Session schedule - Animal Care Expo 2019

To assist you in selecting sessions that will be most helpful, presenters have coded their sessions using one of the following categories:

• Level 1: Suitable for all skill and experience levels
• Level 2: Best suited to those new to the field
• Level 3: Best suited to those with a moderate level of experience in the field and/or those in mid-level leadership positions
• Level 4: Best suited to those with extensive experience in the field and/or those in high-level leadership positions

For Monday sessions see the learning labs

Continuing Education Credits

All sessions have been pre-approved for Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits. Each session is approved for the same amount of CE credits as the length - a 60 minute session is approved for 1 CE credit, 90 minutes for 1.5 CE credits, and so on.

There are 16 sessions (including two learning labs) that are approved for RACE CE credits for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Information is provided following each applicable session regarding the amount of RACE CE available. Veterinary professionals can earn up to 16.5 hours total of RACE CE credits for attending Animal Care Expo 2019.

There are 34 sessions (including two learning labs) that are approved for NACA CE credits for animal care and control officers. Each session is approved for the same amount of CE credits as the length.

All sessions have been pre-approved for International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants continuing education credits.

View sessions by date/time

Tuesday, April 16: 9:45am - 11:15am

Behavior track

Good help, good dogs: Implementing a volunteer-based canine behavior program
As shelters stop euthanizing for space and animal residents’ length of stay increases, it is imperative that organizations ensure the emotional stability of sheltered dogs. However, limited time and resources often prevent progressive shelters from feeling capable of implementing advanced training and enrichment programs. This session will help your organization develop and implement a volunteer program to address common behavior problems in the shelter through species-specific enrichment and positive reinforcement. Level 3
Presenters: Amanda Audia, Director of Operations, Humane Society of Pinellas; Heather Gibbs, CPDT-KA, Lead Behavior Technician, Humane Society of Pinellas

Small budgets big results track

Easier money: Simple steps to build a sustainable planned giving program
Raising money for a shelter can be daunting and many times the urgent need for immediate funds leaves little time to consider or develop a long-term funding strategy. In this seminar, we will share some simple and easy processes you can implement to create a sustainable bequest program that will help you secure future resources so your organization can continue to grow and meet its long-term financial goals and objectives. Level 4
Presenters: Ann Kolakowski, CAP, Senior Director of Bequests, the Humane Society of the United States; Steven Maughan, Vice President of Planned Gifts and Estates, the Humane Society of the United States

Cats track

Commerce for kitties: Using for-profit approaches to help more cats
Saving the lives of cats requires creativity and flexibility for both the cats and adopters! Too often we’re short on space and aren’t attracting enough adopters to do the best we can by our feline friends. This panel presentation will focus on innovative approaches to using for-profit ideas to save more cats' lives. Pop-up kitten retail, cat cafés and more will be explored, taking the best from the business world and utilizing these approaches to fulfill our own mission and vision for animals. Level 3
Presenters: BJ Andersen, CAWA, Executive Director, Willamette Humane Society; Tanya Hilgendorf, MSW, President and CEO, Humane Society of Huron Valley; Karel Minor, President/CEO, Humane Pennsylvania

Global animal issues track

International Networking Session
Come and meet your fellow international attendees, discuss issues you are facing within your country and learn what others are doing to reconcile or deal with similar situations.
Moderators: HSI Companion Animals team

In the field track

Training the trainer: Getting your ACOs ready to roll
Training new animal control officers can be a daunting task as our field continues to develop and evolve, and there remains a lack of consistency in training protocol. This class will focus on developing uniform, yet customizable, training guidelines that will fit within most departments and agencies. The training guidelines follow a basic four-week field training officer (FTO) program that covers all the basic information needed by new officers. In this class, we will discuss how to teach people with different learning styles, how to focus on what is important when working within a strict timeline, and also take a look at the customizable timeline itself. At the completion of the class, you will receive a USB drive pre-loaded with forms that you can take back to your agency to create your own ACO FTO programs. Level 3
Presenter: Tabitha Blewett, Animal Control Officer, Humane Educators of Texas

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Leadership track

Saving by numbers: Using shelter data to get better results
Following up on Dr. Scarlett’s recent book, Every Nose Counts: Using Metrics in Animal Shelters, A Maddie’s Guide, in this session you’ll learn how to use data to achieve maximum impact, how to perform in-depth program evaluations, what metrics should influence your actions to improve the lives of the animals you serve and how data can help support organizational culture and community collaboration. Level 1
Presenters: Martha Boden, PMP, CAWA, CEO, SPCA Tampa Bay; Anne Reed, President and CEO, Wisconsin Humane Society; Jan Scarlett, DVM, MPH, PhD, Professor Emerita of Epidemiology, Founder of Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University

Marketing/fundraising track

Digital storytelling: Using media to capture your audience
Use your tools and passion to captivate your community and donors! Millennials are becoming a more significant part of your donor and community support base—is your organization using the best tools and techniques available to reach and engage them? In this session, we will discuss the most effective and efficient ways to tell your stories and share your passion with this unique segment of the population. Level 1
Presenter: Michael Morefield, Marketing and Communications Director, Arizona Animal Welfare League

People power track

The human side of the Five Freedoms
Using the Five Freedoms for Animals as a guide, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society created the Five Freedoms for People. Participants will learn how to apply the five freedoms for animals to people by creating a culture of transparency; establishing a physically and emotionally comfortable environment; developing a culture that allows staff and volunteers to express opinions, overcome mistakes and share in both successes and disappointments; and fostering diversity and inclusion by encouraging individuality. Level 1
Presenter: Todd Cramer, President and CEO, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Progressive programs track

When the shelter meets the stable
Your shelter is ready for Rex the Lab mix and Tom the tuxedo cat, but what do you do when Blaze the quarter horse and his friends show up at your door? Learn how dog and cat shelter experts, law enforcement officers and other horse savvy professionals have found ways to expand their capacity for humane care to serve the horses in their communities. Level 1
Presenters: Tinia Creamer, President, Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue; Cindy Gendron (moderator), Project Manager, Animal Response, Care and Sanctuary, the Humane Society of the United States; Laurie Hood, Founder and President, Alaqua Animal Refuge; Erin Ochoa, Executive Director, Days End Farm Horse Rescue; Lori Redmon, President and CEO, Kentucky Humane Society

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Reaching underserved communities track

Keeping pets in homes: Starting a pet owner support program
Do you want to incorporate pet owner support work into your mission? Whether your community is rural, urban or somewhere in between, this session will show you how to take the first steps to create a community-based program. We will discuss how to develop strategies to identify an area of focus, set goals, collect data and use techniques for mapping results. Tips for conducting door to door outreach will also be provided. This session will cover everything you need to know to get out in the community and start delivering services! Level 1
Presenters: Lisa Michel-Weis, Outreach Program Manager, Wisconsin Humane Society; Nadia Novik, Director of Outreach, Mountain Humane; Paula Shaw, Program Manager, Pets for Life Baton Rouge, Companion Animal Alliance Baton Rouge

Shelter medicine track

Top-notch intake protocols for shelter pet health
Intake processes have an immense effect on behavior, staff and animal stress, crowding and resource allocation. A key component for reducing the spread of infectious disease is recognition at the time of admission. Setting animals up for success with a well-designed intake protocol can impact everything that follows. This session will cover recommendations to implement right at the door for intake evaluation, diversion, stress reduction and infectious disease control. Level 1
Presenters: Diana Kuehn, DVM, UW/UCD Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Fellow, Veterinarian of Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter; Erica Schumacher, DVM, Outreach Veterinarian, Shelter Medicine Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

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Tuesday, April 16: 1:15 pm - 1:30 pm

Maddie’s Fund Mini Session: Maddie’s University
Further your education. Further lifesaving. Bolster your lifesaving impact through continuing education and standalone training programs designed for shelter personnel and the community. Maddie’s® University is an online learning management system that is comprised of a full catalog of classes to help you learn the A to Z’s of all things animal welfare.
Presenter: Lisa Ward, Director of Education, Maddie’s Fund

This mini session is sponsored by Maddie’s Fund.

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Tuesday, April 16: 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Behavior track

From crisis to kindness: Helping dogs adapt to life in a home
Shelters and rescues often receive dogs from a variety of crisis situations, including the dog meat trade, puppy mills, hoarding cases and other cruel circumstances. Many of them will suffer from shy and fearful behavior. We will discuss some examples of these crisis situations and the resulting behaviors we see in many of the animals. We will walk through what it takes to ensure the best chance of success for these dogs both in your shelter or rescue and in the home. Attendees will learn a variety of environmental and active enrichment techniques that have proven successful in helping these animals. We’ll also talk about how to prepare adopters for what life will be like living with one of these dogs. Level 1
Presenters: Heather Hatt, Manager, Lynne Glennon Sanctuary for Senior Goldens and Puppy Mill Survivors; Abbie Hubbard, Consultant, Animal Behavior and Placement, HSI; Lisa Jagielski, Intake Manager, Trainer, Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue; Adam Parascandola, Senior Director, Animal Protection and Crisis Response, HSI

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.
This program has been approved for CCPDT credits: 1 CEU for trainers and 0.5 CEUs for behavior consultants.

Small budgets big results track

Gourmet marketing tools on a ramen noodle budget
No marketing staff? No problem! Join this presentation for step-by-step demonstrations of free or low-cost digital and marketing tools. Additionally, a basic review of pet and volunteer software choices will be provided to demystify the options for attendees. Lastly, a step-by-step guide of advertising on Facebook, the ins and outs of the Facebook algorithm and best practices on all social media platforms will be presented. Level 1
Presenter: Emily Klehm, CAWA, CEO, South Suburban Humane Society

Cats track

Boom! The power of combining return-to-field and targeted trap-neuter-return
Since 2012, Best Friends Animal Society has partnered with municipal shelters to implement Community Cat Programs (CCPs) across the country. These three-year, large-scale programs combine return-to-field with targeted TNR efforts to address the issue of free-roaming cats in each community. The impact on cat intake, cat euthanasia and other relevant metrics has been remarkable! Hear in-depth results from a sample of CCPs and learn from the experts about the basics of performing return-to-field and targeted TNR. Level 3
Presenters: Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats; Karen Little, Executive Director, Alley Cat Advocates; Daniel Spehar, MS, Independent Researcher, Co-Founder, The Together Initiative for Ohio's Community Cats and Senior District Leader Volunteer, the Humane Society of the United States

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Global animal issues track

Helping cats around the world with TNR
Gain a comprehensive overview of how to implement a cat-specific TNR program anywhere on the planet, even in sensitive habitat areas. Learn to build and implement cat management programs by covering the legal side, logistical aspects and emotional components of staging a high-quality, high-volume TNR campaign. Learn how to implement these programs with very few resources and lots of imagination and ingenuity.
Presenters: Emma Clifford, CEO, Animal Balance; Raymond Deonanan, DVM, President, Worldwide Rural Assistance Program

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

In the field track

How to document animal crimes
Presenter: Jessica Lauginiger, Director, Animal Crimes, Animal Cruelty, Rescue and Response, the Humane Society of the United States

Leadership track

Companion Animal Transport Best Practice
Join us for a compelling discussion regarding nationwide transport best practices. Transport has a critical role in addressing pet population disparity but diligent care must to taken to ensure the safety of the staff and pets. Learn what’s working and what’s not through experts from a hub source shelter and high intake destination shelter. Participants will take away knowledge form real life lessons learned from both organizations as well as a review of the new national AWAA guidelines that are hot off the press! Level 1
Presenters: Gina Gardner, President of the Board of Directors, Humane Society of Tulsa; Adam Lamb, Chief Executive Officer, Brandywine Valley SPCA

Marketing/fundraising track

Don't be spammy: Email best practices
Don't let your organization's message wind up in your current and potential supporters' spam folders! In this session, email marketing expert Katy Kelly will teach you how to effectively and steadily grow your email lists while remaining on the "up-and-up" with major email providers Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook. Learn best-in-class email practices so that your mailings wind up in the inbox and not the spam folder. This session will include specifics on assessing your list health through data analysis, tips on keeping content fresh, and guidance on how to troubleshoot and fix declining open and click rates. Level 3
Presenter: Katy Kelly, Email Marketing Manager, Michelson Found Animals Foundation

People power track

Play the Foster Feud
Want to find out the most pressing questions and answers to saving more animal lives now? Foster Feud is back! Guided by multiple fun-loving hosts, this highly popular Foster Feud session engages shelter and rescue participants in a contest to name the most common responses to survey-type questions posed to both animal welfare and public audiences. Audience-selected panel interaction will motivate you to identify new ways to recruit more fosters, start new types of foster programs and keep your current fosters engaged and having fun. This is a double-session to give us more time for engaging learning about foster care. Oh, and did we mention? The commercial breaks will inspire you too! Level 1
Presenters: Lynne Fridley, Co-Director of Education, Maddie’s Fund; Michael Greenberg, Shelter Medicine and Spay-Neuter Consultant, Program Director, Target Zero; Lisa Ward, Co-Director of Education, Maddie’s Fund

Progressive programs track

Becoming a model shelter: One organization's journey with the Association of Shelter Veterinarian's guidelines
The goal? Eliminate the suffering and needless death of homeless pets that are awaiting homes in shelters. How? Follow the Association of Shelter Veterinarians Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, a voluntary set of guidelines designed to promote the highest standards of welfare in animal shelters. In this session, we’ll discuss how Humane Society Silicon Valley—the first organization ever to meet the over five hundred guidelines—tackled this initiative and significantly increased lifesaving capacity. We'll also explore how your organization can achieve the same goal! Level 1
Presenters: Kristen Jahnke, Director, Shelter Operations, Humane Society Silicon Valley; Cristie Kamiya, DVM, MBA, Chief of Shelter Medicine, Humane Society Silicon Valley

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

Reaching underserved communities track

Authentic messaging for sustainable work: Marketing what makes you different
By focusing on pet owner support programming, your organization celebrates the human-animal connection and brings people together. In this session, you will learn to evolve your marketing and development strategy to differentiate your organization, diversify your donor base and build meaningful relationships with your entire community. Achieving these goals will enable your agency to conduct and sustain meaningful community outreach work. Level 2
Presenters: Ray Foxworth, Ph.D., Vice President, Grantmaking, Development & Communications, First Nations Development Institute; Jason Schipkowski, Mentorship and Training Manager, Pets for Life, the Humane Society of the United States

Shelter medicine track

Rounds and monitoring: Cornerstones for health
Each day, we should ask every animal in our care—how are you and what do you need today? Population rounds is a foundational tool for improving care and maximizing lifesaving. Combined with daily monitoring, these two processes ensure animal needs are being met. This talk will focus on simple-to-implement rounds and monitoring programs and give participants tools needed to either get started or take an existing program to the next level. Level 1
Presenters: Alex Ellis, DVM, University of Wisconsin Maddie's Shelter Medicine Resident, University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Program; Bridget Holck, DVM, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Intern, University of Wisconsin-Madison Shelter Medicine Program

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

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Tuesday, April 16: 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Behavior track

From naughty to nice: Tackling troubled tabbies
Every rescue encounters troubled cats with issues that go beyond "tortitude." This session will teach you, step by step, how to start an all-volunteer cat behavior team that can drastically reduce returned adoptions and prove that even the naughtiest of kitties can find—and keep—a forever home! Do you have cats that are undersocialized? tend to bite? won't use a litter box? We've built a team for that and so can you! Level 1
Presenter: Monica Frenden, Maddie's Director of Feline Lifesaving, Austin Pets Alive!

