Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

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  • Hybrid Conference – 10/4/24 to 10/6/24 – The Gathering III: CARE Conference 2024 – CARE (fee applies)

    Hybrid Conference – 10/4/24 to 10/6/24 – The Gathering III: CARE Conference 2024 – CARE (fee applies)

    The Gathering is CARE’s 3rd annual conference which highlights the wisdom of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) people working in partnership with Human and Animal organizations and Proximate Leaders. This unique event is deeply rooted in Community Wisdom.

    We will be opening our invitation to 250 Attendees including veterinary students, animal welfare professionals, donors and community members advocating for Human well-being and Animal Care.

    This year’s Gathering will focus on recognizing the gifts we have as individuals, prioritizing relationship building, and partnering together to bring about systemic change.

    Love in Action. Love is a Verb.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://careawo.org/thegathering/

  • Online Event – 7/28/24 – Assessing Cat-Cat Interactions with Dr. Miranda Workman and Trish McMillan – Shelter Behavior Hub

    Online Event – 7/28/24 – Assessing Cat-Cat Interactions with Dr. Miranda Workman and Trish McMillan – Shelter Behavior Hub

    Join us on Sunday, July 28th at 8 PM EST for an exciting and informative session with Dr. Miranda Workman and Trish McMillan!

    Can you tell if cats are playing, fighting, or something in between? This discussion will dive into what we know, what we don’t know, and what we’re learning about cat-cat interactions in homes. Gain valuable insights on assessing these interactions within the context of their relationships.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rEjlmOLvS9SbhpUZ_lHczg#/registration

  • Webinar – 9/12/24 – DPFL’s Approach to On-Leash Reactivity – Dogs Playing for Life (fee applies)

    Webinar – 9/12/24 – DPFL’s Approach to On-Leash Reactivity – Dogs Playing for Life (fee applies)

    Reactivity on the part of dogs living in shelters is a rampant issue that can contribute to behavioral deterioration, increased length of stay, and even loss of life. From a misdiagnosis of “aggression” to dogs whose reactive behavior escalates to problematic and potentially unsafe levels, learning how to help dogs suffering from reactivity issues is a crucial need shared by our entire industry.

    While this webinar can be attended as a standalone course, we will build on our Fancy Footwork approach to handling and training to offer practical training, handling, and safety solutions to on-leash reactivity for dogs living in shelters.

    This is a 2-hour presentation followed by a 30 min Q&A session. This webinar costs $20 and you will receive the recording the next day.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xqFMgom-SKucZfHQsGwJIg#/registration

  • Webinar – 7/25/24 – That was Then, This is NOW: Cognitive Adaptability – FDSA (fee applies)

    Webinar – 7/25/24 – That was Then, This is NOW: Cognitive Adaptability – FDSA (fee applies)

    Join us for this groundbreaking webinar with Barbara Lloyd, where we will explore the fascinating world of Cognitive Adaptability.

    Successful learners are those who can look, assess, adapt, and act effectively. Adaptability is a core survival skill, and Barbara Lloyd has cracked the code to achieve more impactful results in training and life.

    Why Attend?

    • Discover how cognitive adaptability influences learning and performance.
    • Learn practical strategies to enhance adaptability in yourself and your dog.
    • Understand the role of environmental cues in building confidence and resilience.
    • Gain insights into optimizing skill execution through cognitive flexibility.

    Who Should Attend?

    • Dog trainers and enthusiasts
    • Pet owners seeking to improve their dogs’ adaptability
    • Anyone interested in personal growth and resilience

    Key Topics:

    • The Science of Adaptability:
    • Uncover the secrets behind cognitive adaptability.
    • Explore how it impacts learning and behavior.
    • Environmental Cues and Confidence:
    • Learn how dogs adapt to novel situations.
    • Understand the link between adaptability and confidence.

    Practical Strategies:

    • Barbara will share actionable tips for enhancing adaptability.
    • Discover how to apply these principles in your own life and training.

    Don’t Miss Out! Your dog deserves the best – let’s explore the power of cognitive adaptability together!

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

  • Webinar – 9/26/24 – Shelter Behavior Roundtable: Tracking Behavioral Observations in Shelter Animals – ASPCAPro

    Webinar – 9/26/24 – Shelter Behavior Roundtable: Tracking Behavioral Observations in Shelter Animals – ASPCAPro

    Join us for an insightful session that will help you enhance your organization’s methods for collecting and utilizing behavioral observations in shelter animals. Our expert panelists will examine a mock behavioral communications flowchart and share valuable, practical tips to help you evaluate your shelter’s behavioral communication processes. You’ll walk away knowing how to implement small changes that can significantly improve the behavioral health of shelter animals.

