Erika Shaffer

RE: Training pursuant to the new NYS law coming into effect in December 2025

Posted By Erika Shaffer 03-12-2026 08:45 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Sallie: Yes, we have the presentation now. It carries RACE CE as well: Identifying and Understanding Animal Cruelty and Neglect. It is also included in the sample portal for NY State standards that I sent. I'll reply to you in that email thread as well. Thanks for all you do for cats and kittens! ...

RE: Petcadamy & Petzel

Posted By Erika Shaffer 02-13-2026 10:39 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

I hope the Petzel and Petcademy users can chime in for advice. The thing I've heard that orgs like about Petcademy is that it is text-based. But I cannot evaluate the services as a user. You could also consider Free Dog Trainers. It really is free! I just visited a shelter that has implemented it. ...

RE: Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program Question

Posted By Erika Shaffer 01-03-2026 10:31 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Amelia: The Learniverse program has been around for some time now and is getting great reviews! In addition, National Animal Care & Control now has a 15-hour entirely self-paced program called Shelter Safe. It's not free, but it is very low cost. I've reviewed the content and believe it is ...

RE: New York State Article 26C education requirements

Posted By Erika Shaffer 01-02-2026 12:30 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Deb: Of course! I will email you shortly. Erika ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Instructional Designer Maddie's Fund ------------------------------

RE: New York State Article 26C education requirements

Posted By Erika Shaffer 12-15-2025 11:31 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Justin: Certainly! I've confirmed that only species-specific training is required for volunteers/staff who do not work with other species. I'll reply via email with more information. Erika ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Instructional Designer Maddie's Fund ------ ...

RE: New York State Article 26C education requirements

Posted By Erika Shaffer 12-11-2025 05:26 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Jillisa: Yes, we have set up a curriculum to cover the NYS standards as efficiently as possible. Your portal is set up to cover the insurance requirements. There is some crossover, though. I'll email you separately about this. Erika ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Instructional ...

RE: Fearful Dog Intake

Posted By Erika Shaffer 11-13-2025 07:52 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Ashley: These new, short courses on Maddie's University could help. They have lots of videos. Helping Dogs Build Resilience Against Shelter Stress: https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/helping-dogs-build-resilience-against-shelter-stress Treating Severe Fear and Anxiety in Shelter Dogs: ...

New York State Article 26C education requirements

Posted By Erika Shaffer 11-11-2025 03:33 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Maddie's Fund is an approved provider of training for the New York State Companion Animal Care Standards Act. Maddie's Fund offers free portals on Maddie's University with training. Managers of the portals can see who enrolls and completes and download a report to show compliance. If you are interested ...

RE: Community Conversations - 08/18/2025 - The Real Reasons Pets Enter Shelters and How to Change the Story

Posted By Erika Shaffer 11-02-2025 11:33 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Thank you for sharing those courses @Jenifer Reed! I want to also point out to @Michaela Ullmann that we purposely put all the videos in those courses on YouTube so organizations can share the relevant video directly with fosters and adopters if registering for Maddie's University may be a barrier for ...

RE: August + September 2025 Giveaway: How Has Online Learning Helped You Grow?

Posted By Erika Shaffer 08-14-2025 11:25 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Maddie's University also offers a FREE professional development service. Animal welfare organizations can have their own portal(s) on Maddie's University and choose courses for staff and volunteer development. Managers of the portal can see who enrolls and completes courses. You can also upload your ...

RE: How to increase visibility of adoptable dogs

Posted By Erika Shaffer 07-22-2025 09:21 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Alex: I see your organization uses Petfinder. They have a small grant available for Petfinder users that requires that applicants complete the Maddie's University course Short-Term Foster and Field Trips. The grant is funded at the beginning of each year and continues until the funds run out, so ...

RE: Looking ESA Letter for housing, Are there any suggestions for the same ?

Posted By Erika Shaffer 07-03-2025 07:52 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi Pet Lover, The free self-paced course "Keeping Tenants and Their Pets Together" on Maddie's University may be of use to you. It explains ESA letters and offers a sample ESA letter as well as a template. https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/keeping-tenants-and-their-pets-together Sincerely, ...

