Massachusetts Animal Coalition

08/12/2024

The Animal Shelter Behavioral Management Certificate Course through the University of the Pacific starts on
September 30, 2024

This on-line course is taught by Certified Animal Behavior Consultant and Shelter Animal Behavior Specialist Kelley Bollen, MS, CABC who also serves as the Director of Humane Network's
Alive & Thriving program.

This 8-week certificate course will give you the knowledge and skills to develop an effective behavior program at your shelter aimed at improving the welfare of the animals in your care.

For more information and to register:

Sign up for certificate course from University of the Pacific.

07/10/2024

~ Understanding Aggressive Behavior in Dogs ~

Virtual Lecture by Kelley Bollen, MS, CABC
Thursday, July 18th, 2024, 9:00am to 11:00am Pacific
$25 CalAnimals members, $35 non-members

With overflowing kennels and longer lengths of stay, most shelters are seeing no shortage of behavioral challenges among dogs. The most concerning, of course, is aggression, and behavior expert Kelley Bollen will lead this session to take a deep dive into why dogs exhibit aggressive behavior, the different types of aggression we see in dogs, and what situations can trigger aggressive behavior. She will discuss what we as shelter professionals can do to modify this serious and sometimes dangerous behavior and provide guidance on safe placement. With safety considerations for staff, volunteers, and the public, as well as the overall implications our choices have on our ability to maintain liability insurance as an industry, having clear guidelines and pathways for dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior is critically important.

Register here:
https://calanimals.site-ym.com/.../understandingaggressiv...

06/30/2024

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-xhffYeGp-nqqIkVl9c5k9n-fLaWHeET/view?ts=6681669a

06/18/2024

Pet owners face dilemma after Nationwide drops 100,000 insurance policies.

Nationwide Insurance said it will not renew about 100,000 pet insurance policies because of a rise in inflation in veterinary care and other factors.

Read in USA TODAY:

Nationwide Insurance said it will not renew about 100,000 pet insurance policies because of a rise in inflation in veterinary care and other factors.

06/17/2024

June 21 at 2pm ET/11am PT

Pedigree Foundation and Shelter Animals Count are coming together to share the latest data on dogs, present programs and practices that are working right now, and discuss the systemic problems that must be solved in order for us to maintain humane care and to realize positive trends in lifesaving.

Transport has been on the decline since 2021. Today, fewer dogs are being transported, which has heavily impacted some of the most overburdened shelters in the nation. In this session, we’ll share how transport has changed over the past six years and talk to organizations who have pivoted and are still successfully transporting both dogs and cats to safety.

Register here:

Dogs & Data Webinar Series Monthly Insights and Solutions for Shelter Dogs Hosted by PEDIGREE Foundation and Shelter Animals Count, Moderated by Kristen Hassen Dog intakes into animal shelters have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels while adoptions and transfers have slowed down, resulting in capacity...

06/06/2024

Every community has them: large dogs with behavior issues who stay in the shelter longer than other dogs. Maybe they don’t get along with other dogs, perhaps they’re escape artists, or maybe they have some challenging quirks. Whatever the case, the longer these dogs remain in a shelter environment, the harder it is to find homes for them and avoid euthanasia for behavioral reasons.

Piloted in August 2019, the Unicorn Foster Squad was created to help save the most at-risk and vulnerable dogs. Learn how this innovative program helped cut the length of stay in half for a shelter’s most challenging behavior cases. Discover how your organization can implement a similar program to help more dogs, engage more foster volunteers, and save more lives.

This webinar is based on a live workshop at The Annual Conference 2023.

This webinar recording is part of the Innovation Bank. The Innovation Bank is a collection of bright ideas, innovative programs, and research that your organization can use for inspiration.

In every community, there are always large dogs with behavioral problems that linger in shelters longer than other dogs. They might have trouble getting along with other dogs, be prone to escaping, or possess some difficult quirks. Regardless of the reason, the longer these dogs stay in a shelter environment, the more challenging it becomes to find them homes and prevent euthanasia due to behavioral issues.

The Unicorn Foster Program at Gateway Pet Guardians was started in 2019 to help save the org's most at-risk and vulnerable dogs. Learn how this innovative program helped cut the length of stay in half for a shelter’s most challenging behavior cases through this webinar with The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement: https://bit.ly/3X3R80n

06/05/2024

Tuesday, June 11th at 11am ET
Live webinar with SAC Executive Director Stephanie Filer and Adopt-A-Pet Director of Animal Welfare April Huntsman

If you missed their session at this year’s Animal Care Expo, now is your chance to catch up!

