Society's relationship to pets continues to evolve. The majority of people consider their pets to be beloved family members and expect their local animal shelter to work diligently to save the lives of the dogs and cats that enter the facility. This program will provide the knowledge you need to assume a management or leadership role at an open-admission animal shelter. You'll learn how to maximize a shelter's lifesaving potential through program management, community engagement, and shelter operations while at the same time preparing yourself for an exciting career.

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Who will benefit from this program?

  • Professionals seeking a career change to something more personally fulfilling
  • New shelter directors
  • Shelter directors or managers wishing to dramatically improve their live-release rate
  • People working in the animal welfare field who wish to advance into management roles
  • Board members of animal shelters
  • Activists who wish to see a change in their local community shelter
  • Those wanting to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Course Outlines

1. Leadership Training

  • Strategic planning for impact
  • Analyzing operations and decision making
  • Managing people & processes to achieve results
  • Organizational responsibilities, structures and boards of directors

Date: September 23 to November 3, 2024
Course Code: UNSM 005-011 (6 CEUs)

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2. Shelter Operations

  • Adoptions
  • Animal care fundamentals
  • Enrichment
  • Animal behavior
  • Customer service

Date: November 11 to December 22, 2024
Course Code: UNSM 010-011 (6 CEUs)

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3. Community Program Development

  • Community relations
  • Volunteers
  • Foster care
  • Spay/neuter
  • Help desk
  • Events

Date: January 6 to February 16, 2025
Course Code: UNSM 015-012 (6 CEUs)

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4. Animal Health and Clinic Operations

  • Understanding shelter medicine
  • Basic animals health considerations and care
  • Euthanasia decisions
  • Clinic operations

Date: February 24 to April 6, 2025
Course Code: UNSM 020-012 (6 CEUs)

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5. Marketing and Development

  • Development fundamentals
  • Fundraising strategies
  • Marketing fundamentals
  • Adoption promotion
  • Social media and websites
  • Media relations

Date: April 14 to May 25, 2025
Course Code: UNSM 025-012 (6 CEUs)

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Individual courses (6 CEUs): $399 
Certificate/all courses (30 CEUs): $1,495, special bundle pricing if you register for ALL courses up front ($500 discount!)

Note: This certificate program is not eligible for financial aid.