Maddie's Insights: Practical tips based on current research to help pets and people
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These one-hour webinars have 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.
Some of the webcasts in this series have also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Participants will learn how community data can complement animal shelter data to help divert animals from shelters.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
How do we reduce relinquishment to animal shelters? In the U.S. and Canada, approximately 25-30% of animals that enter shelters are surrendered by owners. However, despite many shelters and rescues providing various pet support services for the past few decades, there has been little demonstratable reduction in owner surrendered animals. Currently, many animal shelters use data collected at intake, such as surrender reasons, to create programs that aim to support pet owners to keep their pets. This presentation will outline research into animal shelters, pet owning communities, self-rehoming platforms, and pet owners to demonstrate the complex system of pet surrender. By the end of this presentation, participants will learn how community data can complement animal shelter data to help divert animals from shelters.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this presentation, you will be able to…
· Discuss strategies to improve standardization of intake data collection within your shelter
· Identify ways to connect animal shelter data to community-level demographic data to understand risks of surrender
· Interpret data from pet support services, self-rehoming platforms, and pet owners to understand how to promote intake diversion
Presenter: Lexis Ly, PhD Student, UBC Animal Welfare Program
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIWebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Lexis Ly, intake data collection, animal shelter data, animal shelter intake reduction,owner surrendered animals
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
This talk will walk you through the existing (and pending!) research on behavioral euthanasia to help us separate fact from fiction.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Behavioral euthanasia is a sensitive topic with a wide variety of personal thoughts and emotions. But what do we actually know about it? How often does it happen, and why? Do we have data we can use to make decisions? Where can we turn for information? This talk will walk you through the existing (and pending!) research on behavioral euthanasia to help us separate fact from fiction.
Learning Objectives
In this session, attendees will come away with:
● An understanding of the history of research on behavioral euthanasia and the gaps
● A summary of the 2024 paper "Factors Associated with Behavioral Euthanasia in Pet Dogs" and learn about the methods used (and why)
● The types of behaviors that led to euthanasia in this study, and the information we can (and can't) use from it to make decisions
● The main findings of the study, including pieces that agree or disagree with previous literature
● The limitations of research like this, and the potential for future study
● Takeaways for pet professionals based on this research and resources available for folks in this situation
Presenter: Miranda Hitchcock, MS Applied Animal Behavior, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval between 8/19/24 - 8/19/26. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastBehavioralEuthanasia
keywords Maddie's Insights, Miranda Hitchcock MS, behavioral euthanasia in pet dogs
Miranda Hitchcock, MS
Co-founder and Executive Director
Every Dog Behavior and Training
Miranda is the co-founder and executive director of Every Dog Behavior and Training, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing inclusive, accessible dog training and behavior resources.
She began working with dogs as a volunteer at an animal shelter and fell down the rabbit hole of behavior. She moved to Austin for a Maddie’s Executive Leadership Fellowship with two of Austin’s shelters before becoming the operations manager at the municipal animal shelter.
Miranda left sheltering to found Every Dog in 2019, taking her behavior and leadership expertise to the nonprofit world. She is a certified dog trainer and multi-certified dog behavior consultant. She holds a master’s degree in applied animal Behavior and Welfare from Virginia Tech. In 2024, her first research paper on behavioral euthanasia was published in the journal Frontiers of Veterinary Science.
When not working, Miranda loves rock climbing, listening to fantasy audiobooks, and snuggling with her pittie, Nina.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Learn about common retention programs focused on companion dogs and identify gaps between available programs and community needs
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Animal sheltering has evolved to focus on community-based services as much as in-shelter care. The philosophy that animal sheltering begins and ends within the community through various support programs is gaining traction. These programs, ranging from food banks and training classes to veterinary services, aim to support pet guardianship and retention in the home. However, there's often a mismatch between the programs offered and the actual needs of the community. In this session, Seana will share research on pre-COVID retention programs focused on companion dogs offered by US animal sheltering organizations, highlighting gaps between these programs and community needs. She will outline a strategic decision-making process for selecting community programs to support pets in homes and discuss different program options.
