Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Get answers to behavior questions that you’ve been pondering, but don’t know where to go for answers. Chances are, you aren’t the only one who may be wondering. This panel discussion features four animal behavior shelter professionals with different experience, approaches, and takes on shelter behavior. This panel will explore a wide range of topics that are crucial to understanding and managing behavior in shelter environments, such as assessing pet behaviors, training for staff and volunteers, implementing successful programs, maximizing resources, and navigating the sensitive topic of behavioral euthanasia.
Panelists
• Shonyae Johnson, Director of Virtual Behavior Programs, Humane Rescue Alliance
• Maria DeLeon, Dog Behavior Consultant, Smart Hund
• Kayla Wade, Assistant Shelters Operations Manager, Humane Society of Charlotte
• Rafael Fontan, Owner/ Trainer, Former Instructor with Dogs Playing for Life
Chapters
00:00 Welcome
00:54 Question of the Day
03:04 National Updates
03:54 Presentation
To access the full agenda and resources from this call or to ask questions of our speakers, visit
https://maddies.fund/communityconversations81224
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund:
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations.
Get answers to behavior questions that you’ve been pondering, but don’t know where to go for answers. Chances are, you aren’t the only one who may be wondering. This panel discussion features four animal behavior shelter professionals with different experience, approaches, and takes on shelter behavior. This panel will explore a wide range of topics that are crucial to understanding and managing behavior in shelter environments, such as assessing pet behaviors, training for staff and volunteers, implementing successful programs, maximizing resources, and navigating the sensitive topic of behavioral euthanasia.
Panelists
• Shonyae Johnson, Director of Virtual Behavior Programs, Humane Rescue Alliance
• Maria DeLeon, Dog Behavior Consultant, Smart Hund
• Kayla Wade, Assistant Shelters Operations Manager, Humane Society of Charlotte
• Rafael Fontan, Owner/ Trainer, Former Instructor with Dogs Playing for Life
Chapters
00:00 Welcome
00:54 Question of the Day
03:04 National Updates
03:54 Presentation
To access the full agenda and resources from this call or to ask questions of our speakers, visit
https://maddies.fund/communityconversations81224
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund:
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations.
