Catalog Advanced Search
-
Contains 5 Component(s), Includes CreditsRACE CE
Discover how an innovative, cloud-based tool turns everyday animal care records into powerful, visual evidence of welfare over an animal’s entire life.
Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Presenters
Rachel Malkani, BSc (Hons), MSc (AWSEL), PhD, CDBC, CCAB, ABTC-CAB
Sarah Wolfensohn, OBE, BSc (Hons), MA, VetMB, FRSB, DipECAWBM, FRCVS, Director, Welfare Assessment Technologies, Ltd.Program Description:
The Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG http://www.awag.org.uk ) is a powerful, cloud-based tool designed to track and visualize the welfare and lifetime experiences of animals. By turning husbandry and veterinary records into clear, easy-to-read graphics, AWAG transforms complex welfare data into compelling visual evidence—making it easier to communicate with decision-makers, support strategies for change, or substantiate welfare-related marketing claims. Its unique time-based approach looks beyond single moments in time, providing a whole-life perspective that helps animal care professionals plan timely, targeted interventions to improve or safeguard quality of life.
Built around the five domains model, AWAG evaluates four key parameters—physical, behavioral/psychological, environmental, and procedural—each of which can be tailored to suit different species and animal-use contexts. The tool identifies significant events that impact welfare and calculates a Cumulative Welfare Assessment Score (CWAS) over time, allowing users to see trends in an animal’s quality of life at a glance. By highlighting specific areas for refinement, AWAG empowers carers, researchers, and organizations to make data-driven decisions that directly enhance animal welfare. This webcast will explore how AWAG works, its flexibility across settings, and how its lifetime approach to animal well-being sets it apart from other assessment methods.Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit until 9/2/27 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/InsightsN...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Rachel Malkani, Sarah Wolfensohn, Animal Welfare Assessment Grid, AWAG, animal welfare, online tools for animal care records
Rachel Malkani, PhD
Group Clinical Research Lead, Researcher
Welfare Assessment Technologies, Ltd.
Rachel is the Group Clinical Research Lead for IVC Evidensia and a researcher at Welfare Assessment Technologies. She is also a certified clinical animal behaviorist and is a founder and board member of the Dog Friendly Clinic scheme in the UK. Additionally, Rachel is a trustee and veterinary engagement officer for the British Veterinary Behaviour Association. She graduated with a first-class honors degree in Applied Animal Behavior and an MSc in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law with distinction from the University of Glasgow. She earned a PhD in veterinary medicine and science from the University of Surrey.
Sarah Wolfensohn, OBE, BSc, MA
Director
Welfare Assessment Technologies, Ltd.
Sarah's first degree in was in Physiology from University College London, she then read Veterinary Medicine at Churchill College, Cambridge. She spent a number of years in general practice, both small animal and mixed. She was Head of Veterinary Services at the University of Oxford for nearly 20 years, leaving there in 2010. She was then Professor of Animal Welfare at the veterinary school at the University of Surrey for 10 years. She is now an Emerita Professor, a Director of Welfare Assessment Technologies Ltd, and is an independent consultant on animal health and welfare advising various sectors, including government, on animal welfare. She is a European specialist in Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law. Her particular areas of expertise are assessment of animal welfare and lifetime experience and ethical evaluation of projects. She has published books, research papers and review articles; presented papers at international conferences and has extensive experience of working on committees. She was awarded an OBE for services to animal welfare in the Queen's birthday honors in 2012 and Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2019.
-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
- More Information
-
Enroll
-
Contains 7 Component(s), Includes CreditsRACE CE
Learn quick, practical strategies to reduce harm when facing shelter overcrowding.
Webinar Overview
Veterinarians and veterinary technicians play critical roles in navigating the current crisis of shelter overcrowding. In many communities, the number of animals entering shelters far exceeds the capacity of staff, housing, and resources. This situation compromises animal welfare, increases staff stress, and delays decision-making. Operating within Capacity for Care (C4C) is the long-term solution, ensuring every animal receives an appropriate outcome in a timely manner. However, most shelters must also address how to mitigate harm while operating beyond their ideal capacity today.
