Leadership Topics
Managing Animals Out
Managing Animals In
Leadership Topics
Model Ordinances
Learn how to work with local government to establish ordinances that will increase live outcomes in your community.
Board vs. Staff
Learn the different roles that a board and staff should play within your organization, from building your board to writing bylaws and setting financial policies.
Budgets
Discover the best use of resources for your department and staffing to aid your mission.
Fundraising
Learn ways to increase monetary donations, in-kind gifts, grants, and bequests.
Community Engagement
Uncover new ways to celebrate your community’s unique traits with creative messaging and calls to action.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Evaluate your capacity to save more lives with increased partnerships and collaborations.
Preparing for Disasters
Learn the do’s and don’ts of hurricane response and understand how an improved procedure can make you a lifesaver before, during, and after storms.
Best Practices and Standards
Update your protocols and procedures with guidance on animal welfare’s best practices in behavior, cleaning, medical, and more.
Managing Animals Out
Open Adoptions
Learn how removing barriers and embracing the community will increase your adoptions and save lives. Learn how to make changes to your existing program, train staff, offer more to the public, and find homes for harder-to-place animals.
Adoption Events
Understand the necessary elements for successful adoption events at your shelter or an off-site location. Learn the ins and outs of everything from one-day to mega adoption events.
Marketing
Take your messaging to the next level by setting strategic goals engaging the public using transparency, data, and creative content. Learn how each social media channel increases your lifesaving and why having a digital strategy is necessary for all organizations.
Behavior and Enrichment
Discover new ways to provide in-and-out of kennel enrichment that are cost-effective and life changing. Evaluate your current behavior protocols and learn new methods for lifesaving.
Volunteers
Learn the many ways that increasing opportunities for volunteers can benefit your organization. Discover new ways to recruit qualified individuals, work with groups, and increase your retention rate.
Foster
Explore how changes to your foster program can increase live outcomes for the most at-risk animals in your shelter. Learn new ways to recruit, train, support, and retain foster parents, particularly when approaching kitten season.
Managing Animals Out lessons also include a self-assessment to help participants evaluate their programs and shape their shadowing experience.
All lessons include a list of online resources for each topic, comprised of academic studies, how-to guides, blogs and additional reading from the leading organizations in animal welfare.
All lessons include discussions on creating buy-in with your stakeholders, staff, volunteers, and community by using an easy-to-follow method of rhetorical devices.
Managing Animals In
Community Cats
Explore the options of “Trap-Neuter-Return” (TNR) and “Return-to-Field” (RTF). Learn how and why these humane solutions significantly boost lifesaving in your community and keeps cats out of your shelter.
Spay and Neuter
Find new ways to increase the rate of altered pets in your shelter and community by providing accessible options and using a targeted approach.
Managed Admissions
Discover new methods for lowering your animal intake, improving staff morale, and serving your community with a managed admissions process.
Pet Retention
Learn how to keep pets healthy and in their homes with a pet retention program by examining alternatives to surrender both in the field and at the shelter.
Transfers
Understand the different options for transfers via a public-private relationships, working with rescues, shelter swaps, and sending animals out of state.
Our Graduates Speak for Us
“The willingness of staff to share their experience and materials with others was truly amazing. They care about lifesaving not only in the community, but throughout the country and we’re grateful for having experienced it. They truly have an amazing team and bouncing ideas off them in an informal setting was the most rewarding part. The scheduling was flexible and we felt all of the information given and time spent was worth it.”
Spencer Conover
Pasco County Animal Services
“I was initially afraid of shadowing but felt extremely welcomed by the staff and volunteers. I also appreciated their transparency. As I shared information about our shelter and its programs, many staff were able to relate from previous work history or give suggestions on how my shelter could try different strategies or programs. I absolutely loved the packets of information provided and will refer to them as we implement new protocols and procedures. There are so many ideas and concepts I was able to take away from this experience and I’m elated to discuss them with my board of directors and executive committee.”
Danielle Barcomb
Humane Society of Camden County
"Over the past year, we held numerous successful adoption events and, by offering private appointments throughout the temporary shutdowns due to COVID-19, we adopted out 1,651 pets! We have been able to offer enrichment to both dogs and cats; our staff enjoys taking the dogs out for playgroups almost every day. With our foster program, we implemented some helpful ideas shared and the program is thriving even more than before, Much of the research shared pertaining to managed admissions helped as we moved in that direction."
James Sweet
Marion County Animal Services
“All of the staff were wonderful! From the CEO to animal care staff, each person met us with enthusiasm and we really appreciated the time everyone took to talk to us about their departments. I appreciated the itinerary and information we received prior to arriving. We knew exactly what to expect at different times.”
Sarah MacLennan
Humane Society of North Central Florida