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Small budgets big results track

More people, more intake? Breaking the connection to save more lives
Conventional wisdom says that human population growth is followed by an increase in animal intake in municipal shelters. But the City of Sacramento was able to buck that trend. In this case-study based seminar, we'll review the five main, yet seemingly counterintuitive, strategies employed by Front Street Animal Shelter in conjunction with the Michelson Found Animals Foundation Registry. Learn how to implement innovative tactics using microchips and a free registry, conduct smart community outreach to reduce the length of stay of shelter animals, return more found dogs to their owners and build community goodwill—all while saving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually! You'll be provided with tools and strategies your shelter needs to study your local community's needs, develop partnerships and craft your own shelter intervention program. Level 3
Presenter:Gina Knepp, Animal Care Services Manager, Front Street Animal Shelter

Cats track

Avoiding cat-astrophe! Humanely addressing cat overpopulation sites
Faced with a situation where cats are multiplying out of control at an outdoor site, such as a residence, business or abandoned lot? Learn an effective approach to humanely solve this problem by bringing all impacted groups together to develop a humane and realistic plan and applying disaster response principles to successfully execute each aspect of the plan and manage the operation. We’ll discuss trapping, transport, temporary sheltering, spay/neuter, placement/return to field, aftercare and maintenance trapping. Level 3
Presenters: Denise Bash, Director of Special Projects, GreaterGood.org; Beth Gammie, Director of Field Services, RedRover; Michele Miller, Director, Rescue Purrfect, Rescue Purrfect

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Global animal issues track

Happy beginnings, not sad endings: Secrets for placing the “unplaceable”
Many shelters and rescues around the world are faced with a population of animals (e.g., large dogs, mixed breeds, sick or old cats and dogs) who are difficult to place. In California shelters, senior dogs were once particularly likely to languish or be euthanized. However, Muttville, a San Francisco-based rescue organization, has turned that trend upside down and created a culture of adoption around senior dogs. Learn from this incredible rescue how they managed to turn difficult-to-adopt animals into desirable companions! Unfortunately, however, not all animals will be adopted. Adam Parascandola will discuss the options available for animals who are not placed and how we can make the difficult but necessary decisions about them.
Presenters: Sherri Franklin, CEO, Muttville Senior Dog Rescue; Adam Parascandola, Senior Director, HSI Animal Protection and Crisis Response, United States; Laurie Routhier, COO, Muttville Senior Dog Rescue

In the field track

The power of choice: How choice and two-way conversations empower dogs
Every interaction between dogs and people can be a two-way conversation, starting from the moment of rescue to the forever home. Dogs communicate their needs all the time, but are we listening? By empowering dogs with choice, we can start the conversation and help ease the transition into homes.
Presenters: Aly Lecznar, Dog Trainer and Curriculum Manager for the Victoria Stilwell Academy; Victoria Stilwell, Dog Trainer and Behavior Expert, Host of the International hit TV series, It’s Me or the Dog and President of the Victoria Stilwell Academy

Leadership track

Managing and overcoming resistance to change
Change is important, even though it's basic human nature to resist it! According to experts, 70 percent of change efforts fail. Whether you are creating new programs, expanding operations, moving into a new shelter or taking on any other type of change, the process can be tough for your staff and volunteers. This session will help you better understand various aspects of organizational change, enabling you to increase readiness and buy-in while minimizing resistance. Level 4
Presenters: Laura Maloney, Principal, Adisa; Betsy McFarland, CAWA, Principal, Adisa

Marketing/fundraising track

From Brand X to Brand Wow! How crafting your brand identity can help you achieve your mission
There are thousands of animal welfare organizations in the world. What makes yours unique? What makes your mission worth supporting? Do your donors and supporters know the answers to those questions as well as you do? "Branding" can sound like a mysterious piece of corporate jargon, unrelated to the life-and-death issues animal shelters and rescues face every day. But in fact, when your brand is executed in a thoughtful, consistent and powerful way, it can help you garner the community support you need to accomplish your mission. This session will cover the basics of successful branding, from visuals to voice, helping you figure out how to shout your identity from the rooftops in a way that will make your supporters proud to stand with you. Level 1
Presenters: Carrie Allan, Senior Editorial Director, the Humane Society of the United States; Jennifer Beel, Senior Creative Director, the Humane Society of the United States

People power track

The kids are alright:  Youth volunteers in direct animal care
There is a vast and important resource largely untapped by the animal sheltering world—teenagers! Removing unnecessary “18 and over” age restrictions for direct animal care enables shelters to participate in the development of future animal welfare advocates and offer the animals in their care loads of additional attention. In this session, we will explore ways to create or expand a youth volunteer program that furthers your mission while providing a safe and welcoming environment for youth. You’ll learn how to recruit, train, manage and support youth volunteers and how to gain organizational support from shelter administrators and staff. Level 1
Presenters: Karen Patterson, MEd, CHES, Director of Volunteers and Humane Education, Humane Society of Huron Valley; Karen Potocek, Humane Educator, St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

Progressive programs track

Seeing the future: What’s next for the sheltering field
Three industry thought leaders discuss the past, present and future of animal sheltering. Join us as we examine the current obstacles facing animal shelters and perspectives on where our focus should lie as we move forward. Have you reached a point you thought you’d never reach, and find it hard to see what’s next? Do you feel that much of our industry’s rhetoric doesn’t describe your current reality? Are you waiting for important conversations that aren’t happening yet? Learn how three strong organizations are navigating critical transitions to the future of animal sheltering. Level 1
Presenters: Kim Alboum (moderator), Director, Shelter Outreach and Policy Engagement, Companion Animals, the Humane Society of the United States; Shelly Moore, CAWA, President/CEO, Humane Society of Charlotte; Matt Pepper, President and CEO, Michigan Humane Society; Anne Reed, President and CEO, Wisconsin Humane Society

Reaching underserved communities track

Punish—or provide? Creating community-centered animal control
Would you rather provide supplies and services than write citations? Do you want to find ways to prevent intake? Find out how animal control and services officers can become a resource to the community, reduce implicit bias in field work and build trusting relationships with the community. Level 1
Presenters: Chris Fitzgerald, Director of Animal Services, City of Rochester, NY; Ashley Mutch, Program Manager, Enforcement and Policy Reform, Pets for Life, the Humane Society of the United States; Bennett Simonsen, Community Programs Manager, Pima Animal Care Center

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Shelter medicine track

Infectious respiratory disease in cats and dogs
Respiratory infections in dogs and cats are some of the most common illnesses shelters have to manage. This session will discuss tools to prevent respiratory disease, the difference between canine and feline respiratory infections and strategies to reduce spread in the event respiratory disease occurs. This frustrating condition is more manageable than you think! Level 1
Presenters: Brenda Dines, DVM, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Resident, Shelter Medicine Program, University of Wisconsin; Kimberly Wilson, DVM, Shelter Veterinarian and UW/UCD Maddie's Fellow, Kern County Animal Services

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

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Tuesday, April 16: 6:30 pm - 6:45 pm

Maddie’s Fund Mini Session: Foster Care
Having more foster caregivers at the ready can increase your organization’s capacity and help you save more lives. In this 15-minute mini-workshop, we’ll show you what the research says about messaging and techniques that can help you turn potential fosters into applicants and applicants into active fosters. And we’ll share some adorable new tools you can use to recruit fosters.
Presenter: Kelly Duer, Foster Care Specialist, Maddie’s Fund

This mini session is sponsored by Maddie’s Fund.

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Wednesday, April 17: 10:15am - 11:45am

Behavior track

Back away from behavior? Exploring the enrichment vs. behavior question
After developing two advanced behavior programs in shelters, and then travelling the country to mentor shelters to implement widespread enrichment programs, DPFL has learned a lot about what approaches are most effective in working with problematic shelter dogs. In this session, we will discuss the difference between a widespread enrichment program and a behavior program—and what your shelter may need to best serve the dogs in your care. Count on hot topics such as behavior evaluations, playgroups, advanced behavior and more! Level 3
Presenter: Aimee Sadler, Founder/CEO, Dogs Playing for Life

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Small budgets big results track

Dream big, start small: Sustainable shelter design on a budget
While it's fun to think about building a shelter with all the bells and whistles, budget limitations put it out of reach for many communities. You can build a lean, mean lifesaving machine that is comfortable and healthy for animals, efficient and safe for staff, and welcoming to visitors without breaking the bank. In this session, learn how to plan a shelter using scalable, modular design principles for the lowest initial cost, planned for expandability as more funds become available. We will share key shelter design concepts and ideas with an eye for flexibility, as well as discuss where to hold the line for function, durability and animal health. Topics to be discussed include, but are not limited to, right sizing, modular design principles, animal housing strategies, housing variety, flooring, noise control, air quality, lighting, use of flexible space, efficient pathways and creative use of outdoor space. Level 3
Presenters: Candace Harrison, AIA, Project Architect, INDIGO | Hammond & Playle Architects, LLP; Denae Wagner, DVM, MPVM, Assistant Director, Koret Shelter Medicine Program, UC Davis

Cats track

Total rescue cat mojo: Five steps to maximize the well-being of cats in your care
Jackson has built his cat philosophy around uncovering and cultivating a cat's "mojo," or innate confidence. More specifically, he built that philosophy through 20+ years of working in and out of animal shelters where he was tasked with helping cats to deal with the extreme stress of life in a shelter/rescue and challenged to make them more adoptable in the process. In this class, Jackson will take you through five steps that encompass every moment of the cat's life in your care—from intake to adoption and beyond! Attendees will come away with tools related to assessment, environmental enrichment, the "Three Rs" (routine, ritual and rhythm), behavioral enrichment, cat team building and adoption counseling for the human caretakers. Total rescue cat mojo is above all a shiny new toolbox designed to help the cats and their human caretakers thrive! Level 1
Presenter: Jackson Galaxy, Founder, Jackson Galaxy Project

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Global animal issues track

Shining on social: Stories and media relations to help you save more lives
Is your organization having trouble getting your messages across? This session will help grow your audience, raise revenue and sell your story. Whether your nonprofit wants to build its fan base or spread awareness about your organization, we’ll discuss how to effectively use social media, including how to produce successful Facebook Live events to help you achieve your goals. We will also cover media relations and offer guidance on how to engage reporters in a way that will land you on the evening news.
Presenters: Nicole Jaworski, Social Media Manager, HSI Digital Marketing, United States; Chad Sisneros, Managing Director, Creative, the Humane Society of the United States; Anna West, Senior Director, Public Relations, the Humane Society of the United States

In the field track

Dealing with difficult personalities: A field survival guide
Animal control officers are typically trained in animal handling, but we spend most of our day interacting with people. This class identifies common personality types encountered in the field and discusses how to deal with each type by overcoming common barriers to communication. Improving communication skills will help officers identify and solve community issues, increase compliance and reduce the number of public complaints. Topics to be covered include active listening, body language and navigating conflict. Level 1
Presenter: Kelly Thyssen, Animal Control Officer, Humane Educators of Texas

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Leadership track

Fostering healthy relationships with the most difficult animals
Whether it's with volunteers, prospective donors or board members, it's essential to foster healthy relationships with people so you can achieve your animal welfare goals. Kelly Pepper will discuss board building, human resources and best practices for nonprofits as a means of teaching attendees to be more effective leaders. Sometimes interpersonal issues are neglected because nonprofits are so focused on their cause. This session will explain how maintaining human relationships is actually a critical component in providing sustainable care to our furry friends. Level 1
Presenter: Kelly Pepper, President and CEO, Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations

Marketing/fundraising track

Comprehending the "comprehensive campaign"
Engaging in a "comprehensive campaign" is about energizing and inspiring board, staff, volunteers and donors to create financial sustainability. We will discuss how to incorporate multiple fundraising goals into one, including endowment, operations, annual giving and major gifts. You will also learn how to provide a platform for building an organizational culture of philanthropy that will last long after a campaign ends and help to focus your energy and resources into a single effort. This session is designed for leaders looking to increase their organizational sustainability, development staff who want to accelerate growth in their giving programs, operations staff looking to partner with development staff to ensure adequate funding for mission work, and volunteers hoping to help grow the appeal of their organization's mission to the community. Level 1
Presenters: Brian Daugherty, Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, San Diego Humane Society; Stephanie Little Ladeira, Chief of Philanthropy and Community Development, Humane Society Silicon Valley