Learning Objectives:
In this session, attendees will:
· Learn about common retention programs focused on companion dogs offered by US shelters and identify gaps between available programs and community needs
· Become familiar with a strategic decision-making process that can be used when developing and evaluating community programs that support pets in homes
Presenter: Seana Dowling-Guyer, MS, Associate Director, Collaborative (Center) for Shelter Dogs; Lecturer, Masters in Animals and Public Policy,Center for Animals and Public Policy, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval from July 22, 2024 - July 21, 2026. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for RACE, CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Seana Downling-Guyer, dog retention programs, community programs for shelter dogs
Seana Dowling-Guyer, MS
Associate Director
Collaborative (Center) for Shelter Dogs
Seana Dowling-Guyer is the Associate Director of Tufts Collaborative (Center) for Shelter Dogs at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and teaches in the M.S. in Animals and Public Policy program. Seana is interested in the intersection of animal behavior and people’s perceptions of that behavior, particularly how our attitudes and knowledge of animal behavior impact animal welfare and behavior. Her research examines how to improve the welfare of dogs in shelters and support dogs and other companion animals in the home and community. She also investigates trends in animal sheltering. A long-time cat parent, Seana now takes care of four crazy ferrets while her daughter is away at college.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Verify that you attended the entire webcast on September 12, 2024 to download your certificates of attendance.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Animal sheltering has evolved to focus on community-based services as much as in-shelter care. The philosophy that animal sheltering begins and ends within the community through various support programs is gaining traction. These programs, ranging from food banks and training classes to veterinary services, aim to support pet guardianship and retention in the home. However, there's often a mismatch between the programs offered and the actual needs of the community. In this session, Seana will share research on pre-COVID retention programs focused on companion dogs offered by US animal sheltering organizations, highlighting gaps between these programs and community needs. She will outline a strategic decision-making process for selecting community programs to support pets in homes and discuss different program options.
Learning Objectives:
In this session, attendees will:
· Learn about common retention programs focused on companion dogs offered by US shelters and identify gaps between available programs and community needs
· Become familiar with a strategic decision-making process that can be used when developing and evaluating community programs that support pets in homes
Presenter: Seana Dowling-Guyer, MS, Associate Director, Collaborative (Center) for Shelter Dogs; Lecturer, Masters in Animals and Public Policy,Center for Animals and Public Policy, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval between July 22, 2024 and July 23, 2026. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Seana Downling-Guyer, dog retention programs, community programs for shelter dogs
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Research aimed at identifying ways to increase awareness and engagement in kitten fostering programs among residents of areas with high intake of kittens to animal shelters
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Debra Olmedo and Greg Miller of the ASPCA provide an overview of recent research aimed at identifying ways to increase awareness and engagement in kitten fostering programs among residents of areas with high intake of kittens to animal shelters. They discuss the project methodology, what they learned about awareness, interest, and concerns related to fostering, and what opportunities this research highlighted for increasing fostering program engagement.
Learning objectives:
· What are the experiences with fostering kittens and actions taken for cats by residents living in high kitten intake zip codes in Los Angeles County?
· How do barriers to participating in kitten fostering programs potentially differ for residents in these areas of LA County?
· What are the potential benefits of developing and implementing community-informed strategies?
· What are some strategies to increase awareness and engagement in kitten fostering program among residents of high kitten intake areas?
