Animal Welfare Professionals

Recently, threats of violence and even death against animal shelter leadership (and other staff) have increased. We will talk about how to address this within our movement and share ideas for how we can collectively stand against violence towards animal welfare leadership. We'll hear from a few folks who have faced various types of attacks and share our best ideas for how to quickly come up with solutions to keep our colleagues safe.

NOTE: Advocacy does not equal violent threats and personal attacks. This is NOT a conversation about condemning animal advocates or defending/criticizing any particular shelter practices. We recognize even the more critical advocates can appropriately and effectively engage with shelter leadership and the public and that this needs to be clearly distinguished from acts of violence and bullying.

This will be a fully participatory session that will include polls. We want to hear your voice so we hope to see you there!

If you would like to share your experience with the group, please email kristen.hassen@americanpetsalive.org by Thursday evening.

Click here to register for the meeting 


#OrganizationalManagement

------------------------------
Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her
------------------------------

Oof, this morning's call was a heavy one but it was a very important conversation for us to have. Thank you to @Kristen Hassen for leading a tough conversation and to everyone who was vulnerable and shared their personal experiences, please know that you have the support of this entire community 💗

Due to the sensitive nature of today's call, we will not be publicly posting the recording to respect the privacy of those who shared. But we did launch several polls during the call, you can see the anonymous results below:

We also heard from @valerie robinson on the situation in Louisiana and the impact of Hurricane Ida. Many people are displaced, living in tents and pets are running loose as fences were destroyed by the hurricane. If you are able to help Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter directly with transports or supplies, please contact Valerie. Here is the link to Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter's Amazon wish list if you can help with supplies.

If your organization can receive animals from the Hurricane Ida-ravaged areas, complete this form detailing your placement availability: https://airtable.com/shrxw3xhNR4ZaYSH7

Attached is an abbreviated version of the chat and resources that were shared today. Have a great weekend, hug an animal you love and remember to be kind to all!​

------------------------------
Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-23-2021 02:49 PM
From: Charlotte Otero
Subject: Animal Welfare Leadership Roundup Call - Friday, 9/24/21 - Special Session: Standing Up Against Violence Towards Animal Welfare Leadership

Recently, threats of violence and even death against animal shelter leadership (and other staff) have increased. We will talk about how to address this within our movement and share ideas for how we can collectively stand against violence towards animal welfare leadership. We'll hear from a few folks who have faced various types of attacks and share our best ideas for how to quickly come up with solutions to keep our colleagues safe.

NOTE: Advocacy does not equal violent threats and personal attacks. This is NOT a conversation about condemning animal advocates or defending/criticizing any particular shelter practices. We recognize even the more critical advocates can appropriately and effectively engage with shelter leadership and the public and that this needs to be clearly distinguished from acts of violence and bullying.

This will be a fully participatory session that will include polls. We want to hear your voice so we hope to see you there!

If you would like to share your experience with the group, please email kristen.hassen@americanpetsalive.org by Thursday evening.

Click here to register for the meeting 


#OrganizationalManagement

------------------------------
Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her
------------------------------

To support those who may have been victimized, threatened and bullied via social media, we wanted to share some resources that we hope can offer some aid and support. If you have any resources you'd be willing to share like webcasts, articles, websites, help line phone numbers, etc. please respond with whatever you think would help. 

• AAWA Course: Going through hell? Keep going! Series
• AAWA Course: Hashtags and Hate Mail
• Cybersmile.org - Reputation Management
• Cybersmile.org - Advice for Adults / Cyberbullying & Online Harassment Articles
• National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI can help with stress management
• Inside Higher Ed - Targeted: Surviving Social Media Attacks
• Nolo Press - Defamation, Slander and Libel
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Humane Society of the United States - The Weight of Caring

------------------------------
Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2021 12:28 PM
From: Charlotte Otero
Subject: Animal Welfare Leadership Roundup Call - Friday, 9/24/21 - Special Session: Standing Up Against Violence Towards Animal Welfare Leadership

Oof, this morning's call was a heavy one but it was a very important conversation for us to have. Thank you to @Kristen Hassen for leading a tough conversation and to everyone who was vulnerable and shared their personal experiences, please know that you have the support of this entire community 💗

Due to the sensitive nature of today's call, we will not be publicly posting the recording to respect the privacy of those who shared. But we did launch several polls during the call, you can see the anonymous results below:

We also heard from @valerie robinson on the situation in Louisiana and the impact of Hurricane Ida. Many people are displaced, living in tents and pets are running loose as fences were destroyed by the hurricane. If you are able to help Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter directly with transports or supplies, please contact Valerie. Here is the link to Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter's Amazon wish list if you can help with supplies.

If your organization can receive animals from the Hurricane Ida-ravaged areas, complete this form detailing your placement availability: https://airtable.com/shrxw3xhNR4ZaYSH7

Attached is an abbreviated version of the chat and resources that were shared today. Have a great weekend, hug an animal you love and remember to be kind to all!​

------------------------------
Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her

Original Message:
Sent: 09-23-2021 02:49 PM
From: Charlotte Otero
Subject: Animal Welfare Leadership Roundup Call - Friday, 9/24/21 - Special Session: Standing Up Against Violence Towards Animal Welfare Leadership

Recently, threats of violence and even death against animal shelter leadership (and other staff) have increased. We will talk about how to address this within our movement and share ideas for how we can collectively stand against violence towards animal welfare leadership. We'll hear from a few folks who have faced various types of attacks and share our best ideas for how to quickly come up with solutions to keep our colleagues safe.

NOTE: Advocacy does not equal violent threats and personal attacks. This is NOT a conversation about condemning animal advocates or defending/criticizing any particular shelter practices. We recognize even the more critical advocates can appropriately and effectively engage with shelter leadership and the public and that this needs to be clearly distinguished from acts of violence and bullying.

This will be a fully participatory session that will include polls. We want to hear your voice so we hope to see you there!

If you would like to share your experience with the group, please email kristen.hassen@americanpetsalive.org by Thursday evening.

Click here to register for the meeting 


#OrganizationalManagement

------------------------------
Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her
------------------------------