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Shelter Learniverse

The Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge Shelter Learniverse is an online learning initiative by the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, funded by Maddie’s Fund®. Access a wealth of resources and courses designed to enhance your skills and support your commitment to animal welfare.

This virtual learning center was designed with each participant’s unique experiences and needs in mind. It was created for you and will be driven by you. Based on the belief that knowledge is only half of the solution, the Learniverse exists not just to share the current practices that are making the biggest impact, like the initiatives that powered 1,500 shelters to save over 3.5 million cats, but to put those practices in place at your shelter. Subject matter experts and supportive coaches are here to co-design the roadmaps that will help you achieve your goals (and bring others along with you).
Loaded with the industry’s best resources, tools, and learning modules designed to level up your skillset and supported by coaches specializing in a wide range of topics, the MMPC Shelter Learniverse offers the growth and development experience that you want when you want it. From its comprehensive, cohort-style learning adventures,  to shorter self-paced, on-demand offerings, you can access what you need, when you need it.

Self-Paced, On-Demand Training

We know you’re busy! Self-paced, on-demand training modules are designed to give you exactly what you need when you need it. Self-paced and targeted, these courses let you learn where you are in the time you have available. These courses are hosted on Maddie’s® University along with many other resources. While you’re in the Maddie’s® universe check out Maddie’s® Pet Forum. You’ll find a community of shelter industry friends ready to chat and share about the same topic you’re interested in. Everything you need and not a drop more, these guys hit the “spot.”

Shelter Care Specialist Certification

Introducing our Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program: a game-changing professional development program for shelter team members. Elevate your professional skills and credentials, positioning yourself for a fulfilling career in animal welfare. This program will provide you with a robust foundation in critical areas of best practices in animal care and shelter operations, leading to certification as a Shelter Care Specialist.

Our program offers six comprehensive courses, each lasting six weeks, covering the most critical aspects of animal care and shelter operations.

You’ll start with our core courses – Modern Shelter Foundations and Animal Care Foundations, which will equip you with fundamental knowledge about shelter operations, animal welfare, and basic daily and medical care.

After mastering the basics, you can choose from a range of elective courses tailored to your interests and professional needs. These include Advanced Medical Care, Clinic Skills and Operations, Population Management, and Behavior, Training, and Enrichment.

Our flexible certificate options allow you to customize your learning journey. Become a certified Shelter Care Specialist (SCS) by completing the two required courses and two electives. Step up to an Advanced Shelter Care Specialist (ASCS) with two required courses and four electives. Or aim for the pinnacle of professional development with our Master Shelter Care Specialist (MSCS), which includes all courses plus a Masters Project/Co-Coach role.

Join our Shelter Care Specialist Certificate Program today and embark on a transformative journey of professional development in animal care. Start building your career with us, get certified and maximize your positive impact in this industry and in the lives of animals in need.

LEARN MORE

“Don’t know where to start? Don’t worry! We can help with that, too. Learn more…“

A collaboration of UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, Shelter Medicine Program at UF, Open Door Veterinary Collective, Team Shelter USA, be. Spay-Neuter Consulting, National Kitten College, and M&M Veterinary and Shelter Strategies.

Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge s creating transformative “communities of practice” that deliver access to care through humane, community-centric programming—inside and outside of the shelter—to achieve the right outcome for every pet. Our consultative mentoring services are holistic, deep and practical, and delivered by the proven team who brought you the Million Cat Challenge, in expanded partnership with Open Door Veterinary Collective, be. Spay-Neuter Consulting, National Kitten College, and M&M Veterinary and Shelter Strategies. This program is made available at no cost to participants, #ThanksToMaddie