Presenters: Greg Miller, Senior Director of Research, Strategy and Research Department, ASPCA; Debra Olmedo, RVT, Foster & Community Outreach and Medical Care Senior Manager (Los Angeles), ASPCA
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, ASPCA, Greg Miller, Debra Olmedo RVT, animal foster care, animal welfare, kitten foster programs, foster programs
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Understand the emotional aspects of providing foster care and identify ways to better support volunteers so that they are satisfied and more likely to continue to provide this service.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
It is commonplace among those who provide foster care for animals to have a recurring conversation with those who do not. Upon hearing that one is an animal foster parent, a frequent response is, “Oh, I could never do that. I would not be able to give the animal up.” But this is precisely what those caring for animal fosters are called to do. The ability of animal shelters and rescues to provide critical care through foster homes depends on volunteers who willingly and temporarily take animals into their homes and lives. Studies of foster volunteers have indicated that they find taking care of animals with medical, and particularly behavioral, issue to be stressful. And, volunteers that do not feel that their shelter is providing them sufficient emotional support are more likely to think about quitting. Given these two realities, it becomes important for shelter staff to understand the emotional aspects of providing foster care and to identify ways to better support volunteers so that they are satisfied and more likely to continue to provide this service.
The presentation addresses these issues with the following learning objectives:
· What is the nature of attachment (human-animal bond) between volunteers and their foster animals?
· What emotions do volunteers experience when their fosters leave their care?
· What coping and resilience strategies appear to reduce the stress of providing foster care?
· How can animal shelters help foster volunteers cope with the stress inherent to fostering?
Presenter: Laura A. Reese, PhD, Professor, Departments of Urban and Regional Planning, Global Urban Studies, and Political Science, Michigan State University
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. It is also for approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval until 02/06/2026. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsFosterCareHumanAnimalBond
keywords Maddie's Insights, Laura A. Reese, foster care, animal welfare, human-animal bond, coping and resilience strategies for foster caregivers, foster pets, foster caregiving
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Current research on the Family Bondedness Scale and the implications of the results in both veterinary research and practice
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
The Family Bondedness Scale (FBS) was designed to measure scores which represent the degree to which a person is emotionally and affectionately bonded to a pet as a member of their family. This presentation will cover the development and use of and research to date on the FBS when measuring equivalence between cat and dog owners. Dr. Nugent will go over the rationale for the scale, what it is intended to measure, how it was developed, how scores on the scale should be interpreted and how it should be scored and used. He also discusses current research on the scale and the implications of the results in both veterinary research and practice.
Presenter: William R. Nugent, PhD, Professor at the College of Social Work, The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA, NACA and RACE. RACE CE (non-medical) is available until 10/23/2025.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, William R. Nugent, Family Bondedness Scale, animal well-being, keeping pets and people together
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Learn how you can use short-term fostering programs to improve the welfare of dogs in your shelter as they await adoption.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Animal shelters can be stressful for dogs, but human interaction, such as foster caregiving, can improve their experience. In this webcast, Dr. Gunter will discuss multiple studies she and her team have carried out as part of the Arizona State University/Virginia Tech Maddie’s Nationwide Fostering Study in which we studied the effects of field trip and sleepover programs on the welfare of dogs living in shelters. Their initial studies investigated the physiological impacts of these programs, and their published study examined how field trips and sleepovers influenced dogs’ likelihood of adoption and length of stay. They also explored factors related to the performance of these programs. Overall, their findings support the implementation of these programs. Learn how you can use short-term fostering programs to improve the welfare of dogs in your shelter as they await adoption.
Learning objectives:
• Describe potential stressors that make shelters stressful for dogs
• Relate how human social interaction can improve the welfare of dogs in the shelter
• Extrapolate the different activities dogs likely engage in during field trips and sleepovers
• Discuss the research findings about field trips and sleepovers
• Differentiate how field trips and sleepovers impact dogs’ proximate and distal welfare
Presenter: Lisa Gunter, PhD, Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare, Virginia Tech
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. It has also been submitted for approval for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA, NACA and RACE. RACE CE is available until January 10, 2026.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Lisa Gunter, animal foster care, animal welfare, human-animal bond, shelter dog field trips, shelter dog sleepovers, stress in shelter dogs
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Learn how implementing a simple classical counterconditioning exercise could change the emotional state of dogs from negative to more positive.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
A major welfare concern in animal shelters is excessive barking from kenneled dogs. This contributes to noise pollution, can cause hearing damage, and has a negative impact on all animals within earshot. This study demonstrated that by implementing a simple classical counterconditioning exercise, consisting of instructing all ward passers-through to toss treats to each dog regardless of behavior exhibited, could change the emotional state of dogs from negative to more positive, thus reducing fear and frustration that often leads to excessive barking.
