Header Image (4)
static.wixstatic.commediad6eea8_48f79068863445c6b8b2d4835c52a69a~mv2.pngv1fillw_193,h_50,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto 202-Aug-13-2025-07-17-44-5779-PM

Train for a Leadership Career in Animal Shelters & Rescues

See if the Animal Shelter Management Program is Right for YOU

Why Students Choose Us

All of our courses are 100% online 

Complete your classes from anywhere through our interactive programs, designed to fit around work, school, or other commitments.

Small classes taught by professionals

Courses are limited to small class sizes so you can learn directly from instructors with real-world experience managing shelters, training staff, and improving animal welfare

Field experience with real animals

Apply what you learn by completing a hands-on field experience at a shelter, rescue, or animal welfare organization in your area.

 

Request Additional Program Information

Tell us where to send your program brochure, and we’ll email you the full details including courses, career paths, and how to get started.
1-2

Is This Program Right for You?

This Program May Be a Good Fit If You:

  • Want to take a leadership role at a shelter, rescue, or sanctuary
  • Dream of launching your own shelter or rescue organization
  • Want to improve the quality of life for animals in your community
  • Want structured training from professionals already working in animal welfare

Many of our students are:

  • Shelter and rescue staff ready to move into management
  • Rescue volunteers and foster caregivers
  • Animal care professionals
  • Career changers passionate about animal welfare
6-2
Request More Information

Inside the Animal Shelter Management Program

Running a successful shelter or rescue takes more than compassion. It requires leadership, animal care expertise, and strong business skills. ABI's Animal Shelter Management Program prepares you to take a leadership role in your current institution, enhance your skills as a manager, or launch your own shelter or rescue organization. 

Screenshot 2026-07-16 at 9.55.11 AM

Shelter Animal Health & Nutrition

Study the principles of animal health in a shelter setting, including diet planning, preventative care, recordkeeping, and best practices to minimize the spread of infectious diseases.

Screenshot 2026-07-16 at 9.55.18 AM

Managing a Successful Animal Shelter

Learn the operational side of shelter leadership — managing intake and adoption processes, facility sanitation and maintenance, recruiting and retaining staff and volunteers, and soliciting financial support through donations and community programs.

Screenshot 2026-07-16 at 9.55.26 AM

Canine Behavior & Enrichment

Learn how dogs think, learn, and interact with their environment. Students study behavior fundamentals and enrichment strategies that prevent or reduce problem behaviors — helping shelter dogs stay adoptable.

Screenshot 2026-07-16 at 10.06.51 AM

Feline Behavior & Enrichment

Understand feline behavior, communication, and body language. Students learn to design enrichment programs that reduce stress for cats in shelter environments and improve adoption outcomes.

Learn More About Careers in Animal Shelter Management

Hands-On Learning Through Field Experience

In addition to online coursework, students complete 40 hours of hands-on field experience as an employee, intern, or volunteer at an approved institution of their choice. One of the strengths of our program is that you choose where to complete your fieldwork — the facility is never assigned.
 
Earn a Second Certificate at No Additional Costs! 
 Students who choose the Canine Training or Feline Training elective receive a second certificate at no additional cost — either Canine Training & Behavior or Feline Training & Behavior — adding valuable training credentials alongside their management certificate.
 
3-2

Learn From Experienced Professionals

All courses are taught by instructors with professional experience in fields such as:

  • Shelter behavior management and temperament testing
  • Staff and volunteer training
  • Animal health, husbandry, and nutrition
  • Canine aggression and behavior modification
  • Shelter protocols and quarantine care

Their real-world insights help students understand both the science behind animal care and the practical realities of running a shelter or rescue.



Request More Information

Flexible Online Learning Designed for Animal Careers

  • Structured 10-week courses
  • Fully online classroom environment
  • Small class sizes (maximum of 12 students)
  • Field experience completed with a local organization of your choice
  • Accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education & Training

Students from across the U.S. and internationally complete the program while balancing work and personal commitments — most finish their certificate in 6–12 months.

 

2-2
4-2
Shelter or Rescue Manager

Shelter managers oversee the daily operations of animal shelters and rescue organizations. Their responsibilities may include managing intake and adoption processes, supervising staff, maintaining facility standards, instituting disease-prevention protocols, and ensuring proper records are kept for every animal in their care.

Adoption Manager / Pet Adoption Specialist

Adoption professionals guide animals and adopters through the matching process. Their responsibilities may include evaluating animal temperament and behavior, counseling potential adopters, coordinating adoption events, and building programs that increase adoption rates and reduce returns.

Volunteer Services Manager

Volunteer managers recruit, train, and retain the volunteers that shelters depend on. Their responsibilities may include developing training programs, coordinating schedules, building community partnerships, and implementing strategies to keep a diverse volunteer team engaged.

Outreach Coordinator

Outreach coordinators connect shelters with their communities. Their responsibilities may include developing educational programming, promoting spay/neuter services, organizing fundraising and donation campaigns, and building partnerships that support the shelter's mission.

Building Experience for Competitive Careers

There are more than 3,500 shelters and rescue organizations across the United States, and employment in animal care and service is expected to grow 15% over the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations. Leadership roles require both formal education and hands-on experience. 
 
ABI's program is designed to help students build that foundation by combining structured academic training with practical field experience. Upon graduation, students may begin using the designation CASMP, Certified Animal Shelter Management Professional. This is a credential that sets you apart from the competition and demonstrates your commitment to ongoing professional education.
Explore Your Next Career
Screenshot 2026-07-16 at 10.00.28 AM

Meet Karen Lasker

Karen completed her ABI certificate and serves as the Executive Director of The Brody Project in southwest Florida. She was pleasantly surprised by how accessible her instructors were — something she didn't expect from an online school — and by her professor's deep personal experience in the field. They pointed her to a phenomenal array of resources, from research to practical applications. Not surprisingly, Karen’s favorite course was Animal Assisted Therapy.

— Karen Lasker, Executive Director, The Brody Project

Take the First Step Toward a Leadership Career in Animal Welfare!

Tell us about your goals and we'll help you determine if the Animal Shelter Management Program at Animal Behavior Institute is the right fit for you.
 
5-2