This session will cover basic dog body language and fear-free handling and is intended for those new to animal welfare or anyone looking to brush up on their knowledge. Back to Basics: Dog Behavior, Body Language & Fear Free Handling is good for 1 CEU for CPDT-KA certificants. Attendees must bring their certificate number to the session and check in with the N...

Are you guilty of policing poverty within the animal welfare industry? Let’s explore the impact of decisions made by animal control, shelters, and veterinary professionals on families in need of support. Challenge your mindset as we discuss alternatives to removing pets from homes, ticketing families with citations, and reactive practices, emphasizing resource provision over judgment. Attendees will gain insights on distinguishing malice from poverty in their practices, fostering positive tra...

Providing excellent client services is essential to building trust and positive partnerships between your agency and the community. But what if we took it beyond the front desk, and implemented a culture of hospitality across the entire organization? Attendees will leave the session understandingDifference between client services and hospitality  

Workplace culture and environment are critical components to animal lifesaving. It can be the difference between team members who are engaged or burned out, pet owners feeling welcomed or judged, volunteers working with or against us – all of these dynamics either positively or negatively impact animal outcomes. While Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have become the mainstream ap...

Do you struggle with volunteers who interact inappropriately with dogs? Are staff and volunteers often at odds over behavior or training? Is sharing a euthanasia decision with volunteers actively traumatizing them and you? This presentation will talk about how to build a strong dog volunteer program that gets everyone on the same team to help dogs without a toxic culture. Takeaways include concrete steps on recruitment, training, discu...

Have you ever been curious about what dogs do in the shelter when we’re not watching? How much are they sleeping, drinking, scratching, or even licking? We were too, so we put activity and health trackers (think Fit Bit for dogs) on thousands of shelter dogs to find out (and collected DNA samples too!). In this session, we’ll provide insights from thousands of data points collected. We’ll share how shelter dog behavior differs from in-...

Animal welfare organizations and the veterinary field are facing the urgent need for improved access to veterinary care (AVC) for underserved populations. Harnessing the expertise of the AVC community we developed 20 questions to prioritize their research efforts on key topics that will have the greatest impact, ultimately advancing AVC efforts around the country. This session will open a dialog with attendees to discuss the relevance ...

Join Shelter Animals Count experts to explore data's pivotal role in comprehending animal shelter operations in New England and nationwide. This session delves into precise data collection's significance, industry-shaping trends, and practical applications, empowering your organization to leverage data effectively. Uncover how data amplifies grant applications, boosts transparency, and garners donor support, showcasing its boundless po...

Programs that support pet ownership in the community can reduce surrenders and improve welfare. What programs will help and how can you tell if you are making a difference? Common community outreach programs will be reviewed and compared against a strategic decision-making matrix. Participants will work through real-world case scenarios. Being strategic and adaptive when implementing these programs will increase pet retention, improve ...