Shelter Essentials

This course will help your frontline staff understand and implement the basics of caring for animals in your shelter. Topics include cleaning, disinfecting, husbandry, behavior; medical basics; as well as public interactions, intake and adoptions.

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Course Contents

(4 hours)

1. Welcome slideshow!
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2. Pre-Course Survey
1. Pre-Survey for Spread of Disease Control Training Module
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2. Video: What is a Pathogen?
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3. Pathogens Infographic
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4. Pathogens Mini-Quiz
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5. Want to know more?
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6. Video: Cleaning vs. Disinfecting
7. Zoonotic Disease - Protect Yourself from Illness
8. Cleaning vs Disinfecting Mini-Quiz
9. Video: Control Disease Spread on Clothes
10. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey for Cleaning and Disinfecting in a Shelter Training Module
2. Video: Using Bleach as a Disinfectant
3. Using Bleach as a Disinfectant Infographic
4. Mini-Quiz
5. Video: How to Clean and Disinfect Equipment
6. How to Clean and Disinfect Mini-Quiz
7. Video: Doing Laundry in a Shelter
8. Laundry Interactive
9. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey for Gentle Handling of Dogs Training Module
2. Video: Fearful Dog Body Language
3. Fearful Dog Body Language Mini-quiz
4. Video: Gentle Handling Techniques for Small Dogs
5. Handling Small Dogs Mini-Quiz
6. Video: Gentle Handling Techniques for Big Dogs
7. Tools for moving dogs
1. Pre-Survey for Dog Husbandry, Level 1
2. Video: When and How to Spot Clean Dog Kennels
3. Spot Cleaning Mini-Quiz
4. Video: Remove Dogs from Kennels when Spraying
5. Removing Dogs from Kennels Mini-Quiz
6. Video: When and How to Deep Clean Dog Kennels
7. Cleaning Decisions
8. Video: Food, Water, and Exercise for Dogs
9. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey for Husbandry Needs of Puppies, Level 1
2. Video: Preventing Disease in Puppies
3. Maternal Antibodies Infographic
4. Preventing Puppy Disease Mini-Quiz
5. Video: Cleaning Puppy Runs
6. Cage Sign for Puppies
7. Video: Hypoglycemia and Hypothermia
8. Body Volume to Surface Area Ratio
9. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey Moving Dogs Around the Shelter
2. NACA Field Services Foundations Video
3. Video: Catch Pole vs. Slip Lead
4. Addition ACO Courses
5. Use of tools mini-quiz
6. How to get dogs to stop jumping up
7. Video: Walking Dogs and Jumping Up
8. Jumping Up Mini-Quiz
9. Video: Moving Dogs that Won't Walk
10. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey for Normal, Healthy Dog
2. Video: Eyes, Ears, Nose and Coat of a Dog
3. Ears/Eyes/Nose and Coat Mini-Quiz
4. Video: Checking Hydration, Body Condition Scoring, Lethargy
5. Body Condition Dogs
6. Hydration and Body Condition Mini-Quiz
7. Video: Diarrhea, Inappetence, Vomiting, Heat Safety
8. Keep Dogs Safe in the Heat!
9. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey for Safely Recognizing Cat Behavior
2. Video: Feral Cat Behavior
3. Feral Cat Mini Quiz
4. Video: Stray Cats and Cat Body Language
5. Cat Body Language Mini-Quiz
6. Video: Handling Cats, Avoiding Cat Escapes
7. Cat Body Language Infographic
8. Knock before entering cat door hanger
9. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey for Cat Husbandry, Level 1
2. UC Davis Vet School Hide Box Info - Tips for using hide boxes in a shelter!
3. Video: Handling Cats for Cleaning
