Shelter Learniverse Return to the Shelter Learniverse

Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

Blog

  • Online Event – 9/17/24 – All Call – From Policy to Practice: Addressing Gaps in Emotional Support Animal Documentation for Vulnerable Communities – California for All Animals

    Online Event – 9/17/24 – All Call – From Policy to Practice: Addressing Gaps in Emotional Support Animal Documentation for Vulnerable Communities – California for All Animals

    Submit your housing-related questions for the 9/16 All Call presenters! HEART LA’s Zaira Bernal (Paralegal) and Diana Cruz (Program Director/Law Clerk) will explore common challenges individuals with disabilities face when seeking the required documentation for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), focusing on the limitations of current policy and real-world hurdles.

    About the presentation: The call will begin with a brief overview of the Fair Housing Act (FHA), highlighting its protections and requirements for individuals who rely on ESAs to mitigate their disabilities. The core of the presentation delves into three case studies illustrating common obstacles, including medical professionals’ reluctance due to liability concerns, and the systemic lack of healthcare resources available to low-income and marginalized communities. The discussion will emphasize the sources of resistance, such as misinformation about ESA roles and barriers in healthcare access.

    The presentation concludes by offering practical solutions HEART LA has implemented to address these challenges. These include facilitating self-certification for individuals receiving disability benefits in California, partnering with organizations to connect clients with healthcare providers, directly engaging with cautious medical professionals to educate and alleviate concerns, and training caseworkers and other qualified third parties on how to issue ESA documentation. Through this comprehensive approach, the organization aims to expand access to housing for those who need ESAs, creating a path for legal protections to be applied effectively in practice.

    Save the date for Part 2 of our conversation with Zaira and Diana! Zaira and Diana will return to the All Call on October 1 for a conversation on addressing landlord resistance to ESA protections. What do you need to know to advance disability justice and help people and pets at risk of eviction stay together in your community? Submit your questions for the presenters.

    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 California for All team members Allison Cardona, Nadia Oseguera, and Ivy Ruiz, and is enriched by rotating facilitators. 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

  • Webinar – 9/17/24 – Collaborative Cat Management Programs – LG, SG, NFP and Landcare Working Together – Getting 2 Zero

    Webinar – 9/17/24 – Collaborative Cat Management Programs – LG, SG, NFP and Landcare Working Together – Getting 2 Zero

    The Keeping Cats Safe at Home project is a four-year behavioural change project being run by RSPCA NSW in conjunction with eleven Councils across NSW, including Weddin Shire. It is funded by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. The project aims to reduce the impact pet cats have on wildlife and improve domestic cats’ health and safety by encouraging responsible cat ownership. Weddin Landcare worked with the local Council Ranger to apply for the program to help instigate cat management programs in the Weddin Shire. The project began with community consultation, which guided project activities for the Shire. Together, Weddin Shire Council, Weddin Landcare and RSPCA NSW then implemented a free desexing and microchipping program; distributed project messages though communication materials and promotions; delivered educational sessions to local primary schools about the benefits of keeping cats at home; and offered an incentive program for backyard Catnets enclosures to assist cat owners to contain their cat to their property.

    The program has been incredibly successful for our small community (population <4,000) with over 300 cats desexed to date, 30 Catnets enclosures distributed to local residents, over 100 primary school children and a significant drop in the number of complaints about cats and unwanted litters being impounded. This incredibly positive project has resulted in a unique partnership between the organisations involved and improved relationships between the local Council Ranger and local residents.

    This event will be recorded and the recording will be available the day after the event.

    Presenter: Melanie Cooper – Landcare Coordinator, Weddin landcare
    Melanie Cooper a part-time Local Landcare Coordinator for Weddin Landcare, based in Grenfell, Central West NSW. With a B. Applied Science (Earth and Land Science), Melanie has been working in the natural resource management realm with rural communities for over twenty years through a variety of technical and community-based roles in both the public and private sector. She is also a farmer, managing a 4,000Ha mixed-farming property with her husband and is a mum to two little girls.