Dog adoptions have flatlined since the pandemic and shelters continue to be inundated with dogs that are waiting longer than ever to find homes. Has dog adoption lost its appeal or is there something bigger at play?

Register here:

Where have all the dog adopters gone? Live webinar with SAC Executive Director Stephanie Filer and Adopt-A-Pet Director of Animal Welfare April Huntsman June 11th, 11am – 12pm ET If […]

04/30/2024

Current Events in MA Animal Welfare and Beyond ~

Current events in animal welfare in Massachusetts and beyond April 2024 What's Up With MAC? Congratulations to the 2024 MAC I'm Animal Friendly License Plate Grant Recipients! It’s that time of year a

04/29/2024

Bottle Baby Kitten 101 Webinar brought to you by New England Federation of Humane Societies ~

When: Wednesday, May 8th at 11 a.m.

Description: Join Naomi Bourque, Foster Coordinator, MSPCA Nevins Farm, for Bottle Baby Kitten 101. Naomi will cover the basics, from intake to caring for neonate kittens. This is a great session for staff interested in learning more or as a refresher for those looking to get back into neonate care.

About your speaker: Naomi has worked in the animal welfare world for the past 13 years. She has spent the last 5 years working at MSPCA and before that worked at the New Hampshire Humane Society for many years, assisting in the clinic and with adoptions. Naomi started her career at MSPCA as an Animal Welfare Specialist and is now running the foster program for their Nevins Farm location. Since starting in animal welfare, she has always been drawn to the tiny but mighty ones and has fostered hundreds of kittens, naturally leading her down this career path. As a personal passion, Naomi loves to share her experiences and knowledge with those wanting to learn how to care for orphan kittens and also what to do should you find one out in the world!

Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9chkOgQPRuqxPggHvjwTuA #/registration

04/14/2024

~ Investigating the factors leading to dog bites to children ~

This survey is for parents/guardians who had children and dog(s) in the home at the same time.

This survey is produced by the Center for Canine Behavior Studies. Center for Canine Behavior Studies, Inc. is a nonprofit public 501(c)3 organization. CCBS is dedicated to the study and research of human-canine behavior in order to find solutions to behavior problems that help keep dogs in their forever homes. For more about the Center for Canine Behavior Studies and our new Be BiteSmart initiative, visit www.dogstudies.org

https://behaviorstudies.typeform.com/to/RtZH2VmZ

04/10/2024

MAC’S “Lunch and Learn”
Feral or Fearful? How Can We Tell?

April 25, 2024 at 12pm
Member's Early Sign Up Starts April 4 - Limited Space Available!

During this webinar, participants will gain a fundamental understanding of cat socialization and be introduced to the Feline Spectrum Assessment (FSA), an ASPCA-developed tool designed to assess a cat's level of comfort with humans. Additionally, the session will delve into the benefits of utilizing fosters and behavior intervention plans, highlighting the role of positive reinforcement in building positive associations and supporting behavioral change.

Speaker's Bio:

Amanda Kowalski
M.S., CPDT-KA, CAWA
Vice President, Animal Welfare at San Diego Humane Society

As San Diego Humane Society’s vice president of animal welfare, Amanda ensures consistency and excellence in all of our animal welfare services, facilities and staff and guest experiences. Amanda is dedicated to animals and passionate about research, education, and collaboration. Amanda specialized in behavioral care in shelters for more than 15 years before taking on this role, including seven years leading San Diego Humane Society’s Behavior Center, which has helped more than 4,000 shelter animals — who otherwise would have been out of options — since its beginning in 2013. She also played a crucial role in designing the new state-of-the-art Behavior Center facility, which opened in 2019 as the first of its kind in California, and was the first vice president of behavior programs at San Diego Humane Society.

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/v6w7pnp?source_id=37629ab5-768c-4de2-9728-fcf1d62ae303&source_type=em&c=h4lN8IlKU6JtopYaBnn-wOSw4204k24RwXSOT1UDlbOwUMpOuBg51w==

04/08/2024

DOGS & DATA WEBINAR SERIES - MONTHLY INSIGHTS AND SOLUTIONS FOR SHELTER DOGS

Hosted by PEDIGREE Foundation and Shelter Animals Count, Moderated by Kristen Hassen

Dog intakes into animal shelters have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels while adoptions and transfers have slowed down, resulting in capacity crises in animal shelters and an increase of 50,000 dogs euthanized in 2023 vs. 2019. On the positive side, we are learning more than ever from data and research, and we can use both to guide our choices about how to spend our precious organizational time and resources.