    Takeaways

    • Learn tips and tools for assessing your current system
    • Understand the important role of integrated care in behavioral health

    Suited For
    This webinar is best suited for animal behavior professionals, shelter professionals, and shelter volunteers.

    Credits
    This webinar has been submitted for CCPDT credit and is pending approval.

    Presenters
    Elise Gingrich DVM, MPH, MS, DACVPM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice), Senior Director, Shelter Medicine Shelter Services, ASPCA
    K.C. Thompson, Shelter Operations Manager, Humane Society of Charlotte
    Katie Donohue, Associate Director of Behavior Services – Adoption Centers CBCC-KA

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.aspcapro.org/training/webinar/shelter-behavior-roundtable-tracking-behavioral-observations-shelter-animals

  • Webinar – 9/10/24 – Coping with Canines: Navigating Human Emotions with a Complex Dog – Every Dog Austin

    Webinar – 9/10/24 – Coping with Canines: Navigating Human Emotions with a Complex Dog – Every Dog Austin

    When you love a complex or sensitive dog, chances are you’ve experienced some emotional ups and downs along the way. You’ll walk away from this Coping with Canines webinar with concrete tools and mindset shifts rooted in counseling and mental health theories, and a deep reassurance that you’re not alone in this experience.

    FREE event, donations optional!

    About the Speaker: Jess Adam (she/her)

    Jess Adam is a licensed professional counselor who lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, her twin boys, her 10 year old reactive pit mix Dio, and her cat named Bat. Animals and mental health are two of Jess’s passions, and she has brought them together in a unique way by creating a niche coaching business supporting dog owners and canine professionals in navigating the human side of dog training. Jess’s lived experience in managing Dio’s reactivity, along with her decade of experience as a therapist and professor of counseling, gives her a unique perspective to bring effective mental health tools and services to the dog world. Through her business Handlers & Humans, Jess offers individual coaching support to dog guardians and dog trainers, along with group support programs and online courses, all rooted in evidence-based therapeutic skills and a real-life understanding of living with a reactive dog.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.everydogaustin.org/event-details/coping-with-canines-navigating-human-emotions-with-a-complex-dog

  • Webinar – 8/14/24 – Understanding Dog Body Language Using T.E.M.P. – Every Dog Austin

    Webinar – 8/14/24 – Understanding Dog Body Language Using T.E.M.P. – Every Dog Austin

    Dogs don’t speak human but their body can say millions of words. In this webinar you will gain a better understanding of reading a dogs body language through T.E.M.P. (Tail, Ears/Eyes, Mouth, and Posture)

    FREE event, donations optional!

    This webinar is part of Every Dog Behavior and Training’s  BIPOC Speaker Series.

    About the Speaker:  Aaron Jones

    I worked as a Vet Tech for over 12 years. Although I enjoyed my role dearly, there was still something missing. The medical side of care just did not feel like I was where I was supposed to be. I had always wanted to volunteer raising puppies to become service dogs, so I started researching non-profit organizations. I soon found one and attended my first meeting and was hooked. Training dogs is what makes me feel complete. It’s my calling.  I attended Animal Behavior College where I earned my certification as a Certified Dog Trainer.  I am a dog lover first, and a dog trainer second. I know from first-hand experience the difference dog training makes in the relationship between dog and owner. I believe in creating an unbreakable bond and a trusting relationship between dog and human using positive reinforcement techniques.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.everydogaustin.org/event-details/understanding-dog-body-language-using-t-e-m-p

  • Webinar – 8/7/24 – Behavior and Training Webinar: ‘De visita al veterinario’ – “A friendly vet visit” – Every Dog Austin

    Webinar – 8/7/24 – Behavior and Training Webinar: ‘De visita al veterinario’ – “A friendly vet visit” – Every Dog Austin

    Todos los perros tienen que ir al veterinario por lo menos una vez a año. Queremos enseñarles técnicas de seguridad y de manejo para que su visita sea más suave y divertida. Su perro y el veterinario se lo agradecerán ya que el propósito es que el perro se sienta más cómodo y coopere a la hora de ser examinado.

    EVENTO GRATIS: las donaciones son opcionales

    Speaker: Isamar Pérez Biology (B.S.) , RVT, CPDT

    Contamos con más de 10 años de experiencia en ambientes de trabajo de ritmo rápido incluyendo clínicas veterinarias y centros de cuido y entrenamiento de mascotas.

    Disfrutamos educar a guardianes de perros sobre el bienestar animal en todas sus etapas de vida y sobretodo nos apasiona reconstruir lazos y dar segundas oportunidades luego de que el perro muestra comportamientos de agresividad.

