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  • Webinar – 10/11/23 – In It for the Long Haul: Well-Being Considerations for Career Contentment – HVSMA

    Webinar – 10/11/23 – In It for the Long Haul: Well-Being Considerations for Career Contentment – HVSMA

    Veterinary medicine can be a uniquely rewarding profession, and there are inherent challenges within the field that can influence our well-being. Increasing awareness and giving voice to those factors within the work and our daily lives that contribute to distress and discontent is necessary for making changes that can improve well-being and support career contentment. This session seeks to create greater understanding of compassion fatigue, burnout, and moral distress within the context of the neurobiology of trauma/chronic stress, and it will discuss tools and practices that support the different domains of well-being within this context. It will also look at relevant community resources for consideration within the field of veterinary medicine.

    This program will help attendees:

    • Develop an understanding of the neurobiology of trauma/chronic stress and the impact on mental health and well-being
    • Define well-being concerns within the veterinary industry, including compassion fatigue, burnout, and moral distress
    • Describe intrapersonal and interpersonal tools and practices to support different domains of well-being
    • Identify community resources within the field of veterinary medicine

    Presented by:Debra Lee LCSW (she/her), Veterinary Well-Being Program Director, DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital

    This webinar is FREE for all attendees. 1.5 hours of RACE CE credits (non-medical) will be available for HSVMA members only.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://hsvma.memberclicks.net/webinar-in-it-for-the-long-haul

  • New Grant Could Help Your California Shelter Keep and Bring More Pets and People Together

    New Grant Could Help Your California Shelter Keep and Bring More Pets and People Together

    The latest California for All Animals grant cycle aims to power shelters’ efforts to remove barriers that separate people and pets and keep animals waiting for adoption. The More Pets and People Together Grant application period will be open to eligible organizations for 15 days beginning on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. PDT and ending on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

    Who is eligible?

    Municipal animal shelters, private animal shelters with municipal contracts, and private shelters are eligible to respond to this RFP. A shelter is defined as a brick-and-mortar facility that houses animals on-site and is open to the public a minimum of fifteen hours per week. 

    Animal control agencies that provide field services and animal control functions are also eligible to apply, even if they do not perform sheltering services.

    If your organization does not meet these criteria, consider partnering with your local animal shelter or animal control agency.

    What might a proposal look like?

    The funding priority for this grant cycle is to enable animal shelters to take the necessary steps to dismantle barriers and create processes that can lead to the following measurable outcomes:

    • Preventing intake and keeping pets in their homes
    • Decreasing length of stay of animals in the shelter
    • Reducing euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals
    • Increasing live outcomes through foster, adoption and return to home/community

    Proposals could focus on removing barriers in adoptions, foster programming, Return to Home, and intake prevention services, though we also invite innovation outside these focus areas.

    For additional guidance, ideas and inspiration, download the From Barriers to Bridges Action Kit at the Cal for All website. You can also watch roundtable series recordings to hear your colleagues highlight their own collaborative approaches to removing barriers that come between people and pets and share creative solutions they’re implementing to ensure pets spend more nights at home, not in the shelter. 

    How do I apply?

    Visit California for All Animals for the full guidelines and simple grant application. If you have questions or need help, don’t hesitate to email us at grants@californiaforallanimals.com.

    Learn More
  • Curbing Disease as Intake Rises: Prevent, Fight and Win Today

    Curbing Disease as Intake Rises: Prevent, Fight and Win Today

    Click “Course Home Page” Button below to take this course hosted on
    Maddie’s®️ University.



    Course Home Page button links to Maddie's University

    Does it seem like animals keep getting sick no matter what you do, especially right now with intake numbers climbing in many shelters? Does URI have to be status quo for summer? Is parvo inevitable? Have you wondered what else you can do to get ahead of these vicious cycles?