Data analysis showed that implementation of this simple exercise did reduce barking at clinically relevant levels even with a changing shelter population. Additionally, for each percent increase in compliance rate, there was an average decrease of 17.3 dB in the maximum decibel reading. Moreover, an overall positive change in attitude from most dogs towards visitors further showed the positive effects of the study.
Learning Objectives:
1. Attendees will learn to identify and apply basic learning theory, specifically focusing on Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning, to dogs in a kennel setting.
2. Attendees will learn to identify risks and consequences of noise pollution in shelters, and also ways to reduce it to improve welfare of all species in the shelter.
Presenters : Sara L. Bennett, DVM, MS, DACVB (Behavior), Clinical Assistant Professor, Veterinary Behavior Specialist, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Jamirelis Carrero (Jami), DVM candidate, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIQuietKe...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Sara L.Bennett, dog behavior, enrichment, handling and training, pavlovian conditioning, barking in kennel dogs, classical counterconditioning exercise, dog treats, emotional state of dogs
Sara L. Bennett, DVM, MS, DACVB
Clinical Assistant Professor, Veterinary Behavior Specialist
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Bennett received her DVM degree in 2006 from Purdue University and later completed a residency in animal behavior with a focus on shelter medicine, obtained a master of science degree, and became certified as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in 2012. She spent time in specialty private practice and held a position as co-instructor for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Shelter Medicine Program, focusing on Shelter Animal Behavior and Welfare, for 8 years. She is currently a clinical assistant professor of clinical sciences in the behavior department at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. Dr. Bennett particularly enjoys addressing problem behaviors in sheltered and rescued animals through clinical practice and research, thereby helping to protect animal welfare, making the sheltering experience less stressful, strengthening the human-animal bond, and increasing the likelihood that pets’ new homes become their forever homes.
Jamirelis Carrero
DVM candidate
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Jamirelis Carrero (Jami) is an incoming third year vet student at North Carolina State University. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, and Jami has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Campus. After completing a summer research study under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Bennett and the Veterinary Scholars Program, Jami is passionate about finding ways to use behavior modification techniques to improve the quality of care that animals receive in shelters and clinical scenarios.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Results of a study that explored the relationship between BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities with their companion animals
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Catherine Kisavi-Atatah PhD will share the findings of her publication, Examining the Relationship between BIPOC Communities and Their Companion Animals. This study explored the relationship between BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities with their companion animals, using Attachment Theory as a lens of analysis. Findings suggest that public and private policy decision-makers should develop and implement holistic, across-the-board, companion animal policies that are user-friendly to all.
