Michigan Humane Society s GREAT LAKES ANIMAL WELFARE CONFERENCE Presented by October 23 24, 2017 BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2017 Registration open 7 to 9 p.m. MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2017 Registration open: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trade show open: 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Breakfast available: 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Breakfast generously sponsored by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators. Sessions with an asterisk (*) can be used toward Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development s prescribed animal control training program. All courses can be used for 1.5 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits. SESSION ONE: 8:30 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M. The Science of Being Happy and Productive at Work! Ayla Lewis, CEO, Happy Brain Science Studies show that happier people are more productive, creative, insightful, engaged, and resilient than unhappy people. They are also healthier and more sociable. Grounded in solid scientific data, this award-winning presentation covers dozens of actionable techniques to increase job happiness organized around the themes of goals, relationships, and attitude. Gain specific strategies to effectively cope with stress, reboot your workflow for increased focus and creativity, and develop and sustain happiness. This is part one of a four-part presentation. Each session builds upon the previous sessions, so attendees will be required to register for all four sessions. This session is generously sponsored by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators as part of the 2017 SAWA Leadership Track. Creating an Animal Anti-Cruelty Task Force Matt Pepper, President and CEO, Michigan Humane Society; Angela Stell, NMDOG; Captain Andi Williams, Bernalillo County Sheriff s Office Most of us have moved furniture, whether it s hauling a couch up some stairs or getting the new refrigerator into the kitchen. It is possible to do alone, but is considerably easier with many hands. Many hands also help when investigating animal cruelty and neglect. In 2012, the Bernalillo County Sheriff s Department, Bernalillo County Animal Services, and NMDOG (a local animal rescue) entered into a collaboration known as the Bernalillo County Animal Cruelty Task Force. The team works together behind the scenes on cruelty investigations, conducts neighborhood sweeps looking for violations, and also provides resources and support to community members. Learn about this collaboration, including strategies for duplicating its success, from the people who created it. Diagnosing Disease in the Shelter Dr. Shirene Cece, Senior Director of Shelter Operations, Michigan Humane Society What do I need to know, and what do I not want to know? Learn about diagnostic testing in the clinic, including pre-adoption testing, diagnosing disease, and controlling disease. With more tests becoming available, it is helpful to know which are recommended for use in the shelter and which give us more information than we need or want to know. In-house snap tests, PCR testing, and titer testing will be covered. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Animal Industry Division (MDARD-AID) Update Nancy Frank, DVM, Assistant State Veterinarian, MDARD-AID MDARD-AID licenses and regulates animal control and animal protection shelters. Its mission is to protect, regulate, and promote animal health. This takes a collaborative effort, and shelters are important partners to MDARD-AID. This presentation will provide an overview of policy, areas of concern, and animal health updates for 2017. Coffee break and trade show 10 to 10:30 a.m. Break generously sponsored by Zoetis.
SESSION TWO: 10:30 A.M. TO NOON The Science of Being Happy and Productive at Work! Ayla Lewis, CEO, Happy Brain Science Attendees will continue exploring (and applying) research-based strategies to decrease negativity, make progress toward meaningful goals, decrease stress and conflict, and build meaningful relationships. This is part two of a four-part presentation. Each session builds upon the previous sessions, so attendees will be required to register for all four sessions. This session is generously sponsored by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators as part of the 2017 SAWA Leadership Track. Cruelty Crime Scene Processing for Animal Control Officers Belinda Lewis, MS, CAWA The availability of certified crime scene processors for animal cruelty investigations is very limited. That does not mean we should bypass a professional and structured approach to an investigation and scene processing. Animal control officers have an advantage as the primary investigators in these cases due to issue-related knowledge. Learn how to meld your existing animal-related knowledge with structured protocols, rules, and approaches for the ACO as crime scene processor. Assessment, security, documentation and photography, search, evidence collection and storage, diagramming, and analysis will all be discussed using actual animal cruelty crime scenes. Enhance your ability to present the factual aspects of your case to ensure admissibility and support the successful prosecution of the case. Adoption Trends and Techniques Steven Kaufman, CAWA, Center of Excellence Manager Adoptions, PetSmart Charities, Inc. Adopting