    From animal care attendants to RVTs and beyond, everyone in the shelter has the power to have a big impact on animal health. Whether you’re providing daily care for animals or reviewing care and intake protocols, in this webinar, you’ll learn practical steps to relieve the strain on animals and team members when infectious diseases and intake numbers are climbing. UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program veterinarians Dr. Aziz and Dr. Stuntebeck answer questions and arm shelter staff with the information needed to squash the most concerning infectious diseases in your shelter.

    This short, self-paced course has been approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credit by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by National Animal Care and Control Association. 

    This course has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit until July 24th, 2025 in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval. Upon completing the course and passing the quiz, upload your certificate to https://CEBroker.com. This is the broker used by the AAVSB to track your continuing education credits.

    Please contact learniverse@sheltermedportal.com if you have any questions or concerns about this course.

  • Veterinary Care in Shelters: Who Can Legally Do What? – Legal Considerations with Shelter PALS

    Veterinary Care in Shelters: Who Can Legally Do What? – Legal Considerations with Shelter PALS

    Click “Course Home Page” Button below to take this course hosted on
    Maddie’s®️ University.



    Course Home Page button links to Maddie's University

    How can your shelter best leverage the veterinary care capabilities of your entire staff?

    In this short course, you’ll learn how to fully leverage the veterinary care capabilities of your entire team – not just your designated “medical” staff – including front office staff, field officers, kennel attendants, volunteers, and fosters. Bruce Wagman, Lead Counsel for San Francisco SPCA’s Shelter Policy and Legal Services (Shelter PALS), will review which shelter tasks team members can perform, from intake-related care and running diagnostics to providing treatment, surgery, euthanasia, public veterinary services, and emergency care. After this course, you’ll be ready to maximize your shelter’s options for providing veterinary care while adhering to the law and Practice Act requirements.

    By the end of this course, you should be able to: 

    • Describe how the practice of veterinary medicine is defined in California and the law surrounding its practice.
    • Compare and contrast the required training, licensing, and other qualifications of Veterinarians, Registered Veterinary Technicians, and Veterinary Assistants/other shelter team members.
    • List permitted tasks for each shelter team member.
    • Demonstrate an understanding of who can perform various animal care and medical tasks including but not limited to administering medications, vaccinations, and deworming, microchipping, rabies vaccinations, inducing anesthesia, and performing euthanasia.

    This course was adapted from a webinar by Bruce Wagman, Lead Counsel for the San Francisco SPCA’s Shelter Policy and Legal Services (Shelter PALS) program and hosted by the California Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals).

    This short course has been approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credit by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) and by National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA). 

    This course has been approved for 1 hour of RACE continuing education credit until 8/2/2025 in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval. Upon completing the course and passing the quiz, upload your certificate to https://CEBroker.com. This is the broker used by the AAVSB to track your continuing education credits.

    Email us at learniverse@sheltermedportal.com if you have any questions or concerns about this course.

  • MMPC Learniverse – Power of YES! Removing Barriers from Animal Shelter Adoption

    MMPC Learniverse – Power of YES! Removing Barriers from Animal Shelter Adoption

    Click “Course Home Page” Button below to take this course hosted on
    Maddie’s®️ University.



    How can we eliminate adoption barriers to get pets adopted?

    While nearly 70% of US households have a pet, only a fraction of those animals are adopted from animal shelters. This course looks at barriers that typically push potential adopters away from animal shelters and towards other options. In addition to examining adoption barriers and the misconceptions that help them persist, we look at strategies that can lower these hurdles, help more animals reach a live outcome and a happy life, and help animal shelters embrace and welcome all members of their community.

    This short, self-paced course has been approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by National Animal Care and Control Association. 

    This course has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit until November 7, 2024 in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval. Upon completing the course and passing the quiz, upload your certificate to https://CEBroker.com. This is the broker used by the AAVSB to track your continuing education credits.

    Please contact  learniverse@sheltermedportal.com if you have any questions or concerns about this course.

