CARE partners with community-based individuals & marginalized community organizations to identify needs & priorities, then develop & implement equitable, accessible, & community-led solutions for people & pets. We’ll discuss research behind this approach & suggestions for integrating community wisdom into evaluating your program. Attendees will understand how shifting community engagement to partnership, not servitude, advances health equity & promotes comprehensiv...

Let’s use real world examples of what it looks like when people can’t or don’t get needed medical care for their pets. We will examine cases and generate creative solutions to common barriers faced, then facilitate creative pathways of alternative approaches through REDI. These opportunities help increase awareness of barriers and motivate proactive steps to encourage inclusion of these communities. This results in increased preventive care, animal and human health, and pets staying home.

Are you guilty of policing poverty within the animal welfare industry? Let’s explore the impact of decisions made by animal control, shelters, and veterinary professionals on families in need of support. Challenge your mindset as we discuss alternatives to removing pets from homes, ticketing families with citations, and reactive practices, emphasizing resource provision over judgment. Attendees will gain insights on distinguishing malice from poverty in their practices, fostering positive tra...

Join the discussion on how being a Disruptor is conducive to creating more inclusive, lifesaving programs. We will examine the positive impact of important Disruptors throughout history and the related social changes that positively influence our lives today. We will apply a Disruptor approach to Animal Welfare by reviewing practical steps for assessing programs and identifying opportunities for programmatic changes to support keeping companion pets with their families and embracing “well-bei...

Workplace culture and environment are critical components to animal lifesaving. It can be the difference between team members who are engaged or burned out, pet owners feeling welcomed or judged, volunteers working with or against us – all of these dynamics either positively or negatively impact animal outcomes. While Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have become the mainstream ap...

Do you struggle with volunteers who interact inappropriately with dogs? Are staff and volunteers often at odds over behavior or training? Is sharing a euthanasia decision with volunteers actively traumatizing them and you? This presentation will talk about how to build a strong dog volunteer program that gets everyone on the same team to help dogs without a toxic culture. Takeaways include concrete steps on recruitment, training, discu...

Caring for shelter animals involves making decisions, often challenging ones, day in and day out.  Whether you're working in shelter administration, operations, medicine, or behavior (or all of the above), you've likely experienced the fatigue that comes with decision-making.  Join us to recognize that we aren't alone and that we can implement strategies including effective communication techniques, collaborative decision-mak...

Caring for shelter animals involves making decisions, often challenging ones, day in and day out.  Whether you're working in shelter administration, operations, medicine, or behavior (or all of the above), you've likely experienced the fatigue that comes with decision-making.  Join us to recognize that we aren't alone and that we can implement strategies including effective communication techniques, collaborative decision-mak...

Could we be causing roadblocks for one another? During this session, attendees will uncover ways to work to improve, repair, and create new meaningful relationships with key partners in the work to better serve their communities and uphold their missions. Attendees will do an in-depth dive into existing relationships with peers and receive practical solutions to ensure we are supporting one another to the fullest to improve the lives o...

Join Shelter Animals Count experts to explore data's pivotal role in comprehending animal shelter operations in New England and nationwide. This session delves into precise data collection's significance, industry-shaping trends, and practical applications, empowering your organization to leverage data effectively. Uncover how data amplifies grant applications, boosts transparency, and garners donor support, showcasing its boundless po...

To run a successful volunteer program, we need to create an environment where volunteers feel welcome and that they are contributing in a meaningful way. Investment in quality onboarding and training upfront will pay dividends in the end! Having staff buy-in is essential for building and maintaining a strong program with good volunteer retention. In this session, we will explore some strategies and best practices for getting staff inve...

Cap off the conference with an opportunity to sit with a small group of peers and a host, to share conference takeaways, take a deeper dive, and ask questions in casual discussion on topics from the field of animal sheltering and rescue. There will also be additional prizes raffled off!  Topics will include:ACCESS TO VETERINARY CAREHost: Abigail Smith, Executive Director, Animal Welfare SocietyLOW BARRIER PET PLACEMENTHost...