Shelter Behavior Integrations, LLC

06/12/2026

I was visiting a shelter recently and stopped in front of this wall 🐾

Dozens of brightly colored circles. Names, years of service, awards going all the way back to 1988. Some folks had been showing up for 20+ years. Others were being recognized as Junior Volunteers just getting started.

And I stood there for a minute, just taking it in.

In so many shelters, volunteers ARE the operation. They walk the dogs. They clean the kennels. They sit on the floor with the scared ones. They show up on the days when the staff is stretched too thin. They love these animals the way you'd hope every animal got to be loved.

And it's hard work. Emotionally, physically, all of it. The wins are real, but so is the heaviness.

That's why a wall like this matters. Not because a name on a plaque fixes burnout. But because it says: we see you. We've been seeing you. And we're not going to forget what you've given.

If your shelter does something like this, a wall, a yearly award, even a handwritten card at the end of a hard shift, keep doing it. And if you're a volunteer reading this? Whether you've been at it for 20 years or 20 days, thank you 💜

06/11/2026

Trish McMillan, of Shelter Behavior Hub, and I will be collaborating next week on our mission to save all the "meatballs" of the shelter world. I hope you will join us on Michael Shikashio's Aggressive Dog webinar series!

Also it's my birthday, so you should join us for the fun!

LINK TO REGISTER IN COMMENTS!

06/08/2026

We are back in for the entire summer! Moving around this spring was a bummer, but I am ready for biking to work, roller skating, and downtown adventures. BUT, Moose can be a bit spicy around other dogs; do we think he can hang?

Stay tuned this summer to find out!

06/08/2026

Absolutely fascinating article about the state of livestock, kept wildlife, and domestic pet inclusion in world-wide disaster response.

With better national and international data tracking, we can see how closely tired people are to their animals. We know now, on paper what those of us either in disaster response, or working closely along side of it, have already known for a long time- that people will risk it all to save their animals, whether they are a beloved pet or an important livelihood asset.

There is so much chaos going on in this world at any given moment, but I try to focus on the small positive changes as much as possible. This is one of those, for me.

A practitioner’s view of three tracks on animals in disasters. What the international evidence means for the case animal services and veterinary professionals are already making at home.

06/06/2026

Busy weekend over here. Our house is under some major construction, so we've moved temporarily and it's so amazing to pull the Furbo out of the closet and have it start right up and work. We've had this thing since 2017 and it's still tossing treats with precision!

And if you are wondering, have I used this in shelters for monitoring and b-mod plans. Yes. Have I used this to monitoring foster dogs? Absolutely. Furbo for the win!!!

Do you have a Furbo? Do you have something newer? LMK! ⬇️

06/05/2026

Running a shelter can feel isolating.

You're making tough decisions, managing limited resources, supporting staff, and carrying a responsibility that most people simply don't understand.

That's why I created the SBI Facebook Group:
🐾 Connect with shelter leaders around the world
🐾 Access free webinars and resources
🐾 Ask questions without judgment
🐾 Find support from people who truly "get it"

Because the best shelter solutions rarely come from working alone.

Swipe through to see why shelter leaders and staff keep coming back. 👉

We'd love to see you in there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/shelterbehaviorintegrations

06/04/2026

I just received THE email I have been anxiously awaiting for more than a month... 🥁🥁🥁

I have "graduated" from my CPDT-KA up to the CBCC-KA, and am officially certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers as a Canine Consultant!!! I am thrilled to be one of the less than 600 consultants who currently hold this certification! 🤓

No, certifications are not everything, and neither are degrees and PHD's, for that matter. I've been in the field, I've seen it, trust me! However, they do attest to a baseline of knowledge and skills a professional trainer or consultant should both have and actively want to continue building as they progress in their career. Additionally, certifications, from reputable credentialing bodies, allow clients to identify and seek out experts who are sworn to adhering to specific standards of practices, husbandry, and holistic welfare.

I can't appreciate everyone enough who has helped me get here - friends, family mentors, clients, and now shelters, too. Only onwards and upwards from here!

06/02/2026

I feel so lucky I get to travel and meet so many cool people involved in animal welfare. Yesterday I presented on creating volunteer behavior teams and today on dog intros. I forgot to bring my stuffed dog for leash demos so is doing a great job improvising. 😆