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  • Webinar Series – 3/18/25 – Doors Wide Open: Engaging with Human and Social Service Providers to Increase Access to Care for Animals and People – Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Webinar Series – 3/18/25 – Doors Wide Open: Engaging with Human and Social Service Providers to Increase Access to Care for Animals and People – Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Topic: Engaging with Human and Social Service Providers to Increase Access to Care for Animals and People

    Human social services and healthcare organizations can be critical partners with animal welfare in intake diversion/surrender prevention.

    This session focuses on:
    1. Understanding the types of human services typically encountered in animal welfare work
    2. Quickly raising awareness of common ground and shared goals for collaboration around human and animal welfare
    3. Offering simple strategies to engage in ongoing relationships with key human service providers.

    Ample time for questions and discussion will be included as part of this session.

    Guest Speaker: Janet Hoy-Gerlach, PhD, LCSW, LISW-S, Director of Veterinary Social Work at Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Register here: https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1QXhCo6QRRSKBYInJ_Ki0Q#/

    Join Open Door Veterinary Collective for lively conversations as we explore innovative and practical solutions that organizations are using to address barriers to accessing pet care and resources in their communities.

    We’ll cover various topics and share successful strategies through short 30-minute presentations, panel discussions, video snippets and Q&A sessions.

    Topics and featured programs include:
    • Pet Inclusive Transportation Options
    • Access to Financially Friendly Pet Services
    • Engaging with Human and Social Service Providers to Increase Access to Care
    • Successful Program Profiles: Neighborhood Pets and their Community-Centered Well-Being for People and Pets
    • How to Multiply Existing Donor Dollars for Veterinary Care in Your Community and more!

    Who should attend? Everyone is welcome! This series is perfect for those interested or involved in access to veterinary care. Each session will be recorded and viewable on-demand within a few days after the event.

    Come make friends and learn to make access to care more achievable for all involved! #ThanksToMaddie

    Learn more: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/opendoorwebcasts

  • Webinar Series – 2/18/25 – Doors Wide Open: Pethelpfinder.org: Access to Financially Friendly Pet Services and What the Site Means for You – Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Webinar Series – 2/18/25 – Doors Wide Open: Pethelpfinder.org: Access to Financially Friendly Pet Services and What the Site Means for You – Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Topic: Pethelpfinder.org: Access to Financially Friendly Pet Services and What the Site Means for You

    Pethelpfinder.org was launched after targeted research to expand access to veterinary care and pet care resources. Hear about the research, why this database uses the term “financially friendly” care and how it is expanding the connection and conversation on accessible pet care among non-profit animal welfare agencies, social service agencies, private practice veterinarians and leaders in the field.

    We’ll share site features, benefits to pet families and benefits for listed service providers and social service agencies. We’re adding more benefits every day! We’ll also share some site statistics, insights on exciting plans for future development and cover how the site can help you during man-made or natural disasters.

    Guest Speaker: Heather Cammisa, Program Manager at pethelpfinder.org and Chief Enterprise Officer at Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Register here: https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1QXhCo6QRRSKBYInJ_Ki0Q#/

    Join Open Door Veterinary Collective for lively conversations as we explore innovative and practical solutions that organizations are using to address barriers to accessing pet care and resources in their communities.

    We’ll cover various topics and share successful strategies through short 30-minute presentations, panel discussions, video snippets and Q&A sessions.

    Topics and featured programs include:
    • Pet Inclusive Transportation Options
    • Access to Financially Friendly Pet Services
    • Engaging with Human and Social Service Providers to Increase Access to Care
    • Successful Program Profiles: Neighborhood Pets and their Community-Centered Well-Being for People and Pets
    • How to Multiply Existing Donor Dollars for Veterinary Care in Your Community and more!

    Who should attend? Everyone is welcome! This series is perfect for those interested or involved in access to veterinary care. Each session will be recorded and viewable on-demand within a few days after the event.