This session provides practical strategies for veterinary professionals to influence both animal care and operational flow during crowding. Participants will examine how intake and outcome balance affects welfare, the role of daily monitoring and pathway planning, and the importance of timely euthanasia decisions when no safe live outcomes exist. The session emphasizes quick, realistic actions that reduce harm to animals, protect staff and volunteer well-being, and support sustainable practices even under pressure.
By linking operational principles with welfare-focused decision-making, this session equips DVMs and RVTs to support shelters in both immediate harm reduction and long-term capacity goals.
Learning Objectives:
• Define Capacity for Care (C4C) and explain its relevance to ensuring appropriate outcomes in a timely manner.
• Identify common risks and consequences when shelters operate beyond capacity.
• Describe operational strategies that reduce harm and protect welfare during overcrowding.
• Recognize the role of veterinarians and technicians in guiding timely, appropriate outcome decisions.
• Apply practical “quick wins” that support animal flow, staff sustainability, and timely outcomes.
Continuing Education Credits
This webinar has been approved for 1.5 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) and by the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA).
This course has been approved for 1.5 hours of RACE continuing education credits until 9/8/27 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.
Keywords
MMPC, Shelter, Learniverse, shelter overcrowding, veterinary roles, Capacity for Care, animal welfare, operational flow, harm reduction, staff well-being, timely outcomes, shelter management, euthanasia decisions
Contact
Email us at help@shelterlearniverse.com if you have any questions or concerns about this webinar.
Maddie’s® Pet Forum Discussion Thread
You can also join the discussion about these concepts over on Maddie's Pet Forum in the discussion thread. CLICK HERE
Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge
With the Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge, the Five Key Initiatives of the Million Cat Challenge have expanded to include other species at risk in shelters and evolved into the Four Rights.
Within the Four Rights, every element works in concert to support one another: animals and people are treated as individuals, empowering shelter staff to make the best decisions for everyone; community safety net services are in place and flourishing; and humane care within the shelter is provided, with appropriate outcomes for the animals that do come in, allowing shelters to deliver the Right Care, in the Right Place, at the Right Time, and to the Right Outcome
Learn more about Shelter Learniverse at Maddie's® Million Pet Challenge. #ThankstoMaddie
Cynthia Delany, DVM, KPA-CTP, FFCP
Director of Online Learning Maddie's Million Pet Challenge
Koret Shelter Medicine Program, UC Davis
With an undergraduate degree in Business/Economics from UCLA and a DVM from UC Davis, Dr. Cindi Delany became the first ever Shelter Veterinarian at Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation in California under the newly created UC Davis Shelter Medicine Program in 2001.Dr. Delany’s focus in KSMP animal shelter consultations and industry speaking is on programs targeted to improve animal outcomes, provide environmental enrichment for shelter animals, explore shelter animal behavior and training, improve shelter data collection and analysis, and maximize operational efficiencies in a limited resource environment. She currently serves as the Master of the Learniverse, the online learning platform for Maddie's Million Pet Challenge.
Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVM
Director
Koret Shelter Medicine Program, UC Davis
Dr. Hurley is the founding director of the Koret Shelter Medicine Program and co-founder of the Million Cat Challenge, a shelter-based initiative to save the lives of one million more cats in five years. Over 1,500 shelters more than tripled that goal, between them saving over three million cats against their own baseline before joining the challenge. Hurley’s research interests include welfare of confined dogs and cats, humane and effective strategies to manage community cats, and infectious disease prevention. She will always love shelter work because it has the potential to improve the lives of so many animals and the people who work so hard to care for them.
-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
- More Information
-
Enroll
-
Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits
Learn from example cases of a tried and true process that gets to the root causes of an animal’s concerning or unwanted behaviors.
This course is part of Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection, monthly webcasts about foster care - supporting pets in our community and animal shelters.