pets into new homes has evolved over the past few decades. In 2016, more than 540,000 adoptions were facilitated at a PetSmart location. The use of retail business locations to host adoption events has changed the way the community looks at pet acquisition. No longer do most agencies use complex and burdensome processes that focus on intense scrutiny on the potential pet parent s past. Focus has changed to using the information we ve learned about the pet s traits and personality to ensure that a good match is made. Learn how this evolution took place. What have we learned that works, and how has that changed retention rates? What will the future of pet placement look like? How to Optimize Shelter Staffing Jeannette O Quin, DVM Do you have animals spending extra days in the shelter waiting for surgery, behavior assessment, or some other service? Do you have the right number of kennel staff to provide basic care for your animals every day? Do you seem to be short-handed sometimes, and at other times have just enough or too many staffers? This session will show you how to evaluate your needs and schedule the ideal number of staff members when and where you need them. This can help you provide better care to the animals and better service to potential adopters, as well as reduce your average length of stay. Lunch and trade show noon to 1:30 p.m. Lunch generously sponsored by Merck. Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers Members Annual Meeting and Elections. All others Main ballroom
SESSION THREE: 1:30 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M. Play Your Way to Thriving Teams! Ayla Lewis, CEO, Happy Brain Science What if you could play your way to more employee engagement, creativity, and happiness? What if playing a game with your colleagues made working together easier and more productive? In this workshop, you will do just that and in the process, you ll learn immediately applicable techniques to boost employee engagement and happiness at work so more people thrive in your organization more often. The heart of this workshop is Choose Happiness at Work, a card game that gets everyone involved in finding solutions to challenges at work. After an introduction to the game and the solid science behind it, you will play, first identifying the obstacles that are most prevalent in your organization and then together choosing from more than 100 science-based solutions. You will leave the workshop with a better understanding of how your colleagues think, as well as actionable solutions for your workplace to facilitate happy, engaged, and productive work relationships. This is part three of a four-part presentation. Each session builds upon the previous sessions, so attendees will be required to register for all four sessions. This session is generously sponsored by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators as part of the 2017 SAWA Leadership Track. How Much Is That Puppy in the Window? What Puppy Mills Cost Animal Welfare and How We Can Work Together to Stop Them Vicki Deisner, State Legislative Director, Midwest Region (KY, OH, MI, IN, IL), ASPCA Government Relations Opportunities for shelters to increase adoptions continue to expand through innovative programs. Communities have grown concerned with the flow of puppies from puppy mills into the minority of pet stores that still sell puppies. In response, hundreds of communities across our nation have passed bans on retail puppy sales. Pet stores have responded with statewide legislative attempts to deny communities the right to ban puppy sales. Learn about the avenues animal welfare and our communities need to pursue to reach solutions that address pet overpopulation, the medical and emotional aspects of purchasing a puppy mill dog, the reality of puppy mills, and our nation s desire to purchase that puppy in the window. This session is generously sponsored by the ASPCA. Tips and Techniques for Reducing Stress During Handling of Dogs and Cats in the Shelter Setting Ashley Elzerman, MS, DVM, CEVA, ACVB, Behavior Resident, Oakland Veterinary Referral Service Sometimes it s the little things that we do that make a big impact on the health and welfare of shelter animals. Learn the benefits of addressing handling stress for shelter staff and animals, and gain some practical insights and tips. Learn about canine and feline body language and communication, how dogs and cats perceive their environment, and how this impacts handling. Get tips to decrease the stress of handling and learn some basic techniques for common procedures. Equine Investigations Jim Boller, Executive Director, Code 3 Associates Successfully prosecuting an equine neglect or cruelty case requires extensive cooperation between and among law enforcement agencies, animal welfare professionals, and the community. The case starts with law enforcement receiving a call about an alleged case of cruelty or neglect, but what happens then? The first step may be educating the owner and monitoring the situation. But how do you know when it s time to seek a warrant? How do you conduct an effective investigation that will lead to a successful prosecution when the circumstances warrant it? Learn how to identify and document equine abuse and neglect, and conduct a collaborative and successful investigation and, where appropriate, prosecution. Snack break and trade show 3 to 3:30 p.m. Break generously sponsored by Zoetis.