    Come make friends and learn to make access to care more achievable for all involved! #ThanksToMaddie

    Learn more: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/opendoorwebcasts

  • Webinar Series – 1/21/25 – Doors Wide Open: Exploring Pet Inclusive Transportation Options to Increase Access to Veterinary Care – Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Webinar Series – 1/21/25 – Doors Wide Open: Exploring Pet Inclusive Transportation Options to Increase Access to Veterinary Care – Open Door Veterinary Collective

    Topic: Exploring Pet Inclusive Transportation Options to Increase Access to Veterinary Care

    Pet-friendly or pet-inclusive transportation is a recurring barrier identified by public-facing staff and volunteers across the human and animal welfare sectors. Families who struggle to find pet-friendly transportation are directly affected in their ability to access care for their animals. By highlighting these barriers and some solutions, we aim to expand the conversation to help increase access to veterinary care for bonded pet families in need.

    This session will touch on local transit options, including public transport and specialized pet shuttle services. We will also spotlight examples of organizations that have successfully leveraged their own resources to create effective transportation solutions.

    Guest Speakers:
    – Geraldine D’Silva, Maddie’s National Director of Programs & Partnerships at Open Door Veterinary Collective

    – Gayle Bair, Pet Retention Liaison at Animal Friends

    – Marty Sampson, Founder and CEO at Leash

    – Sarah McGoldrick, Vice President of Animal Operations at Dallas Pets Alive!

    Register here: https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1QXhCo6QRRSKBYInJ_Ki0Q#/

    Join Open Door Veterinary Collective for lively conversations as we explore innovative and practical solutions that organizations are using to address barriers to accessing pet care and resources in their communities.

    This new monthly webcast series begins on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 from 12 pm – 12:30 pm Pacific Time.

    We’ll cover various topics and share successful strategies through short 30-minute presentations, panel discussions, video snippets and Q&A sessions.

    Topics and featured programs include:
    • Pet Inclusive Transportation Options
    • Access to Financially Friendly Pet Services
    • Engaging with Human and Social Service Providers to Increase Access to Care
    • Successful Program Profiles: Neighborhood Pets and their Community-Centered Well-Being for People and Pets
    • How to Multiply Existing Donor Dollars for Veterinary Care in Your Community and more!

    Who should attend? Everyone is welcome! This series is perfect for those interested or involved in access to veterinary care. Each session will be recorded and viewable on-demand within a few days after the event.

    Come make friends and learn to make access to care more achievable for all involved! #ThanksToMaddie

    Learn more: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/opendoorwebcasts

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

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

    Topic: Transformative Strategies for Sustainable Change in Animal Well-Being

    Working in organizations in the animal well-being sector often means firefighting and responding reactively to urgent situations within communities. More and more in this ever-evolving landscape, animal well-being organizations are being called to balance their commitment to community care in this way with the need to address inequities and systemic barriers. Join Freedom Verses, a consulting firm rooted in equity and social justice, for an interactive session exploring our offerings to help build sustainable, inclusive practices within your organization and in the communities you serve. Discover how fostering collaboration, navigating conflict with a transformational justice lens, and rooting into your values can help align your work, not only with the needs of the communities most impacted, but also with the needs of your staff on the ground– particularly those whose identities mirror the communities you work within. Whether you’re rethinking decision-making models, deepening your commitment to equity, or addressing internal conflict, this session will showcase Freedom Verses’ tools and approaches to help your organization create lasting change while staying true to its values.

    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

  • Webinar – 1/27/25 – Pregnant Queens and Bottle Baby Basics – National Kitten Coalition

    Webinar – 1/27/25 – Pregnant Queens and Bottle Baby Basics – National Kitten Coalition

    Join us for an exclusive double-feature webinar that covers the basics from two of our most popular sessions: “Caring for Pregnant Queens” and “Caring for Bottle Babies.” As kitten season approaches, you may already be encountering pregnant queens in your community and will soon be seeing bottle baby kittens. In this webinar, you’ll learn the essentials of caring for a pregnant queen and preparing for bottle babies—whether with or without their mom. Get equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to navigate the start of kitten season successfully.

    Presenters: Susan Spaulding & Rosemarie Crawford, LVT

    WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6017358387491/WN_0LQlsYcxQkmYxWs3PepSoQ

  • Online Course – Starts 3/3/25 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program – UC Davis KSMP Shelter Learniverse

    Online Course – Starts 3/3/25 – 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 spring 2025 session starting 3/3/25! Start learning today and become part of the growing movement to transform animal sheltering. 