Foster insights are invaluable to shelters and rescues, and no concern should ever be dismissed or taken more lightly than the foster presents it. At the same time, that initial presentation of a concern tends to only offer one perspective: the human’s. Zan Lowell's presentation walks you through example cases of their tried and true process of taking an analytical approach that simultaneously gets to the root causes of an animal’s concerning or unwanted behaviors and promotes a more nuanced understanding of those animals’ needs among fosters, all without sacrificing compassion for either.Presenter: Zan Lowell, Dog Behavior Trainer at Austin Pets Alive!
This webinar 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.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/...
Keywords Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection, foster care-givers, foster support, foster training, animal behavior, Zan LowellZan Lowell
Behavior Trainer
Austin Pets Alive!
Zan Lowell got their start in animal welfare as a volunteer with Austin Pets Alive! in 2013 where they quickly discovered a passion for dog behavior and training. They joined APA!’s Dog Behavior Team as an intern in 2014, and in 2017, they became a full-time behavior trainer supporting dogs both onsite at the shelter and with transitioning into their new homes. At the end of 2019, Zan transitioned to APA!’s Dog Behavior Follow-Up Team where they spent the next five years helping to build APA!’s resource library and directly supporting thousands of adopters and fosters with the dogs (and sometimes cats!) in their care. In recent years, they have developed a particular interest in the neuroscience of dog behavior and a trauma-informed approach to addressing behavioral challenges, especially among rescued and rehomed animals. They currently live in Richmond, VA with their medical alum cat and behavior alum (and playgroup success story) pittie mix.
-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
- More Information
-
Enroll
-
Contains 4 Component(s), Includes CreditsRACE CE
Understand the spectrum of emotional reaction as well the where the law lies in animal cruelty cases. Attendees will also learn about the types of information that might be needed if they suspect cruelty has taken place and how to gather it for their ACOs.
This course will guide attendees through understanding the difference between the two primary types of animal cruelty – malicious cruelty and neglect. Using definitions, examples of current laws, and lived experience, the instructor will help the attendees understand the spectrum of emotional reaction as well the where the law lies. Attendees will also learn about the types of information that might be needed if they suspect cruelty has taken place and how to gather it for their ACOs.
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the range of emotional responses in cruelty cases and how they align with legal boundaries
2. Understand what information is essential for Animal Control Officers and how to obtain it effectivelyPresenter
Jace Huggins, Chief of Humane Law Enforcement, San Diego Humane SocietyEarn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit effective 10/14/25 - 10/14/27 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit.
keywords animal cruelty, animal neglect, Jace Huggins
Jace Huggins
Chief of Humane Law Enforcement
San Diego Humane Society
Jace Huggins oversees one of the largest Humane Law Teams in California, along with investigations and case management, emergency response, officer training, dispatch and collaborations with local courts and law enforcement. Driven by compassion and a commitment to keep animals and people safe, Humane Officers assist when residents of 14 cities throughout San Diego County need help with pets or wildlife, enforce cruelty and neglect laws and respond to disaster situations.
Jace has 22 years of experience in animal welfare and veterinary hospital management, including a decade working in humane law enforcement. Prior to joining us, he served as Chief Animal Control Officer for the City of Sacramento, Front Street Animal Shelter. Jace has overseen programs both in shelters and in field services side, having helmed Sacramento’s Homeless Outreach and Assistance Program; a free monthly vaccine and microchip clinic; and the “Promoting Animal Welfare and Safety” program. He is also a nationally elected Board member of the National Animal Care and Control Association.
An instructor for Code 3 Associates and HSUS, Jace has presented at conferences such as NACA, AAWA, HSUS, CalAnimals, and Best Friends. He sits on both the AAWA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and the NACA Culture and Collaboration Committee.
-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
- More Information
-
Enroll
-
Contains 5 Component(s), Includes CreditsRACE CE
Effective and respectful partnerships with Tribal Nations require more than good intentions, they demand a foundational understanding of history, law, and culture. This two-part webinar is designed for animal welfare professionals working alongside and in partnership with Tribal communities.