SESSION FOUR: 3:30 P.M. TO 5 P.M. Leading to Thrive: Applying the Science Ayla Lewis, CEO, Happy Brain Science This final session will be a wrap-up of the day s learnings. Attendees will identify the tools and research they plan to apply after the conference by creating an individualized action plan. They will also work in teams to create and present posters that summarize the day s most important key points. We will hold group discussions about how the research can be best applied in animal welfare, with a focus on leading teams with brain science and positivity. This is part four of a four-part presentation. Each session builds upon the previous sessions, so attendees will be required to register for all four sessions. This session is generously sponsored by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators as part of the 2017 SAWA Leadership Track. Foster Parents Don t Have to Be Normal, but Their Foster Dogs Do CJ Bentley, Director of Behavior and Training for the Atlanta Humane Society Being a foster parent is one of the most rewarding and challenging roles in animal sheltering and rescue. We love our foster pets, we nurture them and... well we spoil them. And while it s important to help them heal, it s also important to ensure that they do not act like spoiled brats in their new homes. The good news is, you can love them like crazy AND teach them to behave in their new homes. Even better news? It s pretty easy to do! Bright Ideas from Across the Midwest Each year, the Michigan Humane Society selects five animal shelters to receive Bright Ideas Awards. These shelters kicked off a creative campaign, thought up a cutting-edge project, or made exciting improvements to their facilities, and they will be at the conference to share their bright ideas with you. Come hear the 2017 award-winning ideas! Heartworm Disease: Seemingly the More We Know, the Less We Actually Know Matt Krecic, MS, MBA, Diplomate ACVIM, Senior Technical Services Manager, Zoetis Ah, to return to the good old days when identifying, treating, and preventing canine heartworm disease were easy. What happened? Together, we will discuss how heartworm disease is not the same as it was 10 years ago. Identifying heartworm-infected dogs has become complex. We have had to devise creative treatment protocols to ensure complete resolution of the disease. Instead, we may have only successfully killed the worms and left the disease or rather, its consequences. Lastly, prevention of infection has become a problem. Incomplete testing, especially of newly adopted dogs, and noncompliance with year-round preventive measures have contributed to this problem. All these obstacles are surmountable, however, through an understanding of the current state of canine heartworm disease and policies and procedures to lessen its complexity. This session is generously sponsored by Zoetis. Networking reception 5:50 to 6:30 p.m. Reception generously sponsored by Merial. Banquet with Keynote Address 6:30 to 9 p.m. Banquet generously sponsored by PetSmart Charities, Inc. Keynote Address: Coalition Building Creating an Ego-Free Business Model to Save More Lives Gary Weitzman, DVM, MPH, CAWA, President and CEO, San Diego Humane Society More than a buzzword, collaboration is essential for nonprofits to maximize mission effectiveness. But that s easier said than done. We ve all been there. We all believe that working together achieves better results. But how do
organizations accomplish this without driving themselves crazy and alienating their partners? It s not as easy as saying, Let s just get along and work together. Everyone has good intentions, but not everyone plays well together. Effective coalition building requires leaving ego at the door, huge doses of patience, and willingness to compromise. Learn what one organization did to eliminate euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals while remaining sane and in the good graces of its partners. The keynote address is generously sponsored by Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, a KeyBank Trust. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017 Registration open: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trade show open: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Breakfast available: 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Breakfast generously sponsored by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators SESSION FIVE: 8:30 A.M. TO 10 A.M. The Unbreakable Rules of Marketing: 9 ½ Ways to Get People to Love You, Part I Cathey Armillas, Marketing Strategist, PURA Marketing Nonprofit animal welfare organizations vie for limited funds with little or no budget. Learn marketing strategies and how to use creativity to make your budget go further. This is part one of a two-part presentation. The next session builds upon this one, so attendees will be required to register for both sessions. This session is generously sponsored by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators as part of the 2017 SAWA Leadership Track. A Task Force and Community Approach to Animal Hoarding Belinda Lewis, MS, CAWA Go beyond the typical environment and animal population of a hoarder that many in our profession have encountered. What knowledge and tools do you need