Shelter Learniverse Return to the Shelter Learniverse

Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

Blog

  • Webinar – 4/2/24 – Seven Practices to Live Better and Work Better – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Webinar – 4/2/24 – Seven Practices to Live Better and Work Better – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    The average American worker spends at least one-third of their life at work. Research indicates that our experiences in the workplace have a direct impact on our mental, emotional, financial, and physical well-being. These factors, in turn, influence how we make decisions, communicate, and relate to ourselves, others, and our communities.

    We believe we can create a more compassionate and peaceful life by developing the skills and mindsets to Live Better and Work Better. In this webinar, we’ll explore seven key practices designed to unlock your untapped wisdom and potential, enabling you to lead a more intentional life —both at home and at work.

    By delving into the power of self-worth, gratitude, curiosity, radical acceptance, boundaries, forgiveness, and compassion, we will gain insight into how our thoughts, feelings, and actions shape our reality. Your future self will thank you!

    Presenters

    Angel Guzmán, a multi-dimensional leader, entrepreneur, and professional violinist, boasts over twenty years of experience in various domains.

    Angel’s journey began in Tucson, Arizona, where in high school he owned and managed a mariachi group. This early venture taught him essential business and leadership skills. While pursuing his studies at the University of Arizona, Angel simultaneously built and expanded his small business. He also embarked on a career with Wells Fargo Bank. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and business administration, he stepped into supervisory and management roles, gaining valuable corporate leadership and sales training. His time on the Wachovia-Wells Fargo East Coast conversion team honed his expertise in change management.

    Transitioning from corporate banking, Angel joined the State of Arizona to work on the Financial Exploitation Unit for Adult Protective Services. His success led to overseeing the investigative team, training law enforcement agencies, and shaping effective policies to address allegations of financial exploitation.

    A professional musical opportunity knocked, and Angel embraced it. He began performing as a violinist at Disney’s Epcot Center and then Disney’s California Adventure Park. Additionally, he collaborated with a professional mariachi group, participating in tours and studio recordings and projects in Los Angeles, CA.

    During tours and breaks, Angel pursued further education. He became a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor, eventually transitioning into a small business accountant and consultant.

    Throughout his diverse career, Angel discovered that our thoughts, communication, and decision-making directly impact how we lead and present ourselves—whether at work or elsewhere.

    In 2023, Angel co-founded Hatching with his husband José. Angel’s journey exemplifies adaptability, resilience, and a passion for growth both personally and professionally.

    José Ocaño is a proud Chicano who had humble beginnings growing up in a small barrio in Tucson, AZ. At eighteen years old, José started his career working as a kennel technician in one of the largest animal shelters in Arizona, eventually working his way up to become the Executive Director of that organization.

    During his time at Pima Animal Care Center, José gained insight into the importance of cultivating emotional intelligence, engaging in compassionate communication, and embodying authentic leadership. José believes that as leaders we work for our teams and that exceptional leadership involves a commitment to personal growth as well as fostering the development of those under their guidance.

    In 2017, after a decade of working to transform that organization, José joined Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit organization.

    At Best Friends, José was responsible for leading dynamic teams, including Human Resources, Learning and Staff Development, Employee Experience, DEI, and Organizational Culture initiatives. He also served as a strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and members of the Senior Leadership Team. Through a people-first lens, José and his team stewarded a workplace culture that was employee and value-centric which positioned Best Friends to win multiple Top Workplace Awards since 2020.

    In 2023, José left Best Friends to start a Personal and Professional Development company, Hatching.

    Hatching is a purpose-driven company aimed at fostering a more compassionate world by helping people and organizations develop the skills and mindsets to #LiveBetter and #WorkBetter.

    José resides by the beach in Santa Monica, CA with his husband and two dogs, Zoe and Nugget, showing that anything is possible with an intentional mindset, support, and the skills to go after your dreams!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/seven-practices-to-live-better-and-work-better/

  • Webinar – 3/28/24 – Shelter Behavior Roundtable: Changing How We Talk About Behavior Dogs and Cats – ASPCAPro

    Webinar – 3/28/24 – Shelter Behavior Roundtable: Changing How We Talk About Behavior Dogs and Cats – ASPCAPro

    How we talk about the pets in our care matters. Whether counseling an adopter about the sassy cat they are interested in or talking with staff about the reactive behavior they observed in a new dog, the words we use will affect the pathway for that animal. Join our panel of experts as they dig into the issue of how we talk and think about some of our more challenging shelter animals. Panelists will share examples and tools with attendees that can be implemented quickly into daily operations.

