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Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

  • 1.  Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-08-2024 04:29 PM

    Updated 8/12/24 at 2:41pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand!


    We hope to see you on the next Community Conversations call on Monday, 8/12/24 at 11am PT     for a panel discussion on Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters.

    Do you have behavior questions that you've been pondering, but don't know where to go for answers? Chances are, you aren't the only one who may be wondering. Join our panel featuring five animal behavior shelter professionals with different experiences, approaches, and takes on shelter behavior. This panel will explore a wide range of topics that are crucial to understanding and managing behavior in shelter environments, such as assessing pet behaviors, training for staff and volunteers, implementing successful programs, maximizing resources, and navigating the sensitive topic of behavioral euthanasia.

    This session is interactive and will provide space for attendees to ask questions in real-time via the chat feature, with responses from our specialists. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to continue the conversation and engage with the trainers in our community forum.

    Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, share experiences, and connect with fellow professionals dedicated to improving the lives of animals in shelters.

    Panel Facilitators:


    Guest Speakers:


    Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvoRegistration2024

    As always, this discussion thread will be updated with the recording and resources so you can watch and share whenever you'd like.  After you watch the recording on-demand or attend the call live, be sure to complete the new August 2024 entry form to enter to win up to a $5,000 grant: https://www.maddiesfund.org/weekly-community-conversations-aug24-giveaway.htm


    #Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
    #EducationandTraining

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    Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 2.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-09-2024 12:40 AM

    Registered looking forward to this 



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    Tom Candy
    behaviour and welfare trustee
    Hope Rescue
    VI
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  • 3.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-10-2024 10:49 AM

    Looking forward to this session as well!



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    Denise Manning
    Grant Writer
    Out of the Pits
    NY
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-12-2024 01:03 PM

    Thank you to everyone who joined us today! We appreciate you all coming to participate and ask questions. 

    While everything is loaded up by our wonderful Maddie's Team, I'd like to share some tangible resources that were provided by our panelist today!

    Maddie’s Fund Resources :

    • Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection - Join the Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection led by Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, Dr. Sheila Segurson on the 4th Thursday of every month at 12pm PT for a monthly webcast about dog and cat behavior while supporting pets in our community and animal shelters.
      https://maddies.fund/monthlybehaviorconnectionMPF
      • The next webcast topic on August 22 is Managing Canine Arousal Behaviors in the Shelter Setting with Fernando Diaz from San Diego Humane Society
    • Watch recordings from Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition. You can also earn continuing education credit when you watch on Maddie’s University. For topics discussed and session speakers, visit https://forum.maddiesfund.org/campmaddiebehavior

    Dog Resources by @Kayla Wade (she/her)

    Cat by @Kayla Wade (she/her)

     Resources by @Maria DeLeon | @Maria DeLeon


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    Shonyae Johnson - CPDT-KA
    Program + Operations Management
    Behavior Manager
    Operation Kindness
    www.operationkindness.org
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-12-2024 01:25 PM

    Hi,

    sorry I actually missed =[ was it recorded?



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    Tom Candy
    behaviour and welfare trustee
    Hope Rescue
    VI
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-12-2024 02:30 PM

    Yes! The recording will be posted! 



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    Shonyae Johnson - CPDT-KA
    Program + Operations Management
    Behavior Manager
    Operation Kindness
    www.operationkindness.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-13-2024 10:24 AM

    So informative. Thank you!



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    Lisa Kitchens
    Pet Central Helps!
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-12-2024 01:29 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat:

    "What  do you all think about having folks come and read to the animals?" - Anita Selby



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    Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 9.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-12-2024 05:28 PM

    I think programs like this are beneficial. Especially if you can get children involved. Less judgement for them while reading, the dogs have a form of company that's different than the day to day programs and it builds an interest for the community while providing enrichment, it also gets more eyes on the dogs and more people in the doors. 
    For cats I think the program can be implemented a bit easier with less overhead due to setup of rooms, space and less noise for the reader. 



