Colorado Animal Welfare Conference Session

Passion Pitch Showcase

Leadership

Skills and Proficiency Matrix for Workforce Management

A skills and proficiency matrix is valuable for a nonprofit animal welfare organization as it provides a clear, organized way to assess and track staff capabilities. By mapping out the department’s specific skill areas and the proficiency levels of each team member, the organization can identify strengths, gaps, and areas for growth. It also aids in professional development planning, helping the organization prioritize training programs, and ultimately enhancing operational efficiency and the quality of care provided to animals. This matrix maximizes impact by aligning the workforce with the organization’s scope of work and mission.

Level Up Your Foster Program: Gamifying Compassion

We’ve reimagined our foster program with a playful, incentive-based approach, in addition to the joy of having a fluffy companion. To better connect with our community, we’re focusing on three key groups: families with kids, college students, and seniors. Fosters can earn in-house designed patches for different foster categories, fill punch cards to unlock prizes from our treasure box, and enjoy discounts from local business partners. These creative strategies offer both low-cost ideas and meaningful ways to invest in your foster program, boosting participation, retention, and excitement for any organization looking to level up.

Pawsitive Start: Socialization for Shelter Puppies in Foster Care or at the Shelter

Shelters must shift their approach and prioritize socializing puppies in their care. Across the country, many puppies miss critical socialization opportunities while confined in kennels, increasing the risk of behavior problems later in life. I will share practical, age-appropriate methods and protocols that shelter staff and foster homes can easily implement to provide positive social experiences. These strategies range from simple activities, like offering a rolled-up towel for puppies to explore or playing classical music, to structured interactions that support healthy development.

A Paw Up: Implementing a Buddy Program to Enhance Retention

Are you struggling with employee retention in the first 90 days? Looking for an innovative way to support your staff? This passion pitch is for you!

HSPPR’s unique “Buddy Program” is designed to help new shelter employees navigate and adjust to the organization. It pairs experienced staff with new hires to identify training needs, improve retention, and foster a welcoming and connected culture.

Join us for an introduction to how HSPPR developed and implemented its Buddy Program and its positive impact on our staff!

Love Isn’t Linear: Socially Conscious Sheltering

Socially conscious sheltering is an evolving approach in animal welfare that prioritizes both the well-being of animals and the needs of the community. It promotes responsible intake, humane care, and data-driven practices to reduce euthanasia and increase live outcomes. This model emphasizes collaboration with rescue groups, public education, and providing support to pet owners to prevent unnecessary relinquishment. Socially conscious shelters aim to be transparent, ethical, and compassionate in decision-making, ensuring each animal receives individualized care. By focusing on proactive solutions and community engagement, socially conscious sheltering creates a more humane and sustainable system for both animals and the people who care for them.

Cooperative Care in the Equine Industry
Cooperative care is not regularly used in the equine industry, yet. As a capstone project for my master’s program (PSM of Zoo, Aquarium, and Animal Shelter Management), I am creating a cooperative care manual/protocol for horses and then testing its efficacy in the fall. In this presentation, I am planning on going over what cooperative care is, why it is important to incorporate in the equine industry and going through some of the steps of my protocol as an example. I will also discuss the various applications using cooperative care training can have in the equine industry.