Pedigree Foundation and Shelter Animals Count are coming together to share the latest data on dogs, present programs and practices that are working right now, and discuss the systemic problems that must be solved in order for us to maintain humane care and to realize positive trends in lifesaving.

These calls are designed specifically for animal shelter decision-makers and will be most helpful for people who oversee programs or people who will be able to recommend and steward new pilot programs. Animal welfare professionals of all levels are welcome to attend.

April 19: The State of the Shelter Dog Union
Dive into the current state of shelter dogs with us. We’ll explore trends in intakes, outcomes, length of stay, and outcomes. We’ll also look at how the current bottleneck is impacting the various types of animal welfare orgs and we’ll hear from you about how dogs are faring in shelters in your community. Attendees will have an opportunity to talk about their own data and how it compares to the national dataset. Finally, we’ll show you how to quickly assess whether you’re experiencing a change in an intake or outcome trend and how to check in to find out if that state of shelter dogs in your community is on par with other communities.

June 21: The Trouble with Transport and How to Fix It
Transport, the practice of moving dogs from one place to another to give them a better chance to get adopted, has been on the decline since 2021. Today, fewer dogs are being transported, which has heavily impacted some of the most overburdened shelters in the nation. In this session, we’ll share how transport has changed over the past six years and talk to organizations who have pivoted and are still successfully transporting both dogs and cats to safety.

July 19: Improve Shelter Safety Through Better Dog Management
Bites and other safety incidents may increase when shelters are full or over capacity, and dogs experience a longer length of stay and long periods of confinement in kennels. In this session, we’ll visit with shelters that are taking a safety-first approach to dog management and how they’re tracking bites, falls, and other safety issues. Participants will be invited to complete a shelter safety self-assessment to determine if you’re doing everything you can to keep pets and people safe. We’ll also share 10 free, simple changes you can make now to improve shelter dog safety.

August 23: Increase Dog Adoptions During Space Crises
Is your shelter or rescue experiencing a space crisis? In this session, we’ll explore the seasonal data and show you just how many dogs are in shelters right now compared to past summers. We’ll talk to organizations who are effectively balancing intakes and outcomes and learn the strategies that are working well. We’ll also look at the role of emergency fostering, low-barrier volunteer programs, and public pleas. If you’re struggling for space, this session will leave you with a host of new ideas and solutions.

September 20: The Unharnessed Power of Dog Foster Programs
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of all the shelter pets in the United States resided in foster homes. Since then, there has been a marked decline in foster placements, with shelters and rescues citing difficulty recruiting new foster caregivers, not enough staff to manage foster programs, and challenges with getting dogs from foster to permanent homes. But are we writing off foster as a key solution too quickly? In this session, we’ll learn about eight types of dog foster programs and the specific challenges they solve.

October 18: What Will Help Our Dogs the Most? Using Your Data to Make Program Decisions
When you’re inundated with shelter dogs and every kennel is full, it can be difficult to know what move to make next. In these moments, shelter leaders need to look at the data, assess the situation, and make quick decisions about how to address the specific issue at hand. In this session, we’ll review real data sets to think critically together about the differences between data and perception and how using the data will address the underlying problem. Attendees will complete their own decision-making template and practice planning a data-driven intervention.

REGISTER FOR ALL WEBINARS HERE:

https://zoom.us/web.../register/WN_PHNMdI_fSAiV9Kzc3PF2fQ...

03/18/2024

Investigating the factors leading to dog bites to children ~

This survey is for parents/guardians who had children and dog(s) in the home at the same time. Results will be distributed once the analysis is complete. This survey is produced by the Center for Canine Behavior Studies, a nonprofit public 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the study and research of human-canine behavior in order to find solutions to behavior problems that help keep dogs in their forever homes.

For more about the Center for Canine Behavior Studies and the Be BiteSmart initiative

The purpose of this study is to discover triggers for aggression so that we can devise a national dog bite prevention program in accordance with our objective to ensure that dogs remain in homes for life.

03/11/2024

On March 13 at 7pm Eastern Time the Community Cats Podcast and Feline Behaviorist Rachel Geller is holding the Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop. scholarships are offered for the event, the recording, access to several handouts and videos and access to the certification test. This session is great for front line staff and volunteers who want to assist with diverting surrender requests due to behavior issues.
For more information, to share and to register please go to:

Join this session to learn what surrender prevention is and why it works. Instructed by Dr. Rachel Geller, she will share real examples, with proven results, setting the potential surrenderer and cat on the road to a happy relationship together and keeping the cat in her home. We'll cover how to emp...