    Takeaways

    • The importance of using objective behavior language.
    • Tips and tools to develop standardization in behavior language across an organization.

    Suited For

    Animal behavior and shelter professionals and volunteers.

    Presenters
    Dr. Miranda K. Workman, Ph.D., Shelter Behavior Training Liaison, ASPCA
    James Pumphrey, Executive Director Wenatchee Valley Humane Society
    Kara Montalbano, Director of Marketing & Community Relations, Potter League for Animals

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.aspcapro.org/training/webinar/shelter-behavior-roundtable-changing-how-we-talk-about-behavior-dogs-and-cats

  • Webinar – 3/28/24 – Rescue Organization Essentials: California Laws, Resources, and More! – CalAnimals

    Webinar – 3/28/24 – Rescue Organization Essentials: California Laws, Resources, and More! – CalAnimals

    CalAnimals deeply appreciates the incredibly important work of rescue organizations throughout California. As adoption partners to shelters statewide, your success matters. Please join us for this important webinar to learn about state laws that affect your work, get the scoop on what’s happening with respect to insurance for rescues, and explore ideas that will help us get more pets into loving homes. We’ve compiled additional resources and training to assist you. Don’t miss out!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-C5qQMgKSwaHtjlViw80eA#/registration

  • Webinar – 4/17/24 – Practical Calicivirus: All You Need to Know from Diagnosis to Adoption – Maddie’s Fund

    Webinar – 4/17/24 – Practical Calicivirus: All You Need to Know from Diagnosis to Adoption – Maddie’s Fund

    Feline calicivirus is a contagious, often severe virus in cats that can be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive to treat. However, standardized protocols help treat these cats efficiently, reduce transmission within the shelter, and get cats moving toward live outcomes. This webcast will cover diagnosing calicivirus without the use of expensive testing; treating the virus and caring for sick cats in the shelter; and clearing and adopting the cats after illness.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Attendees will learn how to diagnose calicivirus without expensive testing.
    • Attendees will take away best practice treatment protocols.
    • Attendees will understand how, and when, to clear cats and move them along toward their outcome.

    Maddie’s Pet Forum discussion thread  https://maddies.fund/ForumWebcastCalicivrius

    This webinar will be recorded and has 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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

    Presenters

    Monica Tarant
    Chief Innovation Officer
    Cincinnati Animal CARE and The Give Them Ten Movement

    Monica Tarant is the Chief Innovation Officer: Feline Lifesaving at Cincinnati Animal CARE with The Give Them Ten movement and is helping organizations create the most humane city in the country for cats.

    A decade before anyone had heard of such a thing, she cut her teeth founding a trap-neuter-return organization in rural Illinois and pioneered one of the nation’s first, and largest, working cat programs. In 2012, she joined Austin Pets Alive! where she led her team to an 88 percent growth in cat adoptions and helped Austin achieve a citywide 98 percent live release rate for cats. Monica then spent years as an instructor for the Maddie’s Fund Lifesaving Academy teaching shelters best practices and innovative lifesaving programs, advancing research in feline retroviruses, and progressing public policy as a City of Austin Animal Advisory Commissioner. Monica is a frequent speaker and advisor on innovative ways to save every cat, including cats with feline leukemia, community cats, and shelter cats in need of medical care.

    Jordana Moerbe 
    Medical Care Director, Austin Pets Alive!

    Jordana brings over 15 years of experience in the animal welfare field and is one of the founding staff members of Austin Pets Alive!. Her work there created the Medical Triage and Wellness Clinic which is now the largest foster-centric medical clinic in the country and sees upwards of 7,500 medical cases each year. In 2017, her national work began in shelter clinic management, disease management, and outbreak response. Jordana worked with shelters and rescues nationwide to improve medical practices, live outcomes, and shelter efficiencies through innovative ideas and programming. She also served as the American Pets Alive Maddie’s Medical Program Instructor, creating in-person training courses as well as online coursework.

