2009 Workshop Descriptions

Learn more about the workshops now being offered at Best Friends.

Introduction to Understanding Dogs

Learn how to improve relationships and explore the bond we share with dogs. Includes: understanding, communication, emotions and basic learning theory. This workshop provides the foundation for participation in more advanced dog behavior and handling workshops. Each day will include activities, demonstrations and time with dogs.

Also:

Dog body language
Human body language
Tools, techniques, rewards
Interactions
Enrichment for every dog
Assessments – a snapshot in time, how can we help each dog, setting each dog up for success with appropriate placements and lifelong relationships

How to Start an Animal Sanctuary

If your dream is to provide a safe haven for animals in your community, you'll want to check out this intensive, week long workshop covering the basics of starting your own sanctuary. You may already have cats, dogs, or other critters in your home. Now you want to do more, but where do you start? The workshop is designed so that you can see the physical, administrative and emotional sides of operating a sanctuary. You may be alternatively tired, amazed, overwhelmed, and emotionally touched by the animals here. Our hope is that this will reinforce your determination to carry out your own vision to help the animals.

Topics Covered: Designed to give you a basic understanding of the following aspects of starting and running a sanctuary.

• Setting up a Non-profit
• Risk Management
• Fundraising
• Human Resources
• Member Services
• Relating to the Media
• Adoptions
• Education Programs
• Accepting animals from the public
• Veterinary Care
• Long Term Care for Dogs & Cats
• Feral Cats
• Dog Training & Assessment
• Relating to Cats
• Relating to Horses
• Working with Puppies & Kittens
• Wildlife Rescue
• Alternatives to Starting a Sanctuary

The Giving Heart Retreat

Animal lovers face many unique challenges of the heart. Coping with pet loss, having sensitivity to the suffering of animals, and the strong desire to help ALL of the animals puts many of us on a rollercoaster of emotions often leading to burnout.

In the beautiful natural setting of Angel Canyon, you will experience a one-of-a-kind retreat designed to rejuvenate your giving spirit by nurturing the whole person: body, mind and soul. Dr. Linda Harper, a clinical psychologist specializing in pet loss grief and other distinctive needs of animal lovers, and Faith Maloney, one of the founders of Best Friends and a frequent speaker at No More Homeless Pets conferences on the topic of burnout and working with difficult people will facilitate the sessions.

You'll learn to identify the symptoms of stress in both yourself and the animals in your life, and develop strategies for battling burnout and coping with grief and loss. The retreat is designed to help you find the peace of mind, purpose and fulfillment that the animal lover's exceptional journey offers. It will include group discussions and experiential activities covering the following topics:

• The nature of burnout and its consequences
• Coping skills for burnout
• Letting go
• Grief
• Animals and stress
• Nurturing and communicating with the animals

Art For The Animals: A Creative Retreat

Are you an artist? Or maybe you have artistic talent or training, even though your “job” is not in the field of art. Have you thought
you’d like to use your talents to benefit the animals but weren’t sure how to do it? Then this workshop is for you. In the Humane
Movement art is generally thought of as something to sell at a fundraising auction. But art can be a powerful tool for telling the story and
spreading the message of kindness and caring! This retreat will give you a chance to explore new methods of thinking and working, new ways
of telling our “story” and potentially a way to reach an entirely new audience with our message! And it all takes place in the beautiful setting of
Angel Canyon with the animals of Best Friends.

Some of the projects we’ll be working on during the week:
• Daily life drawing of the animals at Best Friends
• Nature hikes for sketching and other outdoor art activities.
These are not strenuous hikes, but you should be prepared
to walk a couple of miles through desert terrain. Please let
us know in advance if you’d like an alternative activity to
these hikes.
• Studio work, including ceramics, painting, printmaking and
digital photography.
• During the week all participants will be having lunch together
every day, as well as dinner on Sunday, Wednesday and
Friday nights. These will be great times for artistic dialogue
and networking.

For more information on how to register for a workshop, click the red "Resources" tab above.