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  • Webinar – 1/24/24 – Grief & Loss in Veterinary Medicine – BlackDVM Network

    Webinar – 1/24/24 – Grief & Loss in Veterinary Medicine – BlackDVM Network

    Euthanasia is an experience, not a procedure or event. The experience of the loss of an animal companion, no matter how dignified, well-planned, and peaceful, initiates a physiological, cognitive, and emotional process which is unique to the individual. This program explores the experience of loss not only for the human “pet parent,” but also for the other animals who shared in the life of the deceased. Humans and animals have parallel emotional circuitry built into the limbic system of the brain. There is much about the emotional experience of loss that we have in common with our animal companions. Listeners will be challenged to imagine foreign perspectives and re-think the human-animal bond, anthropomorphism, and mortality itself.

    This webinar will equip you with skills to:

    • Challenge assumptions about patients, clients, and the end of life
    • Become comfortable allowing animals to show their emotional needs
    • Engage better with clients, patients, and colleagues

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.blackdvmnetwork.com/event-details/grief-loss-in-veterinary-medicine

  • Webinar – 1/16/24 – Playgroups: The Why, the What, and the How – Dogs Playing for Life

    Webinar – 1/16/24 – 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-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_ie4fO2XQQcmgY_2MQnbwnA#/registration

  • Online Course – Starts 2/26/24 – Compassion Fatigue Strategies Plus – University of Florida – Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program (fee applies)

    Online Course – Starts 2/26/24 – Compassion Fatigue Strategies Plus – University of Florida – Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program (fee applies)

    Today’s animal welfare and veterinary medical professionals are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for animals, people, and the organizations that heal, connect, and protect them. If that’s you, it’s easy to feel like nothing you do is ever good enough. The work feels never-ending. Taking care of your own needs might seem impossible.

    Transforming empathic distress (aka compassion fatigue) is absolutely possible for you and your staff. That’s why the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida is once again offering its Compassion Fatigue Strategies online course with certified compassion fatigue educator Jessica Dolce.

    This course will help you recognize signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma, learn how to reduce stress injury, increase your self-care and team-care practices, build compassion satisfaction, restore resiliency, and make successful changes in your life and in your organization.

    By the end of class you’ll:

    • Have 6 strategies to help you do the work you love, without being sidelined by compassion fatigue and burnout, so that you can feel energized and happy again
    • Know which self-care and stress management practices work for you
    • Have a personal mission statement so that you can feel clear about why you do this work even when it’s challenging
    • Have clear and manageable goals, so that you can make lasting changes in your sleep, diet, friendships, or anything else that really matters to you
    • Feel comfortable using super simple meditation practices, so that you can restore your balance
    • Clearly understand how and when to get professional mental health help, without shame
    • Know how to collaborate with your staff and coworkers on these issues so that you can all benefit from what you learned in the course

    Early individual registration is $299 per person by January 26, 2024. Regular individual registration is $349 per person January 27, 2024 through February 26, 2024.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/education/continuing-education/compassion-fatigue-strategies/

  • Online Event – 12/21/23 – Hatching Hour – The Art of Deep Listening: Sensing the World Differently – Hatching

    Online Event – 12/21/23 – Hatching Hour – The Art of Deep Listening: Sensing the World Differently – Hatching

    Discover Your Best Life at Hatching Hour: Meaningful Conversations, Lasting Change! Looking to enrich your life, personally and professionally? Hatching Hour is your community. Our online gatherings serve up expert insights, compelling stories, and actionable wisdom to help you #LiveBetter and #WorkBetter.

    Dive deep into transformative mindsets, tap in to your potential, and chart your journey towards a life filled with intention—all for free.

    Coming up on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 10am PT/11am MT: We are also excited to announce our next Hatching Hour session The Art of Deep Listening: Sensing the World Differently, featuring special guest, Marilou Chanrasmi, co-founder of Four Winds Canine Connections, whose work spans from indigenous and Asian American communities to tech startups, all rooted in mindfulness and the art of deep listening. You can register for this event, here.

    What is Deep Listening? Deep Listening is a way of being and walking in this world with true aliveness and balance. Through the art and practice of deep listening we begin to sense, see and feel the world in a way that invites wholeness, healing and harmony within us, around us and in relationship with each other. We practice listening inwardly, outwardly and between the spaces with deep presence for what is being said, in words, through our bodies, in silence, in vibrations and in energy. We hope you will join us!