    Jordana’s passion continues to be shelter clinic management, outside-the-box thinking to industry problems, and helping people acquire realistic methods and tools to accomplish the job. She is a national conference speaker on these topics. Jordana resides just outside Austin with her husband, daughter, dogs, cats, and many farm animals.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3FEJayD2Qa6SXp5gKD38IA#/registration

  • Webinar – 3/14/24 – Breaking Down Barriers: Insights into the HASS Competitive Pet Placement Project – HASS

    Webinar – 3/14/24 – Breaking Down Barriers: Insights into the HASS Competitive Pet Placement Project – HASS

    Over the last several months, HASS collaborated with a selection of HASS pilot shelters to identify any lingering shelter operation barriers to positive adoption outcomes as part of a formal Competitive Pet Placement (CPP) project. CPP is an initiative supported by PetSmart Charities that aims to make sure animal shelters are not making it harder for people to adopt and foster than it should be—and to make it easier for pets to get into homes. Join Kate McHugh-Westfall, Embedded Data and Implementation Coordinator, for an overview of this impactful project, including how preliminary foot traffic data informed barrier-busting solutions. Additionally, Regan Goins, Outcomes Manager for Cincinnati Animal CARE, and Jairus Hubbard, Adoptions Supervisor for LifeLine Dekalb County Animal Services, will join to share their experience and the impact of the Competitive Pet Placement project on their organizations. Vincent Medley, Maddie’s® Director of Human Animal Support Services, will moderate.

    Register below and join us live on Thursday, March 14 at 5 p.m. CT. After the live event, a recording will be distributed to all registrants within 3 business days. Thank you to PetSmart Charities for supporting the Competitive Pet Placement project.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/7816739797796/WN__w1sPUHCSzW-zV33v6Qf4w#/registration

  • Get More Animals Home with Back Where They Belong Summit Sessions and Resources, Now On-Demand

    Get More Animals Home with Back Where They Belong Summit Sessions and Resources, Now On-Demand

    Have you heard? By getting just 20% more stray dogs back home in our communities, we have the power to end unnecessary shelter euthanasia and find homes for every dog who needs one.

    Presenters from organizations across the country—municipal, non-profit, and national—came together in a mega event to share the best resources and most successful methods they’re using to reduce shelter crowding and get more dogs and cats back home. Now every short, solution-packed presentation and recommended resource is available on-demand at Maddie’s® University for free, #ThankstoMaddie!

    Pick the 25-minute sessions that speak to you. Whether you’re a field officer, frontline staff member, manager, or dedicated volunteer navigating tough decisions, topics like these will help you make a difference today:

    • The Crucial Role of Return to Home in Reducing Shelter Crowding and Euthanasia Today (Dr. Kate Hurley, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program)
    • Contracts, Jurisdictions, Fees and Local Ordinance Considerations to Promote Return to Home (Cole Wakefield, Good Shepherd Humane Society)
    • Empowering Dispatch With Training, Support and Resources for the Public (Michelle George, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity—CARE)
    • Working With Finders to Help Get Animals Back Where They Belong (Mike Wheeler, Cabot Animal Support Services)
    • Getting Pets Home with Better Approaches to On-Pet IDs and ID/Microchip Tracing (Nina Stively, Loudoun County Animal Services)
    • Making It Easy for Owners to Find and Redeem Lost Pets: Tech Tips and Communication Strategies – Bobby Mann and Mia Navedo-Williams, Humane Rescue Alliance
    • Using Technology to Improve Your Lost and Found Systems (Elkie Wills, San Diego Humane Society)
    • And more!

    You’ll want to share these sessions with your team and stakeholders, including city leaders and decision-makers, to get everyone on board with programming that prioritizes getting dogs and cats back to the people and homes they know and love. Every single action we take together adds up. When it comes to making things better for shelter staff and animals, plus the people who are missing dogs and cats in the community, the impact is immeasurable.

