The animal welfare profession has made meaningful strides toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). However, many are realizing that DEI alone is not enough to address the deeper systemic barriers that shape who has access to animal care, animal welfare services, and leadership opportunities in the profession.

This session will explore what it means to shift from DEI in theory to justice in action. Participants will learn how to envision strategies that center accountability, community partnerships, and systemic change. We will also discuss common pitfalls that keep organizations stuck and provide actionable steps towards justice. Whether you lead a shelter, work with diverse teams, or engage in community-based animal care, this session will equip you with ideas and tools to take the next step toward making meaningful, long-term change.

Objectives:

Examine traditional ways of defining DEI in animal welfare
Define justice in action and how it strengthens efforts to foster inclusion and belonging
Identify strategies to leverage DEI and justice in action at your organization

Presented by:

Maria Morukian, President, MSM Global Consulting
Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

This session, both live and the recording, has been approved for:

1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
1 NACA CE

WEBSITE LINK: https://learning.theaawa.org/p/10-21-25

Large dogs continue to be one of the biggest challenges for shelters across the country—often staying longer, facing more barriers to adoption, and contributing to capacity pressures. But shelters and rescues are finding creative, data-driven solutions to help these dogs move from crowded kennels into loving homes.

In this session, we’ll highlight strategies that organizations are using to overcome the challenges of placing big dogs, from innovative foster programs to targeted adoption promotions and community partnerships. You’ll also hear how data is helping shelters identify what works, where gaps remain, and how to adapt programs for greater impact.

Whether your kennels are full or you’re looking to build stronger pathways for large dogs, this webinar will provide practical ideas and inspiration you can put into action right away.

This webinar will be recorded.

WEBSITE LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Btr6qVDTRbS2bCGa1KFQMg#/registration

Many cats experience fear, anxiety, and stress during handling and veterinary visits, leading to various negative consequences for both the cats and their human caretakers. These effects may include reduced quality of life for the cats, increased risks of injury to veterinary staff, lower quality care during visits, and potential surrender of cats by caregivers due to broken bonds. It is essential to limit fear, anxiety, and stress in cats by providing positive and gentle human-to-cat interactions. This session will focus on recognizing signs of fear, anxiety, and stress in cats and provide participants with practical, effective handling strategies.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the physiological and behavioral effects of fear, anxiety, and stress in cats.
• Identify common signs of fear, anxiety, and stress in cats to improve early detection and intervention strategies.
• Learn and apply handling techniques that prioritize cat comfort and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in various settings.

Presented by: Tabitha Kucera, CCBC, RVT, KPA-CTP, VTS (Behavior)

WEBSITE LINK:  https://humanevma.memberclicks.net/webinars

Drs. Abby Sage and Jennifer LaPlume will use forms they have developed to walk you through the pre-planning steps for an equine cruelty investigation, including on-site assessments and triage and the formation of an action plan backed up with owner resources. They will then use case examples to illustrate how to utilize these forms.

Abby Sage and Jennifer LaPlume, both equine veterinarians, cofounded the Virginia Veterinary Equine Welfare Resource, the first of its kind group that developed training for equine veterinarians in Virginia in forensics, who then assist on-site with ACO’s in Virginia. They then developed these forms to help all parties, including ACO’s, veterinarians, owners, and rescues. Both have extensive experience assisting law enforcement in Virginia on equine cruelty cases.

Specifics discussed will be:

• Assessing the facility, environment, barns, enclosures, cleanliness, nutrition provided, pasture, hay, feed, forage, medications
• Triage for ACO’s and veterinarians
• Formation of an Action Plan Agreement that will guide easy communication and step-wise instructions for the horse owner.
• Finally, cases will be used to help you decide, “Why is that horse skinny?” Was it just purchased, not getting enough proper nutrition, sick, low in hierarchy, or willful neglect?

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/equine-cruelty-investigations-theres-a-form-for-that/

Join us for a fast-paced, informative webinar designed specifically for kitten caregivers: Incubators—All of Your Questions Answered. In just 15 minutes, we’ll walk through the essentials of incubator use for neonatal kittens—what to look for, how to set up and monitor safely, and common troubleshooting tips. Then, stay for a live 15-minute Q&A session where you can ask your own questions or listen in as others share theirs. Whether you’re fostering, working in a shelter, or supporting fragile feline lives in any capacity, this session is for you.

Can’t attend live? No problem—register anyway! All registrants will receive a recording link after the event so you can watch on your own time. Click here to register for this FREE webinar!

WEBSITE LINK:  https://kittencoalition.org/event/incubators-all-of-your-questions-answered/

Want more adoptions? The data is in — and your marketing strategy might be the key. Join us on September 25 at 4pm ET as we reveal the results of a recent animal welfare marketing survey that shows what really works when it comes to increasing pet adoptions.

Whether your shelter is already performing above average or you’re looking for fresh ways to engage your community, this session will provide actionable insights you can put into practice right away. We’ll dig into how marketing efforts across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and your shelter’s website impact adoption success, and how listing pets consistently on Adopt a Pet and Petfinder plays a vital role. You’ll learn which tactics are working, where your shelter stands compared to others, and how to celebrate the areas where you shine while identifying where you can reach further.

Panelists include Michelle Dunivan, Senior Director of Insights and Analytics at Best Friends Animal Society; Caitlin Quinn, Adjunct Instructor, University of Florida, and freelance communications consultant; and Jessica Arias, Director of Animal Services, City of Burlington, NC. Kasey Spain, Senior Manager of Network Engagement and Shelter Pet Data Alliance, will moderate.

If you’re ready to connect your community work to real adoption results, this webinar is your roadmap. Walk away with practical ideas, inspiration, and a clear call to action: keep doing what’s working, and grow where you can.

WEBSITE LINK: https://bestfriends-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/4917520773897/WN_3dBw2fQqRR6UwB3AhFf6uA#/registration

Fear, anxiety, and stress are common challenges for cats and dogs in shelter environments, yet little is known about how shelters use psychoactive medications and non-medication alternatives to address these welfare concerns. This presentation will include findings from a recently published study examining which psychoactive medications (such as gabapentin, trazodone, and fluoxetine) and non-medication alternatives (such as pheromones and nutraceuticals) are most commonly used in shelters in North America, how shelter staff perceive their efficacy and ease of administration, and the barriers such as cost, uncertainty about efficacy, and time constraints that limit their use, when warranted.

In addition to highlighting key differences between cats and dogs in reported treatment frequency, this presentation will explore how factors such as shelter type, intake volume, and staff roles influence anxiety-medication decision-making. Attendees will gain a comprehensive overview of current practices, perspectives, and challenges to support them in evaluating and applying this information within their own animal care. Based on the barriers identified, the session will conclude with a research-informed discussion on practical strategies to address these challenges and identify priority areas for future work.

Guest Speaker: Bailey H Eagan, PhD, MSC

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