    Melanie has been working with Weddin Landcare for the past 4 years and is passionate about working with rural communities, schools and farmers at a grassroots level to restore ecosystem function and biodiversity and improve the health of our natural assets and agricultural products.

    Register here – https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aj7TbvN0TyqBTo4aAO3wtg

  • Webinar – 9/11/24 – Unresponsive Behavior: A Guide to the Evaluation and Compassionate Choices for Refractory Behavior Problems in Companion Animals – HSVMA

    Webinar – 9/11/24 – Unresponsive Behavior: A Guide to the Evaluation and Compassionate Choices for Refractory Behavior Problems in Companion Animals – HSVMA

    Refractory behavior problems are something we have all seen in practice. These cases are often highly charged emotionally, and we know that owners who feel they have come to the end of their ability to care for a challenging pet are heartbroken and often guilt ridden. During this important webinar we will consider how to evaluate these cases.

    Ruling out medical reasons for behavior issues and referring to professional experienced behaviorists before euthanasia is important, however it is not the focus on this particular webinar.

    Learning Objectives:

    • To be able to assess a case for non-responsiveness to medication and behavior modification. Safety of the people and other animals in the environment, welfare of the patient and others will be considered.
    • To be able to assess quality of life levels for the patient, the family and other animals, and realistic recognition of the long-term commitment of finances, time and emotion to constantly manage these cases.
    • To understand behavior is controlled by an organ, the brain –Dr Foote will review MRI research evidence on the functional difference of the brain of aggressive animals compared to normally socialized animals.
    •  We will discuss why screening referral sources for safe, compassionate BE is needed. If the primary care veterinary team is not willing or capable of performing the service, how can they make a responsible referral to a shelter prepared for euthanasia of behavior cases, a different general practice or arrange for home euthanasia DVM.
    • To remove the high emotions and opinion surrounding euthanasia for behavior and provide support for the staff and family involved in these cases.
    • Understand how the veterinary community can work with the shelter, behaviorist, trainer, and breeder community to reduce the incidence of BE.

    Presented by: Sally J. Foote, DVM, CABC-IAABC, LSHC-S, FFE

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://hsvma.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Uf9e87SeRPSF3srBS5FVUA#/registration

  • Online Event – 9/7/24 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Online Event – 9/7/24 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Are you ready to be part of the solution for feral and stray cats in your neighborhood? Our expert instructors will teach you best practices for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and colony management. Learn what TNR is and why it works. We’ll cover getting along with neighbors, preparations for trapping, trapping itself (including entire colonies at once), feeding, providing winter shelter, and more. Take advantage of the interactive format, extensive handouts, and video footage of actual projects. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and gain access to an ongoing Facebook group for networking with other TNR activists. Instructed by Susan Richmond, executive director, and Bryan Kortis, national programs director.

    Session duration is 2.5 hours, followed by an optional 15-minute Q&A session.

    This course/webinar/series/conference has been approved for Continuing Educational Units by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). National certificate holders can submit for credit consistent with the NACA CEU policy located https://nacatraining.org/continuing-education-recertification/

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/the-neighborhood-cats-tnr-certification-workshop-sept-2024/

  • Webinar – 10/10/24 – Americans with Disabilities Act and Service Animals in Field Services – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Webinar – 10/10/24 – Americans with Disabilities Act and Service Animals in Field Services – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Service animals provide assistance to many people across this country.  So how do you know if an animal is a service animal?  What do you do if the animal is or isn’t a service animal?  These are questions facing Animal Control Officers and others every day.

    Navigating the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) can be a very difficult task and it is important that we protect the rights of the disabled while also being cognisant that there might be those who are claiming the use of a service animal incorrectly.  This webinar will give you the tools to understand and provide protections afforded under the ADA while also giving you tools to approach those who are using the term “service animal” incorrectly.

