Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

Blog

  • Online Certificate Program – Starts 5/20/24 – Animal Shelter Behavioral Management Certificate Program – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)

    Online Certificate Program – Starts 5/20/24 – 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.

    05/20/2024 – 7/14/2024 – Now available for registration. 

    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: $399

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

  • Webinar – 4/3/24 – Vector Vigilance: Understanding and Managing Vector-borne Pathogens of Dogs and Cats – VETGirl

    Webinar – 4/3/24 – Vector Vigilance: Understanding and Managing Vector-borne Pathogens of Dogs and Cats – VETGirl

    Vector Villain!

    In this complimentary, 1-hour, VETgirlAntech webinar, Dr. Brian Herrin, DVM, PhD, DACVM will discuss the common arthropod vectors and the pathogens they can transmit to dogs and cats. Ticks, fleas, heartworm, and Lyme may be things your practice sees every day, but new products, diagnostics, and medical recommendations might have muddied your plans. We’ll clear it up with up-to-date information on best diagnostic, treatment, and management practices! Don’t see these issues very often?? You’re in luck, but maybe not for long! We’ll talk about where these vectors are moving so you can begin to assess which patients might be at risk in your practice!

    Thanks to sponsorship from Antech, the recording of this webinar will be available to view free and On-Demand until December 31, 2024.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/april-3-2024-vector-vigilance-understanding-and-managing-vector-borne-pathogens-of-dogs-and-cats/

  • Webinar – 4/24/24 – APCC: Springtime Hazards – ASPCAPro

    Webinar – 4/24/24 – APCC: Springtime Hazards – ASPCAPro

    Springtime comes with its own lineup of potential hazards to our pets. This course will cover several springtime hazards for veterinarians and their teams to keep a watch out for, including plants, fertilizers, insecticides, composting dangers, and more.

    Takeaways

    • A dig into springtime related toxins
    • Discussion of various springtime hazards
    • The effects on canines and felines exposed to each toxin
    • Treatment and prognosis breakdowns

    Suited For
    This session is suited for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, but all are welcome.

    Credits

    The live webinar and post-webinar online course are RACE-approved and are eligible for one hour of free CE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.aspcapro.org/training/webinar/apcc-springtime-hazards

  • Hybrid Conference – 7/11/24 to 7/14/24 – PacVet 2024 – CVMA (fee applies)

    Hybrid Conference – 7/11/24 to 7/14/24 – PacVet 2024 – CVMA (fee applies)

    The Pacific Veterinary Conference is dedicated to providing comprehensive, current, and practical continuing education information for the entire veterinary practice team. The four day conference gives attendees the opportunity to earn CE, attend a two-day Vet Expo, and have plenty of time to spend with family and friends. PacVet attracts veterinary professionals from across the United States, Canada, and other countries. 87 percent of past conference attendees say they would recommend PacVet to their colleagues.

    The Pacific Veterinary Conference is sponsored by the California Veterinary Medical Association.

    In-Person-Only Tracks

    These tracks will be presented exclusively in person in San Francisco.

    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • One Health
    • Practice Management
    • Shelter Medicine
    • Small Animal Surgery
    • USDA-NVAP: APHIS-Approved Supplemental Training (AAST)
    • Wellness

    In-Person & Virtual Tracks

    These tracks will be presented both in person in San Francisco and livestreamed online in real time for our virtual audience. 

    • Small Animal Medicine
    • Technician

    Virtual-Only Tracks 

    These tracks will be presented exclusively online for our virtual audience. 

    • Avian/Exotics
    • Equine

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://pacvet.net/san-francisco/

  • Online Event – 5/2/24 – Revolutionizing Veterinary Education – The Bridge Club

    Online Event – 5/2/24 – Revolutionizing Veterinary Education – The Bridge Club

    As more and more technology enters the workforce – the way we train future generations of of DVMs and Technicians is changing. What does it look like and can today’s work force adjust? Join us for an intriguing look to the future, that is happening now!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.thebridgeclub.com/events/revolutionizing-veterinary-education

  • Webinar – 4/25/24 – Invisible Advocates: How the Social Justice Movement Influences Animal Advocacy – Life of Riley

    Webinar – 4/25/24 – Invisible Advocates: How the Social Justice Movement Influences Animal Advocacy – Life of Riley

    Though efforts have been made within the animal advocacy movement to recognize intersections with human rights campaigns, the latter are frequently classified as belonging to “other movements” that are separate and apart from animal advocacy. Using real-life examples, presenters will explore ways in which individuals, communities, and groups have made transformative contributions (often unknowingly) to the success of animal advocacy through the framework of social justice.  This webinar is intended to bring awareness and appreciation to the many forms of hidden contributions that contribute to victories in animal advocacy.