People power track

Use the force: Cultivating a motivated volunteer team that multiplies your hands
Multiply your hands through volunteerism! Gain real ideas about how to grow and activate an engaged volunteer program. Learn how to onboard, schedule and retain volunteers that work smarter, not harder to care for the animals. Volunteers that are motivated through a culture of gratitude, with standards and policies in place to ensure a positive environment, are more likely to stay long term and support staff along the way. We are all struggling to make ends meet with tight budgets and minimal staffing and wish we could afford to do more. Discover how you too can utilize volunteer hours to make up the difference between what you can do and what needs to be done. Level 3
Presenters: Nicole DuBois, Senior Project Manager, Michelson Found Animals Foundation; Heather Thomas, Volunteer Program Manager, Michelson Found Animals Foundation

Progressive programs track

Common ground: How shelters and responsible breeders can collaborate
Responsible dog breeders and animal shelters can collaborate in unique and dynamic ways. Some responsible breeders have been at the forefront of efforts to stop puppy mills, and are passionate about finding homes for breeds they raise. Yet too often our movement has been unable to capitalize on the opportunities that collaboration can provide. Come join the discussion as leaders from the sheltering and responsible breeder communities talk about cutting-edge ways in which they can work together toward common goals. How can breeders help stop puppy mills and bring us closer to the day when no more healthy, adoptable animals are euthanized? How can shelters work to match families with responsibly bred puppies when a family has their heart set on a specific breed that the shelter does not have? What defines a responsible breeder? How do we move forward when some in both worlds oppose collaboration? Those questions, and more, will be explored in this cutting-edge session. Level 1
Presenters: Kim Alboum (moderator), Director, Shelter Outreach and Policy Engagement, Companion Animals, the Humane Society of the United States; Steven Dostie, Breeders Advisory and Resource Council Member; Damon March, Chief Operating Officer, Humane Pennsylvania; Kathryn McGriff, Breeders Advisory and Resource Council Member; John Moyer (moderator), Corporate Outreach Manager, Puppy Mills, Campaigns, the Humane Society of the United States; David Stroud, Executive Director, Cashiers Highlands Humane Society

Reaching underserved communities track

Serving people and pets of all incomes: Creating equity in access to veterinary care
For tens of millions of Americans in low socioeconomic households, access to veterinary care is extremely limited or nonexistent. Industry experts will discuss how to effectively deliver veterinary services with cultural humility and also present results from a national survey that assesses attitudes, practices and shifts in the veterinary community pertaining to reaching underserved pet owners. Level 2
Presenters: Michael Blackwell, DVM, MPH, Director, Program for Pet Health Equity; Aimee Christian, Vice President, Community Medicine, ASPCA; William Giles, DVM, Director, Wiscaresd

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

Shelter medicine track

Maximizing flow-through to maximize lifesaving
As the length of time animals stay in the shelter increases, so does the risk of illness and the size of the shelter population, creating a negative cycle of disease and crowding. Optimizing flow-through shrinks the daily in-shelter population without reducing the number of animals served, and changes the cycle from negative to positive. Learn ways to create systems and improve processes to eliminate delays and enable you to help more animals over time. Level 1
Presenters: Jessica Reed, DVM, UW/UCD Maddie's Shelter Medicine Fellow and Medical Director, Seattle Humane; Aleisha Swartz, DVM, Clinical Instructor and Outreach Veterinarian, Shelter Medicine Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

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Wednesday, April 17: 1:00 pm - 1:15 pm

Maddie’s Fund Mini Session: Maddie’s Pet Forum
Find out how thousands of animal welfare professionals and pet caregivers have used Maddie’s Pet Forum since our debut at Expo last year! From utilizing groups to coordinate relief efforts for the California Wildfires to sharing new enrichment program ideas, templates and tons of other resources, the forum can help you feel like you have an extended team of industry experts and seasoned volunteers at your fingertips, 24 hours a day.
Presenter: Kim Domerofski, Manager Partnership & Collaboration and Charlotte Otero, Community Strategist, Maddie’s Fund

This mini session is sponsored by Maddie’s Fund.

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Wednesday, April 17: 2:15pm - 3:45pm

Behavior track

Increasing cat enrichment and adoptions with clicker training
Teaching cats to high-five or run an agility course? It's not trickery. It's advanced enrichment that is helping to save the lives of cats all across the country. Learn about the behavioral science behind The Jackson Galaxy Project’s Cat Pawsitive program, find out what makes it click for cats and humans alike, and hear how your organizations can smash assumptions about what’s possible for cats in a shelter or rescue environment. Exclusive training materials provided. Level 1
Presenters: Christie Rogero, Manager, The Jackson Galaxy Project and Cat Pawsitive, The Jackson Galaxy Project, A Signature Program of GreaterGood.org; Miranda Workman, MS, CABC, CBCC-KA, Lead Trainer-Mentor and Content Developer, Cat Pawsitive, The Jackson Galaxy Project, A Signature Program of GreaterGood.org

Small budgets big results track

Beyond email: Technology solutions for shelters
Remember when you first got email on your phone? Amazing! Now that you're buried in emails, it’s time to take your operations beyond the basics. You don’t have to be a geek or spend a fortune to introduce the same tools used by tech and Fortune 100 companies. We'll explore powerful (and often free) tools to improve team communications, manage projects and events, and even connect you with volunteers, supporters and the world. Level 1
Presenter: Susan Cosby, Director of Lifesaving Programs, Petco Foundation

Cats track

It's raining kittens! Collaborating to weather the storm
Kitten season is typically a time of year when groups find themselves competing for resources. What if instead of competing, we collaborate? Learn from our experience in Los Angeles how collaboration and information sharing among multiple players from social enterprise, nonprofit and municipal organizations can lead to the development of supersized kitten programming to increase live release rates in the community. Level 1
Presenter:Lori Hutchins, Chief Adopt & Shop Officer, Michelson Found Animals Foundation; Jennifer Pimentel, Senior Manager of Operations, Best Friends Animal Society

Global animals issues track

Global fundraising: How to get started
Come learn the basics of launching a fundraising plan for animal welfare outside of the United States. This session will focus on best practices for proposal writing, corporate giving, networking and stewarding donors.
Presenter: Kimberlee Dinn, Senior Vice President, Philanthropy, the Humane Society of the United States

In the field track

Small and mighty: Efficient, effective animal control
Is it possible to define success without quotas, balance community safety and lifesaving, and create a positive public image for your animal control organization? Yes! Less than a decade ago, the Austin Animal Center's animal control unit focused on investigating dog bites and bringing in as many stray animals as possible to the animal shelter. Perceived as the community's dog catchers, public support was low and shelter staff were overwhelmed with the 21,000 dogs and cats brought to the shelter annually. To accommodate changing community expectations, animal control had to make significant changes without additional budgetary or staff resources. Learn how to develop and evaluate policies, practices and programs that balance enforcement responsibilities with engagement based on this agency's experiences. We will also discuss how we plan to continue to adapt to the community's evolving animal services needs. Level 1
Presenters: April Moore, Engagement Manager, Austin Animal Center; Lee Ann Shenefiel, South Central Regional Director, Best Friends Animal Society; Mark Sloat, Field Services Program Manager, Austin Animal Center

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Leadership track

Going through hell? Keep going
This session focuses on preparing great animal sheltering organizations for the impact of unreasonable attack. Our work evokes an emotional response which drives donations, volunteer engagement, advocacy and, sometimes, attack. We'll share what animal sheltering leaders can do to prepare for these challenging situations and provide strategies for response and recovery when an attack occurs. Level 4
Presenters: Jodi Buckman, CAWA, Vice President National Outreach and Grants, ASPCA; Jan McHugh-Smith, President/CEO, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Valley; Jim Tedford, CAWA, President and CEO, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

Marketing/fundraising track

Shining on social: Stories and media relations to help you save more lives
Is your organization having trouble getting your messages across? This session will help grow your audience, raise revenue and sell your story. Whether your nonprofit wants to build its fan base or spread awareness about your organization, we’ll discuss how to effectively use social media, including how to produce successful Facebook Live events to help you achieve your goals. We will also cover media relations and offer guidance on how to engage reporters in a way that will land you on the evening news and leave you with adopters waiting at your door. Level 1
Presenters: Nicole Jaworski, Social Media Manager, HSI Digital Marketing, United States; Chad Sisneros, Managing Director, Creative, the Humane Society of the United States; Anna West, Senior Director, Public Relations, the Humane Society of the United States

People power track

Breaking bias
Be a part of a new adventure in Animal Welfare destined to save more animals in a deeply compassionate way. Join this session to explore biases, and more importantly, learn how to push through them for the animals we love. Lifesaving is unstoppable when we put our heads and hearts together, and it won’t work without you! Level 1
Presenters: Clare Callison, Maddie’s Saving Lifesaving Advisor, Austin Pets Alive!; James Evans, Executive Creative Director, ILLUME Communications; Blake Everett, Adoption Specialist, Young-Williams Animal Center; Betsy McFarland, Principal, Adisa Group; Stephanie Shain, Chief Operating Officer, Humane Rescue Alliance; Zach Skow, Founder and President, Marley’s Mutts and Pawsitive Change; Clifford Smith, Training Coordinator at the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Preparedness and Response

Progressive programs track

Access to veterinary care: A national family crisis
The lack of access to veterinary care is a significant animal welfare crisis affecting owned pets in the United States, and there are clear distinctions as far as who receives services provided by veterinarians. This session will discuss the development of veterinary care systems that address the needs of different socioeconomic groups. An in-depth overview of AlignCare™, a research and development health care project designed to improve access to veterinary care for underserved families, will be given. It is a One Health model that involves aligning existing resources from family support entities, like social services and public health; veterinary service providers, including both for-profit and nonprofit; and a charitable fund, receiving donations from foundations, businesses and private citizens. Level 1
Presenters: Michael Blackwell, DVM, MPH, Director, Program for Pet Health Equity; Susan Krebsbach, DVM, Assistant Director, Program for Pet Health Equity, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Social Work

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

Reaching underserved communities track

Why access to animal care resources is a social justice issue
Pet ownership crosses all geographic, racial and socioeconomic boundaries, but access to information and services does not. Institutional bias and systemic inequality have impacted pets in ways you may not realize. Discover what this could mean in your community and how it should inform your organization’s programming. Level 1
Presenter: Amanda Arrington, Director, Pets for Life, the Humane Society of the United States; Lori Hensley, Director of Operations, Beyond Fences

Shelter medicine track

Feline retrovirus: Is your shelter retro-ready?
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) pose a challenge to adoptions from an animal shelter setting. Tree House Humane Society, an all-feline shelter with a high success rate for the adoption of cats with these viruses, will discuss their medical protocols and housing system. We will cover what is necessary and what is ideal, as well as offer tidbits on the successful adoption of these cats. Level 3
Presenters: Danielle Case, Adoptions Counseling Manager, Tree House Humane Society; Emily Swiniarski, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services, Tree House Humane Society

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

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Thursday, April 18: 9:00am - 10:00am

Behavior track

From A to ZZZZZ: Sleepover success!
Are you ready to reduce your workload, decrease kennel stress and obtain real-life information that helps get more dogs adopted? In this “plug and play” session, attendees will leave with all the resources needed to implement their own sleepover program, including an orientation template, customizable resource guide for volunteers, dog profile and more! This simple sleepover program not only supports the dogs, but also provides an exciting way to re-engage current volunteers and recruit new supporters! Level 1
Presenter: Mariah Scheskie, BS, CPDT-KA, Director of Programs, Humane Society of Western Montana

Small budgets big results track

Shelter behavior on a budget
Implementing a behavior program is a struggle for shelters with limited staff, volunteer and financial resources. In this session, you will learn easy and efficient ways to make a significant impact on canine behavior through housing adjustments, enrichment and exercise protocols. We will also discuss behavior modification strategies that target barrier reactivity, hyper-arousal behavior, and shy, fearful or avoidant dogs. Level 2
Presenter: Kat Rooks, Behavior Manager, Kentucky Humane Society

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Cats track

One nation under cat
After decades of trailing behind the dog, the cat has gained pride of place as America's most popular household companion. What role has the cat played in American culture, and how has the status of the cat shifted over the course of time? How does the cat figure in humane thought and in humane work? What is the state of the bond between humans and felines? Level 1
Presenter: Bernard Unti, PhD, Senior Policy Adviser, the Humane Society of the United States

Global issues track

Building the ark: Helping animals in disasters
Natural disasters occur across the globe and strike whether we are prepared or not. Over the last decade, preparation, mitigation and response to disasters has become a major priority for governments around the globe with little attention paid to animals. In this session, we will discuss how we can work with local governments to give greater consideration to animals before, during and after disasters. We will also talk about what we can do to prepare for such an event, covering basic first aid techniques, what basic supplies should be on hand and how we can prepare for evacuating animals. Best practices for responding to assist animals during a natural disaster will also be covered.
Presenters: Adam Parascandola, Senior Director, HSI Animal Protection and Crisis Response, United States; Gabriel Rueda Carrillo, DVM, National Autonomous University of Mexico

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

In the field track

Beyond the dogcatcher: A look at modern animal care and control
This presentation looks briefly at where we’ve been and then provides a detailed look at the world of the modern animal care and control officer. Involved discussion from the group is a key component of this presentation and will include professionalism and ethics, technology, education and training, innovation, modern tactics and taking care of yourself. Level 1
Presenter: Rob Leinberger, Board of Directors, National Animal Care & Control Association

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Leadership track

Power partners: Building teamwork between boards of directors and animal care professionals
As chair of the board of directors and president/CEO of Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, we have learned that both the boards of directors and animal care professionals must build a relationship to make their charities work usefully, effectively and as a team. People on both sides of leadership have skills that can help the charity immensely if they learn to work well together. We will discuss our view on how to succeed in this effort. Level 4
Presenters: Todd Cramer, CAWA, President and CEO, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society; Cynthia LaFave, Esq., Chair, Board of Directors, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and Partner, LaFave, Wein & Frament, PLLC