    Want to prepare for this webinar? The webinar, From Guide Dogs to Therapy Squirrels: The Americans with Disabilities Act and Animal Welfare Professionals, will be freely available on the JCH YouTube channel until Oct 11, 2024. Hit the bell icon on the JCH YouTube channel page to receive notifications of our latest video releases.

    This webinar has been certified by the National Animal Care & Control Association and is approved for 1 Continuing Education Unit. Please refer to your NACA membership portal for current CEU submission process. Current NACA Members who attend the live presentation or watch the recording will be able to download a jointly issued attendance certificate that includes the National Animal Care & Control Association logo. Visit the NACA training page for a complete list of future trainings.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/americans-with-disabilities-act-and-service-animals-in-field-services/

  • Webinar – 9/16/24 – Northern Tier Shelter Initiative Zoomies: Ideal Age for Spay Neuter in Dogs & Cats – ASPCAPro

    Webinar – 9/16/24 – Northern Tier Shelter Initiative Zoomies: Ideal Age for Spay Neuter in Dogs & Cats – ASPCAPro

    The debate over when to recommend sterilization in pet dogs and cats has been under increased scrutiny over the past 5-10 years. With some veterinary professionals promoting pediatric spay/neuter and others recommending waiting or foregoing sterilization altogether for some breeds, how should we base our decisions and recommendations? This case-based discussion covers the critical evaluation of recent studies on the ideal age for spaying and neutering dogs and cats, specific variables that impact timing considerations, and comparisons of some of the risks and benefits of early spay/neuter surgery.

    Takeaways

    • Identify specific variables that impact the appropriate timing of spay/neuter surgery.
    • Work through critical evaluations of recent studies on the timing of spay/neuter surgery.
    • Compare risks and benefits of early age spay/neuter.

    Suited For
    This session is suited for anyone who is faced with the question of when to spay or neuter.

    Credits
    This session has been approved for 1hr of RACE credit for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

    Presenter: Dr. Lauren Blackwelder, Veterinarian, ASNA Training, ASPCA Spay Neuter Alliance (ASNA)
    Dr. Lauren Blackwelder is a Veterinary Training Instructor at the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance (ASNA). After graduating from the University of Florida in 2013, she worked in shelter medicine and high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter (HQHVSN) clinics in Virginia and Florida before joining ASNA in 2021. Dr. Blackwelder is human-animal bond certified and received a graduate certificate in shelter medicine from the University of Florida. Her role in teaching veterinarians and veterinary students efficient surgical skills contributes to improved animal welfare through HQHVSN efforts worldwide. She lives in Asheville, N.C., with her husband, two children, dog, cats, and fish.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.aspcapro.org/training/webinar/northern-tier-shelter-initiative-zoomies-ideal-age-spay-neuter-dogs-cats

  • Online Course – 9/4/24 – Return to Home Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast

    Online Course – 9/4/24 – Return to Home Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast

    Leave all your preconceived notions about “dumped, abandoned, or unwanted” stray cats at the door! What if we presumed every stray cat who came to our shelters was a cherished pet with a loving home? How can we facilitate getting lost pets back to their owners without overwhelming current staff and volunteers, or tying up space with long stray holds? In this workshop, we will discuss simple, actionable ways that we can support owners of lost cats, be a resource to those who find cats, and increase the rate at which cats in our shelters are reunited with grateful families.

    Workshop Overview:

    • Topic: Reuniting Stray Cats with Grateful Families
    • Presenter: Corinne Bourgoin, Shelter Operations Supervisor at the MSPCA
    • Cost: $10 (covered by the scholarship)
    • Duration: 1.5 hours, with an optional 15-minute Q&A session
    • Certificate: Earn a certificate after completing a short quiz
    • Networking: Access to a dedicated Facebook group for ongoing support and discussion

    Registration is $10 and includes access to the recorded session, handouts, and certificate, as well as access to a Facebook discussion group. All attendees will receive a certificate after taking a short quiz.