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    Rafael Fontan
    Trainer / Shelter Consultant
    RafStar K9
    FL
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-13-2024 09:47 AM

    Such reading is becoming popular. Public libraries near me have special times for children to read to dogs there, and last month a large no-kill shelter asked for volunteers to read to their cats.  At the cat sanctuary where I volunteer, I started reading to a blind cat last year. He liked it, and after a couple of months I changed human fairy tales to cat fairy tales, such as "Snow White Feet and the Seven Tabbies" and "The Princess and the Kibble" and told him those stories. To my surprise, various other cats would walk into the patio to listen to my naptime stories, especially if I sang a song (e.g. Disney's Hi ho, hi ho, it's home from work we go) as part of the story. They would leave when the story ended. Then I started to put the specific cats present into the stories, and I also make up impromptu stories about the cats themselves. The biggest surprise was that story telling appears to be therapeutic for cats.  I started telling stories to the cats who were pacing, or otherwise acting anxious, and it usually settles them. Then we had a cat who was in pain and very sick with nausea and diarrhea and was and under veterinary care. She was on end-of-life watch, and clothing-protective coveralls were available for volunteers to sit with her. I saw that her breathing was fast and shallow, and I sat near her and told her a story.  Gradually, her breathing became more normal. I don't know whether the story distracted her from the pain, or reduced her anxiety about the pain and sickness, or both, but her breathing was almost normal by the time I left her. (BTW after receiving fecal transplants, she recovered completely). It is possible that reading, instead of storytelling, would have have the same therapeutic effects; it would be worth a try.



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    Rowena St.Moritz
    Volunteer at Cat Foundation
    Blue Bell Foundation for Cats
    CA
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-14-2024 06:21 AM

    I agree with @Rafael Fontan that it is a program that can help boost a child's confidence in reading, and can help the dogs have creative socialization experiences. When setting up programs such as these, I recommend reaching out to individuals who have programs that include youth groups and see what information they can give you in terms of recruitment of volunteers to assist, selection of dog participants, and overall make up of the program to run smoothly!



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    Shonyae Johnson - CPDT-KA
    Program + Operations Management
    Behavior Manager
    Operation Kindness
    www.operationkindness.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/12/24 - Behavioral Breakthroughs: Addressing Challenges in Animal Shelters

    Posted 08-12-2024 05:21 PM

    Thanks to the 155+ people and paws who joined us on today's Community Conversations call! The recording is now available to watch on-demand. Below you'll find a recap of today's call and the resources shared. 

    Call Recap

    • Question of the Day: How have you recruited volunteers to help with your behavior programs (or just animal behavior in general if no behavior program)?
      • "Playgroup!" - Shonyae Johnson
      • "Pack walks" - Sarah Moretz
      • "Also cat training programs!" - Shonyae Johnson
      • "Experienced staff take new dogs through various scenarios" - Debra DeVries
      • "We are a pet food bank so we don't work with behavior" - Maria Koegl
      • "We invite volunteers that participate in our enrichment program and have interest and demonstrate skills." - Nancy Puro
      • "For cat behavior, we did clicker training. Touch training, socialization training, etc.  - Kristi Brooks
      • "Including volunteers in creating enrichment and even making slip leashes for staff to safely handle animals" - Maria DeLeon
      • "(Cat focused) Looking into becoming certified behaviorists, and joining behavior enrichment programs!" - LeAnne Christoffel
      • "Drive by treats for socialization for cats and kittens" - Kristi Brooks
      • "We are struggling with volunteer retention." - Yvonne Haddox
      • "We have monthly obedience training sessions that volunteers can either do with our adoptable dogs or their own dogs. This not only helps to set training standards but fosters a community setting." - Alexandra Mounger
      • "We basically do not have any. We can get volunteers to come and just hang out wit the animals, pet them, and maybe even take them to event but when it comes to behavioral people seem to be intimidated. The people who have seem to be people who are wanting to get into a career with animals and use this as a jumping off point." - Sunny Levine
      • "We also offer volunteers to become BMod volunteers as a promotion. They get specialized training, a different color apron, and they can work with cats that are usually staff only." - Kristi Brooks
      • "Volunteers!" - Suny Simon