Marketing/fundraising track

Fundraise for owned animals by focusing on your why: using purpose-driven messages to tell your story
Emotionally evocative images and stories work. They also have the complicated potential side-effect of creating and supporting a narrative that might be our biggest obstacle in raising funds to do impactful work. As many of our organizations shift to serving more low-income pet owners and keeping pets healthy and at home, the stories we’ve told about people in the past might be presenting a challenge in the present – as our frequent focus on cruelty and neglect may have reinforced the idea that if you can’t “afford it,” you shouldn’t have a pet. But affordability is neither constant nor straightforward. As we increasingly turn our efforts to not just bringing – but keeping – people and pets together, that narrative may no longer serve us well. This session will make the case for a purpose-driven approach and provide some tools to try it out. We’ll craft compelling messages in real-time and consider the positive impact of telling our stories in a different way as our strategies increasingly focus on supporting owned animals. Level 1
Presenter: B.J. Rogers, CAWA, Vice President of Training & Organizational Development, Emancipet

People power track

Engaging with faith communities
Partnering with faith leaders and congregations adds valuable support to volunteer programs for shelters, and has helped to pass meaningful animal protection legislation around the country. Thinking outside the box about community outreach and potential partnerships with faith communities can have a positive impact not only on your shelter operations, but also on your ability to reach underserved communities, create humane education opportunities and increase public support. Join us to hear success stories about partnerships between faith groups and shelters and learn how you can get started implementing similar programs in your community. Level 1
Presenter: Erica Geppi, MDiv, Senior Director, Faith Outreach, the Humane Society of the United States

Progressive programs track

The business of saving lives
President and CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center, Michael Arms, shares his insights and inspiration with over 40 years of experience in animal welfare. He will change the way you look at animal welfare and your own organization’s policies while affirming your commitment to improving the quality of life for pets. You will be inspired with unique marketing ideas that will turn antiquated thinking about pricing, promotion and pet adoptions on its head. After you have been inspired to pursue a new approach for adoptions, he will share priceless tools to increase access to alternative forms of income through innovative “profit centers” and humane education programming that furthers your mission and helps fund your budget. Lastly, learn how a groundbreaking approach to public relations can put your organization on the map and save lives at little or no cost to your organization.
Presenters: Mike Arms, President and CEO, Helen Woodward Animal Center; Jessica Gercke, Communications Director, Helen Woodward Animal Center; Marcie Grube, Social Media Manager, Helen Woodward Animal Center; Renee Resko, Vice President of Development, Helen Woodward Animal Center

Reaching underserved communities track

Reaching inward: Cultivating a progressive organizational culture
Companion animal welfare has come to mean much more than simply sheltering and adoptions. Hear how the field is changing and what you should be thinking about as you take your organization into the future. From hiring and volunteer management to board buy-in and leadership support, this session will discuss how to build an inclusive organizational culture and ensure philosophies of nonjudgment are the common thread throughout every program and department. Level 3
Presenters: Jill Brown, Community Partnerships Manager, Denver Animal Protection; Mandy G. Evans, Executive Director, Panhandle Animal Shelter; Rachel Thompson, Program Manager, Operations and Strategy, Pets for Life, the Humane Society of the United States

Shelter medicine track

Foundations for behavioral well-being
Let's face it, shelter living is challenging. The shelter is filled with strange noises, weird smells, unfamiliar people, new food and questionable roommates. On top of all that, we do not really have a way to explain to the animals that we have their best interests in mind, so we have to show them. But what's the best way to do this? Come to this session to find out! We'll discuss how to meet the five freedoms of animal welfare for all animals in our care in affordable, doable ways, such as housing, in-housing enrichment, out-of-housing time and—you guessed it—length of stay! You'll leave with actionable ideas to implement as soon as you're back at your shelter as well as long-term goals to improve the lives of all animals (and people!) in your shelter. Level 1
Presenters: Cynthia Karsten, DVM, DABVP, Shelter Medicine Practice, Outreach Veterinarian, Koret Shelter Medicine Program, UC Davis; Rachel Powell, DVM, UW/UCD Maddie's Shelter Medicine Fellow and Shelter Veterinarian, Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.
This program has been approved for CCPDT credits: 1.5 CEUs for trainers.

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Thursday, April 18: 10:15am - 11:15pm

Behavior track

The power of playgroups
Dogs live to play, now let them play to live! Learn how playgroups can enhance quality of life (for both shelter dogs and their caretakers) and adoption matching while helping you to learn much more about your dogs than how they play with other dogs. We've asked 200 shelters that we've worked with internationally about the impact of playgroups, and have heard time and time again how the benefits far outweigh the perceived risks. This presentation is packed with video clips demonstrating how playgroups are a tool that can be used to enhance enrichment, training, assessment and behavior modification, and provide an efficient and effective way to care for even large populations of sheltered dogs. Level 1
Presenter: Aimee Sadler, Founder/CEO, Dogs Playing for Life

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Small budgets big results track

Nothing to lose: Building a lifesaving parvo program
When it comes to parvovirus, we know what the alternative to treatment is. There's nothing to lose, and everything to gain by trying to treat parvo-positive dogs. But, saving more lives means outside-the-box thinking for shelters with limited space and limited resources, especially when it comes to treating contagious illnesses like parvo. KC Pet Project, located in Kansas City, Missouri, built a parvo ward in a tiny 100 sq. ft. locker room six years ago and has treated nearly 600 parvo-positive dogs using creative staffing, and a nothing-to-lose philosophy. In this class, learn how to build a comprehensive lifesaving parvo program in your shelter, including housing, treatment, staffing, animal enrichment and funding. All you need is passion, creative thinking and the will to try! Level 1
Presenters: Rocio Bellido, DVM, Shelter Veterinarian, KC Pet Project; Shannon Wells, CPDT-KA, 2018 Recipient of the Petco Foundation Unsung Hero Award, Director of Operations, Kansas City Pet Project

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Cats track

Cat counting and citizen science: A new frontier for measuring impact
Sheltering professionals traditionally have measured impact on cat populations with intake and outcome metrics, yet as our scope of work broadens to include cats throughout our communities, we need new models of measurement. This session will explore ongoing attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of our efforts to help cats and determine more accurate estimates of local cat populations. Learn how a citizen scientist-operated program in Chicago documented colony population declines with a methodology easily employed in your own backyard. Hear about how the DC Cat Count, a three-year integrated study into the dynamics of owned, outdoor and shelter cats in one community, aims to facilitate data-driven cat population management and develop scientifically-sound tools and protocols that can be used by a wide variety of animal welfare organizations across the country. Level 1
Presenters: Danielle Bays, Community Cats Program Manager, Companion Animals, the Humane Society of the United States; John Boone, Research Director, Great Basin Bird Observatory; Lauren Lipsey, Vice President of Community Programs, Humane Rescue Alliance; Daniel Spehar, MS, Independent Researcher, Co-Founder, The Together Initiative for Ohio's Community Cats and Senior District Leader Volunteer, the Humane Society of the United States

Global animal issues track

There is no international session during this time. Feel free to attend an HSUS session.

In the field track

Live capture 501: Advanced techniques for success
Expand your live-trapping and domestic and wildlife capture skills. Advanced techniques will be demonstrated to increase success and decrease stress and animal injury. Specifically, we will cover catching the uncatchable, redefining live-traps, ten stress reduction must do's, and the equipment grab bag needed by most rescues. We will also discuss five rescue case studies to engage the audience in planning how to help critters in crisis. This course will be interactive and based upon situations raised by those in the room! Level 3
Presenter: Dave Pauli, Senior Adviser Wildlife Response and Policy, the Humane Society of the United States

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Leadership track

Mapping the career path no one told you about
Whether you stumbled, tripped or purposefully walked into animal welfare as a profession, no one could have adequately prepared you for the challenges and growth opportunities you’d encounter in your career from entry level to executive management. Hear from industry veterans, who understand the unique challenges faced by animal welfare employees, about how you can circumvent barriers, eliminate roadblocks and map out a career that engages your passions without hiring a life coach. Level 3
Presenters: Jennifer Brehler, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, San Diego Humane Society; Jim Tedford, CAWA, President and CEO, Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

Marketing/fundraising track

Unique fundraising events to engage your community
What do cat yogis, motorcycle gangs, ping pong players and single cat ladies have in common? They are all potential donors, supporters and adopters just looking for a chance to come and partake of your unique events, fundraisers and experiences. This session will share fun ideas about how to get them to enter your door and leave with an armload of foster kittens, a new pet and/or a portion of their pay check dedicated to your annual fund. Level 1
Presenter: Julie Barger, Director of Development, Lynchburg Humane Society

People Power Track

Encouraging enrichment through engagement
Enrichment in shelter settings is incredibly important for not only the animals but also for staff and volunteers. Providing enrichment helps to decrease stress, illness and increases adoption in cats and dogs which in turn keeps volunteers and staff happier. In this session, we will be discussing how to recruit, empower, engage and retain volunteers while also increasing your organizations impact and improving public perception by enriching the lives of your shelter’s residents. We will provide specific enrichment activities for all different age groups from the local Girl Scout troop to senior citizens and share with you some of the programs that have proven most successful. Level 1
Presenters: Kathy Jacobs, Program Coordinator, Friends of the Animal Shelter, Aiken, SC; Tabitha Kucera, CCBC, RVT, KPA-CTP, Chirrups and Chatter cat behavior consulting and training, Positively Pawsitive dog behavior consulting and training

Progressive programs track

Rehome: Empowering pet owners to safely rehome their pet
Would you start a surrender intervention program if it cost your organization no money, required no resources and needed almost no staff time? How about if that program actually raised unrestricted funds for your organization? In 2016, Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com and the Petco Foundation was launched as a new and innovative alternative to owner surrenders to animal welfare organizations. In this session, we will give an in-depth overview of how the website is decreasing owner surrenders, how it is helping those who must safely rehome their pets and what we’ve learned through all the data we’ve gathered on pet owners who have used the service. Level 1
Presenters: April Harris, CAWA, Director of Animal Welfare Insights, Adopt-a-Pet.com; David Meyer, Co-Founder and CEO, Adopt-a-Pet.com; Abbie Moore, Chief Product Officer, Adopt-a-Pet.com

Reaching underserved communities track

Driving meaningful change through data
It is time to evolve mission-level metrics beyond shelter intake to inform and enhance community-based programming. From accessing and using practical data collection and mapping tools to analyzing results in order to make strategic decisions that inform your work and appeal to data-driven supporters, data has never been so vital and, yes, exciting! Learn how different organizations have utilized data to expand the animal welfare field’s thinking and open more doors to community-level understanding and impact than ever before. Level 3
Presenters: Sloane Hawes, MSW, Research Associate, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, University of Denver; Maria Saucedo, Database Specialist, the Humane Society of the United States

Shelter medicine track

Managing emotions: The Fear Free Shelter Program
The overarching goal of the Fear Free Shelter Program is to improve the emotional experiences of animals by educating shelter personnel about the emotional needs of dogs and cats and empowering staff members to apply broad-based concepts, strategies and techniques designed to reduce the negative emotional states that are commonly experienced by shelter animals, including fear, anxiety, stress and frustration. In this session, you will be introduced to some of these concepts as you learn about the new online Fear Free Shelter course. The online course is free for anyone interested in learning how to improve the emotional experiences of shelter animals! Level 1
Presenters: Sara L. Bennett, Clinical Assistant Professor of Veterinary Behavior, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.
This program has been approved for CCPDT credits: 1.5 CEUs for behavior consultants.

Bonus Session

Pit bulls – What are we going to do?
Join Todd Cramer to discuss overpopulation of pit bulls in our nation’s shelters and brainstorm ideas on how we are going to address this overwhelming problem. While euthanasia numbers are declining for the most adoptable pets, many shelters are left with long term pit bull residents in their care. How can we collaborate to create change for pit bulls and remove the stigma associated with them in our communities? Level 1
Presenter: Todd Cramer, President and CEO, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

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Thursday, April 18: 11:30am - 12:30pm

Bonus Sessions

Adopt an animal-friendly food policy to save more lives
Note: This session will run until 1:00pm
You work hard every day to rescue cats, dogs and rabbits from dire situations and place them in loving homes. What if you could save 100 more animals each year with no additional effort? By adopting an animal-friendly food policy, you can! And it doesn't have to be a big fuss. Learn why reducing meat consumption is mission-consistent, and hear how one shelter made the change. By demonstrating how to make specific recipes, we'll show you how to easily—and deliciously!—incorporate tasty plant-based foods at your events. We'll even feed you samples! Level 1
Presenters: Josephine Morris, Food and Nutrition Specialist, Forward Food, the Humane Society of the United States; Stephanie Shain, Chief Operating Officer, Humane Rescue Alliance; Deva Holub, Coordinator, Animal Place's Food for Thought Campaign; Barbara Troyer, Wildlife & Environmental Coordinator, Animal Place’s Food for Thought Campaign

Breaking down the barriers to rural outreach
Rural communities need love too! Rural outreach is about making connections and building relationships with people and pets in areas that need it most. Through this session, attendees will leave with a resource toolkit to help them jump-start an outreach program; an understanding of how shelters, specifically, can help people in rural communities care for the pets they love; and the knowledge needed to mentor shelters in these areas so that the agencies can then provide for their own communities long term. Level 3
Presenters: Matthew Brown, MNM, CNP, Director of Lifesaving Operations, Angels of Assisi; Lisa O'Neill, Executive Director, Angels of Assisi

Disaster dynamics: The laws and the realities
Despite the passage of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act in 2006, and the implementation of many related laws and policies since then, there is still much legal work to be done when it comes to protecting animals - companion, farm, zoo, and wild - during and after natural disasters. This session will cover current laws and policies, recent legal developments and highlight gaps at both the federal and state level in mandates for animals during disasters. Practical aspects of animal rescue during natural disasters will be discussed, particularly with respect to how evacuation, rescue, recovery, sheltering and tracking are all impacted by the existing legal structure. In addition, the trickle-down effect of rescuing animals during natural disasters will be covered, including the impact on human health, safety, and well-being. Level 1
Presenter: Wanda Merling, Deputy Director Operations, Animal Cruelty, Rescue and Response, the Humane Society of the United States