    For more information and to sign up go here. 

    Scholarships are available! Apply for a scholarship to cover the $10 registration fee at this link: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/event-scholarships/

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/return-to-home-workshop/

  • Online Event – 9/5/24 – Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection: Supporting Your Fosters – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Event – 9/5/24 – Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection: Supporting Your Fosters – Maddie’s Fund

    Session Topic: Supporting Your Fosters: Leveraging your community to increase foster engagement and satisfaction through low to no cost methods

    In this presentation, we’ll learn about successful strategies used by foster-based rescue One Tail at a Time to train and support foster caregivers. With a focus on practical, budget-friendly methods, we’ll hear how this high-volume foster program prepares over 1,700 foster families for their roles and keeps them coming back for more.

    Guest Speaker:  Stacy Price, Operations Director at One Tail at a Time

    Stacy Price has over 15 years of animal welfare experience, starting her career studying techniques to prevent stress behaviors in zoo animals. Her focus was forever changed in 2009 when she adopted an overlooked senior white shepherd from a county shelter. With Vlad as her inspiration, Stacy has spent the last 10 years in leadership positions at various open intake and managed admission facilities before landing the job as One Tail at a Time’s Operations Director. When she’s not working, you can likely find Stacy at home with her five cats, three dogs, rabbit, horse and incredibly tolerant husband.

    About Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection:
    Join us on the first Thursday of every month to discuss successful foster innovations and programs, collaborate with others in the field, answer questions and talk through complex foster-related issues.

    Who should join: Foster managers, coordinators, volunteers and any staff who are interested in learning about what’s working in foster programs.

    You only need to register once for all meetings: https://maddies.fund/MonthlyFosterRegistration

    Can’t attend live?  Register anyway and you will get a link to the recording within a day or two after each meeting.

    All recordings and resources shared during the webcast will also be available in the Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection group on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://maddies.fund/monthlyfosterconnectionMPF

    Maddie’s Fund does not share registration information.

    The opinions expressed by webinar presenters are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Maddie’s Fund.

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

  • Online Event – 9/3/24 – All Call: RVT Recruitment and Retention – California for All Animals

    Online Event – 9/3/24 – All Call: RVT Recruitment and Retention – California for All Animals

    At the September 3 All Call, you’ll hear from RVTs with 10+ years of experience in the field on teaching and training prospective RVTs, hiring and retaining RVTs, and managing organizations and programs.

    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 California for All co-leaders Allison Cardona and Nadia Oseguera and is enriched by rotating facilitators. 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

  • Webinar – 8/20/24 – Fostering rescue cats as health promotion – Getting 2 Zero

    Webinar – 8/20/24 – Fostering rescue cats as health promotion – Getting 2 Zero

    Could fostering for animal rescue organisations have benefits for older adults as well as the animals they care for? This presentation will discuss research exploring the health promotion potential of cat fostering in Aotearoa New Zealand, the role of foster programmes in cat rescue, and the potential for more older people to be involved in fostering.  Come along if you are interested in fostering, especially cat fostering, and the potential of involving more older adults as animal fosterers.

    This event will be recorded and the recording will be available the day after the event.

    Speaker: Christine Roseveare – Lecturer and Teaching Fellow, Massey University

    Christine Roseveare is a Lecturer and Teaching Fellow in the School of Health Science at Massey University, in Aotearoa/New Zealand. She is currently pursuing her PhD, interdisciplinary research focused on the health promotion potential of fostering companion animals by older people. Christine holds a Master of Public Health ,  a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Professional Development and a level 3 New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Companion Animals). Her research interests include health promotion, public health education, and the human-animal bond. She is a 2024 HOPE foundation scholar.

    WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qmta4CVCSt6ApvT9CszWug#/registration