03/09/2024

CALLING ALL ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS! 🐾🚨

Do you know an animal shelter, rescue or pantry that is interested in receiving FREE select cat and/or dog food for their organization?

Starting tomorrow, March 9th, Ocean State Job Lot will be offering FREE select cat and/or dog food on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis in all Ocean State Job Lot store locations.

03/05/2024

United Spay Alliance is proud to offer Community Cats Grants to support spay/neuter programs for community cats. Formerly managed by Community Cats Podcast, the Community Cats Grants program was designed to help small organizations build their fundraising capacity to help even more cats.

Grants are targeted toward grassroots TNR groups, rescue organizations, and low-cost spay/neuter providers.

There are two grant cycles per year. In 2024, application deadlines will be:

Spring/Summer: Applications for the spring/summer cycle are due by March 31.

Fall/Winter: Applications for the fall/winter cycle are due by August 31.

This is a matching grant opportunity. If selected, grantees must create and implement a brand-new fundraiser. Grantees must raise $2,000 (net) to receive a matching grant of up to $2,000 from United Spay Alliance.

Formerly managed by Community Cats Podcast, the Community Cats Grants program was designed to help small organizations build their fundraising capacity to help even more cats.

02/21/2024

MAC's February e-news available now ~

Current events in animal welfare in Massachusetts and beyond February 2024 What's Up With MAC? Here's What You May Have Missed: MAC's All About Dogs Meeting...Continued & Virtual! With Kelley Bollen K

02/16/2024

Barking up the Right Tree with Dog Behavior Programs ~

Join Camp Maddie on March 20th and April 3rd from 9 am-1 pm PT (12 pm-4 pm ET) for a focus on dog behavior. The FREE, virtual event will consist of two half-days that will include presentations, short videos and Q&A sessions that will focus on determining which dogs are safe to rehome, keeping dogs happy and healthy while in your care, and finding them homes.

Hear from a wonderful lineup of speakers including Dr. Chris Pachel, Dr. Wailani Sung, Mike Shikashio, Bobbie Bhambree, Ferdi Yau, and more!

Who should attend? This event is perfect for those involved in animal shelters and foster-based organizations, dog trainers, behaviorists, foster caregivers, and veterinarians.

Post Event Workshops: At the end of each event, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a series of follow-up workshops, diving deeper into some of the presentation topics with the esteemed speakers.

Continued Education Credits: Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition participants will be eligible for up to 8 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) and National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA)continued education credit hours.

Register once for both days:

Wednesday, March 20, 2024: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Pacific (12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Eastern)
Wednesday, April 3, 2024: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Pacific (12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Eastern)

Camp Maddie is back with its second offering! Join us on March 20th and April 3rd from 9 am-1 pm PT (12 pm-4 pm ET) for a focus on dog behavior. The free, virtual event will consist of two half-days that will include presentations, short videos and Q&A sessions. At Camp Maddie: Behavior Edition, we....

01/31/2024

MAC Board of Directors member Dr. Schettino is presenting at the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement webinar on April 24th about ARL’s Healthy Animals-Healthy Communities initiative ~

https://learning.theaawa.org/p/4-24-24 -product_tab_overview


Over the last decade, animal welfare organizations in the US have shifted their focus towards addressing the root causes of animal problems, realizing the importance of addressing the human aspect of the issue. Program models have moved away from shelter-based services to more preventive, community-based solutions. The Animal Rescue League of Boston recognized this shift and updated its mission and vision to include bringing veterinary and wellness services directly to those who need it most, ensuring that animals are safe and healthy in communities rather than shelters.

This case study explores the journey of the Animal Rescue League of Boston's Wellness Waggin' program, from its conception to implementation, including steps like determining a target area, building community relationships, securing funding, and launching a pilot program. The Wellness Waggin' is now a successful mobile veterinary unit that has completed over 14,000 wellness care appointments since 2018.

01/31/2024

Animal Care Expo 2024 - San Antonio
May 15-18, 2024

Details and registration here:

Animal Care Expo 2024 will take place May 15-18, in San Antonio, Texas, at the Henry B. González Convention Center. Expo will feature educational workshops, learning labs, networking opportunities and social events in addition to a trade show displaying the latest animal care products and services ...