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Domestic violence shelters and pets: How animal care organizations can help
This presentation will include an overview of RedRover’s domestic violence grants program and the importance of recognizing the critical role pets play in domestic violence situations. With a focus on creating strong community partnerships, participants will learn about co-sheltering and how animal care organizations can support their local domestic violence shelters with the care of survivors’ pets. Level 1
Presenter: Katie Campbell, MA, Outreach Manager, RedRover

How to say spay: Strategic communication to encourage the right moves
How do you change people’s behavior around spay/neuter? What kind of messaging will compel someone to take action? This session will take you through a research project that set out to answer these questions for rural communities in British Columbia, Canada, and how this research shaped a successful communication strategy for large-scale spay/neuter programs. We will discuss marketing tactics you can use to create buy-in from your community to run large-scale spay/neuter programs. Level 1
Presenter: Marieke van der Velden, Outreach Specialist, British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Respect is the bottom line: How to disagree in a way that doesn’t stop progress
Can we learn to extend the same compassion we have for animals to humans, even if we disagree with each other? A volunteer and a shelter CEO share how they work together to advance animal welfare despite not agreeing on everything. Participants will gain tools to help them better communicate and better manage relationships, and hopefully leave this session with a willingness to use compassion and respect as a way to push for change. Level 1
Presenters: Meg Allison, Volunteer, Louisiana SPCA; Ana Zorrilla, CAWA, CEO, Louisiana SPCA

Katrina's promise: A change in the human weather
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath produced dramatic and compelling insights about the human-animal bond; disaster preparedness as it relates to race, class and resources; and veterinary care practices in the United States. Participants and observers with direct experience of the post-disaster environment will examine Katrina's larger lessons through the lens of human behavior change and the perspectives of social marketing, and share insights about the disaster's lasting legacy and impacts. Level 1
Presenters: Bernard Unti, PhD, Senior Policy Adviser, the Humane Society of the United States; Heather Cammisa, CAWA, MA

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Learner-centered humane education: Constructing attitude and behavior change
A big part of our work is changing attitudes and behaviors. What is the best way to make that happen in your education programs? This interactive session will introduce techniques and activity ideas to help you tap into students' passions and curiosity about the world system and the choices they make that impact people and animals. Help support long-term behavior change in your community with new ideas that will inspire others to imagine a more humane world. Level 1
Presenter: Stephanie Itle-Clark, EdD, CHES, Founder and President, Academy of Prosocial Learning

How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?
Emotional intelligence (EI), or the ability to understand and control emotions, is a quality needed by all animal welfare professionals. Study after study shows high EI has been positively correlated with job performance and satisfaction, stress management and social interaction. High EI can help you connect and communicate successfully while at the same time keep you safe from the everyday dangers you face in your profession. In this session you will test your current level of EI and learn how to stay in full control of your emotions in a crisis, while making decisions sensitively. Even if you already have many of the elements of emotional intelligence, it's important to look for opportunities to build it further and increase your leadership potential. Level 1
Presenter: John Thompson, Executive Director, National Animal Control Association

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Paw and order: Pet law history
What were the first pet laws? How did pet laws in cities evolve? And what does any of this have to do with nuclear weapons? In this presentation, we trace laws dealing with dogs and cats from the earliest leash laws to modern laws designed to enhance animal welfare. Living with our little furry friends in big cities can be complicated. This presentation provides context for the many laws impacting pets in our largest metropolitan areas. Level 1
Presenter: Brian Chase, General Counsel, Michelson Found Animals Foundation

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Marketing that moves hard-to-place pets
The reality of our work is that you don’t always have highly adoptable pets looking for homes. Sometimes you have challenging pets to place—those who tend to be overlooked or take longer to find new homes for other reasons. This session focuses on easy-to-implement, free and fun ways to reach new audiences, all while working to reach your lifesaving goals. Through humor, out-of-the-box strategies, transparency and creative media, we'll discuss how to help make all of your animals shine. Level 1
Presenters: Tori Fugate, Chief Communications Officer, KC Pet Project; Caitlin Quinn, Director of Operations, HeARTs Speak

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Behavior track

Tuesday, April 16
9:45am - 11:15am

Good help, good dogs: Implementing a volunteer-based canine behavior program
As shelters stop euthanizing for space and animal residents’ length of stay increases, it is imperative that organizations ensure the emotional stability of sheltered dogs. However, limited time and resources often prevent progressive shelters from feeling capable of implementing advanced training and enrichment programs. This session will help your organization develop and implement a volunteer program to address common behavior problems in the shelter through species-specific enrichment and positive reinforcement. Level 3
Presenters: Amanda Audia, Director of Operations, Humane Society of Pinellas; Heather Gibbs, CPDT-KA, Lead Behavior Technician, Humane Society of Pinellas

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

From crisis to kindness: Helping dogs adapt to life in a home
Shelters and rescues often receive dogs from a variety of crisis situations, including the dog meat trade, puppy mills, hoarding cases and other cruel circumstances. Many of them will suffer from shy and fearful behavior. We will discuss some examples of these crisis situations and the resulting behaviors we see in many of the animals. We will walk through what it takes to ensure the best chance of success for these dogs both in your shelter or rescue and in the home. Attendees will learn a variety of environmental and active enrichment techniques that have proven successful in helping these animals. We’ll also talk about how to prepare adopters for what life will be like living with one of these dogs. Level 1
Presenters: Heather Hatt, Manager, Lynne Glennon Sanctuary for Senior Goldens and Puppy Mill Survivors; Abbie Hubbard, Consultant, Animal Behavior and Placement, HSI; Lisa Jagielski, Intake Manager, Trainer, Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue; Adam Parascandola, Senior Director, Animal Protection and Crisis Response, HSI

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.
This program has been approved for CCPDT credits: 1 CEU for trainers and 0.5 CEUs for behavior consultants.

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

From naughty to nice: Tackling troubled tabbies
Every rescue encounters troubled cats with issues that go beyond "tortitude." This session will teach you, step by step, how to start an all-volunteer cat behavior team that can drastically reduce returned adoptions and prove that even the naughtiest of kitties can find—and keep—a forever home! Do you have cats that are undersocialized? tend to bite? won't use a litter box? We've built a team for that and so can you! Level 1
Presenter: Monica Frenden, Maddie's Director of Feline Lifesaving, Austin Pets Alive!

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Back away from behavior? Exploring the enrichment vs. behavior question
After developing two advanced behavior programs in shelters, and then travelling the country to mentor shelters to implement widespread enrichment programs, DPFL has learned a lot about what approaches are most effective in working with problematic shelter dogs. In this session, we will discuss the difference between a widespread enrichment program and a behavior program—and what your shelter may need to best serve the dogs in your care. Count on hot topics such as behavior evaluations, playgroups, advanced behavior and more! Level 3
Presenter: Aimee Sadler, Founder/CEO, Dogs Playing for Life

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

Increasing cat enrichment and adoptions with clicker training
Teaching cats to high-five or run an agility course? It's not trickery. It's advanced enrichment that is helping to save the lives of cats all across the country. Learn about the behavioral science behind The Jackson Galaxy Project’s Cat Pawsitive program, find out what makes it click for cats and humans alike, and hear how your organizations can smash assumptions about what’s possible for cats in a shelter or rescue environment. Exclusive training materials provided. Level 1
Presenters: Christie Rogero, Manager, The Jackson Galaxy Project and Cat Pawsitive, The Jackson Galaxy Project, A Signature Program of GreaterGood.org; Miranda Workman, MS, CABC, CBCC-KA, Lead Trainer-Mentor and Content Developer, Cat Pawsitive, The Jackson Galaxy Project, A Signature Program of GreaterGood.org

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

From A to ZZZZZ: Sleepover success!
Are you ready to reduce your workload, decrease kennel stress and obtain real-life information that helps get more dogs adopted? In this “plug and play” session, attendees will leave with all the resources needed to implement their own sleepover program, including an orientation template, customizable resource guide for volunteers, dog profile and more! This simple sleepover program not only supports the dogs, but also provides an exciting way to re-engage current volunteers and recruit new supporters! Level 1
Presenter: Mariah Scheskie, BS, CPDT-KA, Director of Programs, Humane Society of Western Montana

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15pm

The power of playgroups
Dogs live to play, now let them play to live! Learn how playgroups can enhance quality of life (for both shelter dogs and their caretakers) and adoption matching while helping you to learn much more about your dogs than how they play with other dogs. We've asked 200 shelters that we've worked with internationally about the impact of playgroups, and have heard time and time again how the benefits far outweigh the perceived risks. This presentation is packed with video clips demonstrating how playgroups are a tool that can be used to enhance enrichment, training, assessment and behavior modification, and provide an efficient and effective way to care for even large populations of sheltered dogs. Level 1
Presenter: Aimee Sadler, Founder/CEO, Dogs Playing for Life

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

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Small budgets big results track

Tuesday, April 16
9:45am - 11:15am

Easier money: Simple steps to build a sustainable planned giving program
Raising money for a shelter can be daunting and many times the urgent need for immediate funds leaves little time to consider or develop a long-term funding strategy. In this seminar, we will share some simple and easy processes you can implement to create a sustainable bequest program that will help you secure future resources so your organization can continue to grow and meet its long-term financial goals and objectives. Level 4
Presenters: Ann Kolakowski, CAP, Senior Director of Bequests, the Humane Society of the United States; Steven Maughan, Vice President of Planned Gifts and Estates, the Humane Society of the United States

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

Gourmet marketing tools on a ramen noodle budget
No marketing staff? No problem! Join this presentation for step-by-step demonstrations of free or low-cost digital and marketing tools. Additionally, a basic review of pet and volunteer software choices will be provided to demystify the options for attendees. Lastly, a step-by-step guide of advertising on Facebook, the ins and outs of the Facebook algorithm and best practices on all social media platforms will be presented. Level 1
Presenter: Emily Klehm, CAWA, CEO, South Suburban Humane Society

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

More people, more intake? Breaking the connection to save more lives
Conventional wisdom says that human population growth is followed by an increase in animal intake in municipal shelters. But the City of Sacramento was able to buck that trend. In this case-study based seminar, we'll review the five main, yet seemingly counterintuitive, strategies employed by Front Street Animal Shelter in conjunction with the Michelson Found Animals Foundation Registry. Learn how to implement innovative tactics using microchips and a free registry, conduct smart community outreach to reduce the length of stay of shelter animals, return more found dogs to their owners and build community goodwill—all while saving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually! You'll be provided with tools and strategies your shelter needs to study your local community's needs, develop partnerships and craft your own shelter intervention program. Level 3
Presenter:Gina Knepp, Animal Care Services Manager, Front Street Animal Shelter

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Dream big, start small: Sustainable shelter design on a budget
While it's fun to think about building a shelter with all the bells and whistles, budget limitations put it out of reach for many communities. You can build a lean, mean lifesaving machine that is comfortable and healthy for animals, efficient and safe for staff, and welcoming to visitors without breaking the bank. In this session, learn how to plan a shelter using scalable, modular design principles for the lowest initial cost, planned for expandability as more funds become available. We will share key shelter design concepts and ideas with an eye for flexibility, as well as discuss where to hold the line for function, durability and animal health. Topics to be discussed include, but are not limited to, right sizing, modular design principles, animal housing strategies, housing variety, flooring, noise control, air quality, lighting, use of flexible space, efficient pathways and creative use of outdoor space. Level 3
Presenters: Candace Harrison, AIA, Project Architect, INDIGO | Hammond & Playle Architects, LLP; Denae Wagner, DVM, MPVM, Assistant Director, Koret Shelter Medicine Program, UC Davis

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

Beyond email: Technology solutions for shelters
Remember when you first got email on your phone? Amazing! Now that you're buried in emails, it’s time to take your operations beyond the basics. You don’t have to be a geek or spend a fortune to introduce the same tools used by tech and Fortune 100 companies. We'll explore powerful (and often free) tools to improve team communications, manage projects and events, and even connect you with volunteers, supporters and the world. Level 1
Presenter: Susan Cosby, Director of Lifesaving Programs, Petco Foundation

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

Shelter behavior on a budget
Implementing a behavior program is a struggle for shelters with limited staff, volunteer and financial resources. In this session, you will learn easy and efficient ways to make a significant impact on canine behavior through housing adjustments, enrichment and exercise protocols. We will also discuss behavior modification strategies that target barrier reactivity, hyper-arousal behavior, and shy, fearful or avoidant dogs. Level 2
Presenter: Kat Rooks, Behavior Manager, Kentucky Humane Society

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15am

Nothing to lose: Building a lifesaving parvo program
When it comes to parvovirus, we know what the alternative to treatment is. There's nothing to lose, and everything to gain by trying to treat parvo-positive dogs. But, saving more lives means outside-the-box thinking for shelters with limited space and limited resources, especially when it comes to treating contagious illnesses like parvo. KC Pet Project, located in Kansas City, Missouri, built a parvo ward in a tiny 100 sq. ft. locker room six years ago and has treated nearly 600 parvo-positive dogs using creative staffing, and a nothing-to-lose philosophy. In this class, learn how to build a comprehensive lifesaving parvo program in your shelter, including housing, treatment, staffing, animal enrichment and funding. All you need is passion, creative thinking and the will to try! Level 1
Presenters: Rocio Bellido, DVM, Shelter Veterinarian, KC Pet Project; Shannon Wells, CPDT-KA, 2018 Recipient of the Petco Foundation Unsung Hero Award, Director of Operations, Kansas City Pet Project

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

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Cats track

Tuesday, April 16
9:45am - 11:15am

Commerce for kitties: Using for-profit approaches to help more cats
Saving the lives of cats requires creativity and flexibility for both the cats and adopters! Too often we’re short on space and aren’t attracting enough adopters to do the best we can by our feline friends. This panel presentation will focus on innovative approaches to using for-profit ideas to save more cats' lives. Pop-up kitten retail, cat cafés and more will be explored, taking the best from the business world and utilizing these approaches to fulfill our own mission and vision for animals. Level 3
Presenters: BJ Andersen, CAWA, Executive Director, Willamette Humane Society; Tanya Hilgendorf, MSW, President and CEO, Humane Society of Huron Valley; Karel Minor, President/CEO, Humane Pennsylvania