    Todas las mascotas que hemos ayudado a regular su instinto defensivo nos han enseñado que muchos comportamientos de agresividad comienzan por una amenaza llamada dolor. Es por esto que el cuidado cooperativo en las visitas veterinarias son imprescindibles para poder llevar al animal al veterinario y poder identificar si hay una condición médica que nos urge atender.

    Buscamos un balance para unir los mundos y transformar vínculos.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.everydogaustin.org/event-details/de-visita-al-veterinario-a-friendly-vet-visit

  • Webinar – 9/12/24 – Maddie’s Insights: Aligning Programs with Community Needs to Support Companion Dog Retention – Maddie’s Fund

    Webinar – 9/12/24 – Maddie’s Insights: Aligning Programs with Community Needs to Support Companion Dog Retention – Maddie’s Fund

    Join us for a brand-new season of Maddie’s Insights: Practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.

    On September 12, 2024 our guest is Seana Dowling-Guyer, MS. She is the Associate Director for the Center for Shelter Dogs at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

    Animal sheltering has evolved to focus on community-based services as much as in-shelter care. The philosophy that animal sheltering begins and ends within the community through various support programs is gaining traction. These programs, ranging from food banks and training classes to veterinary services, aim to support pet guardianship and retention in the home. However, there’s often a mismatch between the programs offered and the actual needs of the community. In this session, Seana will share research on pre-COVID retention programs focused on companion dogs offered by US animal sheltering organizations, highlighting gaps between these programs and community needs. She will outline a strategic decision-making process for selecting community programs to support pets in homes and discuss different program options.

    In this session, attendees will:

    • Learn about common retention programs focused on companion dogs offered by US shelters and identify gaps between available programs and community needs
    • Become familiar with a strategic decision-making process that can be used when developing and evaluating community programs that support pets in homes

    Can’t attend live? Register anyway and you will get a link to the recording.

    These webinars have been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. They have also been submitted for approval for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.

    About the Speaker

    Seana Dowling-Guyer is the Associate Director of Tufts Collaborative (Center) for Shelter Dogs at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and teaches in the M.S. in Animals and Public Policy program. Seana is interested in the intersection of animal behavior and people’s perceptions of that behavior, particularly how our attitudes and knowledge of animal behavior impact animal welfare and behavior. Her research examines how to improve the welfare of dogs in shelters and support dogs and other companion animals in the home and community. She also investigates trends in animal sheltering. A long-time cat parent, Seana now takes care of four crazy ferrets while her daughter is away at college.

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

  • Webinar – 7/24/24 – Who let the dogs out? Unleashing solutions: Finding solutions to the problem of Fiji’s free-roaming dog population – Getting 2 Zero

    Webinar – 7/24/24 – Who let the dogs out? Unleashing solutions: Finding solutions to the problem of Fiji’s free-roaming dog population – Getting 2 Zero

    Overpopulation of dogs is an issue in Fiji, similar to many other South Pacific and industralized nations worldwide. This presentation explores results from a door-to-door survey in the Tavakubu ward of Lautoka, highlighting the impacts of human behavior in maintaining free-roaming dog populations, including ownership apathy, indiscriminate feeding, and low compliance with responsible pet ownership practices. Our findings underscore the importance of understanding the negative impacts of “toxic charity” and emphasize the need to shift from predominantly shelter-based strategies and free-of-charge services to promoting responsible dog ownership and caregiver behaviors. Outputs of this study underscore the importance of ongoing evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) studies to understand how animal welfare initiatives can support community behavior changes that foster sustainable, long-term dog population management strategies.

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

    Speakers:

    Casey Quimby – Co-Founder and Managing Trustee, Animals Fiji

    Casey is an Animerican-Fijian with nearly 15 years of experience operating a shelter and multiple veterinary clinics throughout Fiji. Casey has been a pivotal figure in the region’s animal welfare efforts. She earned her Master’s Certificate in Shelter Medicine from the University of Florida in 2018 and has been at the forefront of data collection and population management in Fiji over the past four years. Her dedication to developing evidence-based, research-informed strategies has significantly contributed to sustainable and humane solutions for companion animal population management in local communities.

    Dr Jessica Hoopes – Animals Fiji Volunteer

    Jessica is a Canadian Veterinarian with over 10 years’ experience working in veterinary and shelter medicine and animal management in Canada, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica, and Australia. Her experiences working in the Pacific Islands have underscored the importance of developing evidence-based, research informed strategies for addressing free roaming cat and dog populations, that are tailored to the needs of the local community. While currently working as the One Health Research Coordinator for Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC), she spent the past 5 years remotely supporting rescue groups in Fiji in developing a framework for baseline data collection with the hopes of informing sustainable and humane solutions for companion animal population management.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.g2z.org.au/g2z-webinars-and-online-events.html