Join the discussion on how being a Disruptor is conducive to creating more inclusive, lifesaving programs. We will examine the positive impact of important Disruptors throughout history and the related social changes that positively influence our lives today. We will apply a Disruptor approach to Animal Welfare by reviewing practical steps for assessing programs and identifying opportunities for programmatic changes to support keeping companion pets with their families and embracing “well-bei...

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  

This panel includes representatives from the MSPCA, the Animal Rescue League of Boston, and Save the Unicorns. The panelists will describe how their organizations have rebooted their foster programs to engage more foster volunteers by specific foster need, break down barriers to fostering, increase training, and gain support for some animals that have been hard to find foster options for. 

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...

Caring for shelter animals involves making decisions, often challenging ones, day in and day out.  Whether you're working in shelter administration, operations, medicine, or behavior (or all of the above), you've likely experienced the fatigue that comes with decision-making.  Join us to recognize that we aren't alone and that we can implement strategies including effective communication techniques, collaborative decision-mak...

The national dog crisis is impacting every community in our nation, and although it is overwhelming, a clear solution has emerged to help us combat this crisis - increasing adoptions.  Learn how the MSPCA has pivoted since early 2023 to reimagine adoption programming for dogs to increase adoptions. The solution may surprise you as we have recycled the playbook from 2012 to supercharge adoption programming. 

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...

The merge between MSPCA and NEAS requires a new level of consistency among our four-shelter system to support fluid internal transfer of and communication surrounding our dog population. To meet our unique needs, we developed an evaluation process comprised of objective observations recorded during routine daily care and at natural checkpoints in an animal’s pathway. We aim to equip staff and volunteers with the skills to participate i...