With Special Guest: Kim Brophey
Should shelters identify breeds, avoid labels altogether, or simply list every dog as mixed?
As conversations around breed identification continue to evolve in animal welfare, shelters are grappling with difficult questions about transparency, adoption success, welfare, and public perception. Join us for a thought-provoking Lawless Off Leash webinar, “To Label or Not to Label? The Debate Over Breed Identification in Shelters,” featuring Kim Brophey of Family Dog Mediation and hosted by Laurie Lawless of Shelter Behavior Integrations.
📅 Monday, July 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM EST via Zoom
In this discussion, Kim and Laurie will explore the growing trend of removing breed labels altogether, as well as the ongoing practice of making breed guesses for shelter dogs. Together, they'll examine what role breed information should play in sheltering, how it impacts adopters, and why understanding breed-specific traits and needs can be an important component of canine welfare.
Drawing from Kim's expertise in applied ethology and canine behavior, this conversation will challenge attendees to think critically about breed, behavior, and welfare through a modern, evidence-based lens.
Topics include:
🐾 The current debate around breed identification in animal shelters
🐾 Why some organizations are moving toward labeling all dogs as mixed breed
🐾 What aspects of breed information may be relevant and useful to adopters
🐾 How breed-specific needs influence care, enrichment, and welfare in shelters
🐾 Applying the Five Domains Model to better understand the needs of individual dogs
🐾 Balancing adoption success, transparency, and welfare considerations when discussing breed
Whether your shelter chooses to identify breeds, or avoids labels entirely, this webinar will provide valuable perspective on one of the most discussed topics in modern animal welfare.
If you can’t make it or just want to listen to your favorite insight again - replays will be available for purchase just a few days later 🐶
About Kim Brophey
Kim Brophey, CDBC, CPDT-KA, is an applied ethologist and owner of The Dog Door Behavior Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Her work focuses on helping people better understand dogs through the lenses of behavior, biology, welfare, and evolution.
Kim's 20-year commitment to Family Dog Mediation has earned national recognition, including the Association of Professional Dog Trainers' Outstanding Trainer of the Year Award. She has lectured extensively at colleges, universities, conferences, and professional events on canine behavior, ethology, and welfare.
Kim is a member of the International Society for Applied Ethology and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and has served on the boards of both the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and the Asheville Humane Society. Her work continues to influence professionals seeking a deeper understanding of dogs as individuals shaped by genetics, environment, and experience.
With Special Guest: Katya Lidsky
What strategies can shelters use to combat compassion fatigue and burnout in their volunteers?
Shelter volunteers are often the heart of an organization. They walk dogs, socialize cats, foster animals, support events, and provide countless hours of care and advocacy. But who is supporting them?
Join us for the next Lawless Off Leash webinar, “Supporting the Supporters: The Human Side of Shelter Volunteering,” featuring Katya Lidsky and hosted by Laurie Lawless of Shelter Behavior Integrations.
📅 Monday, September 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM EST via Zoom
In this conversation, Katya and Laurie will explore the often-overlooked human experience of shelter volunteering. While volunteers play a critical role in animal welfare, they can also experience compassion fatigue, grief, frustration, and burnout. Supporting volunteers effectively isn't just good for retention. It helps create healthier organizations, stronger teams, and better outcomes for animals.
Drawing from her experience as a long-time shelter volunteer, animal welfare professional, trauma-informed facilitator, and founder of The Thriving Volunteer, Katya will share practical strategies for helping volunteers feel seen, valued, and supported.
Topics include:
🐾 Understanding the emotional realities of shelter volunteering
🐾 Building a culture of appreciation, connection, and belonging
🐾 Recognizing compassion fatigue and other challenges volunteers may face
🐾 Strategies for improving volunteer retention and engagement
🐾 Creating systems of support that benefit both volunteers and organizations
🐾 Helping volunteers sustain their passion for animal welfare over the long term
Whether you manage volunteers, work alongside them, or are a volunteer yourself, this webinar will provide valuable insight into creating a more supportive and sustainable shelter community.
If you can’t make it or just want to listen to your favorite insight again - replays will be available for purchase just a few days later 🐶
About Katya Lidsky
Katya Lidsky is the Founder of The Thriving Volunteer, a guided online membership community designed to provide animal shelter and rescue volunteers with support, connection, and resources so they can stay in this work for the long haul. She also offers workshops specifically designed to support shelter staff.
Katya is a certified, trauma-informed Breathwork Facilitator and Creative Grief Coach who has worked in the animal welfare nonprofit space for more than a decade. She is also a long-time shelter volunteer, foster, and advocate.
In addition to her work supporting animal welfare professionals and volunteers, Katya is a writer. Her book, Be Your Dog's Best Friend: The Benefits of Mutual Bonding and Relationship Building, was published by McFarland in 2025 as part of their Dogs In Our World series.