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Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2025 01:30 PM
From: Brenda Fiorini
Subject: August + September 2025 Giveaway: How Has Online Learning Helped You Grow?
Greetings! My name is Brenda Fiorini. I am a retired teacher from Northern Illinois and an author of children's picture books with humane education themes. The books gently teach about such topics as abandoned and homeless animals, dangers that stray animals face, pet rescue, shelters as a place to adopt, responsibilities of pet guardianship, kindness, pet feelings and fears, the importance of spay and neuter, pet grooming, the human-animal bond, living with babies-toddlers-and-pets/creating a safe environment, community cats, the importance of vet care, helping the homeless, and being kind to animals, friends, family and the environment. Book titles include:
Rescue Pup, Rescue Kitty, Puppy Love Promises, A Groomer Gets Ready, Doggy Jitters, The Townhouse With Tall Vines, A Helping Hand, Be Kind Sing-Along.
Pre-Covid, I partnered with my local animal shelter in Dixon, IL - Granny Rose Animal Shelter - in an effort to provide books titled, Rescue Pup and Rescue Kitty, to every first grade student in three counties: Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside. The count came to almost 2,000 students and their teachers each year. We received sponsorships from local organizations and businesses to fund the books. Teachers read to students, developed pet and humane units, and children got to keep and take home the books to share with their families. The book program also encouraged pet adoptions in our area! It is called Read! Write! Rescue! It was a well-received project for six years. THEN, Covid hit and learning in our schools went almost 100% digital. Many schools utilized the Google Classroom tools and Google applications. My role with the animal shelter changed from book distributor to learning how to format my children's books into E-books and pdfs. I created an author website where all my materials can be downloaded or read in pdf or E-book format. I have also learned to upload my books and materials to TPT.com where teachers can access the materials: PDF books, coloring pages, study guides, and felt story sets. In addition, I learned how to create read-aloud videos of the books that I have posted on YouTube. Online learning has created a whole new dimension for me to make and share humane education materials. I love to share my self-publications with teachers, parents, kids, humane educators, and animal lovers everywhere. Since things have been getting back to normal, I am still hoping to share my printed books with animal shelters that have "Read to a Shelter Pet" programs in place. My passion is for literacy and humane education. It is truly my contribution. Although Covid was a scary time, there are silver linings to every gray cloud. I have grown professionally and personally through online learning; I have managed to find ways to create digital materials and continue reaching out with humane education impacting not only my local area, but people and animals nation and world wide. My website is http://www.sites.google.com/view/pet-journey-press.
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Brenda Fiorini
Author
Pet Journey Press
IL
Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2025 11:12 AM
From: Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Subject: August + September 2025 Giveaway: How Has Online Learning Helped You Grow?
It's back-to-school season, and whether you're brand new to animal well-being or a seasoned professional, one thing's for sure - learning never stops. That's why over the next 2 months, we're celebrating the role that online learning has played in helping individuals and organizations grow, evolve, and improve the care they provide to animals and people alike.
So we want to hear from you:
📚 How has online learning helped you grow professionally or personally?
Have you discovered a course or webinar that changed your approach to animal care or community engagement? Did you take on a new role or responsibility after gaining new knowledge? Has learning at your own pace helped you stay grounded during tough times? Share your story, big or small!
To thank you for being part of this learning-powered community, we're combining our August and September engagement threads into one new giveaway! One participant will be randomly selected to receive $1,000 in unrestricted grant funds for their organization to use however they choose. That's right-any need, any program, any priority.
🤝 A huge thank you to Cuddly for supporting our previous monthly giveaways with amazing prize packs. We're grateful for their partnership in celebrating the important work you all do!
💬 How to Enter to Win $1,000 this August & September
Simply reply to this thread and share your experience with online learning during August and September 2025. That's it! You'll be automatically entered for the drawing to win a $1,000 grant to use however you'd like for your organization. The winner will be announced in October 2025.
Let's celebrate the power of knowledge, the flexibility of learning from anywhere, and the people (like you!) who put it into action every day.
We can't wait to read your reflections!
🎓 Keep Learning with Maddie's® University
This is a great time to reflect on all the ways online education supports growth in our field and how it fits into your own journey. Whether you're looking to build skills, deepen your knowledge, or connect with others doing similar work, Maddie's® University has you covered.
From adoption counseling, animal behavior, shelter medicine to leadership, DEI, and community partnerships, there's something for everyone to dive into in our extensive catalog. And if you're looking for a more structured and interactive experience, check out the Online Instructor-Led Courses (OILCs).
These free, limited-enrollment courses offer:
Real-time interaction with instructors and peers
Online training and weekly live Zoom sessions
Certificates of completion
Practical strategies you can apply right away
Designed with flexibility in mind, OILCs are a great way to stay engaged and inspired-whether you're new to the field or a longtime professional. And because space is limited, each course fosters meaningful community and conversation.
Applications for Fall 2025 OILCs open from August 8th - August 18th with classes beginning the week of September 8, 2025. To be eligible to enroll in an OILC, your organization must be a U.S.-based 501c3 or government animal welfare organization.
All Maddie's University courses are pre-approved for NACA and CAWA CE (continuing education) credits. Explore self-paced options or plan ahead for an instructor-led course that fits your goals. Online learning is helping animal well-being professionals everywhere grow and we want to hear how it's helped you, too!
#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining
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Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Maddie's Fund
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