    • Highlights from the Chat
      • "I did Dogs Playing for life shadow program in Florida last April. It was awesome!!!!!!!!!" - Sunny Levine
      • "It's such an amazing program!! I love playgroup implementation!" - Shonyae Johnson
      • "What help can be provided to encourage city employees to get professional development. Its always available but they rarely seem to do it. Largely an understaffing issue from what I can observe. Their mandate is only to feed and water and clean kennels. Volunteers in LA city are largely responsible for enrichment and behavior work. Are there larger city shelter systems that have success with this." - Sarah Moretz
      • "Relatedly, how do you get past a person's learning history to implement LIMA and other best practices?" - Shelly Volsche
      • "Lack of onboarding was talked about at the SoCal regional Best Friends gathering." - Sarah Moretz
      • "Many here in LA are not trained even on how to use a breaker bar. With doubled up kennels it is a necessity now." - Sarah Moretz
      • "Do you recommend monthly or quarterly refreshers for training?" -Shelly Volsche
      • "Our saying is, "Training never stops." We provide videos for training, too." - Kim Jackson
      • "Are there any ways that behavior specialists contribute to community outreach programs to help prevent animals from entering shelters in the first place… by addressing behavioral issues at home?" - Azalia Boyd
      • "What training do you suggest for rescue organizations (not a shelter) for volunteers who are dog handlers at adoption events?" - Beth Porter
      • "I've found the Maddies Fund OILC courses quite helpful for professional development!" - Amanda Huggett
      • "I am a dog trainer. We do lure training and clicker training. we recently started doing adoption events. During the adoption events we do lure training when the dogs are taken out for potty." - Kim Jackson
      • "The knowledge is there, no time and understaffed. So, they are stressed. They are so understaffed they must focus on the feedings etc.. Are their ways to encouraged funding to get more employees instead of cutting jobs?" - Sarah Moretz
      • "GoodPup also has great free on-demand free webinars for shelter/rescue staff" - Connie Kile
      • "I believe there are cultural shifts needed as well." - Sarah Moretz
      • "I am meeting with GoodPup this week!" - Shelly Volsche
      • "I LOVE GoodPup!" - Shonyae Johnson
      • "GoodPup is fabulous!!" - Sarah McGoldrick
      • "I think it should help the animal instead of labeling them." - Kimberly Grieser
      • "Definitely helpful for rescues and shelters to share ideas instead of judge or compete." - Mary Linn Lombardo
      • "How do you communicate and help entry level receptionists who take phone calls asking to surrender their dog? Do you take all these calls, or do they have a document of advice to give out when they get these calls?" - Vanessa Voltz
      • "How would you present the need to have a formal behavior program or department to a shelter that does not currently (have one)? Stressing that it's not just "behavior plans" or assessments for singular animals, but also staff training, enrichment, community resources, foster/volunteer training, etc. Do you know of any specific source material with any studies or science-based arguments to the importance of a well-run program?" - Lisa Lee
      • "It helps when shelters are willing to receive the help offered." - Kim Jackson
      • "Association of Professional Dog Trainers and AKC has programs that would help with this." - Kim Jackson
      • "Yes!! It also helps you allocate your behavior program resources." - Shonyae Johnson
      • "How do you look at a animal that is either man or woman cautious and or afraid?" - Anita Selby
      • "You may want to look into grants that are specifically focused on Behavior Programs!" - Shonyae Johnson
      • "Our local county shelter uses inmates as most of the staff. They seem to not want to implement a program because the inmates will keep rotating out when they are released, and they would have to have designated people to keep teaching the same information when there is a new group of (inmates)." - Sunny Levine
      • "Anyone have any ideas of other shelters that have inmates that have implemented a behavioral program and how they run it?" - Sunny Levine
      • "GoodPup gives donations back to your shelter as well when clients sign up. You can always roll that $$ into your behavior fund." - Shonyae Johnson
      • "Ask people who are doing it to attend and share their experience with any presentations." - Ken Hopkins
      • "Maybe having a sheet to do a write-up of each person's interaction with the animal." - Anita Selby