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

Boom! The power of combining return-to-field and targeted trap-neuter-return
Since 2012, Best Friends Animal Society has partnered with municipal shelters to implement Community Cat Programs (CCPs) across the country. These three-year, large-scale programs combine return-to-field with targeted TNR efforts to address the issue of free-roaming cats in each community. The impact on cat intake, cat euthanasia and other relevant metrics has been remarkable! Hear in-depth results from a sample of CCPs and learn from the experts about the basics of performing return-to-field and targeted TNR. Level 3
Presenters: Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats; Karen Little, Executive Director, Alley Cat Advocates; Daniel Spehar, MS, Independent Researcher, Co-Founder, The Together Initiative for Ohio's Community Cats and Senior District Leader Volunteer, the Humane Society of the United States

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

Avoiding cat-astrophe! Humanely addressing cat overpopulation sites
Faced with a situation where cats are multiplying out of control at an outdoor site, such as a residence, business or abandoned lot? Learn an effective approach to humanely solve this problem by bringing all impacted groups together to develop a humane and realistic plan and applying disaster response principles to successfully execute each aspect of the plan and manage the operation. We’ll discuss trapping, transport, temporary sheltering, spay/neuter, placement/return to field, aftercare and maintenance trapping. Level 3
Presenters: Denise Bash, Director of Special Projects, GreaterGood.org; Beth Gammie, Director of Field Services, RedRover; Michele Miller, Director, Rescue Purrfect, Rescue Purrfect

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Total rescue cat mojo: Five steps to maximize the well-being of cats in your care
Jackson has built his cat philosophy around uncovering and cultivating a cat's "mojo," or innate confidence. More specifically, he built that philosophy through 20+ years of working in and out of animal shelters where he was tasked with helping cats to deal with the extreme stress of life in a shelter/rescue and challenged to make them more adoptable in the process. In this class, Jackson will take you through five steps that encompass every moment of the cat's life in your care—from intake to adoption and beyond! Attendees will come away with tools related to assessment, environmental enrichment, the "Three Rs" (routine, ritual and rhythm), behavioral enrichment, cat team building and adoption counseling for the human caretakers. Total rescue cat mojo is above all a shiny new toolbox designed to help the cats and their human caretakers thrive! Level 1
Presenter: Jackson Galaxy, Founder, Jackson Galaxy Project

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

It's raining kittens! Collaborating to weather the storm
Kitten season is typically a time of year when groups find themselves competing for resources. What if instead of competing, we collaborate? Learn from our experience in Los Angeles how collaboration and information sharing among multiple players from social enterprise, nonprofit and municipal organizations can lead to the development of supersized kitten programming to increase live release rates in the community. Level 1
Presenters:Lori Hutchins, Chief Adopt & Shop Officer, Michelson Found Animals Foundation; Jennifer Pimentel, Senior Manager of Operations, Best Friends Animal Society

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

One nation under cat
After decades of trailing behind the dog, the cat has gained pride of place as America's most popular household companion. What role has the cat played in American culture, and how has the status of the cat shifted over the course of time? How does the cat figure in humane thought and in humane work? What is the state of the bond between humans and felines? Level 1
Presenter: Bernard Unti, PhD, Senior Policy Adviser, the Humane Society of the United States

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15am

Cat counting and citizen science: A new frontier for measuring impact
Sheltering professionals traditionally have measured impact on cat populations with intake and outcome metrics, yet as our scope of work broadens to include cats throughout our communities, we need new models of measurement. This session will explore ongoing attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of our efforts to help cats and determine more accurate estimates of local cat populations. Learn how a citizen scientist-operated program in Chicago documented colony population declines with a methodology easily employed in your own backyard. Hear about how the DC Cat Count, a three-year integrated study into the dynamics of owned, outdoor and shelter cats in one community, aims to facilitate data-driven cat population management and develop scientifically-sound tools and protocols that can be used by a wide variety of animal welfare organizations across the country. Level 1
Presenters: Danielle Bays, Community Cats Program Manager, Companion Animals, the Humane Society of the United States; John Boone, Research Director, Great Basin Bird Observatory; Lauren Lipsey, Vice President of Community Programs, Humane Rescue Alliance; Daniel Spehar, MS, Independent Researcher, Co-Founder, The Together Initiative for Ohio's Community Cats and Senior District Leader Volunteer, the Humane Society of the United States

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Global animal issues track

Tuesday, April 16
9:45am - 11:15am

International Networking Session
Come and meet your fellow international attendees, discuss issues you are facing within your country and learn what others are doing to reconcile or deal with similar situations.
Moderators: HSI Companion Animals team

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

Helping cats around the world with TNR
Gain a comprehensive overview of how to implement a cat-specific TNR program anywhere on the planet, even in sensitive habitat areas. Learn to build and implement cat management programs by covering the legal side, logistical aspects and emotional components of staging a high-quality, high-volume TNR campaign. Learn how to implement these programs with very few resources and lots of imagination and ingenuity.
Presenters: Emma Clifford, CEO, Animal Balance; Raymond Deonanan, DVM, President, Worldwide Rural Assistance Program

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

Happy beginnings, not sad endings: Secrets for placing the “unplaceable”
Many shelters and rescues around the world are faced with a population of animals (e.g., large dogs, mixed breeds, sick or old cats and dogs) who are difficult to place. In California shelters, senior dogs were once particularly likely to languish or be euthanized. However, Muttville, a San Francisco-based rescue organization, has turned that trend upside down and created a culture of adoption around senior dogs. Learn from this incredible rescue how they managed to turn difficult-to-adopt animals into desirable companions! Unfortunately, however, not all animals will be adopted. Adam Parascandola will discuss the options available for animals who are not placed and how we can make the difficult but necessary decisions about them.
Presenters: Sherri Franklin, CEO, Muttville Senior Dog Rescue; Adam Parascandola, Senior Director, HSI Animal Protection and Crisis Response, United States; Laurie Routhier, COO, Muttville Senior Dog Rescue

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Shining on social: Stories and media relations to help you save more lives
Is your organization having trouble getting your messages across? This session will help grow your audience, raise revenue and sell your story. Whether your nonprofit wants to build its fan base or spread awareness about your organization, we’ll discuss how to effectively use social media, including how to produce successful Facebook Live events to help you achieve your goals. We will also cover media relations and offer guidance on how to engage reporters in a way that will land you on the evening news.
Presenters: Nicole Jaworski, Social Media Manager, HSI Digital Marketing, United States; Chad Sisneros, Managing Director, Creative, the Humane Society of the United States; Anna West, Senior Director, Public Relations, the Humane Society of the United States

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

Global fundraising: How to get started
Come learn the basics of launching a fundraising plan for animal welfare outside of the United States. This session will focus on best practices for proposal writing, corporate giving, networking and stewarding donors.
Presenter: Kimberlee Dinn, Senior Vice President, Philanthropy, the Humane Society of the United States

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

Building the ark: Helping animals in disasters
Natural disasters occur across the globe and strike whether we are prepared or not. Over the last decade, preparation, mitigation and response to disasters has become a major priority for governments around the globe with little attention paid to animals. In this session, we will discuss how we can work with local governments to give greater consideration to animals before, during and after disasters. We will also talk about what we can do to prepare for such an event, covering basic first aid techniques, what basic supplies should be on hand and how we can prepare for evacuating animals. Best practices for responding to assist animals during a natural disaster will also be covered.
Presenters: Adam Parascandola, Senior Director, HSI Animal Protection and Crisis Response, United States; Gabriel Rueda Carrillo, DVM, National Autonomous University of Mexico

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15am

There is no international session during this time. Feel free to attend an HSUS session.

Thursday, April 18
11:30am - 12:30pm

There is no international session during this time. Feel free to attend an HSUS session.

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In the field track

Tuesday, April 16
9:45am - 11:15am

Training the trainer: Getting your ACOs ready to roll
Training new animal control officers can be a daunting task as our field continues to develop and evolve, and there remains a lack of consistency in training protocol. This class will focus on developing uniform, yet customizable, training guidelines that will fit within most departments and agencies. The training guidelines follow a basic four-week field training officer (FTO) program that covers all the basic information needed by new officers. In this class, we will discuss how to teach people with different learning styles, how to focus on what is important when working within a strict timeline, and also take a look at the customizable timeline itself. At the completion of the class, you will receive a USB drive pre-loaded with forms that you can take back to your agency to create your own ACO FTO programs. Level 3
Presenter: Tabitha Blewett, Animal Control Officer, Humane Educators of Texas

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

How to document animal crimes
Presenter: Jessica Lauginiger, Director, Animal Crimes, Animal Cruelty, Rescue and Response, the Humane Society of the United States

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

The power of choice: How choice and two-way conversations empower dogs
Every interaction between dogs and people can be a two-way conversation, starting from the moment of rescue to the forever home. Dogs communicate their needs all the time, but are we listening? By empowering dogs with choice, we can start the conversation and help ease the transition into homes.
Presenters: Aly Lecznar, Dog Trainer and Curriculum Manager for the Victoria Stilwell Academy; Victoria Stilwell, Dog Trainer and Behavior Expert, Host of the International hit TV series, It’s Me or the Dog and President of the Victoria Stilwell Academy

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Dealing with difficult personalities: A field survival guide
Animal control officers are typically trained in animal handling, but we spend most of our day interacting with people. This class identifies common personality types encountered in the field and discusses how to deal with each type by overcoming common barriers to communication. Improving communication skills will help officers identify and solve community issues, increase compliance and reduce the number of public complaints. Topics to be covered include active listening, body language and navigating conflict. Level 1
Presenter: Kelly Thyssen, Animal Control Officer, Humane Educators of Texas

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

Small and mighty: Efficient, effective animal control
Is it possible to define success without quotas, balance community safety and lifesaving, and create a positive public image for your animal control organization? Yes! Less than a decade ago, the Austin Animal Center's animal control unit focused on investigating dog bites and bringing in as many stray animals as possible to the animal shelter. Perceived as the community's dog catchers, public support was low and shelter staff were overwhelmed with the 21,000 dogs and cats brought to the shelter annually. To accommodate changing community expectations, animal control had to make significant changes without additional budgetary or staff resources. Learn how to develop and evaluate policies, practices and programs that balance enforcement responsibilities with engagement based on this agency's experiences. We will also discuss how we plan to continue to adapt to the community's evolving animal services needs. Level 1
Presenters: April Moore, Engagement Manager, Austin Animal Center; Lee Ann Shenefiel, South Central Regional Director, Best Friends Animal Society; Mark Sloat, Field Services Program Manager, Austin Animal Center

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

Beyond the dogcatcher: A look at modern animal care and control
This presentation looks briefly at where we’ve been and then provides a detailed look at the world of the modern animal care and control officer. Involved discussion from the group is a key component of this presentation and will include professionalism and ethics, technology, education and training, innovation, modern tactics and taking care of yourself. Level 1
Presenter: Rob Leinberger, Board of Directors, National Animal Care & Control Association

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15am

Live capture 501: Advanced techniques for success
Expand your live-trapping and domestic and wildlife capture skills. Advanced techniques will be demonstrated to increase success and decrease stress and animal injury. Specifically, we will cover catching the uncatchable, redefining live-traps, ten stress reduction must do's, and the equipment grab bag needed by most rescues. We will also discuss five rescue case studies to engage the audience in planning how to help critters in crisis. This course will be interactive and based upon situations raised by those in the room! Level 3
Presenter: Dave Pauli, Senior Adviser Wildlife Response and Policy, the Humane Society of the United States

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.

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Leadership track

Tuesday, April 16
9:45am - 11:15am

Saving by numbers: Using shelter data to get better results
Following up on Dr. Scarlett’s recent book, Every Nose Counts: Using Metrics in Animal Shelters, A Maddie’s Guide, in this session you’ll learn how to use data to achieve maximum impact, how to perform in-depth program evaluations, what metrics should influence your actions to improve the lives of the animals you serve and how data can help support organizational culture and community collaboration. Level 1
Presenters: Martha Boden, PMP, CAWA, CEO, SPCA Tampa Bay; Anne Reed, President and CEO, Wisconsin Humane Society; Jan Scarlett, DVM, MPH, PhD, Professor Emerita of Epidemiology, Founder of Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

Companion Animal Transport Best Practice
Join us for a compelling discussion regarding nationwide transport best practices. Transport has a critical role in addressing pet population disparity but diligent care must to taken to ensure the safety of the staff and pets. Learn what’s working and what’s not through experts from a hub source shelter and high intake destination shelter. Participants will take away knowledge form real life lessons learned from both organizations as well as a review of the new national AWAA guidelines that are hot off the press! Level 1
Presenter: Gina Gardner, President of the Board of Directors, Humane Society of Tulsa; Adam Lamb, Chief Executive Officer, Brandywine Valley SPCA

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

Managing and overcoming resistance to change
Change is important, even though it's basic human nature to resist it! According to experts, 70 percent of change efforts fail. Whether you are creating new programs, expanding operations, moving into a new shelter or taking on any other type of change, the process can be tough for your staff and volunteers. This session will help you better understand various aspects of organizational change, enabling you to increase readiness and buy-in while minimizing resistance. Level 4
Presenters: Laura Maloney, Principal, Adisa; Betsy McFarland, CAWA, Principal, Adisa

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Fostering healthy relationships with the most difficult animals
Whether it's with volunteers, prospective donors or board members, it's essential to foster healthy relationships with people so you can achieve your animal welfare goals. Kelly Pepper will discuss board building, human resources and best practices for nonprofits as a means of teaching attendees to be more effective leaders. Sometimes interpersonal issues are neglected because nonprofits are so focused on their cause. This session will explain how maintaining human relationships is actually a critical component in providing sustainable care to our furry friends. Level 1
Presenter: Kelly Pepper, President and CEO, Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