RE: Training pursuant to the new NYS law coming into effect in December 2025

Posted By Erika Shaffer 04-23-2025 09:17 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

I'm so glad to hear that, Patricia! Thank you. Erika ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Instructional Designer Maddie's Fund ------------------------------

RE: Training pursuant to the new NYS law coming into effect in December 2025

Posted By Erika Shaffer 04-16-2025 09:35 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Diane: We at Maddie's Fund have also been in touch with the NYSAPF, and are working on a course to fulfill the animal cruelty requirement which will be available before the end of the year. It will still be directed at shelters, but it will focus on balancing the need for resources that come ...

RE: Community Conversations - 3/3/2025 - Affordable and Accessible Care Through Mobile Veterinary Clinics

Posted By Erika Shaffer 03-24-2025 12:15 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

We've opened the course! It's at this link: https://university.maddiesfund.org/p/Rez-Clinic-Manifesto ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Instructional Designer Maddie's Fund ------------------------------

RE: Community Conversations - 3/3/2025 - Affordable and Accessible Care Through Mobile Veterinary Clinics

Posted By Erika Shaffer 03-11-2025 10:41 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Steph: We are about to release a course on Maddie's University on providing mobile and mash-style clinics on reservations, but which can be used for a S/N clinic anywhere. It will include all the docs and protocols you should need, including a complete inventory spreadsheet. It will be available ...

Lost Dog Prevention

Posted By Erika Shaffer 02-12-2025 02:23 PM
Found In Library: Animal Welfare Professionals

A quick self-paced course to help keep dogs from going missing, designed for fosters, adopters and the shelter staff and volunteers who support them #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms #FosterPrograms

RE: Foster Program Satisfaction Survey

Posted By Erika Shaffer 01-14-2025 12:31 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Everyone: The How to Build a Foster Program course has been closed to enrollments. Here are links to learning on Maddie's University that you may find helpful: I can recommend the following courses to help you with your foster programming: Seven Guiding Principles of Foster Programs ...

RE: Dog Potty Training Resources for New Adopters?

Posted By Erika Shaffer 01-03-2025 03:07 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Tina: If you go into the course listing, you can see the number of credit hours for the Bringing a New Dog Home course is 1.0. But also, all of the videos in the course are purposely on YouTube, so you are welcome to open them up in YouTube and then just share the ones you need with your adopters. ...

RE: Behavior training for long-stay shelter dogs in increase chances of adoption

Posted By Erika Shaffer 11-27-2024 08:43 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Thanks for pointing that out, Matt! ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Instructional Designer Maddie's Fund ------------------------------

RE: Behavior training for long-stay shelter dogs in increase chances of adoption

Posted By Erika Shaffer 11-26-2024 02:05 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Jody: It sounds like, depending on the behavior concerns, foster homes might be the best answer. We have a new course on fostering dogs with behavioral concerns which includes ready-made foster protocols and suggestions for placements. https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/fostering-dogs- ...

RE: Looking for help with our kitten foster program

Posted By Erika Shaffer 10-15-2024 11:46 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Jessica: If you haven't already, you may want to check out the Maddie's University self-paced course Taking the Fear Out of Bottle Feeding and Basic Kitten Care, authored by Marnie Russ, who founded the National Kitten College program. You could have your foster caregivers complete the course ...

RE: Webinar: Advancements in Neonatal Kitten Care - 6/26/24

Posted By Erika Shaffer 10-01-2024 09:32 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

That's great, LA! For others, the course can be found at this link: https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/taking-the-fear-out-of-bottle-feeding-and-basic-kitten-care ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Instructional Designer Maddie's Fund ------------------------------

RE: I need serious help! Leadership resources

Posted By Erika Shaffer 08-23-2024 01:15 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Liz: We have a leadership course on Maddie's University that may be a good start: Effective Leadership in Animal Welfare. We also have a number of on-demand presentations on leadership and organizational management, such as this one: Creating a Culture of Change in Your Organization. You can find ...

RE: Level Up Your Cat Housing: Game-Changing Upgrades Are Within Reach

Posted By Erika Shaffer 07-10-2024 05:38 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Sarah: I'm sorry for the issue! The course is now showing up as complete in your dashboard. If you ever have issues with course completion or anything else related to the Maddie's University platform, you can write to maddiesuniversity@maddiesfund.org and we will get right back to you. ...