01/20/2024

Do you receive calls from the community seeking help to find a lost pet? Here’s a nifty infographic to pass on to dog owners ~

Do you receive calls from the community seeking help to find a lost pet? Here’s a key resource to pass on to dog owners This nifty infographic, based on research by National Animal Care & Control Association and PetHub, is a fan favorite. The graphic features a timeline of critical steps that dog ...

01/09/2024

FREE Webinar from New England Federation of Humane Societies Rats! A Squeak Peek of Mastering Rat Care Essentials~

Join Jessica Montano of Mainely Rat Rescue to discuss all things rats! Rats are often misunderstood. If not provided with the proper environment, the chances of a successful adoption decrease dramatically. They make amazing pets, if they are given the resources they need, join us at this session to learn how to take proper care of these little guys.

When: February 14, 2024, 11 a.m.
Presenter: Jessica Montano Foster Coordinator, Mainely Rat Rescue.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cgeet_gSTwCKYn02fvltEA #/registration

01/07/2024

Registration for the New England Federation of Humane Societies Annual Training Conference now open!

March 18 -20, 2024
Warwick, RI

The first day of the conference, Monday, March 18th, will feature two tracks for the day. It is designed for attendees to follow one of the two tracks for the entire day.

01/04/2024

MAC is now accepting applications for the
2024 License Plate Grant Cycle!!

To address the spay/neuter need, the License Plate Program Oversight Committee offers grant funding to shelters, rescues, municipal animal control organizations and nonprofit high volume spay/neuter providers, incorporated and registered in the state of Massachusetts.

The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2024.

License Plate Grant Information MAC's Spay/Neuter License Plate Grant Program The 2024 grant cycle has begun! Applications are due by January 15, 2024. Please see below for more details.Final Report information for 2023 Grant Recipients is below.For more information about the License Plate Grant Pro...

12/24/2023

A tally of licensed veterinarians in the US ~

The VIN News Service takes state-by-state snapshot

12/16/2023

MAC is now accepting applications for the 2024 License Plate Grant Cycle!!

To address the spay/neuter need, the License Plate Program Oversight Committee offers grant funding to shelters, rescues, municipal animal control organizations and nonprofit high volume spay/neuter providers, incorporated and registered in the state of Massachusetts.

The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2024.

License Plate Grant Information MAC's Spay/Neuter License Plate Grant Program The 2024 grant cycle has begun! Applications are due by January 15, 2024. Please see below for more details.Final Report information for 2023 Grant Recipients is below.For more information about the License Plate Grant Pro...

12/15/2023

MetroWest Nonprofit Network is so excited to present the graduates of this year's MWNN/FSU Nonprofit Management Certificate program! Many congratulations to this incredible group and deep appreciation for their work and the support of their orgs, our wonderful program mentors, presenters, panelists, funders, and MWNN champions who make this program possible!

We are so pleased to celebrate:

Alana Mahoney, Massachusetts Animal Coalition
Alyndra Baham Canty, SPARK Kindness
Avigail Deking, SEIU Education and Support Fund
Carlos Vivar Wong, WATCH CDC
Catherine Maloy, Cocotree Kids
Cecilia Reyes Alarcon Framingham State University
Doreen Kwakumey, Wings of Healing Inc.
Elizabeth Nolan Greer, SPARK Kindness
Esther Rogers, Jane Doe Inc.
James B. Tresner, Bethany Hill Place
Jennifer E. Ollington, MetroWest Legal Services
Jessalyn Dutra, Pelham Learning
Kelly Drescher Johnson, Veterinary Chaplaincy Services
Laurie Engdahl, Art for All
Lily Pearl, OUT MetroWest
Lizzy O’Connor, South Middlesex Opportunity Council - SMOC
Marissa Carty, Mental Health Collaborative
Michele Adams, Performing Arts Center of MetroWest
Monica Alexandra Nino
Paula Spies, Epiphany School
Rebecca Slisz, Network for Social Justice
Regina Wolf Fritz, Better Day Adult Social Day Program
Samantha Storey, Special Needs Advocacy Network
Sandra Montesino, Daniel's Table
Sarah Kirby, Turning Point Recovery Center
Sophia Bishop-Rice, Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries- CMM
Verona Pointdujour, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network

12/03/2023

Massachusetts Animal Coalition's December e-news is filled with great info! Read it here:

Current events in animal welfare in Massachusetts and beyond December 2023 Looking back at MAC meetings… Have you ever wondered what MAC has been up to for almost 24 years? We have been keeping a runn