Through the guidance of Karen Diver—former White House Special Assistant to President Obama for Native American Affairs and a national leader in tribal governance—participants will gain critical insights into the historical and legal framework that shapes tribal sovereignty.
Explore the government-to-government relationship between Tribal Nations and Federal and State governments, beginning with treaty-making and continuing through key legislation and court decisions that impact jurisdiction and self-determination. The webinar emphasizes that Tribal Nations are not homogenous; each tribe has its own government structure, laws, and cultural perspectives. Understanding these distinctions is essential for building trust and fostering long-term, respectful collaboration.
This course includes:
● the historical and legal foundations of tribal sovereignty
● treaties and the ongoing federal trust responsibility
● differences in tribal, state, and federal jurisdiction
● the diversity of Tribal Nations and the importance of cultural competence
● navigating partnerships in the context of animal welfare, including regulatory and legal considerations.
● case studies highlighting successful collaboration and common pitfalls
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be better prepared to work with Tribal Nations as true partners, recognizing and respecting their sovereignty, honoring their unique histories, and aligning animal welfare efforts with community values and governance structures.Presenter
Karen Diver, former White House Special Assistant to President Obama for Native American Affairs and a national leader in tribal governance
Host
Marta Pierpoint, Executive Director, Humane Society of Western Montana
To comment or ask questions, please visit Maddie's Pet Forum: https://maddies.fund/TribalSovereigntyForum
Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 2.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 2.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 2 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit between 10/14/25 - 10/14/27.keywords Marta Pierpoint, Humane Society of Western Montana, Karen Diver, tribal jurisdiction and sovereignty, cultural competence
Karen Diver
Former White House Special Assistant to President Obama for Native American Affairs and a national leader in tribal governance
Karen Diver was a past Chairwoman of the Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa, and President Obama’s Native advisor. She has been in higher education for 8 years working on Tribal issues. Her board work: Great Lakes Fishery Commission and Honoring Nations at the Harvard Kennedy School. Her education includes a Bachelors in Economics degree University of Minnesota, Duluth, and a Masters degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School.
Marta Pierpoint, Esq.
Executive Director
Humane Society of Western Montana
Marta Pierpoint moved to Montana over twenty-five years ago, leaving her San Francisco law practice to join Triaxsys Research LLC as a partner. After serving as Vice President to Triaxsys for three years, Pierpoint switched gears to fuel her passion for education, employed in leadership positions in both public and private academic domains. In 1998, Pierpoint joined the Humane Society of Western Montana as a member and enthusiastically supported the mission in a variety of roles from foster to board chair until nine years ago when she was ultimately hired as Executive Director. During her tenure HSWM has grown from a shelter primarily focused on serving the approximately 1,400 pets in the building to a premier animal welfare organization influencing policy and practice across the state to improve the lives of pets. HSWM now serves thousands of animals a year within and far beyond the shelter walls with a robust team of veterinary, behavior and animal care specialists.
Pierpoint is a frequent speaker on topics pertaining to nonprofit leadership and progressive animal welfare practices. In addition to her Juris Doctor, Pierpoint holds a Fellowship Certificate in Shelter Leadership from the University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Program.-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
- More Information
-
Enroll
-
Contains 4 Component(s), Includes CreditsNew!
Manage leash reactive behaviors and help dogs establish alternative behaviors
Many dogs display reactive behaviors while on leash. This course will help you work with leash reactive dogs by identifying and avoiding triggers, noticing threshold levels, using games to give your dog alternative behaviors to practice and providing alternate enrichment activities.
-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
- More Information
-
Enroll
-
Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits
In this session, Valerie Bogie, MSSW, Veterinary Social Worker, discusses some of the toughest emotional challenges shelter workers face- and how to navigate them with care and compassion.
This course is part of Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection, monthly webcasts about pet behavior - supporting pets in our community and animal shelters.
