywhere on any device.

    Early Bird Rates
    (through December 6, 2024)
    Individual: $99
    Groups of 4+: $89
    Rates go up by $20 after December 6, 2024

    Earning CEUs​
    10 CEU’s for CCPDT, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA & IAABC

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.puppyworks.com/defensivehandling

  • Webinar – 12/11/24 – Isn’t That Just Medicine: The Art and Science of Spectrum of Care – HSVMA

    Webinar – 12/11/24 – Isn’t That Just Medicine: The Art and Science of Spectrum of Care – HSVMA

    Veterinarians are in the unique and challenging position of balancing the medical needs of their patients with the emotional, physical, and financial needs of their clients and their own moral and legal obligations to both. Embracing the spectrum of care can help to accomplish this delicate balancing act.

    Spectrum of care is the idea that in every situation there is a range of options–both diagnostically and therapeutically–for patients and clients. More invasive, extensive, and expensive options fall on one end of the spectrum while less invasive, more cost-effective options fall on the other, with a wide range of middle ground options in between. Within this range is the best fit for each individual patient and client. The right choice will maximize the patient’s quality of life within the client’s limitations.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Develop an understanding of what the spectrum of care is and how it differs from current definitions of standard of care and gold standard care.
    • Review literature that supports spectrum of care options in management of common case presentations including foreign body ingestion, pyometra, parvovirus, and blocked cats.
    • Develop communication strategies to connect with clients and determine the best fit for each individual pet and family within the spectrum of care.
    • Defining barriers to spectrum of care (more than finances!).

    This webinar is FREE for all attendees. 1.5 hours of RACE CE credits (pending) for HSVMA members only.

    Presented by: Kate Boatright, VMD, Founder, KMB Veterinary Media LLC

    WEBSITE LINK: https://hsvma.memberclicks.net/webinar-spectrum-of-care

  • Conference – 4/15/25 to 4/18/25 – Animal Care Expo 2025 – HSUS (fee applies)

    Conference – 4/15/25 to 4/18/25 – Animal Care Expo 2025 – HSUS (fee applies)

    Animal Care Expo is the largest international educational conference and trade show for animal welfare professionals and volunteers. We are excited to host Expo 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 15-18 at Caesars Forum, where we expect to welcome over 2,500 attendees. Experts from all facets of animal welfare around the globe will join together to learn about the latest programs, share best practices, gain inspiration, and build lasting connections.

    Animal Care Expo 2024 offered:

    • Nearly 100 workshops across 12 tracks.
    • An expansive exhibit hall providing the opportunity to engage with animal welfare organizations, vendors and sponsors, learning about the latest products and services in the industry.
    • Continuing education opportunities in a variety of disciplines.
    • Networking opportunities where you can share knowledge, gain advice and draw inspiration from the experiences and outlooks of your global colleagues.
    • A dog park with adoptable dogs and cattery with adoptable cats where attendees can take some time from their day to unwind and cuddle with adorable animals.
    • Plus, several delicious plant-based meals throughout the conference.
    • Hands-on community service activities are planned for the exhibit hall as well as out in the community on May 15 (more to come).

    Altogether, the networking and educational opportunities at Animal Care Expo yield professional and personal dividends for attendees that last throughout the year and beyond.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://humanepro.org/expo

  • Online Seminar – 1/21/25 and 1/23/25 – New Laws for 2025 – CVMA (fee applies)

    Online Seminar – 1/21/25 and 1/23/25 – New Laws for 2025 – CVMA (fee applies)

    With several new laws taking effect in 2025, it is important for veterinary practices to have a clear view of the legal landscape to ensure continuing compliance. This talk will cover new and important laws that all employers and employees should be aware of moving forward. The course qualifies as continuing education credit for the purpose of California veterinarian and registered veterinary technician license renewal.

    CVMA Online Seminars are convenient interactive presentations offering CEUs held in real-time. This learning platform allows you to participate from anywhere with internet access—from your practice, your home, or anywhere you have an internet connection. Attending is as easy as a few mouse clicks. You will only need internet access and either computer audio, a headset, or a telephone.

    This webinar is open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary hospital staff, and veterinary students only.

    This course is complimentary to all CVMA members!

    This course qualifies for 1.0 CEU.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://cvma.net/continuing-education/upcoming-ce/cvma-new-laws-2025/cvma-new-laws-2025-registration/

  • Webinar – 11/14/24 – What We’re Learning with Community Programs – HASS

    Webinar – 11/14/24 – What We’re Learning with Community Programs – HASS

    What are leaders of community-centered programs in Baltimore and Dallas learning as they work with people and pets beyond the shelter? Hear from them on the many issues they face and the questions their experience has raised: What societal factors contribute to shelter intakes? How do you work with your community members to understand what they need and to divert intakes by offering community resources; and how are these leaders reaching towards understanding their impact?

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/2616740581796/WN_1jBTDPpdQyeM20kz1H0pPg

  • Online Event – 11/19/24 – All Call: Exploring Promising Systems to Support People and Pets – California for All Animals

    Online Event – 11/19/24 – All Call: Exploring Promising Systems to Support People and Pets – California for All Animals

    At the next All Call on November 19, we’ll explore how we can integrate public health models into our work. Rachel Rae Williams will lead us in discovering and applying promising systems designed to achieve health equity in order to design programming that prioritizes the well-being of people, pets, and the planet.

    All levels of learners and leaders are welcome!

    Learning Outcomes:

    • Explore the intersection of human and animal wellbeing
    • Participants will receive resources and instruction to design, implement and expand sustainable programming to support people and pets

    About the All Call

    The All Call is a twice-monthly, California community call for animal well-being professionals that occurs on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday. The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity. The call is a mix of presentations, storytelling, open discussion, and Q&A time.

    The All Call is hosted by the California for All Animals team, Nadia Oseguera-Ramón, Ivy Ruiz, and Allison Cardona. You only need to register one time. Calls are sometimes recorded; recap emails with supplemental resources are sent post-call.

    Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call