    Speakers:

    From Companions and Animals for Reform & Equity (CARE):

    • Akisha Townsend Eaton, Chief of Policy, Environmental Justice Division
    • Aline Silva, Senior Director of Environmental Justice & Policy and Housing Specialist

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAudeChrTMiGtwXmyobJxAQ95RrCmW5oxoZ#/

  • Webinar – 5/1/24 – Busting DEI Blowback & Burnout – The AAWA

    Webinar – 5/1/24 – Busting DEI Blowback & Burnout – The AAWA

    Is your DEI work burning you out?

    Anyone involved in DEI efforts may be feeling exhausted by what seem like insurmountable odds, especially after repeated attempts to make progress are met with resistance, inaction, and even hostility. How can you move your efforts forward in these moments without causing damage to yourself and others?

    Come explore strategies for building an endurance mindset to DEI and try out tools to develop the stamina to continue progressing—even when you feel like you’ve hit the wall.

    Session Objectives:

    • Identify common causes for hitting the DEI Wall
    • Explore tools to avoid burnout and build individual physical, mental, and emotional stamina
    • Determine organizational strategies and practices to maintain steady and sustainable progress toward DEI goals in the face of fatigue or blowback

    Presenter: Jasmin M. Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://learning.theaawa.org/p/5-01-24

  • Webinar – 4/4/24 – Strategies for Training the Atypical Dog – Part 1: Concepts and Overview – FDSA (fee applies)

    Webinar – 4/4/24 – Strategies for Training the Atypical Dog – Part 1: Concepts and Overview – FDSA (fee applies)

    This is Part One of a two-part webinar on working with “atypical” dogs. Both webinars are stand-alone webinars covering a different aspect of this topic, but they combine to cover the topic more broadly.

    When we train our dogs, we are constantly asking them to solve puzzles. We are asking them to connect the dots between the cue (context cue or human initiated verbal / visual cue), their subsequent behavior (action), and the reinforcement. As our dog becomes more confident about the connection between these elements, they can respond more rapidly and with improved accuracy.

    During the learning process there will be moments of frustration and confusion. Typical dogs deal with small amounts of frustration and confusion in a way that helps them find a solution to the puzzle. This leads to the dog attaining reinforcement, which results in them putting in the same or greater effort on future learning-oriented tasks.

    Atypical dogs however do not respond in the same way. For a range of underlying reasons, the training puzzle itself may cause an excessive spike in arousal in these dogs. This is commonly referred to as the dog “stressing down” or “stressing up” depending on the observable behaviors. “Stressing down” behaviors may include shutting-down, stalling, looking away, appearing disinterested, freezing, moving slowly, or performing avoidance, escape, appeasement, or displacement behaviors. “Stressing up” behaviors may include barking at the human or at the task, whining, performing rapid sequences of random un-cued behaviors, anticipating cues, spinning, doing zoomies, lacking focus, and attempting to guess at the solution with little thought.

    Beyond training pressures, these dogs may also struggle more than usual with environmental pressures. All dogs need a certain amount of desensitization and distraction training in order to successfully function in bigger environments, but the atypical dog may be extremely aware of stimuli in the environment. This requires additional training steps and more detailed monitoring.

    In this “Part One” webinar we discuss:

    • The underlying factors that contribute to the development of an atypical dog, including genetic traits and the impact of prior learning.
    • Ways to identify the difference between a simple training gap, and a more complex problem.
    • When to use classical conditioning versus operant conditioning.
    • Methods for measuring the proportional impact the environment is having on our dog’s behavior.

    We also look at a range of solutions that can create a more focused, happier, and more consistently successful training partner.

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

  • Webinar – 4/8/24 – Playgroups: The Why, the What, and the How – Dogs Playing for Life

    Webinar – 4/8/24 – Playgroups: The Why, the What, and the How – Dogs Playing for Life

    Learn about all the ways in which DPFL Playgroups are transforming shelters all across the country! This webinar (formerly offered in three parts) will cover the Why, the What, and the How of playgroups.

    Attendees will be introduced to dynamic video examples and impactful data and experiences from some of the over 350 shelters who have embraced the power of letting shelter dogs play!

    This is a 3.5-hour presentation with Q&A at intervals throughout. This webinar will not be recorded.

    This course has been pre-approved for 3 continuing education unit (CEU) credits for Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) and by the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP).

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jEdkGmh4REqHRf42RarYaQ#/registration

  • Online Event – 4/4/24 – Live from the Ranch – Insights, Best Practices, & Anecdotes in Animal Training – Karen Pryor Academy

    Online Event – 4/4/24 – Live from the Ranch – Insights, Best Practices, & Anecdotes in Animal Training – Karen Pryor Academy

    Live from The Ranch is hitting the road, and will be broadcasting live from ClickerExpo in Portland, Oregon. Juliana DeWillems is taking over the interview seat and talking to 50+ year veteran of animal care and training, Ken Ramirez, about insights, best practices, and personal anecdotes about learning with animals. Ken has used positive reinforcement training with everything from butterflies to elephants to dogs.

    Tune in live on YouTube on April 4, at 3:30 pm PT. Link in bio.

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