Most of us in the animal shelter world are there because we love animals. But what about all of the human emotions and situations that come with the job? In this session, Valerie Bogie, MSSW, Veterinary Social Worker, discusses some of the toughest emotional challenges shelter workers face- and how to navigate them with care and compassion.
Attendees will learn:
● How communicating with clients & co-workers impacts well-being
● An overview of types of grief and current grief models to support emotional processing
● The emotional toll of euthanasia and how to care through it
● Tools to support yourself and your team through emotionally complex situations
This webinar is for anyone working in or around animals in shelters. You are not alone– and you can work towards a more sustainable career.
Speaker: Valerie Bogie, MSSW, Veterinary Social Worker, Fear Free Certified Professional
This webinar 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.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, access the resources, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/...
keywords Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection, Valerie Bogie, Fear Free, compassion fatigue
Valerie Bogie
MSSW, Veterinary Social Worker, Fear Free Certified Professional
Valerie is a passionate advocate for enhancing well-being for caretakers within the animal world. While the majority of her 20+ year animal care career was spent training exotic animals in zoos and aquariums, she also has experience in a variety of other settings, including animal shelters, veterinary clinics and dog training. Like so many others in animal care, Valerie experienced burnout and compassion fatigue, eventually leaving the career that had once been her dream job.
Her journey took a transformative turn upon discovering Veterinary Social Work—a field focused on the human side of human-animal interactions. She understood firsthand the profound impact this kind of support could have, and a new dream job was born. Valerie is now dedicated to raising awareness and creating resources for the growing and expansive field of Veterinary Social Work.
Valerie graduated from the University of Tennessee with her Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) and a Veterinary Social Work Certificate. She currently serves as the Director of Partnerships for the International Association of Veterinary Social Work (IAVSW), offers dog and cat training sessions as a Behavior Consultant and leads Human Support Services- both for Insight Animal Behavior Services (a DACVB practice), and provides psychoeducation and consulting through Valerie Bogie, LLC.
-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
- More Information
-
Enroll
-
Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits
Discover how Michigan Humane Society is weaving together Clinic and Shelter Operations, Facilities, Field Services, Volunteer Services and Community Solutions into a cohesive strategy to increase access to care.
Doors Wide Open is a series of short discussions about practical solutions that organizations are using to address barriers to accessing pet care and resources in their communities.
In this 30-minute webcast we spotlight Doug Plant and his transformative work as COO of Michigan Humane. Discover how Doug is weaving together Clinic and Shelter Operations, Facilities, Field Services, Volunteer Services and Community Solutions into a cohesive strategy to increase access to care. Learn how this integrated approach is streamlining services and ultimately improving outcomes for pets and the people who love them.
Get inspired by a leader who is bringing it all together to build a more humane, connected system, one that puts both human and animal well-being at the center.
Host:
Geraldine D'Silva, Maddie’s National Director of Programs & Partnerships
Aimee St.Arnaud, Founder of Open Door Veterinary CollectiveGuest Speaker:
Doug Plant, COO, Michigan Humane SocietyEarn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards .5 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for .5 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA).
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/...
keywords Doors Wide Open, Open Door Veterinary Collective, access to animal care, Michigan Humane Society, Doug Plant
Aimee St.Arnaud
Owner, Open Door One Health Partnerships
Aimee St.Arnaud's focus is on increasing access to spay/neuter and veterinary care across the nation. Previously she was the Director of National Veterinary Outreach Programs for Best Friends Animal Society and Director of Programs at ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance where she oversaw spay/neuter training programs of 1,000 professionals a year. She is the founder of Humane Ohio, a spay/neuter clinic performing roughly 18,000 spay/neuters a year and Partner in two full-service access to care veterinary clinics in OH and NC.
