Free Online Program for Shelter Staff Members and Volunteers Launches
What if coming into the shelter could be a positive experience for animals? Today Fear Free, LLC, has launched a free online education program that will help animal shelter employees and volunteers create a Fear Free experience for pets from intake to adoption and beyond.
Since 2016, Fear Free has provided online and in-person education to more than 50,000 veterinary and pet professionals. Its mission is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them. Now they’ve launched the Fear Free Shelter Program, available at no cost to all who work and volunteer with shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations.
Developed by leading experts in shelter medicine and animal behavior, this free online program provides education in positive and progressive practices for all staff and volunteers. It will also provide resources adopters and foster homes can use to promote the emotional wellbeing of the pets in their care and ease the transition to a new environment.
The course’s lead author is Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DABVP. Dr. Griffin co-instructs courses in shelter medicine and behavior at both the University of Florida and the University of Georgia and serves as the Regent for the new specialty in Shelter Medicine. She is a member of the Fear Free Executive Council.
Dr. Griffin was joined by three board-certified veterinary behaviorists with extensive backgrounds in shelters and shelter medicine. They are Sheila (D’Arpino) Segurson, DVM, DACVB, the Director of Research for Maddie’s Fund; Sara Bennett, DVM, MS, DACVB, co-instructor for the Shelter Animal Behavior and Welfare online learning course at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine; and Wailani Sung, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB, of the San Francisco SPCA Behavior Specialty Service.
“We created the Fear Free Shelter Program to improve the experiences of animals by educating shelter personnel about the emotional needs of dogs and cats,” said Dr. Marty Becker, founder and CEO of Fear Free. “This program will empower them to apply key concepts, strategies, and techniques designed to reduce the negative emotional states that are commonly experienced by shelter animals, including fear, anxiety, stress, and frustration.”
After a brief introduction to Fear Free, the shelter program consists of four basic modules: Emotional Health, Recognizing How Animals Are Feeling in the Shelter, How Animals Learn, and Fear Free Communication and Animal Handling Basics.
Additional modules are tailored to the needs of different positions and will launch in regular intervals.
Fear Free also provides educational materials for pet owners and foster caregivers at FearFreeHappyHomes.com. These courses and other resources are available at no cost and are designed to help all pets live happy, healthy, full lives.
You can learn more about Fear Free and sign up for the Fear Free Shelter Program at www.fearfreeshelters.com.
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ABOUT FEAR FREE
Developed by “America’s Veterinarian,” Dr. Marty Becker, Fear Free offers online and in-person education to veterinary professionals, animal shelter staff and volunteers, the pet professional community, and pet owners. Fear Free provides both professionals and pet lovers alike with the knowledge and tools to look after a pet’s physical and emotional wellbeing.
Veterinary or pet professionals can learn more about becoming Fear Free Certified® by visiting fearfreepets.com. Pet owners
can visit fearfreehappyhomes.com to access cutting-edge
videos, articles, and more that will help improve the physical and emotional health of their pets right at home. Animal
shelter team members and volunteers can visit fearfreeshelters.com to enroll in the complimentary program.
Fear Free also provides educational materials for pet owners and foster caregivers at FearFreeHappyHomes.com. Videos and other resources are available at no cost and are designed to help all pets live happy, healthy, full lives.
www.fearfreeshelters.com