Learning Objectives:
· Understand the complexities of the multifaceted aspects of the relationship between Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and their companion animals, including historical, cultural and socio-economic factors
· Identify the unique challenges and barriers that BIPOC communities encounter in accessing veterinary care, resources and support for their companion animals, and evaluate the implications for both the animals and communities
· Understand the significance of cultural competency and diversity in veterinary medicine and animal welfare; analyze how these factors influence the provision of care and support to BIPOC individuals and their communities
· Evaluate policy recommendations and practical insights presented in the paper to better support BIPOC communities in their relationship with companion animals, and consider the broader implications for public policies, animal welfare organizations, and community initiatives
Presenter: Catherine Kisavi-Atatah Ph.D., Professor, Health and Human Performance Department, Prairie View A&M University
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA, NACA and RACE. RACE CE is valid until 9/18/2025.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Catherine Kisavi-Atatah PhD, BIPOC communities and their pets, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities and their companion animals, challenges and barriers that BIPOC communities, cultural competency and diversity in veterinary medicine and animal welfare, resources and support for BIPOC communities and their pets,
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Participants will learn how community data can complement animal shelter data to help divert animals from shelters.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
How do we reduce relinquishment to animal shelters? In the U.S. and Canada, approximately 25-30% of animals that enter shelters are surrendered by owners. However, despite many shelters and rescues providing various pet support services for the past few decades, there has been little demonstratable reduction in owner surrendered animals. Currently, many animal shelters use data collected at intake, such as surrender reasons, to create programs that aim to support pet owners to keep their pets. This presentation will outline research into animal shelters, pet owning communities, self-rehoming platforms, and pet owners to demonstrate the complex system of pet surrender. By the end of this presentation, participants will learn how community data can complement animal shelter data to help divert animals from shelters.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this presentation, you will be able to…
· Discuss strategies to improve standardization of intake data collection within your shelter
· Identify ways to connect animal shelter data to community-level demographic data to understand risks of surrender
· Interpret data from pet support services, self-rehoming platforms, and pet owners to understand how to promote intake diversion
Presenter: Lexis Ly, PhD Student, UBC Animal Welfare Program
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIWebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Lexis Ly, intake data collection, animal shelter data, animal shelter intake reduction,owner surrendered animals
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
This talk will walk you through the existing (and pending!) research on behavioral euthanasia to help us separate fact from fiction.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Behavioral euthanasia is a sensitive topic with a wide variety of personal thoughts and emotions. But what do we actually know about it? How often does it happen, and why? Do we have data we can use to make decisions? Where can we turn for information? This talk will walk you through the existing (and pending!) research on behavioral euthanasia to help us separate fact from fiction.
Learning Objectives
In this session, attendees will come away with:
● An understanding of the history of research on behavioral euthanasia and the gaps
● A summary of the 2024 paper "Factors Associated with Behavioral Euthanasia in Pet Dogs" and learn about the methods used (and why)
● The types of behaviors that led to euthanasia in this study, and the information we can (and can't) use from it to make decisions
● The main findings of the study, including pieces that agree or disagree with previous literature
● The limitations of research like this, and the potential for future study
● Takeaways for pet professionals based on this research and resources available for folks in this situation
Presenter: Miranda Hitchcock, MS Applied Animal Behavior, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval between 8/19/24 - 8/19/26. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastBehavioralEuthanasia
keywords Maddie's Insights, Miranda Hitchcock MS, behavioral euthanasia in pet dogs
Miranda Hitchcock, MS
Co-founder and Executive Director
Every Dog Behavior and Training
Miranda is the co-founder and executive director of Every Dog Behavior and Training, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing inclusive, accessible dog training and behavior resources.
She began working with dogs as a volunteer at an animal shelter and fell down the rabbit hole of behavior. She moved to Austin for a Maddie’s Executive Leadership Fellowship with two of Austin’s shelters before becoming the operations manager at the municipal animal shelter.
Miranda left sheltering to found Every Dog in 2019, taking her behavior and leadership expertise to the nonprofit world. She is a certified dog trainer and multi-certified dog behavior consultant. She holds a master’s degree in applied animal Behavior and Welfare from Virginia Tech. In 2024, her first research paper on behavioral euthanasia was published in the journal Frontiers of Veterinary Science.
When not working, Miranda loves rock climbing, listening to fantasy audiobooks, and snuggling with her pittie, Nina.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Learn about common retention programs focused on companion dogs and identify gaps between available programs and community needs
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Animal sheltering has evolved to focus on community-based services as much as in-shelter care. The philosophy that animal sheltering begins and ends within the community through various support programs is gaining traction. These programs, ranging from food banks and training classes to veterinary services, aim to support pet guardianship and retention in the home. However, there's often a mismatch between the programs offered and the actual needs of the community. In this session, Seana will share research on pre-COVID retention programs focused on companion dogs offered by US animal sheltering organizations, highlighting gaps between these programs and community needs. She will outline a strategic decision-making process for selecting community programs to support pets in homes and discuss different program options.