    Get on-demand solutions now
  • Online Event – 1st and 3rd Tuesdays – All Call – California for All Animals

    Online Event – 1st and 3rd Tuesdays – All Call – California for All Animals

    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.

    On March 5, Monica Dangler and Kaitlyn Pappas will share how Pima Animal Care Center used Petco Love Lost to double the number of animals returned home in the community.

    Register here: https://tinyurl.com/all-call

  • 5/8/24 – How to be an Expert Witness in Animal Cruelty and Custody Cases – The AAWA

    5/8/24 – How to be an Expert Witness in Animal Cruelty and Custody Cases – The AAWA

    Three legal experts will discuss:

    • the role of the animal expert in court proceedings, including testimony in court as well as advising and educating attorneys
    • preparation for testimony, including cross-examination
    • best practices for the forensic witness
    • war stories and current trends

    This session will reduce the fear of the unknown and instill confidence in testifying by explaining what is expected of an expert witness and outline things one should and should not do on the stand.  Veterinarians often are especially reluctant to become involved with cruelty cases because of the fear of testifying in what they consider a potential adversarial situation and may feel they must make the entire case or speak in absolutes.

    Target audience: veterinarians, animal control officers, anyone who may engage in an animal cruelty or custody investigation and be asked to testify as an expert.

    Speakers:

    • Don Cocek, APA Fellow, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
    • Gillian Deegan, Prosecutor, Botetourt County, Virginia
    • Melinda Merck, DVM, Veterinary Forensics Consulting

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://bit.ly/49wCJ0o

  • Webinar – 2/28/24 – The Case for Feline Fix by Five – National Kitten Coalition

    Webinar – 2/28/24 – The Case for Feline Fix by Five – National Kitten Coalition

    Join us on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 2:00pm ET for a deep dive into Feline Fix by Five.

    Learn about early spaying/neutering procedures and get talking points to address any concerns your local veterinarians or potential adopters may have.

    The National Kitten Coalition (NKC) is excited to host a webinar on early spaying/neutering in recognition of National Spay/Neuter & Feline Fix by Five Awareness Month. We are delighted to have Dr. Phil Bushby, DVM, MS, DACVS, Feline Fix by Five Veterinary Consultant & Marcia Lane Endowed Chair of Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, as our guest speaker.

    Eligible registrants will be entered into our SnuggleSafe® Giveaway*! Attendees will receive two extra entries in the prize draw.

    *The SnuggleSafe® Giveaway is available to all residents of the forty-eight (48) contiguous United States and the District of Columbia. To participate in the giveaway, you must register before the start of our webinar, “The Case for Feline Fix by Five,” on February 28, 2024. By registering for the webinar, you will automatically be entered into the drawing for a chance to win a SnuggleSafe® Microwave Heatpad.
    To increase your chances of winning, we encourage you to attend the webinar, as attendees will receive two extra entries in the prize draw. We will announce the winners during the webinar and give away 2 SnuggleSafe® Microwave Heatpads.
    Don’t miss out on this opportunity and register now!

    WEBSITE LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4617086374868/WN_lIwXW9ZFTQSBh0nt3a1K2Q

  • Back Where They Belong Shelter Summit

    Back Where They Belong Shelter Summit


    Watch on Demand at Maddie’s University

    An online solution-sharing summit to get animals home faster, easier, better

    February 21 & 28
    9 a.m.–2 p.m. PT

    Our shelters are full of dogs and cats who have been separated from their people, their home, their habitat. Animals who very well may have been living their best lives before they appeared in the corner of our kennel card. 

    Join us for short, solutions-focused presentations to hear how shelter team members are getting animals back where they belong faster, easier, and better… and how you can too!

    Right Place

    Whether it’s getting community cats back to their hangouts and caretakers or reuniting dogs and their families, we know there’s no place like home sweet home for animals and their people. Of course we want new homes for animals who need them, but sometimes we forget how easy and impactful prioritizing going home again can be.

    Right Care

    From reducing shelter crowding to protect animals from disease and allow your team to provide better care, to building support and positive relationships in the community, the payoff is powerful for population management and beyond. And when we go all in on return to home, we reconnect with the reason we do this work: to do our best to give each animal we meet the right outcome–in the right place.

