Neonatal kitten care is evolving rapidly as new research, treatments, and shelter medicine practices challenge long-held approaches to protecting our youngest and most vulnerable kittens. This session will explore important advancements in the prevention and management of infectious disease, including emerging approaches to Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), new strategies for responding to panleukopenia, and the evolving practice of vaccinating kittens on intake regardless of age in high-risk shelter environments. Attendees will learn how these advances can be thoughtfully incorporated into shelter and foster programs to reduce disease, improve lifesaving capacity, and give more kittens the opportunity for a healthy outcome. Presented by: Marnie Russ Founder, Exec Director National Kitten College

Working together should be the common theme for everyone in the animal care & control and welfare world. Animals depend on us; pet owners depend on us. Whether you are an animal control officer, a shelter employee, or a volunteer for a rescue organization, we’ll talk about how we can work together to increase adoptions, decrease intake, and keep pets at home. Are you polite? Are you professional? We’ll agree to disagree with a mixture of creativity and legality. We’ll discuss the importance of understanding the law and ways to improve it. And that endless supply of patience…we’ll search for it in a room of learning opportunities. Presented by: Rob Leinberger Prince George County Animal Services

Human-animal interaction, such as a stay in a caregiver’s home for a few days, has been shown to reduce dogs’ cortisol levels and increase their rest. What is not well understood, though, is if longer durations of foster care could extend those benefits. In addition, co-housing in the animal shelter has been studied even less, but previous research suggest that dogs’ behavior can be improved through living with another dog. In this webinar, Dr. Lisa Gunter will present findings from her recently published study about weeklong fostering and co-housing, place these results in context with the team's previous work investigating various durations of fostering, and discuss the implications of these findings for how shelters utilize foster care and co-housing in the animal shelter. Presented by: Lisa M. Gunter, PhD, CAAB, CBCC-KA Assistant Professor, Animal Behavior & Welfare Virginia Tech | School of Animal Sciences

Fall and year-end fundraising success doesn’t begin in November … it begins now. In this practical webinar, Sandy Rees will walk nonprofit leaders through a simple Late Summer Donor Engagement Plan designed to strengthen donor relationships, increase giving readiness, and position your organization for a stronger year-end campaign. Learn actionable strategies for donor communication, stewardship, engagement, and smart planning you can implement before the busy fall season arrives. Presented by: Sandy Rees Chief Encouragement Officer Get Fully Funded

Learn how to mitigate nuisances in the field by deterring cats from properties, advancing host properties, performing site evaluations, and utilizing the tools in our toolbox to protect property, save cats, and mitigate disturbing wildlife.

Every person working with kittens should know how to properly perform a kitten exam. From ACOs in the field, to shelter intake and care staff, and every foster caregiver along the way, being able to perform a basic exam is essential – and often lifesaving! This webinar covers necessary information about how to do a kitten exam, what to look for, how to know what is normal and what is abnormal, how to document information and what next steps may be needed after physical exam findings. This is information that you can put into practice immediately and that can benefit every kitten you see. Presented by Rosemarie Crawford, Co-Founder and Director of Educational Programs for The National Kitten Coalition

Managing community cats requires more than just one approach. It takes collaboration, understanding, and sustainable solutions for success. This webinar will explore effective community-based strategies to address the needs of outdoor cats and the people who live alongside them.  Presented by: Erica Chandler Strategist, East Region Best Friends Animal Society

Infectious disease threatens the lives of animals in shelters, yet how diseases are transmitted can be complicated and misunderstood. How are common diseases transmitted in shelters? Why do we use the protocols that we do to prevent spread? What protocols should we even be using? Join us for this live session to learn about disease transmission, risk factors for disease, and prevention strategies for shelters. If you’re feeling the effects of the vet shortage, then we have great news: most of these strategies don’t even require a vet to implement! And not only is preventing disease (rather than treating it) better for pets – it’s better for the budget, too. Keeping animals healthy in the shelter is truly lifesaving! Erin Katribe, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice) Director, National Veterinary Programs Best Friends Animal Society

Join us for an essential and timely session designed to help shelters and animal control officers stay prepared, informed, and compliant. Dr. Carolynn Bissett, DVM, MPH, DACVPM—Program Manager with the Office of Veterinary Services at VDACS—will walk us through common findings during shelter inspections and how to avoid those pesky noncompliances. Plus, she’ll cover what the current national outbreak of avian influenza means for shelter workers and animal control officers, and how you can protect both your animals and your team. Earn VDACS Animal Control CEU ~ 1.5 hours Don’t miss this chance to stay ahead of the curve—register now! Presented by: Carolynn Bissett, DVM, MPH, DACVPM Program Manager, Office of Veterinary Services Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services