Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Creating foster workshops

    Posted 01-16-2024 08:46 AM

    I work with a non-profit called "Reducing Animal Stress."  We are interested in running foster workshops in different parts of Los Angeles that spell out the nuts and bolts of fostering.  We had our first workshop in October that was not well attended despite a fair amount of outreach.  How do I engage rescues and shelters to come speak and also increase attendance?  Thank you, Melissa Klaskin Levy


    #FosterPrograms

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    Melissa Klaskin
    Reducing Animal Stress
    Los Angeles, CA
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  • 2.  RE: Creating foster workshops

    Posted 01-17-2024 05:41 AM

    Hi Melissa!

    I tried to look up your organization and found little information on it. With no website or social media easily accessible, this could cause some hesitancy among organizations who might otherwise be interested. Listing your organization's achievements and qualifications there might be a great first step towards networking with your area shelters. I might try reaching out to your local shelters and foster-based rescues individually, ask them to gauge what topics their foster volunteer teams would be most interested in,  and see if any of their staff or foster volunteers would like to contribute as speakers. Making these events virtual as well as live attendance could increase access and interest, and seeing if local social hubs like libraries might promote the events on their newsletters could be useful. I hope this helps!



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    Krystyna Zarn-Langford
    Human & Animal Services Manager
    Geauga Humane Society's Rescue Village
    Novelty, Ohio
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  • 3.  RE: Creating foster workshops

    Posted 01-18-2024 09:03 AM

    Hi Melissa,

    Your non-profit sounds awesome! We've recently done several workshops where we bring local shelters & rescues together (in person and online) and I'm happy to share what I've learned if you'd like to meet. If you're interested, you can pick a day & time on my Calendly and I'll add the Zoom link once it's set: 

    https://calendly.com/duer/fosterconsult



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    Kelly Duer
    Senior Community Solutions Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 4.  RE: Creating foster workshops

    Posted 01-18-2024 09:14 AM

    Hi Kelly,

    Yes I would love to speak with you.  I am planning a foster workshop for April and I want to get my rescue/non profit partners on the call so I will reach out to them to see if there is a good time for this coming Tuesday.  Thanks, Melissa



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    Melissa Klaskin
    psychologist
    Reducing Animal Stress
    CA
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  • 5.  RE: Creating foster workshops

    Posted 01-24-2024 07:29 AM

    Hi Melissa - I'm in the Bay Area, but if it's helpful, I'm opening a community hub for dogs and humans in April. I've been chatting with a few people who work with shelters and rescues up here about including them in events at the Hub. And I agree that foster workshops are very important! I ran a poll of people recently in my neighborhood's whatsapp group to ask what hesitations people have when it comes to fostering and all the top responses can be remedies with education. Cost wasn't a factor for anyone who responded. 

    Please let me know if I can be helpful!

    Andrea



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    Andrea Bazett
    Co-founder
    Pack Animals
    CA
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  • 6.  RE: Creating foster workshops

    Posted 01-24-2024 07:53 AM

    Hi Andrea,

    I would love to chat with you.  I am not sure what you mean by a hub.  Can you explain?  Melissa



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    Melissa Klaskin
    psychologist
    Reducing Animal Stress
    CA
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