Laurie Lawless 🐾 Shelter Operations Consultant

🔗 shelterbehaviorintegrations.com/blog
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#shelterbudgets #animalshelters #animalshelter #rescuedogs #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #dogplaygroup #dogbehaviormodification #dogbehaviorexpert #dogbehavior #vtwomenpreneurs #behaviorconsultant #sheltersupport #vermontdogs

This guide is built to help you plan for the future without burning out your staff. Ready to dig deeper?

In SBI's latest blog, I'm breaking down shelter budgeting into 3 clear, actionable steps:
1️⃣ Create a Business Plan
2️⃣ Build Your Shelter’s Budget
3️⃣ Reflect, Adjust, Repeat

Budgeting doesn’t have to feel impossibleL it’s just another system to support your mission and your people.

Feeling overwhelmed by budgeting for your animal shelter? You’re not alone.

👉 Read it now: shelterbehaviorintegrations.com/blog
🐶 Got a playgroup win? We’d love to hear it in the comments below!
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#shelterplaygroups #animalplaygroups #animalshelters #animalshelter

These tips are simple but seriously powerful. If you’re in the shelter world, you know how fast things move and this blog is a quick read with ideas you can actually use.

🦴 Set clear roles like Lead, Assistant, and Runner to keep things organized
🦴 Learn to spot social styles before tension builds
🦴 Understand signs of rising arousal so you can step in before things escalate

I just dropped a new blog post with 3 quick tips that I’ve seen make a real difference in playgroup flow, safety, and getting dogs adopted faster.

Playgroups can be game-changers for shelter dogs...but only if they’re done right. 💡

📖 Read it here: laurielawless.com/blog
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#midyearcheckin #shelterstaff #animalshelters #animalshelter #rescuedogs #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #dogplaygroup #dogbehaviormodification #dogbehaviorexpert #dogbehavior #vtwomenpreneurs #behaviorconsultant #sheltersupport #vermontdogs

If you’re running behavior or enrichment programs in a shelter, this one’s for you.

These check-ins aren’t about pointing fingers or overhauling everything. They’re about getting curious. What’s working? What’s not? And how can we support our teams (and the animals) better in the months ahead?

A a new blog post just landed on the SBI site all about the importance of pausing halfway through the year to reflect, reconnect, and use the data you already have to guide your next steps.

“A mid-year check-in is not a critique - it’s a chance to ask, how’s it going?”

Thank you to NEFHS for creating space for these important conversations and for bringing so many thoughtful, passionate professionals together in one place 🐾
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#NEFHS2025 #AnimalWelfare #ShelterBehavior #PurposefulEnrichment #LEGSModel #BetterOutcomes

We’re diving into how Learning, Environment, Genetics, and Self all influence behavior and how we can use this framework in the shelter setting to better support dogs and make smarter match-making decisions.

Today, I’m joining the incredible Devon Krusko for: “Does A Husky Howl? Considering Our Dogs from An Ethology Point of View with L.E.G.S.”

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak on, “Purposeful Enrichment: Go Beyond the Kong.” We explored how enrichment can (& should) go far beyond food puzzles and busy boxes, & looked at simple, intentional strategies to truly support welfare & keep our shelters calmer for both animals & staff.

Feeling so grateful to be part of this year’s New England Federation of Humane Societies conference.

Enroll now: laurielawless.com/running-dog-playgroup
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#shelterplaygroups #animalplaygroups #animalshelters #animalshelter #rescuedogs #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #dogplaygroup #dogbehaviormodification #dogbehaviorexpert #dogbehavior #vtwomenpreneurs #behaviorconsultant #sheltersupport #vermontdogs

All taught by me, Laurie Lawless. All instantly accessible. All only available until 3/31.

Plus: behavior tracking tools, incident report templates, and real-life playgroup footage.

📆 Module 1: Assigning staff roles, monitoring arousal, setting intentions, and documenting observations
📆 Module 2: Classifying play styles, mixing energy levels, and using that data to boost adoption profiles
📆 Module 3: Playgroup safety and how to safely break up a dog fight

Shelter Dog Playgroups 101 includes everything your team needs to run confident, consistent playgroups:

If your shelter’s playgroup program needs a refresh (or you’re just getting started), this is your sign!

📆 Available through March 31 ONLY
📉 $149.95 (valued at $499)
📅 90+ minutes of on-demand training
🔗 shelterbehaviorintegrations.com
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#shelterplaygroups #animalplaygroups #animalshelters

That’s why I created Shelter Dog Playgroups 101, a fast, practical course to help your shelter run safer, more effective playgroups.

Playgroups reduce kennel stress, improve dog behavior, and give your team a chance to observe and record social skills in real-time. But without structure, they can feel chaotic or even risky.

Did you know that well-run playgroups don’t just help dogs, but they help your staff, too?