Going through hell? Keep going
This workshop focuses on preparing great animal sheltering organizations for the impact of unreasonable attack. Our work evokes an emotional response which drives donations, volunteer engagement, advocacy and, sometimes, attack. We'll share what animal sheltering leaders can do to prepare for these challenging situations and provide strategies for response and recovery when an attack occurs. Level 4
Presenters: Jodi Buckman, CAWA, Vice President National Outreach and Grants, ASPCA; Jan McHugh-Smith, President/CEO, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Valley; Jim Tedford, CAWA, President and CEO, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

Power partners: Building teamwork between boards of directors and animal care professionals
As chair of the board of directors and president/CEO of Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, we have learned that both the boards of directors and animal care professionals must build a relationship to make their charities work usefully, effectively and as a team. People on both sides of leadership have skills that can help the charity immensely if they learn to work well together. We will discuss our view on how to succeed in this effort. Level 4
Presenters: Todd Cramer, CAWA, President and CEO, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society; Cynthia LaFave, Esq., Chair, Board of Directors, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and Partner, LaFave, Wein & Frament, PLLC

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15am

Mapping the career path no one told you about
Whether you stumbled, tripped or purposefully walked into animal welfare as a profession, no one could have adequately prepared you for the challenges and growth opportunities you’d encounter in your career from entry level to executive management. Hear from industry veterans, who understand the unique challenges faced by animal welfare employees, about how you can circumvent barriers, eliminate roadblocks and map out a career that engages your passions without hiring a life coach. Level 3
Presenter: Jennifer Brehler, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, San Diego Humane Society; Jim Tedford, CAWA, President and CEO, Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

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Marketing/fundraising track

Tuesday, April 16
9:45am - 11:15am

Digital storytelling: Using media to capture your audience
Use your tools and passion to captivate your community and donors! Millennials are becoming a more significant part of your donor and community support base—is your organization using the best tools and techniques available to reach and engage them? In this session, we will discuss the most effective and efficient ways to tell your stories and share your passion with this unique segment of the population. Level 1
Presenters: Michael Morefield, Marketing and Communications Director, Arizona Animal Welfare League

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

Don't be spammy: Email best practices
Don't let your organization's message wind up in your current and potential supporters' spam folders! In this session, email marketing expert Katy Kelly will teach you how to effectively and steadily grow your email lists while remaining on the "up-and-up" with major email providers Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook. Learn best-in-class email practices so that your mailings wind up in the inbox and not the spam folder. This session will include specifics on assessing your list health through data analysis, tips on keeping content fresh, and guidance on how to troubleshoot and fix declining open and click rates. Level 3
Presenter: Katy Kelly, Email Marketing Manager, Michelson Found Animals Foundation

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

From Brand X to Brand Wow! How crafting your brand identity can help you achieve your mission
There are thousands of animal welfare organizations in the world. What makes yours unique? What makes your mission worth supporting? Do your donors and supporters know the answers to those questions as well as you do? "Branding" can sound like a mysterious piece of corporate jargon, unrelated to the life-and-death issues animal shelters and rescues face every day. But in fact, when your brand is executed in a thoughtful, consistent and powerful way, it can help you garner the community support you need to accomplish your mission. This session will cover the basics of successful branding, from visuals to voice, helping you figure out how to shout your identity from the rooftops in a way that will make your supporters proud to stand with you. Level 1
Presenters: Carrie Allan, Senior Editorial Director, the Humane Society of the United States; Jennifer Beel, Senior Creative Director, the Humane Society of the United States

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Comprehending the "comprehensive campaign"
Engaging in a "comprehensive campaign" is about energizing and inspiring board, staff, volunteers and donors to create financial sustainability. We will discuss how to incorporate multiple fundraising goals into one, including endowment, operations, annual giving and major gifts. You will also learn how to provide a platform for building an organizational culture of philanthropy that will last long after a campaign ends and help to focus your energy and resources into a single effort. This session is designed for leaders looking to increase their organizational sustainability, development staff who want to accelerate growth in their giving programs, operations staff looking to partner with development staff to ensure adequate funding for mission work, and volunteers hoping to help grow the appeal of their organization's mission to the community. Level 1
Presenters: Brian Daugherty, Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, San Diego Humane Society; Stephanie Little Ladeira, Chief of Philanthropy and Community Development, Humane Society Silicon Valley

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

Shining on social: Stories and media relations to help you save more lives
Is your organization having trouble getting your messages across? This session will help grow your audience, raise revenue and sell your story. Whether your nonprofit wants to build its fan base or spread awareness about your organization, we’ll discuss how to effectively use social media, including how to produce successful Facebook Live events to help you achieve your goals. We will also cover media relations and offer guidance on how to engage reporters in a way that will land you on the evening news and leave you with adopters waiting at your door. Level 1
Presenters: Nicole Jaworski, Social Media Manager, HSI Digital Marketing, United States; Chad Sisneros, Managing Director, Creative, the Humane Society of the United States; Anna West, Senior Director, Public Relations, the Humane Society of the United States

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

Fundraise for owned animals by focusing on your why: using purpose-driven messages to tell your story
Emotionally evocative images and stories work. They also have the complicated potential side-effect of creating and supporting a narrative that might be our biggest obstacle in raising funds to do impactful work. As many of our organizations shift to serving more low-income pet owners and keeping pets healthy and at home, the stories we’ve told about people in the past might be presenting a challenge in the present – as our frequent focus on cruelty and neglect may have reinforced the idea that if you can’t “afford it,” you shouldn’t have a pet. But affordability is neither constant nor straightforward. As we increasingly turn our efforts to not just bringing – but keeping – people and pets together, that narrative may no longer serve us well. This session will make the case for a purpose-driven approach and provide some tools to try it out. We’ll craft compelling messages in real-time and consider the positive impact of telling our stories in a different way as our strategies increasingly focus on supporting owned animals. Level 1
Presenter: B.J. Rogers, CAWA, Vice President of Training & Organizational Development, Emancipet

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15am

Unique fundraising events to engage your community
What do cat yogis, motorcycle gangs, ping pong players and single cat ladies have in common? They are all potential donors, supporters and adopters just looking for a chance to come and partake of your unique events, fundraisers and experiences. This session will share fun ideas about how to get them to enter your door and leave with an armload of foster kittens, a new pet and/or a portion of their pay check dedicated to your annual fund. Level 1
Presenter: Julie Barger, Director of Development, Lynchburg Humane Society

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People power track

Tuesday, April 16
9:45am - 11:15am

The human side of the Five Freedoms
Using the Five Freedoms for Animals as a guide, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society created the Five Freedoms for People. Participants will learn how to apply the five freedoms for animals to people by creating a culture of transparency; establishing a physically and emotionally comfortable environment; developing a culture that allows staff and volunteers to express opinions, overcome mistakes and share in both successes and disappointments; and fostering diversity and inclusion by encouraging individuality. Level 1
Presenter:Todd Cramer, President and CEO, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

Play the Foster Feud
Want to find out the most pressing questions and answers to saving more animal lives now? Foster Feud is back! Guided by multiple fun-loving hosts, this highly popular Foster Feud session engages shelter and rescue participants in a contest to name the most common responses to survey-type questions posed to both animal welfare and public audiences. Audience-selected panel interaction will motivate you to identify new ways to recruit more fosters, start new types of foster programs and keep your current fosters engaged and having fun. This is a double-session to give us more time for engaging learning about foster care. Oh, and did we mention? The commercial breaks will inspire you too! Level 1
Presenters: Lynne Fridley, Co-Director of Education, Maddie’s Fund; Michael Greenberg, Shelter Medicine and Spay-Neuter Consultant, Program Director, Target Zero; Lisa Ward, Co-Director of Education, Maddie’s Fund

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

The kids are alright:  Youth volunteers in direct animal care
There is a vast and important resource largely untapped by the animal sheltering world—teenagers! Removing unnecessary “18 and over” age restrictions for direct animal care enables shelters to participate in the development of future animal welfare advocates and offer the animals in their care loads of additional attention. In this session, we will explore ways to create or expand a youth volunteer program that furthers your mission while providing a safe and welcoming environment for youth. You’ll learn how to recruit, train, manage and support youth volunteers and how to gain organizational support from shelter administrators and staff. Level 1
Presenters: Karen Patterson, MEd, CHES, Director of Volunteers and Humane Education, Humane Society of Huron Valley; Karen Potocek, Humane Educator, St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Use the force: Cultivating a motivated volunteer team that multiplies your hands
Multiply your hands through volunteerism! Gain real ideas about how to grow and activate an engaged volunteer program. Learn how to onboard, schedule and retain volunteers that work smarter, not harder to care for the animals. Volunteers that are motivated through a culture of gratitude, with standards and policies in place to ensure a positive environment, are more likely to stay long term and support staff along the way. We are all struggling to make ends meet with tight budgets and minimal staffing and wish we could afford to do more. Discover how you too can utilize volunteer hours to make up the difference between what you can do and what needs to be done. Level 3
Presenters: Nicole DuBois, Senior Project Manager, Michelson Found Animals Foundation; Heather Thomas, Volunteer Program Manager, Michelson Found Animals Foundation

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

Breaking bias
Be a part of a new adventure in Animal Welfare destined to save more animals in a deeply compassionate way. Join this session to explore biases, and more importantly, learn how to push through them for the animals we love. Lifesaving is unstoppable when we put our heads and hearts together, and it won’t work without you! Level 1
Presenters: Clare Callison, Maddie’s Saving Lifesaving Advisor, Austin Pets Alive!; James Evans, Executive Creative Director, ILLUME Communications; Blake Everett, Adoption Specialist, Young-Williams Animal Center; Betsy McFarland, Principal, Adisa Group; Stephanie Shain, Chief Operating Officer, Humane Rescue Alliance; Zach Skow, Founder and President, Marley’s Mutts and Pawsitive Change; Clifford Smith, Training Coordinator at the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Preparedness and Response

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

Engaging with faith communities
Partnering with faith leaders and congregations adds valuable support to volunteer programs for shelters, and has helped to pass meaningful animal protection legislation around the country. Thinking outside the box about community outreach and potential partnerships with faith communities can have a positive impact not only on your shelter operations, but also on your ability to reach underserved communities, create humane education opportunities and increase public support. Join us to hear success stories about partnerships between faith groups and shelters and learn how you can get started implementing similar programs in your community. Level 1
Presenter: Erica Geppi, MDiv, Senior Director, Faith Outreach, the Humane Society of the United States

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15am

Encouraging enrichment through engagement
Enrichment in shelter settings is incredibly important for not only the animals but also for staff and volunteers. Providing enrichment helps to decrease stress, illness and increases adoption in cats and dogs which in turn keeps volunteers and staff happier. In this session, we will be discussing how to recruit, empower, engage and retain volunteers while also increasing your organizations impact and improving public perception by enriching the lives of your shelter’s residents. We will provide specific enrichment activities for all different age groups from the local Girl Scout troop to senior citizens and share with you some of the programs that have proven most successful. Level 1
Presenters: Kathy Jacobs, Program Coordinator, Friends of the Animal Shelter, Aiken, SC; Tabitha Kucera, CCBC, RVT, KPA-CTP, Chirrups and Chatter cat behavior consulting and training, Positively Pawsitive dog behavior consulting and training

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Progressive programs track

Tuesday, April 16
9:45am - 11:15am

When the shelter meets the stable
Your shelter is ready for Rex the Lab mix and Tom the tuxedo cat, but what do you do when Blaze the quarter horse and his friends show up at your door? Learn how dog and cat shelter experts, law enforcement officers and other horse savvy professionals have found ways to expand their capacity for humane care to serve the horses in their communities. Level 1
Presenters: Tinia Creamer, President, Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue; Cindy Gendron (moderator), Project Manager, Animal Response, Care and Sanctuary, the Humane Society of the United States; Laurie Hood, Founder and President, Alaqua Animal Refuge; Erin Ochoa, Executive Director, Days End Farm Horse Rescue; Lori Redmon, President and CEO, Kentucky Humane Society

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

Becoming a model shelter: One organization's journey with the Association of Shelter Veterinarian's guidelines
The goal? Eliminate the suffering and needless death of homeless pets that are awaiting homes in shelters. How? Follow the Association of Shelter Veterinarians Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, a voluntary set of guidelines designed to promote the highest standards of welfare in animal shelters. In this session, we’ll discuss how Humane Society Silicon Valley—the first organization ever to meet the over five hundred guidelines—tackled this initiative and significantly increased lifesaving capacity. We'll also explore how your organization can achieve the same goal! Level 1
Presenters: Kristen Jahnke, Director, Shelter Operations, Humane Society Silicon Valley; Cristie Kamiya, DVM, MBA, Chief of Shelter Medicine, Humane Society Silicon Valley

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

Seeing the future: What’s next for the sheltering field
Three industry thought leaders discuss the past, present and future of animal sheltering. Join us as we examine the current obstacles facing animal shelters and perspectives on where our focus should lie as we move forward. Have you reached a point you thought you’d never reach, and find it hard to see what’s next? Do you feel that much of our industry’s rhetoric doesn’t describe your current reality? Are you waiting for important conversations that aren’t happening yet? Learn how three strong organizations are navigating critical transitions to the future of animal sheltering. Level 1
Presenters: Kim Alboum (moderator), Director, Shelter Outreach and Policy Engagement, Companion Animals, the Humane Society of the United States; Shelly Moore, CAWA, President/CEO, Humane Society of Charlotte; Matt Pepper, President and CEO, Michigan Humane Society; Anne Reed, President and CEO, Wisconsin Humane Society