RE: Webinar: Advancements in Neonatal Kitten Care - 6/26/24

Posted By Erika Shaffer 06-29-2024 02:16 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Vanessa: I'm sorry about that! It's a little confusing. You have to enroll in the live certificate product and then you can download the certificates. I enrolled you in the product and sent you the certificates via email. Thank you so much for attending! ------------------------------ ...

RE: Education/Training for volunteers and staff

Posted By Erika Shaffer 06-26-2024 09:46 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

As well as the ones Erin recommends, Maddie's University offers a popular dog handling course that starts out with basics and moves on to handling certain common behaviors: Dog Handling in the Shelter. You didn't mention needing courses for foster caregivers, but Maddie's U has some for them as well: ...

RE: Adopting FeLV cats

Posted By Erika Shaffer 04-24-2024 08:19 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

There is a Maddie's webcast on this topic, presented by Monica Tarant, formerly of APA!/AmPA! and Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program. https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/feline-leukemia-testing-one-and-done-for-everyone Also, if you type "FeLV" into the search ...

Taking the Fear Out of Bottle Feeding and Basic Kitten Care - Maddie's University course

Posted By Erika Shaffer 04-16-2024 10:17 AM
Found In Library: Animal Welfare Professionals

FREE course on Maddie's University: Taking the Fear Out of Bottle Feeding and Basic Kitten Care Did you know healthy neonatal kittens do NOT need to be fed every two hours? Learn about the latest guidelines for kitten feeding and other kitten care in this course. The course was developed by the Kitten ...

RE: Weaning Kittens from their motherWhen do most people start weaning kittens?

Posted By Erika Shaffer 04-01-2024 09:21 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Robin: I recommend enrolling in the new Maddie's University course Taking the Fear Out of Bottle Feeding and Basic Kitten Care. It covers weaning as well as many other topics. Plus, linked from the course is an MPF group monitored by Marnie Russ, who authored the course and started the Kitten College ...

RE: How to Begin a Career

Posted By Erika Shaffer 03-27-2024 07:15 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Anon: Membership in the National Animal Care & Control Association is super cheap ($25) and comes with discounts on ACO online training and free webinars: https://www.nacanet.org/membership/ Also, NACA worked with Maddie's Fund to create free online training for ACOs on Maddie's University: ...

Free training site for your organization

Posted By Erika Shaffer 03-26-2024 09:41 AM
Found In Egroup: Kitten College Community \ view thread

Hi, Kitten Lovers: We are getting inquiries about whether organizations can post the link to this course for their fosters. The answer is of course! All of Maddie's University content is free and available to all. If you want to send the course to your foster caregivers and/or post it on your website, ...

RE: Top 5 Ways to Promote Fostering

Posted By Erika Shaffer 01-29-2024 09:40 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Michele: Animal Welfare League of Arlington is doing this. They talked about it in this short presentation during the free online conference Camp Maddie: Foster Edition, which is available now on demand. Erika ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Maddie's Fund --------- ...

RE: Foster Volunteer Committee

Posted By Erika Shaffer 01-14-2024 03:22 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, August: Maddie's University has also collected foster resources in specific topics areas that may be of use. Foster engagement and appreciation : https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/foster-caregiver-engagement-and-appreciation-collection Foster training and support: https:// ...

RE: Do your front-line people need help answering behavior Qs re: cats?

Posted By Erika Shaffer 01-10-2024 03:30 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Mary Lou: For behavior-related issues, we are currently working on a course on Adoption Counseling that will also be useful for pet retention for dogs. We area also working on a course for working with specific dog behaviors including owner/adopter support. I can let you know when those are available ...

RE: Camp Maddie: Foster Edition

Posted By Erika Shaffer 12-12-2023 03:36 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Trisha: Your application was successfully submitted! All best, Erika ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Maddie's Fund ------------------------------

RE: Emotional Support Animals (cats)

Posted By Erika Shaffer 11-27-2023 10:21 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

I bet that will work for you and your client, Helen! It sounds like you have a good understanding of ESAs and housing rights. For anyone who wants to know more, Maddie's University has a new course authored by attorney Dianne Prado of the Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART LA) titled Keeping ...

RE: Do your front-line people need help answering behavior Qs?

Posted By Erika Shaffer 10-30-2023 10:13 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Thank you Sindee Lee! Erika ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Maddie's Fund ------------------------------

RE: Do your front-line people need help answering behavior Qs?