Geraldine D'Silva
National Director of Programs & Partnerships
Open Door Veterinary Collective
With work experience in three continents and over 10 years of operational leadership, Geraldine has a passion for building innovative community programs and strategic partnerships to bridge the gap between human and animal well-being, to increase access to care. She led a small non-profit through a merger & acquisition with one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the US, and over 8 years strategically helped integrate the services throughout the 140-year-old animal shelter, enabling it to pivot to the new community-centered model that is now unfolding. Brought up in India, she did her B.A. in Sociology which took her to remote villages to study the caste system and women’s empowerment. She has an M.B.A. from the Edinburgh Business School in Scotland and a background in research consultancy, advertising and branding.
Doug Plant
COO
Michigan Humane Society
Doug Plant joined the Michigan Humane Society in 2017 as senior vice president and chief operating officer. In these roles, Plant oversees and manages the daily operation of Michigan’s largest animal welfare organization. The departments reporting to him include Clinic and Shelter Operations, Facilities, Field Services, and Community Solutions. Plant has spent the past 30 years helping nonprofits increase their impact in Michigan communities. His experiences as a clinical social worker and program development have been instrumental in the creation of Michigan Humane’s focus on the human animal bond and its One Health Michigan initiatives to address the comprehensive needs of families.
Plant holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a master’s degree in social work from Wayne State University. Along with his wife, Paige, they reside in Canton, MI along with their two dogs, Marty the puggle and Scout the lab mix.-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
- More Information
-
Enroll
-
Contains 6 Component(s), Includes CreditsRACE CE
This session explores current best practices in pediatric spay/neuter, highlighting clinical techniques, safety, and broader benefits for animal welfare, shelters, and high-volume programs.
Webinar Overview
Pediatric spay and neuter surgeries are a cornerstone of population management and animal welfare strategies in both shelter and community practice. Historically, veterinarians were trained to delay sterilization until six months of age; however, current evidence supports safe and effective procedures at a much earlier age and at lower body weights. Early-age spay/neuter—commonly performed at 6–16 weeks of age—has been endorsed by major veterinary organizations, including the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and is increasingly utilized in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) programs as well as private practice.
This session will review the current recommendations for pediatric spay/neuter of dogs and cats, including key considerations around surgical candidacy, anesthesia and analgesia, tissue handling, and perioperative care. Presenters will highlight practical adjustments needed for pediatric patients—such as appropriate fasting protocols, thermoregulation strategies, and multimodal pain management—and will discuss evidence showing that pediatric patients often experience shorter surgical times, quicker recoveries, and lower complication rates than their adult counterparts.
In addition to clinical techniques, the session will examine the broader implications of pediatric spay/neuter for shelters and access-to-care programs. By reducing length of stay, decreasing disease exposure, and preventing unplanned litters, pediatric sterilization supports organizational capacity for care while advancing population-level welfare outcomes. Presenters will also discuss staff and community considerations, common myths and concerns, and case-based examples illustrating how pediatric spay/neuter can be successfully integrated into both shelter medicine and HQHVSN practice models.
Learning Objectives:
- Review current and best practices in pediatric spay/neuter surgery recommendations for shelter and access-to-care program settings.
- Learn modifications and considerations for pediatric surgical candidacy, anesthesia and pain management, tissue handling, and pre- and post-operative care.
- Discuss shelter and access-to-care program applications where pediatric sterilization is appropriate to consider as a strategy and the implications for staff, volunteers, owners, and other stakeholders.
- Review common concerns and questions around this topic with practicing shelter and HQHVSN veterinarians using case examples.
Continuing Education Credits
This webinar has been approved for 1.5 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) continuing education credit by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) and by the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA).
This course has been approved for 1.5 hours of RACE continuing education credit until 9/8/27 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.
Contact
Email us at help@shelterlearniverse.com if you have any questions or concerns about this webinar.
Keywords
MMPC, learniverse, pediatric spay/neuter, early-age sterilization, shelter medicine, HQHVSN, anesthesia, perioperative care, pain management, recovery outcomes, population management, animal welfare
Maddie’s® Pet Forum Discussion Thread
You can also join the discussion about these concepts over on Maddie's Pet Forum in the discussion thread. CLICK HERE
Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge
With the Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge, the Five Key Initiatives of the Million Cat Challenge have expanded to include other species at risk in shelters and evolved into the Four Rights.
