In this interactive session we will review the basics behind an intake exam and explore some of the most common findings in each species.

This session will cover basic dog body language and fear-free handling and is intended for those new to animal welfare or anyone looking to brush up on their knowledge. Back to Basics: Dog Behavior, Body Language & Fear Free Handling is good for 1 CEU for CPDT-KA certificants. Attendees must bring their certificate number to the session and check in with the N...

Providing excellent client services is essential to building trust and positive partnerships between your agency and the community. But what if we took it beyond the front desk, and implemented a culture of hospitality across the entire organization? Attendees will leave the session understandingDifference between client services and hospitality  

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...

AWOs and startups may sound very different from the outside, but on the inside, we look alike! We all have big goals and few resources to achieve them. We have impossibly long to-do lists. We operate in an environment where the only constant is change. From how we approach meetings, to prioritizing what work needs to be done now versus later, to staying focused on your goals in chaotic environments, this session will share practical st...

Have you ever been curious about what dogs do in the shelter when we’re not watching? How much are they sleeping, drinking, scratching, or even licking? We were too, so we put activity and health trackers (think Fit Bit for dogs) on thousands of shelter dogs to find out (and collected DNA samples too!). In this session, we’ll provide insights from thousands of data points collected. We’ll share how shelter dog behavior differs from in-...

The national dog crisis is impacting every community in our nation, and although it is overwhelming, a clear solution has emerged to help us combat this crisis - increasing adoptions.  Learn how the MSPCA has pivoted since early 2023 to reimagine adoption programming for dogs to increase adoptions. The solution may surprise you as we have recycled the playbook from 2012 to supercharge adoption programming. 

Enjoy delicious appetizers and drinks while chatting with other conference attendees. Tours will be offered for a behind-the-scenes look at the Rhode Island SPCA’s new facility which opened last fall.This event is being held at the Rhode Island SPCA which is located at 155 Plan Way, Warwick, RI. 

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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...

The merge between MSPCA and NEAS requires a new level of consistency among our four-shelter system to support fluid internal transfer of and communication surrounding our dog population. To meet our unique needs, we developed an evaluation process comprised of objective observations recorded during routine daily care and at natural checkpoints in an animal’s pathway. We aim to equip staff and volunteers with the skills to participate i...