Learning Objectives:
In this session, attendees will:
· Learn about common retention programs focused on companion dogs offered by US shelters and identify gaps between available programs and community needs
· Become familiar with a strategic decision-making process that can be used when developing and evaluating community programs that support pets in homes
Presenter: Seana Dowling-Guyer, MS, Associate Director, Collaborative (Center) for Shelter Dogs; Lecturer, Masters in Animals and Public Policy,Center for Animals and Public Policy, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval from July 22, 2024 - July 21, 2026. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for RACE, CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Seana Downling-Guyer, dog retention programs, community programs for shelter dogs
Seana Dowling-Guyer, MS
Associate Director
Collaborative (Center) for Shelter Dogs
Seana Dowling-Guyer is the Associate Director of Tufts Collaborative (Center) for Shelter Dogs at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and teaches in the M.S. in Animals and Public Policy program. Seana is interested in the intersection of animal behavior and people’s perceptions of that behavior, particularly how our attitudes and knowledge of animal behavior impact animal welfare and behavior. Her research examines how to improve the welfare of dogs in shelters and support dogs and other companion animals in the home and community. She also investigates trends in animal sheltering. A long-time cat parent, Seana now takes care of four crazy ferrets while her daughter is away at college.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Verify that you attended the entire webcast on September 12, 2024 to download your certificates of attendance.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Animal sheltering has evolved to focus on community-based services as much as in-shelter care. The philosophy that animal sheltering begins and ends within the community through various support programs is gaining traction. These programs, ranging from food banks and training classes to veterinary services, aim to support pet guardianship and retention in the home. However, there's often a mismatch between the programs offered and the actual needs of the community. In this session, Seana will share research on pre-COVID retention programs focused on companion dogs offered by US animal sheltering organizations, highlighting gaps between these programs and community needs. She will outline a strategic decision-making process for selecting community programs to support pets in homes and discuss different program options.
Learning Objectives:
In this session, attendees will:
· Learn about common retention programs focused on companion dogs offered by US shelters and identify gaps between available programs and community needs
· Become familiar with a strategic decision-making process that can be used when developing and evaluating community programs that support pets in homes
Presenter: Seana Dowling-Guyer, MS, Associate Director, Collaborative (Center) for Shelter Dogs; Lecturer, Masters in Animals and Public Policy,Center for Animals and Public Policy, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval between July 22, 2024 and July 23, 2026. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Seana Downling-Guyer, dog retention programs, community programs for shelter dogs
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Research aimed at identifying ways to increase awareness and engagement in kitten fostering programs among residents of areas with high intake of kittens to animal shelters
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Debra Olmedo and Greg Miller of the ASPCA provide an overview of recent research aimed at identifying ways to increase awareness and engagement in kitten fostering programs among residents of areas with high intake of kittens to animal shelters. They discuss the project methodology, what they learned about awareness, interest, and concerns related to fostering, and what opportunities this research highlighted for increasing fostering program engagement.
Learning objectives:
· What are the experiences with fostering kittens and actions taken for cats by residents living in high kitten intake zip codes in Los Angeles County?
· How do barriers to participating in kitten fostering programs potentially differ for residents in these areas of LA County?
· What are the potential benefits of developing and implementing community-informed strategies?
· What are some strategies to increase awareness and engagement in kitten fostering program among residents of high kitten intake areas?
Presenters: Greg Miller, Senior Director of Research, Strategy and Research Department, ASPCA; Debra Olmedo, RVT, Foster & Community Outreach and Medical Care Senior Manager (Los Angeles), ASPCA
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, ASPCA, Greg Miller, Debra Olmedo RVT, animal foster care, animal welfare, kitten foster programs, foster programs
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Understand the emotional aspects of providing foster care and identify ways to better support volunteers so that they are satisfied and more likely to continue to provide this service.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
It is commonplace among those who provide foster care for animals to have a recurring conversation with those who do not. Upon hearing that one is an animal foster parent, a frequent response is, “Oh, I could never do that. I would not be able to give the animal up.” But this is precisely what those caring for animal fosters are called to do. The ability of animal shelters and rescues to provide critical care through foster homes depends on volunteers who willingly and temporarily take animals into their homes and lives. Studies of foster volunteers have indicated that they find taking care of animals with medical, and particularly behavioral, issue to be stressful. And, volunteers that do not feel that their shelter is providing them sufficient emotional support are more likely to think about quitting. Given these two realities, it becomes important for shelter staff to understand the emotional aspects of providing foster care and to identify ways to better support volunteers so that they are satisfied and more likely to continue to provide this service.