in your agency and community for proper prevention, intervention, and response? Are you ready to address hoarding as a crime scene? The mental health theories of the causes of hoarding will be visited, while the nuts and bolts of ordinances, multiagency response, and an approach to impoundment and case processing will be examined to ensure the toolkit is stocked properly when the next hoarding case comes along. Implementing Vaccination Protocols: Recommendations for Shelter Medicine Richard Ford, DVM, MS, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University Take a behind-the-scenes look at the updated AAHA (canine) and the current AAFP (feline) vaccination guidelines for shelter-housed dogs and cats. This discussion will center on the selection and use of vaccines when implementing vaccination protocols in the animal shelter, the controversy concerning off-label vaccination recommendations, immunization failure, indications for new vaccines (such as oral Bordetella and canine influenza virus vaccines), other zoonoses (besides rabies, such as leptospirosis), and FeLV vaccines. Accessible Veterinary Care: The Furthest Frontier in Intake Diversion Programming Gary Weitzman, DVM, MPH, CAWA, President and CEO, San Diego Humane Society Someone approaches the admissions desk of an open admission shelter with an animal to relinquish. When the reason is true, it s often about finances. Most frequently, those finances are associated with medical care. We ve all been on the other side of that desk, and it s heartbreaking for the owner, the animal, and the shelter. But it s more
than that. Modern veterinary medicine is rapidly becoming an unsustainable model for most people. But it is one that can work without pitting heroes on both sides of the shelter and private practice doors against each other. This session will explore recent work by the SAWA, the American Veterinary Medical Association and, most recently, the Veterinary Accessibility Working Group to promote a more successful universal model for veterinary care. The stakes are high if we re ever going to be successful at decreasing the number of animals showing up at the admissions desk. Coffee break and trade show 10 to 10:30 a.m. Break generously sponsored by Zoetis. SESSION SIX: 10:30 A.M. TO NOON The Unbreakable Rules of Marketing: 9 ½ Ways to Get People to Love You, Part II Cathey Armillas, Marketing Strategist, PURA Marketing Building on part one, this session will be a workshop where you will learn how to incorporate the concepts taught into your daily work program. This is part two of a two-part presentation. This session builds upon the previous one, so attendees will be required to register for both sessions. This session is generously sponsored by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators as part of the 2017 SAWA Leadership Track. How to Work Effectively with Your Prosecutor on Animal Cruelty and Neglect Cases Allie Phillips, Esq. Despite recent legislation that makes serious animal abuse a felony in all states and a growing number of resources and training protocols for prosecutors, there s more progress to be made in how animal cruelty cases are prosecuted. Learn how to work effectively with your prosecuting attorney and understand the prosecutors mindset. Gain practical tips to properly investigate and build a case to receive vigorous prosecutorial and judicial support. Whether you re an investigator, shelter director, veterinarian, or rescue organization, you ll learn why animal cruelty must be taken seriously because of The Link, how to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams to investigate and cross-report all forms of abuse, and how to gather evidence on animal cruelty and The Link for prosecutors, including talking to children about pets and animal abuse. Participants will also learn about prosecutors charging decisions, plea negotiations, and sentencing options for offenders who abuse animals. But I m Just Being Myself! What to Do When Normal Pet Behaviors Disrupt the Family Bond CJ Bentley, Director of Behavior and Training for the Atlanta Humane Society ; and Pam Hill, Feline Behavior Consultant, Pamela Hill LLC Most adopters hope that their newly adopted pet will adjust well to their new home and that, over the lifetime of the pet, there won t be any problems. But what exactly constitutes a problem? Too often, the answer is normal pet behaviors that adopters simply did not expect, do not understand, do not know how to handle, and do not want to have to address. We will look at some common cat and dog behaviors that can agitate adopters to the point of exasperation and put the pet at risk of losing their home. We will look at effective solutions for these issues, with an eye toward preventing relinquishment, and address how your organization can be both a proactive and a reactive resource for your adopters. Unraveling the Mysterious World of Grant Makers Panel: Roger Haston, CAO, PetSmart Charities; Katie Parker, Executive Director, Animal Assistance Foundation; Michael Barrett, Vice President, Grant Management, ASPCA; and Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Executive Leadership Team, Maddie s Fund Learn everything you ever needed to know about grant evaluation, impact assessment, and metrics.