      • "I am not sure if they are still available, but there used to be a program to use GoodPup scholarships with in-shelter dogs utilized by staff/volunteers." - Connie Kile
      • "If your dogs are in a foster program, what platform or software do you recommend the fosters use so the information can go with the dog if moved from one foster to another?" -  heather hoffmann
      • "Fear Free Shelter" - Suny Simon
      • "Kennel cards work well for this. It has a list of items that anyone can work with the dog on. The kennel card stays on the dog's kennel and everyone can see what the dog needs work on." - Kim Jackson
      • "Generally (we) will approach that pet as being fearful of people as a whole, and work from there! Working on socialization with various people in small amounts (far away, high-value treats, no interaction - just presence)." - Shonyae Johnson
      • "I am old school, but I have an actual binder for each animal where the foster writes everything in. If they go to another foster, the binder goes with them and then it goes with the adopter. I usually take the binder and condense the information and put in the path of behavioral intervention that we recommend for that animal before it goes with the new adopter." - Sunny Levine
      • "I really liked the form I filled out when volunteering for foster day trips…a lot of the questions allowed me to circle yes/no so I completed it in 1 minute. So just a piece of the puzzle." - Irene Chansawang
      • "Google forms are great for this if you don't have an internal shelter platform. :)" - Shonyae Johnson
      • "Playgroups was a solid second choice for me! can't beat the benefits vs resources allocation." - Maria DeLeon
      • "With the importance of playgroups, why are some shelters not allowing foster dogs to interact with ANY dog while in a foster home? I've stopped fostering dogs from my local org because it feels wrong to isolate them from having dog buddies." - Maria S
      • "This is Kimberly Grieser, founder of Stray Kitty Rescue. We rescue cats and dogs, primarily cats.  It is difficult to focus on behavior when we are feeding and cleaning; however, we will be focusing more on behavior. What are simple behavior items we can do every day? I do catnip's and toys." - Kimberly Grieser
      • "What a fantastic panel! The expertise, practical approaches and cultural competency is just incredible and a breath of fresh air. Great job all, you are brilliant!" -Nadia Oseguera
      • "I'd love to hear from folks about what functionality you would like to see in software to track and report on behavior cfitzgerald@animalsfirst.com" - Chris Fitzgerald
      • "I took my last foster back to the shelter because she was so desperate for playtime, and the org wouldn't budge on the rule." - Maria S
      • "What do you all think about having folks come and read to the animals?" - Anita Selby
      • "There are risks involved when introducing dogs to other dogs. Every shelter should ideally assess their willingness to take on those risks and if it benefits their animals and staff." - Maria DeLeon
      • "I also want to say from my experience, identifying certain dogs or cats as one way, for example biting or reactive at the shelter, could just be a shelter reaction. We have had a few do better by doing fostering or sleep overs - Stray Kitty Rescue" - Kimberly Grieser
      • "Excellent information!  I really enjoy the exchange of ideas!" - Debra DeVries
      • "We did this at my last shelter and we loved it! There is research showing dogs find the sounds of human voices more calming than music, etc." - Maria DeLeon
      • "At previous shelters it is often looked at as minimizing exposure to illness. Shelters can have many dogs in and out, and exposure to illness is high. We'd flex if the animal was highly in-need of dog-to-dog interaction." - Shonyae Johnson
      • "Great panel! Thank you all so much!" - Connie Kile
      • "Gather information to assess each case and leave opportunity to respond, even if it means a follow up call… That leaves time to get advice you'd like to respond with." - Ken Hopkins
      • "This has been such a great session - so much great information and advice! Thank you for all the good works you are doing to assist animals in your care." - Beth Porter
      • "Great job facilitating, Christina!" - Allison Cardona
      • "Thank you!  Interesting info!" - Alexis Svehla
      • "Thank you, panelists! Would love to see you all at Humane Canada's Summit for Animals! April 2025" - Azalia Boyd



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    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
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