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Common ground: How shelters and responsible breeders can collaborate
Responsible dog breeders and animal shelters can collaborate in unique and dynamic ways. Some responsible breeders have been at the forefront of efforts to stop puppy mills, and are passionate about finding homes for breeds they raise. Yet too often our movement has been unable to capitalize on the opportunities that collaboration can provide. Come join the discussion as leaders from the sheltering and responsible breeder communities talk about cutting-edge ways in which they can work together toward common goals. How can breeders help stop puppy mills and bring us closer to the day when no more healthy, adoptable animals are euthanized? How can shelters work to match families with responsibly bred puppies when a family has their heart set on a specific breed that the shelter does not have? What defines a responsible breeder? How do we move forward when some in both worlds oppose collaboration? Those questions, and more, will be explored in this cutting-edge session. Level 1
Presenters: Kim Alboum (moderator), Director, Shelter Outreach and Policy Engagement, Companion Animals, the Humane Society of the United States; Steven Dostie, Breeders Advisory and Resource Council Member; Damon March, Chief Operating Officer, Humane Pennsylvania; Kathryn McGriff, Breeders Advisory and Resource Council Member; John Moyer (moderator), Corporate Outreach Manager, Puppy Mills, Campaigns, the Humane Society of the United States; David Stroud, Executive Director, Cashiers Highlands Humane Society

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

Access to veterinary care: A national family crisis
The lack of access to veterinary care is a significant animal welfare crisis affecting owned pets in the United States, and there are clear distinctions as far as who receives services provided by veterinarians. This session will discuss the development of veterinary care systems that address the needs of different socioeconomic groups. An in-depth overview of AlignCare™, a research and development health care project designed to improve access to veterinary care for underserved families, will be given. It is a One Health model that involves aligning existing resources from family support entities, like social services and public health; veterinary service providers, including both for-profit and nonprofit; and a charitable fund, receiving donations from foundations, businesses and private citizens. Level 1
Presenters: Michael Blackwell, DVM, MPH, Director, Program for Pet Health Equity; Susan Krebsbach, DVM, Assistant Director, Program for Pet Health Equity, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Social Work

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

The business of saving lives
President and CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center, Michael Arms, shares his insights and inspiration with over 40 years of experience in animal welfare. He will change the way you look at animal welfare and your own organization’s policies while affirming your commitment to improving the quality of life for pets. You will be inspired with unique marketing ideas that will turn antiquated thinking about pricing, promotion and pet adoptions on its head. After you have been inspired to pursue a new approach for adoptions, he will share priceless tools to increase access to alternative forms of income through innovative “profit centers” and humane education programming that furthers your mission and helps fund your budget. Lastly, learn how a groundbreaking approach to public relations can put your organization on the map and save lives at little or no cost to your organization.
Presenters: Mike Arms, President and CEO, Helen Woodward Animal Center; Jessica Gercke, Communications Director, Helen Woodward Animal Center; Marcie Grube, Social Media Manager, Helen Woodward Animal Center; Renee Resko, Vice President of Development, Helen Woodward Animal Center

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15am

Rehome: Empowering pet owners to safely rehome their pet
Would you start a surrender intervention program if it cost your organization no money, required no resources and needed almost no staff time? How about if that program actually raised unrestricted funds for your organization? In 2016, Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com and the Petco Foundation was launched as a new and innovative alternative to owner surrenders to animal welfare organizations. In this session, we will give an in-depth overview of how the website is decreasing owner surrenders, how it is helping those who must safely rehome their pets and what we’ve learned through all the data we’ve gathered on pet owners who have used the service. Level 1
Presenters: April Harris, CAWA, Director of Animal Welfare Insights, Adopt-a-Pet.com; David Meyer, Co-Founder and CEO, Adopt-a-Pet.com; Abbie Moore, Chief Product Officer, Adopt-a-Pet.com

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Reaching underserved communities track

Tuesday, April 16
9:45am - 11:15am

Keeping pets in homes: Starting a pet owner support program
Do you want to incorporate pet owner support work into your mission? Whether your community is rural, urban or somewhere in between, this session will show you how to take the first steps to create a community-based program. We will discuss how to develop strategies to identify an area of focus, set goals, collect data and use techniques for mapping results. Tips for conducting door to door outreach will also be provided. This session will cover everything you need to know to get out in the community and start delivering services! Level 1
Presenters: Lisa Michel-Weis, Outreach Program Manager, Wisconsin Humane Society; Nadia Novik, Director of Outreach, Mountain Humane; Paula Shaw, Program Manager, Pets for Life Baton Rouge, Companion Animal Alliance Baton Rouge

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

Authentic messaging for sustainable work: Marketing what makes you different
By focusing on pet owner support programming, your organization celebrates the human-animal connection and brings people together. In this session, you will learn to evolve your marketing and development strategy to differentiate your organization, diversify your donor base and build meaningful relationships with your entire community. Achieving these goals will enable your agency to conduct and sustain meaningful community outreach work. Level 2
Presenters: Ray Foxworth, Ph.D., Vice President, Grantmaking, Development & Communications, First Nations Development Institute; Jason Schipkowski, Mentorship and Training Manager, Pets for Life, the Humane Society of the United States

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

Punish—or provide? Creating community-centered animal control
Would you rather provide supplies and services than write citations? Do you want to find ways to prevent intake? Find out how animal control and services officers can become a resource to the community, reduce implicit bias in field work and build trusting relationships with the community. Level 1
Presenters: Chris Fitzgerald, Director of Animal Services, City of Rochester, NY; Ashley Mutch, Program Manager, Enforcement and Policy Reform, Pets for Life, the Humane Society of the United States; Bennett Simonsen, Community Programs Manager, Pima Animal Care Center

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Serving people and pets of all incomes: Creating equity in access to veterinary care
For tens of millions of Americans in low socioeconomic households, access to veterinary care is extremely limited or nonexistent. Industry experts will discuss how to effectively deliver veterinary services with cultural humility and also present results from a national survey that assesses attitudes, practices and shifts in the veterinary community pertaining to reaching underserved pet owners. Level 2
Presenters: Michael Blackwell, DVM, MPH, Director, Program for Pet Health Equity; Aimee Christian, Vice President, Community Medicine, ASPCA; William Giles, DVM, Director, Wiscaresd

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

Why access to animal care resources is a social justice issue
Pet ownership crosses all geographic, racial and socioeconomic boundaries, but access to information and services does not. Institutional bias and systemic inequality have impacted pets in ways you may not realize. Discover what this could mean in your community and how it should inform your organization’s programming. Level 1
Presenters: Amanda Arrington, Director, Pets for Life, the Humane Society of the United States; Lori Hensley, Director of Operations, Beyond Fences

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

Reaching inward: Cultivating a progressive organizational culture
Companion animal welfare has come to mean much more than simply sheltering and adoptions. Hear how the field is changing and what you should be thinking about as you take your organization into the future. From hiring and volunteer management to board buy-in and leadership support, this session will discuss how to build an inclusive organizational culture and ensure philosophies of nonjudgment are the common thread throughout every program and department. Level 3
Presenters: Jill Brown, Community Partnerships Manager, Denver Animal Protection; Mandy G. Evans, Executive Director, Panhandle Animal Shelter; Rachel Thompson, Program Manager, Operations and Strategy, Pets for Life, the Humane Society of the United States

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15am

Driving meaningful change through data
It is time to evolve mission-level metrics beyond shelter intake to inform and enhance community-based programming. From accessing and using practical data collection and mapping tools to analyzing results in order to make strategic decisions that inform your work and appeal to data-driven supporters, data has never been so vital and, yes, exciting! Learn how different organizations have utilized data to expand the animal welfare field’s thinking and open more doors to community-level understanding and impact than ever before. Level 3
Presenters: Sloane Hawes, MSW, Research Associate, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, University of Denver; Maria Saucedo, Database Specialist, the Humane Society of the United States

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Shelter medicine track

Tuesday, April 17
9:45am - 11:15am

Top-notch intake protocols for shelter pet health
Intake processes have an immense effect on behavior, staff and animal stress, crowding and resource allocation. A key component for reducing the spread of infectious disease is recognition at the time of admission. Setting animals up for success with a well-designed intake protocol can impact everything that follows. This session will cover recommendations to implement right at the door for intake evaluation, diversion, stress reduction and infectious disease control. Level 1
Presenters: Diana Kuehn, DVM, UW/UCD Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Fellow, Veterinarian of Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter; Erica Schumacher, DVM, Outreach Veterinarian, Shelter Medicine Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Tuesday, April 16
2:00pm - 3:30pm

Rounds and monitoring: Cornerstones for health
Each day, we should ask every animal in our care—how are you and what do you need today? Population rounds is a foundational tool for improving care and maximizing lifesaving. Combined with daily monitoring, these two processes ensure animal needs are being met. This talk will focus on simple-to-implement rounds and monitoring programs and give participants tools needed to either get started or take an existing program to the next level. Level 1
Presenters: Alex Ellis, DVM, University of Wisconsin Maddie's Shelter Medicine Resident, University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Program; Bridget Holck, DVM, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Intern, University of Wisconsin-Madison Shelter Medicine Program

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Tuesday, April 16
4:00pm - 5:30pm

Infectious respiratory disease in cats and dogs
Respiratory infections in dogs and cats are some of the most common illnesses shelters have to manage. This session will discuss tools to prevent respiratory disease, the difference between canine and feline respiratory infections and strategies to reduce spread in the event respiratory disease occurs. This frustrating condition is more manageable than you think! Level 1
Presenters: Brenda Dines, DVM, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Resident, Shelter Medicine Program, University of Wisconsin; Kimberly Wilson, DVM, Shelter Veterinarian and UW/UCD Maddie's Fellow, Kern County Animal Services

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Wednesday, April 17
10:15am - 11:45am

Maximizing flow-through to maximize lifesaving
As the length of time animals stay in the shelter increases, so does the risk of illness and the size of the shelter population, creating a negative cycle of disease and crowding. Optimizing flow-through shrinks the daily in-shelter population without reducing the number of animals served, and changes the cycle from negative to positive. Learn ways to create systems and improve processes to eliminate delays and enable you to help more animals over time. Level 1
Presenters: Jessica Reed, DVM, UW/UCD Maddie's Shelter Medicine Fellow and Medical Director, Seattle Humane; Aleisha Swartz, DVM, Clinical Instructor and Outreach Veterinarian, Shelter Medicine Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Wednesday, April 17
2:15pm - 3:45pm

Feline retrovirus: Is your shelter retro-ready?
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) pose a challenge to adoptions from an animal shelter setting. Tree House Humane Society, an all-feline shelter with a high success rate for the adoption of cats with these viruses, will discuss their medical protocols and housing system. We will cover what is necessary and what is ideal, as well as offer tidbits on the successful adoption of these cats. Level 3
Presenters: Danielle Case, Adoptions Counseling Manager, Tree House Humane Society; Emily Swiniarski, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services, Tree House Humane Society

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for NACA members.

Thursday, April 18
9:00am - 10:00am

Foundations for behavioral well-being
Let's face it, shelter living is challenging. The shelter is filled with strange noises, weird smells, unfamiliar people, new food and questionable roommates. On top of all that, we do not really have a way to explain to the animals that we have their best interests in mind, so we have to show them. But what's the best way to do this? Come to this session to find out! We'll discuss how to meet the five freedoms of animal welfare for all animals in our care in affordable, doable ways, such as housing, in-housing enrichment, out-of-housing time and—you guessed it—length of stay! You'll leave with actionable ideas to implement as soon as you're back at your shelter as well as long-term goals to improve the lives of all animals (and people!) in your shelter. Level 1
Presenters: Cynthia Karsten, DVM, DABVP, Shelter Medicine Practice, Outreach Veterinarian, Koret Shelter Medicine Program, UC Davis; Rachel Powell, DVM, UW/UCD Maddie's Shelter Medicine Fellow and Shelter Veterinarian, Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.
This program has been approved for CCPDT credits: 1.5 CEUs for trainers.

Thursday, April 18
10:15am - 11:15am

Managing emotions: The Fear Free Shelter Program
The overarching goal of the Fear Free Shelter Program is to improve the emotional experiences of animals by educating shelter personnel about the emotional needs of dogs and cats and empowering staff members to apply broad-based concepts, strategies and techniques designed to reduce the negative emotional states that are commonly experienced by shelter animals, including fear, anxiety, stress and frustration. In this session, you will be introduced to some of these concepts as you learn about the new online Fear Free Shelter course. The online course is free for anyone interested in learning how to improve the emotional experiences of shelter animals! Level 1
Presenters: Sara L. Bennett, Clinical Assistant Professor of Veterinary Behavior, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for NACA members.
This program has been approved for CCPDT credits: 1.5 CEUs for behavior consultants.

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Maddie's Fund Mini Sessions

Tuesday, April 16
1:15pm - 1:30pm

Maddie’s Fund Mini Session: Maddie’s University
Further your education. Further lifesaving. Bolster your lifesaving impact through continuing education and standalone training programs designed for shelter personnel and the community. Maddie’s® University is an online learning management system that is comprised of a full catalog of classes to help you learn the A to Z’s of all things animal welfare.
Presenter: Lisa Ward, Director of Education, Maddie’s Fund

Tuesday, April 16
6:30pm - 6:45pm

Maddie’s Fund Mini Session: Foster Care
Having more foster caregivers at the ready can increase your organization’s capacity and help you save more lives. In this 15-minute mini-workshop, we’ll show you what the research says about messaging and techniques that can help you turn potential fosters into applicants and applicants into active fosters. And we’ll share some adorable new tools you can use to recruit fosters.
Presenter: Kelly Duer, Foster Care Specialist, Maddie’s Fund

Wednesday, April 17
1:00pm - 1:15pm

Maddie’s Fund Mini Session: Maddie’s Pet Forum
Find out how thousands of animal welfare professionals and pet caregivers have used Maddie’s Pet Forum since our debut at Expo last year! From utilizing groups to coordinate relief efforts for the California Wildfires to sharing new enrichment program ideas, templates and tons of other resources, the forum can help you feel like you have an extended team of industry experts and seasoned volunteers at your fingertips, 24 hours a day.
Presenter: Kim Domerofski, Manager Partnership & Collaboration and Charlotte Otero, Community Strategist, Maddie’s Fund

These mini sessions are sponsored by Maddie’s Fund.

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