    APPLICATION DEADLINE: 2/3/25.

    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.

    Learn more about upcoming sessions at https://tinyurl.com/SCS-General

  • Online Course – Application deadline 2/3/25 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program Spring 2025 Session – UC Davis KSMP Shelter Learniverse

    Online Course – Application deadline 2/3/25 – Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program Spring 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 Spring 2025 session starting 3/3/25! Start learning today and become part of the growing movement to transform animal sheltering. 

    APPLICATION DEADLINE: 2/3/25.

    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 Event – 1/29/25 – Insights on the Consequences of America’s Affordable Housing Crisis on People, Pets, and Animal Shelters – IHAC

    Online Event – 1/29/25 – Insights on the Consequences of America’s Affordable Housing Crisis on People, Pets, and Animal Shelters – IHAC

    Please join the Institute for Human-Animal Connection, in-person or virtually, for our winter quarter Research Seminar! This event will not be recorded.

    Presented by Lauren Loney, JD and IHAC Researcher, with insights from Denver City Councilmember Chris Hinds, Denver City Council District 10. Councilmember Hinds will discuss his District 10 2025 Pilot Pet Deposit Assistance Program and his passion for keeping people and pets together in their homes.

    Recent research has shown that housing insecurity for tenants has dramatically increased in the last several years as rents have skyrocketed and eviction rates have climbed higher than even pre-pandemic levels. Housing insecurity directly impacts peoples’ ability to acquire and keep pets. There is a small, but growing body of research to better understand the impact of rental housing conditions on pets, pet owners, and animal shelters in the U.S. and how this issue relates to broader affordable housing and tenants’ rights social justice advocacy.

    This presentation will share a brief history of how we arrived at today’s housing crisis, the local, state, and federal policy changes supported by our research, and provide the audience with an exciting peek at upcoming research in collaboration with the City of Denver to implement and assess a pilot pet deposit assistance program. Join us to learn about trends in pet relinquishment due to housing issues, policy solutions, and programmatic tools that may be most useful to mitigate the flow of beloved pets into animal shelters.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://crimsonconnect.du.edu/IHAC/rsvp_boot?id=2267099

  • Webinar – 1/2/25 – Circle Method for Basic Reactivity and Over Arousal (Part 2) with Denise Fenzi – FDSA (fee applies)

    Webinar – 1/2/25 – Circle Method for Basic Reactivity and Over Arousal (Part 2) with Denise Fenzi – FDSA (fee applies)

    This webinar is intended to provide advice, interventions, and skills for individuals working with reactive or overexcited dogs. “The circle method of Loose Leash Walking” will be used to help the behavior and emotional state of reactive and over-aroused dogs by allowing them to adjust to their environment, reconnect with their handlers, and become more emotionally comfortable in the presence of specific triggers. The method can be used regardless of food interest and does not require elaborate set-ups. The information presented will build upon the circle method of loose leash walking, and will assume knowledge of that material. This webinar assumes professional or amateur trainers who can assimilate the information with a preexisting working knowledge of dog behavior, reactivity and over-aroused behavior.

    Note: This webinar is back by popular demand. Please check your webinar library to avoid a duplicate purchase.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/webinars

  • Online Event – 1/2/25 – Live from the Ranch: Social Reinforcement with Ken Ramirez and Maia Huff-Owen – Karen Pryor Academy

    Online Event – 1/2/25 – Live from the Ranch: Social Reinforcement with Ken Ramirez and Maia Huff-Owen – Karen Pryor Academy

    On Live from The Ranch, Maia Huff-Owen will join Ken Ramirez to share insights on social reinforcement—where the reinforcer involves the behavior of another being besides your learner—which she gained from teaching positive reinforcement sheep herding.

    Explore what makes social reinforcement a powerful catalyst for fabulous performances, why it merits explicit consideration and preparation in dog training, and how positive sheepdog training techniques can foster a partnership that thrives even when you can’t control the ultimate reinforcer—be it sheep, squirrels, or even your spouse.

    Tune in on Thursday, January 2, at 1:00 pm (PT) for this free, live broadcast with audience Q&A!

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