Focus on grants from a grant maker s perspective and explore what makes a good grant, how you measure grant impact, what collaboration really means to funders, and how to fund innovative and new ideas. Bring your questions for the experts! This session is generously sponsored by PetSmart Charities. Lunch and trade show noon to 1:30 p.m. Lunch generously sponsored by Petfinder/Purina SESSION SEVEN: 1:30 P.M. 3:00 P.M. There s No I in Team: Coaching and Motivating for Maximum Impact Jim Tedford, CAWA, President and CEO, Society of Animal Welfare Administrators Would you rather be a boss or a coach? Learn how to get the most from your team, including tactics for leading by example. We will cover the importance of incremental performance communication versus the standard oncea-year performance review. We ll talk about making the best hiring decisions and about making other tough HR decisions quickly yet humanely. Hear some great advice from some of animal welfare s most successful coaches. This session is generously sponsored by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators as part of the 2017 SAWA Leadership Track. Secrets of a Successful Shelter Diversion Program Unveiled April Harris, CAWA, Director of Animal Welfare Insights, Adopt-a-Pet.com; and Rachel Finney, Executive Director, Capital Area Humane Society With an estimated one out of three pets entering the shelter system by being owner surrendered, understanding what alternatives we can offer that will have an impact is critical to our success. Capital Area Humane Society and Adopt-a-Pet.com will discuss their ReVision and Rehome programs and their impact on shelters and the community. You ll learn how you can expand services, inform and inspire your community, and reduce euthanasia without sacrificing quality of care. Explore new tools available to your organization to make it happen. Learn which steps and tools yield the most significant results, how to replicate the program in shelters of any size, and the tricks needed to prevent and conquer challenges along the way. This session is generously sponsored by Adopt-a-Pet.com. Vaccine Adverse Reactions Richard Ford, DVM, MS, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University Vaccine adverse events (adverse reactions) among dogs and cats have only recently become the target of limited scientific study. Considering the large number of vaccine choices available today and the relative under-reporting of reactions, this presentation has been developed as a graphic review of the types of reactions, acute and delayed, currently recognized. Learn about the types and frequency of reactions seen and get recommendations for mitigating known or suspected reactions. Understanding Personal Giving and Building a Stronger Individual Donor Base Adrienne Kozlowski, Major Gifts Officer, Michigan Humane Society Why do people support animal welfare? How do I understand who our donors are? What is the best way to engage
our individual donors? If you want to explore the answers to these questions and have a better understanding of why individuals support animal welfare, this session is for you. Understanding your donor audience is fundamental to building it. This session will discuss the unique characteristics of animal welfare individual donors. Snack break and trade show 3 to 3:30 p.m. Break generously sponsored by Zoetis. SESSION EIGHT: 3:30 P.M. TO 5 P.M. Mapping the Career Path No One Told You About Katherine Shenar, Executive Vice President, San Diego Humane Society; and Jim Tedford, CAWA, President and CEO, Society of Animal Welfare Administrators 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 and how you can circumvent barriers, eliminate roadblocks, and map out a career that engages your passions without hiring a life coach. This session is generously sponsored by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators as part of the 2017 SAWA Leadership Track. Animal Welfare Fund Pollyanne McKillop, Animal Shelter Regulatory Program Manager, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Animal Industry Division If you represent a Michigan-registered animal shelter or you or your organization work with shelters to find monies and resources, this session is for you. Grants are awarded by MDARD-AID from the Michigan Animal Welfare Fgund for certain shelter animal spay/neuter programs, specific trainings, and certain types of outreach and education. You will get tips and advice on writing an awardable grant application. And if you bring a draft application with you, it will be reviewed, and you will receive feedback! LIMITED TO 35 PARTICIPANTS. ALL OTHERS WILL BE WAIT-LISTED. PLEASE SIGN UP EARLY! Working with the Media Debby MacDonald, Senior Director of Statewide Outreach, Michigan Humane Society The media can be our friend or foe and is often feared. We have the ability to generate positive outcomes. Learn the basic do s and don ts of working with the media and how to turn a negative situation into a positive one, and discuss the importance of building relationships with the media. Shelter Veterinarian Roundtable Facilitator: Shirene Cece, DVM, Senior Director of Shelter Medicine, Michigan Humane Society This roundtable discussion is for veterinarians who have questions or would like to discuss topics in shelter medicine. This session is generously hosted by Merck Animal Health.
Michigan Humane Society s GREAT LAKES ANIMAL WELFARE CONFERENCE Discover the power of connection. Presented by