Neonatal kittens are the most vulnerable—and most euthanized—animals in shelters nationwide. This course empowers shelters and rescues of all sizes to build sustainable, high-impact neonatal programs grounded in the principles of Shelter Medicine/ High-Quality, High-Volume (HQHV) kitten care. Modeled after the success of National Kitten College, this four-session series offers a step-by-step guide to launching or strengthening your own Kitten College initiative. Participants will learn how to design foster-based systems, implement evidence-based protocols, train and support staff and fosters, and establish the partnerships and data infrastructure needed for long-term success.

This course is designed to teach shelter and rescue professionals to identify common behavior problems in shelter dogs and help you place those animals in foster homes. Taking on a dog that presents with concerning behaviors can be a daunting task for a foster caregiver, especially those that are new to fostering. Training shelter staff and volunteers to assist and support foster dogs during their stay not only empowers foster caregivers to take on more cases, but also increases positive outcomes for dogs that present with behavior concerns.