    Right Now

    Ready, set, make it happen: Learn the most effective ways shelter teams are incorporating return-to-home goals into everyday processes, protocols and community programming to ensure animals spend more nights at home, not in the shelter.

    Sessions & Support for Everyone

    Day One

    Lost animals have a ten times greater chance of returning to their home if they never leave their neighborhood. Day one includes an overview of the most leveraged field interventions that turn Lost into Found, and touches on proven proactive programming that works to prevent separation in the first place.

    You’ll want to invite your field, CSAs, call center, and communication teams to this day focused on lost animal prevention and shelter diversion.




    Explore Day One Sessions

    Day Two

    Nearly half the animals in our shelter have the potential for a positive outcome that is not adoption, but the moment an animal enters our doors their odds of returning home begin to drop. Day two will focus on programs that have proven successful in reversing this trend and pushing Return-to-Home rates to heights that rival both adoption and transfer combined.

    You’ll want to invite your entire frontline staff: By working together, we can get animals out of our shelters and back where they belong.
     

    Explore Day Two Sessions

    Full Schedule

    Wednesday , February 21: Before (and Instead of!) the Shelter

    Day One Schedule

    Note: times listed are Pacific (PT).

    • 9 a.m. – Event kickoff
    • 9:10 a.m. – Keynote –The Crucial Role of Return to Home in Reducing Shelter Crowding and Euthanasia Today – Dr. Kate Hurley, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

    Block 1  9:35 a.m.–11:45 a.m.

    • 9:40 a.m. – Contracts, Jurisdictions, Fees and Local Ordinance Considerations to Promote Return to Home – Cole Wakefield, Good Shepherd Humane Society
    • 10:10 a.m. – Getting Cats Back Where They Belong – Laura Lampley, Pasadena Humane Society
    • 10:40 a.m. – Using Technology to Improve Your Lost and Found Systems – Elkie Wills, San Diego Humane Society
    • 11:10 a.m. – Panel discussion and Q&A with speakers and guests

    Block 2  11:45 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

    • 11:45 a.m. – Focusing on Return to Home in the Field – Cole Wakefield, Good Shepherd Humane Society
    • 12:15 p.m. – Empowering Dispatch With Training, Support and Resources for the Public – Michelle George, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE)
    • 12:30 p.m. – Working With Finders to Help Get Animals Back Where They Belong – Mike Wheeler, Cabot Animal Support Services
    • 12:45 p.m. – Shelter Outreach and Support Programs to Get and Keep Animals Where They Belong – Christine Kim, My Dog is My Home
    • 1:15 p.m. – Panel discussion and Q&A with speakers and guests

    Wednesday, February 28: At the Shelter

    Day Two Schedule

    Note: times listed are Pacific (PT).

    • 9 a.m. – Event kickoff
    • 9:10 a.m. – Keynote – The Crucial Role of Return to Home in Reducing Shelter Crowding and Euthanasia Today – Dr. Kate Hurley, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

    Block 1  9:35 a.m.–11:45 a.m.

    • 9:40 a.m. – Focusing on Return to Home at the Shelter to Get More Animals Back Where They Belong – Shyanne Schull, Washoe County Animal Services
    • 10:10 a.m. – Easy Shelter Website Changes to Increase Return to Home – Tori Fugate, KC Pet Project
    • 10:40 a.m. – Making It Easy for Owners to Find and Redeem Lost Pets: Tech Tips and Communication Strategies – Bobby Mann and Mia Navedo-Williams, Humane Rescue Alliance
    • 11:10 a.m. – Panel discussion and Q&A with speakers and guests

    Block 2  11:45 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

    • 11:45 a.m. – Getting Pets Home with Better Approaches to On-Pet IDs and ID/Microchip Tracing – Nina Stively, Loudoun County Animal Services
    • 12:15 p.m. – Leveraging Social Media, Other Internet Resources and Volunteers to Supercharge Return to Home – Jordan Frey and Caroline Malcolm, San Diego Humane Society
    • 12:45 p.m. – Removing Barriers to Get More Animals Back Where They Belong – Akisha Townsend Eaton, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE)
    • 1:15 p.m. – Panel discussion and Q&A with speakers and guests
    • 1:50 p.m. – Event closing and What Found Feels Like contest winners announced