4. DIY Cat Enhancements
5. Cleaning Cat Cages Mini-Quiz
6. Video: Feeding Cats and Managing Hunger Strikes
7. Cat Hunger Strike Cage Hanger
8. Feeding Cats Mini-quiz
9. Video: Deep Cleaning Cat Cages
10. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey for Normal, Healthy Cat Level 1
2. Ears, Nose and Normal Respiration of a Cat Video
3. Ear, Nose, and Normal Respiration Mini quiz
4. Video: Coat, Body Condition Score, and Hepatic Lipidosis
5. Skinny and Overweight Cats
6. Body Condition, hairloss, and fatty liver Mini-Quiz
7. Video: Stool, Vomit, Checking Hydration, and Urine Output
8. Information on Cat Urinary Issues
9. Fecal Scoring
10. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey Purpose of an Animal Shelter
2. Video: What it Means to be a "Shelter"
3. Rabies and shelter history Mini-Quiz
4. Video: Diverting Intake
5. Self Rehoming Mini-Quiz
6. Video: Moving Animals Through the Shelter Quickly
7. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey Greeting the Public
2. Video: Reframing How we Interact with Our Community
3. Helping the public.pdf
4. Cat Scenario Mini-Quiz
5. Video: Being Helpful and Empathetic
6. Cat scenario Mini-Quiz part 2
7. Video: Taking Care of Your Community, Your Co-Workers, and Yourself
8. Workplace Culture
9. Help for the Helpers Webinar
10. Final Module Quiz
1. Pre-Survey Adoption Myth Busters
2. Video: Look for the Best Pet for the Person, Not Reasons they Shouldn't Adopt
3. What is a good home?
4. Good Home Mini-Quiz
5. Meet your match
6. Video: Conversations Over Questionnaires
7. Matching animals Mini Quiz
8. Barriers to Adoption Research
9. Video: Meeting the Pets and Removing Barriers to Adoption
10. Final Quiz
1. Pre-Survey for Guiding a Dog Intake, Level 1
2. Video: How to Find Owners in the Field (FRTO)
3. Play find the Microchip!
4. FRTO Mini-Quiz
5. Video: Diverting Stray Dog Intake
6. Dog Intake Decision Tree for Staff
7. Found Dog Printable Flyer
8. Video: Diverting Dog Owner Surrender
9. Self Rehoming Flyer
10. Dog Intake Maze
1. Pre-Survey for Guiding a Cat Intake, Level 1
2. Video: Diverting Adult Cat Intake, Community Cats Explained
3. Community Cat Research Infographic
4. Community Cat Mini-quiz
5. Video: Diverting Kitten Intake
6. Kitten Intake Mini-Quiz
7. Video: Diverting Cat Owner Surrenders by Providing Resources
8. Cat Intake Decision Tree for Staff
9. Final Quiz
1. Infographics, Posters and Flyers, Oh my!
2. Post-Course Survey
3. Final Course Exam

Available Now!

$35.00
1.5 hours of video content
Infographics, Slideshows, Surveys and Quizzes for each module
Printable Posters and Client Handouts in English and Spanish

Course Learning Objectives

Want a detailed list of all learning objectives for this course?

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More Training Courses coming soon!

APA's Training and Education Center is hard at work creating additional courses for frontline shelter staff. Add your email to the mailing list to get the latest updates.

Shelter Essentials

Course Contents

Introduction to Shelter Essentials

1. Spread of Disease Control, Level 1

2. Cleaning and Disinfecting in a Shelter

3. Gentle Handling of Dogs, Level 1

4. Dog Husbandry, Level 1

5. Special Husbandry Needs of Puppies, Level 1

6. Moving Dogs Around the Shelter

7. Normal, Healthy Dog, Level 1

8. Safely Recognizing Cat Behavior, Level 1

9. Cat Husbandry, Level 1

10. Normal Healthy Cat, Level 1

11. Purpose of an Animal Shelter

12. Greeting the Public

13. Adoption Myth Busters

14. Guiding a Dog Intake, Level 1

15. Guiding a Cat Intake, Level 1

Final Test, Print Materials

Available Now!

Course Learning Objectives

More Training Courses coming soon!