    Removing Barriers Discussion Group

    You can also join the discussion about these concepts over on Maddie’s® Pet Forum in the Power of Yes – Removing Barriers Discussion Group.

    Click to visit the Discussion Group (will open in a new window/tab).
  • Webinar – 10/11/23 – Decoding Compliance: What You Need to Know about Controlled Drugs and Premises Permits in Your Shelter – Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge, Shelter PALS, CalAnimals

    Webinar – 10/11/23 – Decoding Compliance: What You Need to Know about Controlled Drugs and Premises Permits in Your Shelter – Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge, Shelter PALS, CalAnimals

    Get ready to enhance your shelter’s capabilities! This event is your exclusive gateway to unlocking crucial insights, empowering you to address challenges and navigate the intricate landscape of drug and premises permit regulations.

     

    Meet the Experts:

    Renowned Animal Welfare Legal Expert and lead counsel for SF SPCA’s Shelter Pals Program, Bruce Wagman, and animal sheltering visionary Cindi Delany, DVM, Director of Online Learning for Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge at the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, are teaming up to simplify, distill, and deliver the essential knowledge you need and answer your questions. Special thanks to CalAnimals for hosting this live event. 

     

    Explore the Topics: 

     

    • Understanding Legal Dynamics: Gain valuable access to the inner workings of the legal landscape governing medical and euthanasia services in shelters. Discover the transformative impact of understanding the agencies that impact the type and quality of care you provide.
    • Decoding Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) & Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) Roles: Untangle regulations around controlled substances, enhance your understanding of premises permits, and gain insight into the role of premises permit holders, with a focus on compliance.
    • Strengthen Your Team: Gain insights into the diverse roles of licensed and unlicensed staff in delivering top-tier medical care within shelters. Equip your team with knowledge that will directly amplify care quality.
    • Facilitate Access to Medical Care in Shelters: Explore actionable solutions! Master the art of collaboration with regulatory agencies, opening pathways for advanced medical care for animals in your shelter and in your community.

    Save the Date:

    Wednesday, October 11, 2023 – 10 AM to 11:30 AM Pacific

    Don’t Miss It!

    (if you HAVE to miss it live be sure to register so that you get access to the on-demand recording after the event).

    Share with Your Staff:

    Forward this info to your staff (or just give them this registration link – www.tinyurl.com/premisespermit).

    Seize this opportunity to empower your shelter’s leaders and staff with the tools to tackle legal challenges to the delivery of veterinary services head-on. Bring your questions for our experts to answer. Elevate the standard for care and secure your spot today for this essential event.

    Questions? Contact us at learniverse@sheltermedportal.com

  • Webinar – 9/28/23 – Raise More from Your Community: Peer to Peer Fundraising and Virtual Day of Giving Campaigns – Best Friends

    Webinar – 9/28/23 – Raise More from Your Community: Peer to Peer Fundraising and Virtual Day of Giving Campaigns – Best Friends

    Year-end fundraising plans are under way, and Best Friends has a special webinar release to help take your fundraising to the next level.

    In Raise More from Your Community: Peer to Peer Fundraising and Virtual Day of Giving Campaigns, two of our digital fundraising experts share best practices and examples, tips on choosing the right tool for you, and how to run a virtual campaign.

    Speakers from Best Friends Animal Society will be:
    Kate Moore, director of digital engagement
    Erin McEwan, digital fundraising programs specialist.