    Read the Session Descriptions

    Speakers/Panelists

    Photo of Akisha Townsend Eaton

    Akisha Townsend Eaton

    Chief of Policy, Environmental Justice
    CARE (Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity)

    12:30 p.m. Feb. 28
    Removing Barriers to Get More Animals Back Where They Belong

    Akisha’s Bio

    Akisha brings over a decade of animal law and policy experience to her current role as Chief of Policy, Environmental Justice Division at CARE. Prior to joining CARE, she worked as a managing attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund and as legislative attorney and policy advisor at various other national and international animal protection organizations. Akisha is an AmeriCorps alumni and is currently an active contributor to the Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC) as well as the legal redress, environmental justice, and economic development committees of her local NAACP chapter, which recently awarded her the Prince and Cora Mack Humanitarian Award. 

     

    Akisha has contributed to numerous publications. Her most recent chapters have appeared in the Palgrave Handbook of Animal Ethics, Career Paths in Human-Animal Interaction for Social and Behavioral Scientists and People, Pets, and Policies: Towards Community Supported Animal Sheltering.  She served as a consultant editor and contributor to the Journal of Animal Ethics and associate editor for the Journal of Animal Law.

    Read more about Akisha

    Bobby Mann

    Bobby Mann

    Chief Programs Officer, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center
    Humane Rescue Alliance

    10:40 a.m. Feb. 28
    Making It Easy for Owners to Find and Redeem Lost Pets: Tech Tips and Communication Strategies

    Bobby’s Bio

    Bobby Mann is the chief programs officer for the Humane Rescue Alliance. In his role, Bobby oversees HRA’s advocacy efforts, community programs, humane education, and public pet services all with the goal of uplifting and keeping people and pets together. Bobby also oversees the WayStation program, HRA’s best-in-class animal relocation program.

    With more than a decade of experience at municipal animal shelters, Bobby’s deep operational expertise, leadership, and creativity have helped change the public’s perception of the animal welfare industry.

    In his most recent role for American Pets Alive! as the Maddie’s® Human Animal Support Services (HASS) pilot director, Bobby’s work focused on developing programs and protocols to implement community supported sheltering and help keep pets in homes with families who already love them.

    Previously, Bobby spent more than a decade working in Sacramento animal shelters, at both the Sacramento SPCA and later at the state capital’s municipal organization, Front Street Animal Shelter.

    Bobby is passionate about implementing and expanding programs that instill a people-first mindset, support youth engagement, further the inclusion of historically marginalized communities, and celebrate the love between people and pets.

    Christine Kim

    Founder
    My Dog is My Home

    12:45 p.m. Feb. 21
    Shelter Outreach and Support Programs to Get and Keep Animals Where They Belong

    Christine’s Bio

    Christine is a macro social worker with a specialized interest in building programs and policies that recognize the power of the human-animal bond. During her time working in supportive housing, Christine became acutely aware of the barriers people experiencing homelessness with animals face when attempting to access shelter and housing services. Christine’s research and work with human-animal homeless families includes a publication in the pioneering book Animals in Social Work: Why and How They Matter (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), an exhibition for The Animal Museum called My Dog Is My Home and the founding of the non-profit organization by the same name. She served as the first director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare under Mayor Bill de Blasio, and she is the recipient of the ASPCA’s 2021 Public Service Humane Awards for her leadership at the NYC’s Mayor’s Office during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Read more about Christine

    Cole Wakefield

    Executive Director
    Good Shepherd Humane Society

    9:40 a.m. Feb. 21
    Contracts, Jurisdictions, Fees and Local Ordinance Considerations to Promote Return to Home 

    11:45 a.m. Feb. 21
    Focusing on Return to Home in the Field

    Cole’s Bio

    Cole Wakefield is the executive director of The Good Shepherd Humane Society in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He works with several national organizations, including the Human Animal Support Services Project and the Humane Society of the United States, on rural issues and consults with other animal welfare agencies on management practice and program implementation. He earned his Master of Science in Management and leadership from Western Governors University and is pursuing a doctorate in strategy and innovation.