Posted By Erika Shaffer 10-26-2023 02:02 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Mary Lou: I'm sorry; I don't believe we have any training specifically devoted to counseling for retention of canine pets. We have a course called Keeping Pets in Homes that is focused on crisis counseling for pet retention and has lots of audio samples of pet counseling. Although the focus ...

RE: Shelter Safety Protocol Video Trainings for Volunteers

Posted By Erika Shaffer 10-12-2023 01:20 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Steve: It sounds like you want to make short videos specific to your shelter, and you're looking for examples from other shelters, and I'm looking forward to seeing what people can share. In the meantime, here are some more general trainings on Maddie's University that may be of interest: ...

RE: Online Volunteer Training

Posted By Erika Shaffer 09-28-2023 11:08 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Tanila: Online volunteer training can be as simple as posting a video, followed by a link to a quiz created in Google Forms or any other platform, followed by a link to a questionnaire/sign up. There are lots of examples of this, but I just saw this one from AAWL for foster training/sign up: ...

RE: SOPs

Posted By Erika Shaffer 09-05-2023 09:11 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

The American Pets Alive! resources page is a great source of SOPs of all kinds. https://americanpetsalive.org/resources ------------------------------ Erika Shaffer Maddie's Fund ------------------------------

RE: Community Conversations - 7/24/23 - REDI for Change: Learning How Inclusivity Saves Lives

Posted By Erika Shaffer 07-25-2023 03:06 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

The panelists were all so wonderful! I appreciated that the two larger organizations followed up the self-paced REDI course with staff discussion. Gathering as a team to talk about your individual experiences with the self-paced material extends the learning. Also appreciated the panelist who took the ...

RE: Volunteer-run humane education and summer camp ideas

Posted By Erika Shaffer 06-15-2023 09:04 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Sara: Maddie's University has an extensive course on Humane Education that is filled with ready-to-use programs. The course actually won Best Professional Development Opportunity in 2022 from the Association of Professional Humane Educators. It's totally free, so I recommend you make use of this ...

RE: What should be included in Open Arms Challenge training for low-cost vet clinics?

Posted By Erika Shaffer 04-27-2023 08:41 AM
Found In Egroup: 2023 Open Arms Challenge \ view thread

Hi, Shosana: I don't know if these would help, but two of the HASS-related courses on Maddie's University could be helpful in making the connection between community services including vet care and benefits to shelter pets, staff and the community. And they're short! 1) This is the "HASS 101" ...

RE: Training for Volunteers Assisting Unhoused Clients

Posted By Erika Shaffer 03-09-2023 10:13 AM
Found In Library: 2023 Open Arms Challenge

RE: Training for Volunteers Assisting Unhoused Clients

Posted By Erika Shaffer 03-09-2023 10:13 AM
Found In Egroup: 2023 Open Arms Challenge \ view thread

Hi, Laura: I think the recruitment, engagement and retention tips in this foster course would be useful, especially around marketing: https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/how-to-place-more-pets-in-foster-homes Also, Jordana Moerbe, who managed the Austin Pets Alive! shelter clinic, emphasizes ...

RE: Training for Volunteers Assisting Unhoused Clients

Posted By Erika Shaffer 03-09-2023 08:21 AM
Found In Egroup: 2023 Open Arms Challenge \ view thread

Hi, Nichole: Thank you for doing this! I'm not sure exactly what kind of training your looking for. HeARTs Speak has great materials on taking engaging photos of pets. Here's one: https://heartsspeak.org/guide-to-taking-great-cell-phone-photos/, but check out all their resources at https://hear ...

RE: Online training resources?

Posted By Erika Shaffer 02-24-2023 09:03 AM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Hi, Tamara: I don't know if this is what you are looking for, but Maddie's University offers organizations free space on our platform to shelters to design training. You can pull in Maddie's University courses and webcasts, you can link out to other training, and you can upload your own resources. ...

RE: Recruiting New (Quality) Fosters

Posted By Erika Shaffer 02-08-2023 05:17 PM
Found In Egroup: Animal Welfare Professionals \ view thread

Maddie's University also has a new course authored by @Kelly Duer on recruiting and retaining foster caregivers titled How to Place More Pets in Foster Homes. It has tons of great practical information, https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/how-to-place-more-pets-in-foster-homes ---- ...

Profile

Ribbons

Contact Details

Contributions

Contact Us

Maddie's Shop

Stay Connected

Follow Us