    Marilou is a certified somatics coach, mindfulness and qigong practitioner and an experienced facilitator of circles. She is a founding member of Deep Listening for Social Change/DLSC a peaceful action group that was formed by members of the Twin Cities BIPOC mindfulness community in response to the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Marilou is a survivor of sexual abuse and partner violence. Her healing journey from her addiction to alcohol and struggles with depression began in 1988 with the unplanned arrival of her first dog into her life. Her best medicine and teacher arrived in the body of an 8 week old black cocker spaniel puppy. She attributes her decades of sobriety to her dogs. Marilou is committed to creating and holding safe and brave spaces where we allow wounded parts of ourselves to be seen, heard and held, and where we can collectively and lovingly support each other and make room for healing, joy and aliveness.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqce6srTorEtKf46R-cLxNK87UM7KnJv0c#/registration

  • Webinar – 1/17/24 – Level Up Your Cat Housing: Game-Changing Upgrades Are Within Reach – Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge

    Webinar – 1/17/24 – Level Up Your Cat Housing: Game-Changing Upgrades Are Within Reach – Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge

    Register Now!

    Discover innovative, proven strategies to transform your feline housing and get cats purring! With this webinar, you’ll be prepared to level up your shelter’s housing even with limited resources. UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program veterinarians Dr. Becky Stuntebeck and Dr. Denae Wagner will unveil tips and tactics for creating environments that work better for cats and for your team. From DIY cozy nooks to interactive play zones and portals, you’ll learn the how-tos of housing that puts cats at ease, supports animal health and staff safety, and encourages adoptions. You’ll also discover keys to supercharging cat care and overall welfare regardless of housing.

    Don’t wait – get all the info you need to get ahead while cat population numbers are lower. Register today and revolutionize cat housing and care in your shelter!

    You‘ll learn:

    • How to improve your cat housing
    • Setup & strategies that meet cat, staff, & shelter needs
    • Double-compartment housing benefits for cats & staff

    To invite others, download, print, share, and post the flyer at your shelter.


    Register Now!


    Click the image to download the flyer, then print, share, and post it at your shelter to invite other staff members


    QR CODE
    To register, scan this code with your phone’s camera.

    This webinar is brought to you by the Maddie’sⓇ Million Pet Challenge Learniverse at the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program.

  • Webinar – 1/11/24 – For Dog’s Sake, Can You Stop That? Canine-Friendly Body Language Improvements for Humans – Dogs Playing for Life

    Webinar – 1/11/24 – For Dog’s Sake, Can You Stop That? Canine-Friendly Body Language Improvements for Humans – Dogs Playing for Life

    Dogs are resilient and oh-so-forgiving! These qualities make them endearing as companions, along with their ability to love unconditionally. So, why do some dogs struggle to understand us when we are offering affection or when we want to help them, not harm them? In this session, we will focus on the HUMAN handling that contributes to unwanted behavior, even “aggression”. Get ready to rethink your approach as we reveal the common and widely accepted and taught handling errors that set dogs up for failure. Through extensive video examples, we will demonstrate alternative handling techniques that help dogs to trust and thrive!

    This webinar will demonstrate:

    – Examples of handling that causes negative behavior compared to handling that promotes  desired behavior

    – Demonstration of handling that induces trust and learning with dogs that are too afraid to respond initially to food rewards or affection

    – Comprehensive discussion around the correct use of pressure and release and why this is a critical skill for shelter canine handlers to master to save more dogs

    This is a 2-hour presentation followed by a Q&A session. This webinar will NOT be recorded and is scheduled at EASTERN TIME.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://dogsplayingforlife.com/webinars/

  • Online Event – 1/17/24 and 1/18/24 – Discovering a New Path: Positive Training for Aggressive & Reactive Dogs! – Puppyworks (fee applies)

    Online Event – 1/17/24 and 1/18/24 – Discovering a New Path: Positive Training for Aggressive & Reactive Dogs! – Puppyworks (fee applies)

    Exclusive Online Event Featuring Annie Phenix, Sarah Fisher & Dr. Laura Donaldson!

    5.5 CEUs – January 17 & 18, 2024 – 10 AM PST, 11 AM Mountain,  12 PM Central & 1 PM EST

    Or watch onDemand anytime, anywhere after the live session!