    Cole holds CARE REDI: Bronze certification and serves on the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement’s DEI Council. Cole also serves on the Consultive Council of Nonprofit Leaders for Charity Navigator.

    Dianne Prado

    Founder and Executive Director
    HEART LA

    Panelist

    Dianne’s Bio

    Dianne Prado is the founder of Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART LA), a legal non-profit that helps ensure people and their pets remain together & housed. Dianne provides legal training and consulting for the Stay Housed Los Angeles (SHLA) eviction defense program, a Lecturer in Law for UCLA Law School teaching Los Angeles Housing Law and Policy, and an appointed public member of the CA Veterinary Medical Board.

    Elkie Wills

    Elkie Wills

    Senior Director of Community Engagement
    San Diego Humane Society

    10:40 a.m. Feb. 21
    Using Technology to Improve Your Lost and Found Systems

    Elkie’s Bio

    Elkie is the Senior Director of Community Engagement at the San Diego Humane Society and has been with the shelter since 2020.

    In this role she leads the Community Engagement team to develop and facilitate quality programs such as community outreach, Lost and Found, Guest Relations, the Community Pet Pantry, mobile adoptions, staff training and adult and youth activities for both companion animals and wildlife.

    Read more about Elkie

    Kate Hurley, DVM

    Director
    UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

    Keynote Event Opening

    9:10 a.m. Feb. 21

    9:10 a.m. Feb. 28

    Kate’s Bio

    Dr. Hurley began her career as an animal control officer in 1989 at the Santa Cruz SPCA, a private shelter providing field and sheltering services to the community in Santa Cruz, CA. She enjoyed the job more than she ever could have imagined, especially the feeling that she was able to help people take better care of their pets as well as protecting animals every day. Becoming a veterinarian seemed a logical way to continue serving both pets and people, and after six years she left the Santa Cruz SPCA to attend the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

    Hurley soon found she couldn’t tear herself away from shelter work, however, and after graduation from veterinary school in 1999, immediately went to work as a shelter veterinarian. Hurley loved that job too but in 2001 couldn’t resist the opportunity to return to UC Davis to become the first in the world to undertake a residency in Shelter Medicine.

    Read more about Kate

    Laura Lampley

    Senior Director of Animal Resources and Admissions
    Pasadena Humane

    10:10 a.m. Feb. 21
    Getting Cats Back Where They Belong

    Laura’s Bio

    My professional background includes working in the legal field as well as the tech space and I am especially interested in how we can harness technology to help more animals. My current work in animal welfare is focused on returning lost pets to their owners through our Animal Resource Center AND community cats to their outdoor homes through our Community Cat Program. I have spent the past 10 years helping cats in my community through TNR and improved the existing Community Cat Program at Pasadena Humane by expanding services offered and making the program more accessible to our community members.

    Read more about Laura

    Michelle George

    Director, Community Animal CARE (CAC)
    Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE)

    12:15 p.m. Feb. 21
    Empowering Dispatch With Training, Support, and Resources for the Public to Get Animals Back Where They Belong

    Michelle’s Bio

    Michelle has over 10 years of working experience in an open-intake county animal shelter with services contracted for shelter operations as well as field enforcement operations. While working in most departments within the shelter, the majority of her work experience was gained within Field Services. In the pursuit of the next opportunity or new challenge, she has been able to learn many facets (kennel, adoptions, client care, dispatch, field support, rescue through transport, and more) within animal welfare, never shying from the chance to be a source of information to anyone she meets. Awareness and empowerment are key.  

    When away from work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, pets, and friends, traveling, and shopping.