Within the Four Rights, every element works in concert to support one another: animals and people are treated as individuals, empowering shelter staff to make the best decisions for everyone; community safety net services are in place and flourishing; and humane care within the shelter is provided, with appropriate outcomes for the animals that do come in, allowing shelters to deliver the Right Care, in the Right Place, at the Right Time, and to the Right Outcome
Learn more about Maddie's® Million Pet Challenge Shelter Learniverse. #ThankstoMaddie
Dr. Jennifer Bennett
Director of Shelter Medicine and Access to Care
UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program
Jennifer Bennett joined the Koret Shelter Medicine Program as the new Director of Shelter Medicine Access to Care in late 2024. She is a 2008 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and soon after she began practicing in her hometown regions of rural Northern California. She spent 5 years in small animal, emergency and farm animal medicine before joining Lake County Animal Care & Control as its first Medical Director in 2013. After realizing the life-saving impact that a shelter veterinarian can have on a community, she has remained dedicated to the field of shelter medicine. She has worked with a wide variety of municipal and private organizations, developing shelter medicine and surgery programs, consulting with humane organizations, participating in community outreach clinics, and working with large-scale humane law enforcement seizures and legal cases. Dr. Bennett most recently served as the Medical Director for the City of Seattle from 2017-2022 and the Chief Veterinary Officer for the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County from 2022-2024. She served on the California HOD, the Washington State VMA, and was WSVMA President from 2021-2022, and has been serving on the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee since 2023. Dr. Bennett is passionate about supporting and mentoring shelter veterinarians and students, creating low barrier access to care programs, and identifying and removing bottlenecks in shelter programs to improve capacity for care.
Brian A. DiGangi
DVM, MS, DABVP
Dr. Brian DiGangi is a board-certified shelter medicine veterinarian with extensive experience in clinical teaching, organizational leadership, and population management. He currently serves as Director of Professional Development at First Coast No More Homeless Pets in Jacksonville, Florida.
A graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. DiGangi earned both his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Science degrees there, following a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from North Carolina State University. He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Shelter Medicine Practice and in Canine and Feline Practice.
Over his career, Dr. DiGangi has held academic appointments at the University of Florida, contributed to national initiatives through the ASPCA, and trained numerous veterinary students and residents in shelter medicine, surgery, and animal welfare. His professional certifications include Fear Free℠ Elite and C.A.R.E. REDI Bronze status, underscoring his commitment to compassionate, evidence-based animal care.
Emily McCobb
DVM, MS, DACVAA
Dr. Emily McCobb is a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist and Professor of Clinical Accessible Veterinary Care at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where she also serves as the PetSmart Charities Endowed Chair for Accessible Veterinary Care.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Dr. McCobb earned her DVM and MS degrees from Tufts University, where her master’s research focused on assessing stress levels among cats in animal shelters. A summa cum laude graduate of Claremont McKenna College, she has dedicated her career to advancing animal welfare, community medicine, and access to veterinary care.
Before joining UC Davis, Dr. McCobb spent more than a decade at Tufts University, where she directed the Shelter Medicine Program, Luke and Lily Lerner Spay Neuter Clinic, and served as Assistant Director for the Center for Animals and Public Policy. Her work integrates clinical expertise, research, and public policy to improve the delivery of compassionate, accessible care for all animals.
-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
- More Information
-
Enroll
-
Contains 3 Component(s), Includes CreditsUPDATED!
Help pets connect with adopters via social media
Created in collaboration with HeARTs Speak, this course will help foster caregivers as well as shelter and rescue social media administrators successfully market pets on social media to find adoptive homes.
This course has been pre-approved for 0.75 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.
marketing, facebook, twitter, instagram, video, photo
-
Enroll
- All Users - Free!
- More Information
-
Enroll
Search this site