The presentation addresses these issues with the following learning objectives:
· What is the nature of attachment (human-animal bond) between volunteers and their foster animals?
· What emotions do volunteers experience when their fosters leave their care?
· What coping and resilience strategies appear to reduce the stress of providing foster care?
· How can animal shelters help foster volunteers cope with the stress inherent to fostering?
Presenter: Laura A. Reese, PhD, Professor, Departments of Urban and Regional Planning, Global Urban Studies, and Political Science, Michigan State University
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. It is also for approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval until 02/06/2026. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsFosterCareHumanAnimalBond
keywords Maddie's Insights, Laura A. Reese, foster care, animal welfare, human-animal bond, coping and resilience strategies for foster caregivers, foster pets, foster caregiving -
Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Current research on the Family Bondedness Scale and the implications of the results in both veterinary research and practice
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
The Family Bondedness Scale (FBS) was designed to measure scores which represent the degree to which a person is emotionally and affectionately bonded to a pet as a member of their family. This presentation will cover the development and use of and research to date on the FBS when measuring equivalence between cat and dog owners. Dr. Nugent will go over the rationale for the scale, what it is intended to measure, how it was developed, how scores on the scale should be interpreted and how it should be scored and used. He also discusses current research on the scale and the implications of the results in both veterinary research and practice.
Presenter: William R. Nugent, PhD, Professor at the College of Social Work, The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA, NACA and RACE. RACE CE (non-medical) is available until 10/23/2025.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, William R. Nugent, Family Bondedness Scale, animal well-being, keeping pets and people together -
Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Learn how you can use short-term fostering programs to improve the welfare of dogs in your shelter as they await adoption.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Animal shelters can be stressful for dogs, but human interaction, such as foster caregiving, can improve their experience. In this webcast, Dr. Gunter will discuss multiple studies she and her team have carried out as part of the Arizona State University/Virginia Tech Maddie’s Nationwide Fostering Study in which we studied the effects of field trip and sleepover programs on the welfare of dogs living in shelters. Their initial studies investigated the physiological impacts of these programs, and their published study examined how field trips and sleepovers influenced dogs’ likelihood of adoption and length of stay. They also explored factors related to the performance of these programs. Overall, their findings support the implementation of these programs. Learn how you can use short-term fostering programs to improve the welfare of dogs in your shelter as they await adoption.
Learning objectives:
• Describe potential stressors that make shelters stressful for dogs
• Relate how human social interaction can improve the welfare of dogs in the shelter
• Extrapolate the different activities dogs likely engage in during field trips and sleepovers
• Discuss the research findings about field trips and sleepovers
• Differentiate how field trips and sleepovers impact dogs’ proximate and distal welfare
Presenter: Lisa Gunter, PhD, Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare, Virginia Tech
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. It has also been submitted for approval for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA, NACA and RACE. RACE CE is available until January 10, 2026.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Lisa Gunter, animal foster care, animal welfare, human-animal bond, shelter dog field trips, shelter dog sleepovers, stress in shelter dogs -
Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Learn how implementing a simple classical counterconditioning exercise could change the emotional state of dogs from negative to more positive.
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
A major welfare concern in animal shelters is excessive barking from kenneled dogs. This contributes to noise pollution, can cause hearing damage, and has a negative impact on all animals within earshot. This study demonstrated that by implementing a simple classical counterconditioning exercise, consisting of instructing all ward passers-through to toss treats to each dog regardless of behavior exhibited, could change the emotional state of dogs from negative to more positive, thus reducing fear and frustration that often leads to excessive barking.