    Read more about Michelle

    Mike Wheeler

    Director of Community Services
    Cabot, Arkansas

    12:30 p.m. Feb. 21
    Working with Finders to Help Get Animals Back Where They Belong

    Mike’s Bio

    Mike Wheeler is the Director of Community Services for Cabot, Arkansas. Over the last 15 years he has been dedicated to animal welfare and public safety while reducing euthanasia and promoting responsible pet ownership in Cabot, Arkansas. Under Mike’s management of his city’s open admission shelter and animal control operations, he has fostered a culture of helping people and animals which has brought about 23 community programs that focused on improving the lives of every person and every pet in his community through strengthening the human animal bond and keeping families together. This philosophy of returning/keeping animals with their families has reduced his annual intake from 3,357 animals in 2019 to 1022 animals in 2022 with a euthanasia rate of less than 1%, counting every animal the organization touched in 2022. His belief that animal control should harbor an environment where they work with the community rather than against the community has resulted in an 87% ordinance compliance without issuing citations in 2022.

    His passion for animal welfare and public policy has driven him to a position on the Executive Management Committee for the Human Animal Support Services (HASS), the Executive Board of the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA) and the position of Treasurer (Past President), of the Arkansas State Animal Control Association (ASACA). In this capacity he helps form best practices, trains animals control officers and assists Animal Service Departments and individuals across the country to become better representatives within their communities while providing a higher standard for animal welfare and public safety in those communities. Mike’s philosophy is one that is based on continued learning in an ever-changing world. As well as learning daily from human and animal welfare leaders across this country Mike holds a Masters in Business as well as degrees in Criminal Justice and Public Administration.

    Read more about Mike

    Nina Stively holding Merx, the cat in a backyard

    Nina Stively

    Director
    Loudoun County Animal Services

    11:45 a.m. Feb. 28
    Getting Pets Home with Better Approaches to On-Pet IDs and ID/Microchip Tracing

    Nina’s Bio

    Nina Stively is the Director of Loudoun County Animal Services in Leesburg, Virginia. She is a Virginia Animal Control Officer, a certified Animal Welfare Administrator, a certified Expert Animal Cruelty Investigator, and has Master’s Degrees in Veterinary Science and Business Administration. Nina started out as a volunteer over 20 years ago, and now loves working to improve industry standards in animal welfare, especially in the areas of professional ethics, transport, disease management and quality of care in shelters. She lives with her human family, and an assembly of pets, both permanent and fosters.

    Read more about Nina

    Shyanne Schull

    Director
    Washoe County Regional Animal Services

    9:40 a.m. Feb. 28
    Focusing on Return to Home at the Shelter to Get More Animals Back Where They Belong

    Shyanne’s Bio

    Shyanne Schull is the director for Washoe County Regional Animal Services in Reno, Nevada. Her proactive philosophy and approach to animal welfare issues helps to drive successful programs that support the bond between pets and people. With an intake average annual intake of 13,000 animals, Washoe County Regional Animal Services boasts a 40% combined cat and dog return to owner rate over a ten- year average. The success of these programs takes collaboration, dedication, community support and a lot of hard work.

    In her 23- year career in animal welfare, Shyanne has worked in a wide array of capacities: kennel worker, dispatcher, officer, shelter manager, assistant director and director. She understands the respective challenges that each division area faces and believes in forging the passion and experience from each into a constructive goal; to develop life-saving strategies for shelter diversion and to support responsible pet ownership and pet retention.

    Read more about Shyanne

    Tori Fugate holding dog in front of colorful mural

    Tori Fugate

    Chief Communications Officer
    KC Pet Project

    10:10 a.m. Feb. 28
    Easy Shelter Website Changes to Increase Return to Home

    Tori’s Bio

    Tori Fugate joined the KC Pet Project team in March 2012 – shortly after the organization took over the Kansas City, MO, animal shelter in January 2012. Tori’s role with KC Pet Project has enabled her to build the organization’s brand and promote its mission from inception to what it is today. She oversees all marketing, fundraising/development, events, web management, social media, retail sales, education initiatives, and media relations, and she recently served on the design and construction committee of the KC Campus for Animal Care, Kansas City’s new animal shelter. She enjoys the opportunity to promote KC Pet Project and its pets through social media and in print, radio and television appearances on a local and national level – including People Magazine, The Dodo, CNN, CBS News, USA Today, Queer Eye, and The Rachael Ray Show.

    Read more about Tori

    Powered by partnership.

    This event is brought to you by the Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge Learniverse at the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. Scan QR code with your phone camera to register!


    Maddie's Million Pet Challenge and UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program combined logo

    Thanks to Maddies