    • When traditional methods fail in addressing aggressive or reactive behavior in dogs, what’s the next step? Walking away from clients or suggesting drastic measures like euthanasia or punitive measures? Join us in this groundbreaking webinar where we explore a new innovative approach—strictly positive training—for handling aggressive and reactive dogs.
    • We delve into understanding the root causes behind these behaviors. We’ll shine a light on the physical and emotional trauma that often underlies aggression, unraveling the triggers that lead to reactive responses. Our focus lies in empowering dogs to choose non-aggressive reactions through a compassionate training approach.
    • This webinar is designed to equip trainers with insights into causation, enabling a shift towards effective solutions rooted in positive reinforcement. Join us as we explore this transformative method, aiming to create a safer and happier environment for both dogs and their human companions.
    • For a better understanding of reactivity we must include creating deep safety dogs and have a nonviolent approach that allows for social processing in the dog in a way that addresses canine trauma and teaches dogs how to self-calm.
    • A new, strictly positive approach to managing aggressive & reactive dogs delving deep into often overlooked issues ranging from trauma, stress factors, nervous system and phobias – based on Annie Phenix groundbreaking book.
    • Discussing the shift  in the training industry that elevates the welfare of the dog before formal training takes place.
    • Annie Phenix will provide an In-depth look at body language, phobias and their effect on reactivity via:
      • A crash course in FREE-WORK by Sarah Fisher, the non-intrusive approach teaching keen observations skills to handlers and trainers, focusing on movement patterns, body awareness, proprioception and the vestibular system as sources of pain inducing reactivity.
      • Slow Thinking is Lifesaving for Dogs® with Dr. Laura Donaldson focusing on changing a dog’s thinking patterns to find more appropriate ways to respond to triggers by helping to gradually reorient the dog’s perception.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.puppyworks.com/phenix

  • Online Event –2/3/24 – Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Online Event –2/3/24 – 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 after taking a short quiz 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.

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

  • Webinar – 2/13/24 – Better Futures for Animals – And With – Animals: The Canine Cellmates Model for Post-Conviction Animal Care Programs – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Webinar – 2/13/24 – Better Futures for Animals – And With – Animals: The Canine Cellmates Model for Post-Conviction Animal Care Programs – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

    Join Deputy District Attorney Jill Hollander and Animal Legal Defense Fund Managing Attorney David B. Rosengard for a discussion of programs that pair defendants (either via diversion or as part of a sentence) with high euthanasia-risk animals in need of socialization and behavioral support.

    We will examine the penological goals these programs prioritize, they ways they safeguard animal interests, and their impact in the broader community. This presentation will additionally walk through Fulton County, Georgia’s Canine Cellmates program as a case study. The program prevents men who have been charged or convicted of crimes from experiencing the myriad traumatic life disruptions and setbacks incarceration causes because courts can offer participation in Canine Cellmates as a diversion program or incarceration alternative. Successful completion of Canine Cellmates also allows participants the ability to have charges dismissed or eligible convictions expunged.

    For this reason, the program not only saves Fulton County financial resources associated with court and incarceration costs, but it also saves the county financial resources successful participants might otherwise need, had they not learned the foundational skills Canine Cellmates provides. Furthermore, the program’s human graduates experience family restoration, increased employability, and low recidivism rates. These graduates become model citizens for teaching compassion to other humans and animals, which promotes the vitality of a strong community within a One Health-oriented ecosystem.

    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/better-futures-for-animals-and-with-animals-the-canine-cellmates-model-for-post-conviction-animal-care-programs/

  • Webinar – 1/11/24 – Bringing the Past, Present and Future into Focus for Kittens – National Kitten Coalition

    Webinar – 1/11/24 – Bringing the Past, Present and Future into Focus for Kittens – National Kitten Coalition

    It was not very long ago in the United States that kittens too young for adoption or those with signs of illness were routinely euthanized. Happily, the situation for kittens in our country has been rapidly changing, and those same kittens who would never have had a chance in the past are now being successfully cared for and adopted into loving homes.

    This session will provide the inspiration for attendees to continue in their life-saving efforts. Attendees will gain insights into past and present situations for kittens’ survival and will also acquire useful, proven information on new, upcoming programs and protocols being implemented around the country that are saving more kittens than ever. We can see a better future for kittens in our country, and together we can make that vision become the reality!

    Presenter: Rosemarie Crawford, LVT

    Click here to register for this FREE webinar.

    If you can’t join us for the live presentation, don’t worry! Sign-up anyway, because a recording of this, and other webinars, will be available on NKC’s eLearning Center no later than two weeks after they air.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://kittencoalition.org/event/bringing-the-past-present-and-future-into-focus-for-kittens/