Data analysis showed that implementation of this simple exercise did reduce barking at clinically relevant levels even with a changing shelter population. Additionally, for each percent increase in compliance rate, there was an average decrease of 17.3 dB in the maximum decibel reading. Moreover, an overall positive change in attitude from most dogs towards visitors further showed the positive effects of the study.
Learning Objectives:
1. Attendees will learn to identify and apply basic learning theory, specifically focusing on Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning, to dogs in a kennel setting.
2. Attendees will learn to identify risks and consequences of noise pollution in shelters, and also ways to reduce it to improve welfare of all species in the shelter.
Presenters : Sara L. Bennett, DVM, MS, DACVB (Behavior), Clinical Assistant Professor, Veterinary Behavior Specialist, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Jamirelis Carrero (Jami), DVM candidate, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIQuietKe...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Sara L.Bennett, dog behavior, enrichment, handling and training, pavlovian conditioning, barking in kennel dogs, classical counterconditioning exercise, dog treats, emotional state of dogs
Sara L. Bennett, DVM, MS, DACVB
Clinical Assistant Professor, Veterinary Behavior Specialist
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Bennett received her DVM degree in 2006 from Purdue University and later completed a residency in animal behavior with a focus on shelter medicine, obtained a master of science degree, and became certified as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in 2012. She spent time in specialty private practice and held a position as co-instructor for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Shelter Medicine Program, focusing on Shelter Animal Behavior and Welfare, for 8 years. She is currently a clinical assistant professor of clinical sciences in the behavior department at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. Dr. Bennett particularly enjoys addressing problem behaviors in sheltered and rescued animals through clinical practice and research, thereby helping to protect animal welfare, making the sheltering experience less stressful, strengthening the human-animal bond, and increasing the likelihood that pets’ new homes become their forever homes.
Jamirelis Carrero
DVM candidate
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Jamirelis Carrero (Jami) is an incoming third year vet student at North Carolina State University. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, and Jami has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Campus. After completing a summer research study under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Bennett and the Veterinary Scholars Program, Jami is passionate about finding ways to use behavior modification techniques to improve the quality of care that animals receive in shelters and clinical scenarios.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Results of a study that explored the relationship between BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities with their companion animals
Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Catherine Kisavi-Atatah PhD will share the findings of her publication, Examining the Relationship between BIPOC Communities and Their Companion Animals. This study explored the relationship between BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities with their companion animals, using Attachment Theory as a lens of analysis. Findings suggest that public and private policy decision-makers should develop and implement holistic, across-the-board, companion animal policies that are user-friendly to all.
Learning Objectives:
· Understand the complexities of the multifaceted aspects of the relationship between Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and their companion animals, including historical, cultural and socio-economic factors
· Identify the unique challenges and barriers that BIPOC communities encounter in accessing veterinary care, resources and support for their companion animals, and evaluate the implications for both the animals and communities
· Understand the significance of cultural competency and diversity in veterinary medicine and animal welfare; analyze how these factors influence the provision of care and support to BIPOC individuals and their communities
· Evaluate policy recommendations and practical insights presented in the paper to better support BIPOC communities in their relationship with companion animals, and consider the broader implications for public policies, animal welfare organizations, and community initiatives
Presenter: Catherine Kisavi-Atatah Ph.D., Professor, Health and Human Performance Department, Prairie View A&M University
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. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. Complete the quiz to earn continuing education credit for CAWA, NACA and RACE. RACE CE is valid until 9/18/2025.
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast...
keywords Maddie's Insights, Catherine Kisavi-Atatah PhD, BIPOC communities and their pets, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities and their companion animals, challenges and barriers that BIPOC communities, cultural competency and diversity in veterinary medicine and animal welfare, resources and support for BIPOC communities and their pets,
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