Webinar Series
Coffee with the Coalition
Grab a cup of coffee and join the Missouri Coalition of Animal Care Organizations to discuss hot topics in the field of animal welfare! Coffee with the Coalition is a series of monthly webinars to bring you the information you want and need to move your shelter operations to the next level. Anyone with an interest in animal sheltering, rescue, or welfare is welcome to attend these zoom meetings at no cost. Follow us on Facebook for updates or reach out via email with questions!
Reducing Barriers to Adoption
Join Jackie Roach from Best Friends Animal Society in Northwest Arkansas to discuss how embracing open adoptions will increase your efficiency and lifesaving. Jackie Roach has long believed that we can only begin to make a difference in the lives of animals when we enhance and improve the lives of the humans who care for them. Access the recording here.
Compassion Fatigue
Join Hilary Hager from the Humane Society of the United States to learn how to maintain your own well-being while working in a challenging and emotionally-charged environment. Compassion fatigue isn’t “caring too much and getting tired”; it’s the decline of a person’s ability to feel and care for others that comes with being in mission-driven work. Most of us start in this work with tons of enthusiasm and energy, but in our zeal to save the world, we do too much, we fail to set up good boundaries and good habits, and then our ability to enjoy our work, the people we work with and for, and even our family and friends winds up taking a major dive. Because we’re caregivers, we run around trying to provide care to all the animals, and our coworkers, and pretty much else everyone under the sun before ever considering taking care of ourselves. Let's learn how we can change that! Access the recording here.
National Data Set
Join Brent Toellner from Best Friends Animal Society to dive into their 2020 data set from animal shelters across the United States. Take an even closer look at the state of animal sheltering in Missouri. What is going well? Where is there more need? What impact has COVID had in 2020 and into 2021? Access the recording here.
Behavior Dogs
In this session, Rachel Jones will share why you should be transparent and open to challenging discussions, the processes that she has created to support urgent dogs, and what you can be doing now to begin saving more lives. Rachel Jones holds the unique role of Urgent Dog Case Manager and her job is essentially to be a staff advocate for the special needs behavior dogs at Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, AZ. Access the recording here.
Parvovirus
Parvo is a dreaded illness that can be fatal for puppies, costly for your organization, and heartbreaking for staff and volunteers. How do you prevent it on transports, in the shelter, and in the foster environment? When a puppy does break where can you isolate positive and exposed cases? What supportive care can staff or fosters provide? Hear from the Animal Protective Association how you can treat this dreaded virus. Access the recording here.
FIV/FeLV Testing
New research has made decisions about testing and management of FIV and FeLV challenging for shelters and rescues. If and when to test? What to do with nebulous test results? What to do with positive kitties? Let's discuss the evidence based strategies for navigating risk and improving outcomes with these diseases. Access the recording here.
Advocating for Animals
This webinar will teach you how to be an advocate for animals at the state and local level. We’ll hear from Andy Briscoe, the Central Region Legislative Director for ASPCA, to learn about how to get involved in effecting changes in ordinances and laws related to animals. We’ll discuss everything from simply identifying who your elected officials are to setting up meetings (in-person and virtual) and proposing legislation. We’ll also discuss the 2021 Missouri legislative session and what’s in store for animal protection. There will be something for everyone, no matter your current level of engagement. Access the recording here.
Ringworm Cats & Kittens
Cat expert Stephanie Stryker will be joining us to discuss deliberate and thoughtful housing ideas for ringworm cats inside the shelter so they are accessible and noticed by adopters. We'll discuss how to market/counsel adopters on ringworm cats, and what to do to set them up for success when they leave the shelter. Recommended treatments and our in-home care handouts will be included. Access the recording here.
Aiding Pets in Domestic Violence
Your shelter (and you!) are a resource for your community. Animal sheltering is very much a social service that is expanding to meet the needs of the public and to keep pets and their people together. In this session you'll learn how your shelter can support your local domestic violence shelter and create life-saving partnerships for both people and their animals. We’ll focus on creating strong community relationships and how to get creative with your shelter space to accommodate the most vulnerable of pets. Access the recording here.
Pet Food Banks
As COVID continues to negatively impact people across the country, it's more important than ever that shelters and rescues support pets and their families. Operating a pet food bank is an essential service for every community, and you can learn how to start or enhance your program on this call! Abbie Knudsen from the Missouri Coalition of Animal Care Organizations will be discussing everything food bank related, including how you can stock it, store it, and simplify it! Access the recording here.
Foster Processes
In this session you will learn how your organization can evaluate and improve your foster process - from recruitment and on-boarding to support and retention. Sarah Aguilar from Greater Good Charities will also discuss some of the differences between foster-based nonprofits and shelter-based municipal programs. Access the recording here.
Temporary Foster
It is estimated that 28 million people nationwide will face eviction in the coming months and 1/3 are estimated to have pets. For many people, being between homes is temporary. Shelters and rescues have the opportunity to preserve the bond between people and pets by offering temporary fostering and support services. On this call, the Animal Protective Association will join the Missouri Coalition of Animal Care Organizations to discuss their Pet Partners Crisis Housing Program that provides temporary fostering and resource support for families being evicted or losing their housing. Access the recording here.