    This webinar is pre-recorded and will be emailed to registrants on September 28, at 5 p.m. EDT. Sign up now to receive this recording for free and learn how to empower your community to raise money for your organization.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/87dd04b5b92d4cf5b7b1266735317358

  • Webinar – 9/28/23 – Data Visualization Demystified: Heat Mapping 101 for Animal Shelters – HASS

    Webinar – 9/28/23 – Data Visualization Demystified: Heat Mapping 101 for Animal Shelters – HASS

    Unlock the potential of the shelter data you already collect with heat mapping. Heat maps are visual representations of data, that can provide insights into your community’s pet ownership and needs—and it’s not as difficult to get started as you may think! Join HASS team members Angela Gates, Data and Digital Tools Coordinator, and Gareth Meredith, Data Engineer and Analyst, to learn the fundamentals of heat mapping, including a real-time demo. These data-savvy presenters will cover everything from free and easy ways to build maps, what data to extract from your shelter software, and more. Plus hear from Spencer Conover, Assistant Director for Pasco County Animal Services in Florida, about how this county shelter uses heat maps to improve their understanding of their community and inform shelter operations. Vincent Medley, Maddie’s® Director of Human Animal Support Services, will moderate.

    Register below, bring your questions, and join us live on Thursday, September 28 at 5 p.m. CT. After the live event, a recording will be distributed to all registrants within 3 business days.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/2616740581796/WN_kb3aZUKIRpKXsx1xxqajOw

  • Online Course – Starts 10/18/23 – Principles of Contemporary Animal Services Certificate Course – Best Friends (fee applies)

    Online Course – Starts 10/18/23 – Principles of Contemporary Animal Services Certificate Course – Best Friends (fee applies)

    The Principles of Contemporary Animal Services certificate course is a great way to develop an understanding of the animal services profession by learning about the field’s history, current state, and future possibilities.

    The certificate course is built around contemporary best practices provided by experts and organizations in the field to give you a well-rounded view of the profession. With course content curated by Best Friends Animal Society as well as leading practitioners and researchers in the field, you will have access to a wide range of earned expertise, perspectives, information, and resources.

    Choose from two participation options:

    • POCAS Certification – successful completion earns an SUU Institutional Certificate and one Continuing Education Unit (CEU), $399
    • POCAS Fast Track – successful completion earns three credits that may articulate into undergraduate or participating master’s degree programs at Southern Utah University, $699

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://bestfriends.org/learn/principles-animal-services

  • Online Event – 1st and 3rd Wednesdays – Discover Your Best Life at Hatching Hour: Meaningful Conversations, Lasting Change – Hatching

    Online Event – 1st and 3rd Wednesdays – Discover Your Best Life at Hatching Hour: Meaningful Conversations, Lasting Change – 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.

    Elevate, inspire, transform. Start your next chapter with Hatching Hour. Your future self will thank you. Register now: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrc-yrqTwoEtUp4AzxOVdkbn59y7qpspQm#/registration

    About José Ocaño:

    José Ocaño has spent more than 15 years working to preserve and support the human-animal bond. Self-awareness, personal accountability, and relationship cultivation have been foundational as Jose navigates his career and life outside of work. At his first job with one of the largest animal shelters in the Arizona, Jose learned the importance of developing emotional intelligence, communication, and people skills to build meaningful relationships that inspire and motivate people to work better together. In 2017, after a decade of working to transform that organization, Jose joined Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit organization where he served as the first Senior Director of People and Culture.

    At Best Friends, Jose was responsible for leading dynamic teams, including Human Resources, Learning and Staff Development, Employee Experience, and Organizational Culture initiatives, and served as a strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Leadership Team. Through collaboration, change, and innovative management, Jose and his team stewarded a workplace culture that was employee- and value-centric. These efforts positioned Best Friends to win multiple Top Workplace Awards since 2020.

    In 2023, Jose launched Hatching, a company centered around helping people #LiveBetter and #WorkBetter. Hatching’s vision is to create a more peaceful world by helping people live with more compassion, gratitude, and self-worth.  The goal of Hatching is to help people and organizations leverage their unique experiences and potential to make the workplace an environment where people can thrive. Jose believes that, together, we will make the world a better place by leading with intention, authenticity, and personal accountability.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrc-yrqTwoEtUp4AzxOVdkbn59y7qpspQm#/registration