October 24, 2023
8am to 5pm at JUMP Boise
Please join us for this one day conference being held at JUMP in beautiful downtown Boise. This conference will delve into the latest developments and trends in animal welfare, and you’ll leave inspired with a better understanding of the method behind the madness! With a diverse lineup of esteemed speakers, topics range from medical, behavioral, and most importantly, how to keep animals in homes.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge, gain practical skills, and contribute to the betterment of animal welfare. Register now to secure your spot at what is sure to be a day filled with knowledge and networking!
Agenda/Schedule
8-8:30am Registration & Breakfast
8:30-8:45am Opening/Welcome Remarks
8:45-10:15am Developing and Improving Veterinary Medical Protocols in Shelters | Sarah Hicks, DVM
As more animal well-being organizations report difficulty obtaining veterinary service for animals in their care, it becomes increasingly important to use veterinary time intentionally and efficiently. This session will review how shelters can work with staff veterinarians or private practitioner partners to develop protocols that promote prompt recognition and response to common illnesses and injuries. We’ll touch on provisions within the state Veterinary Practice Act that apply to the implementation of medical protocols in the shelter setting. Finally, we will review how to triage and prepare for common shelter scenarios and when the presence of a veterinarian is needed.
10:30-12pm Optimizing Animal Shelter Operations: Navigating Capacity for Care & Pathway Planning | Erica Schumacher, DVM, UW Shelter Medicine
No matter the size or type of animal organization, meeting the needs of each animal in our care remains crucial. Operating within your capacity for care ensures you can provide the best for your animals (and staff!). We will go through how to achieve your optimal population size and flow, with a deep dive into pathway planning- one of the most critical, yet often overlooked, steps in the shelter intake process. We’ll share tips for use throughout the animals’ stay to keep them cruising along their path (or help them take an appropriate detour) with population rounds, pre-selection, foster-to-adopt, and other lifesaving programs.
12:00-1:15pm LUNCH
1:15-2:15pm Lost Pet Reunification | Gina Knepp
Return to Home, formerly known as Return to Owner, is the easiest and most affordable step in life saving. Many agencies have achieved incredible success and improvements, yet the vast majority of shelters remain stagnant in this area. The adoption of robust reunification programs will showcase what success is possible, how it’s being accomplished and what every animal welfare agency in the country can do to make this topic a priority. This session will look at the powerful ways in which we can impact human behavior, what steps need to be taken and the potential impact of doing so.
2:30-3:30pm Managed Intake | Nadia Novik, CAWA
What is managed intake and how can your shelter benefit from it? Develop strategies for your organization to implement a managed intake protocol that works best for you. Keeping pets in their home is the ultimate goal, and a managed intake program has shown to provide increased options, rather than increased barriers for your community. Learn about the importance of data collection, what role your staff will play for the success of the program and how to embrace change in an ever changing field.
3:45-4:30pm Opportunities for Shelter Canine Populations | Vanessa Grenier, CPDT-KA
Shelter populations are changing, and new challenges are arising in housing and adopting the canines that enter our doors. We’ll explore options for keeping dogs mentally and physically healthy while in our care, as well as techniques to increase chances of not only adoptability, but also finding suitable homes for dogs with less-than-perfect behaviors.
4:30-5pm Networking
5pm Conference Ends
Registration & Coupon Code
Registration includes one day conference, breakfast, and lunch.
Use coupon code: IHS2023! to save 20% now through August 31st.
- $50/pp if booked using coupon code before 8/31
- $75/pp regular pricing
- The ASPCA Northern Tier Shelter Initiative (NTSI) has a limited number of grant scholarships available to help attendees with conference-related expenses (e.g., registration and travel costs). Apply by completing their short form no later than Friday, September 1, 2023.
Questions? Contact NTSI representatives Kay Joubert and Jamie Case at [email protected]
Hotel Information
Hampton Inn and Suites Boise downtown 495 S. Capital Blvd Boise, ID 83702
208-331-1900
- $155/night for October 23 and 24. Please mention Idaho Humane Society when booking in order to receive this rate, or use provided link.
(hotel must be reserved by 10/2 for reduced rate) - Limited number of rooms available at this rate, so book early
Speaker Bios
Vanessa Grenier, CPDT-KA
Vanessa Grenier is a certified professional dog trainer who has been training dogs for over a decade. She is an Animal Behavior College graduate, certified in shelter training and enrichment by Karen Pryor Academy, certified in evaluation techniques for detection dogs and has hundreds of CEUs in a variety of other training methods and techniques.
She is always attending new seminars and classes to remain up to date in the most effective training methods and loves learning more ways that she can help pets and their owners. Vanessa has been involved in training at the Idaho Humane Society for 8 years, helping with our public training programs as well as providing staff training, dog evaluations, and building our training and enrichment programs for shelter animals.
Dr. Sarah Hicks, DVM
Outreach Veterinarian and Clinical Instructor
UW Shelter Medicine Program
Following years of working in veterinary practice as an assistant, Dr. Sarah (she/her) chose to pursue a B.S. in Animal Science at Louisiana State University and then went on to complete her DVM at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, she split her time practicing at a rural mixed animal private practice and working with two regional shelters. After realizing her true passion for shelter medicine, she joined the medical team at the East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Shelter, overseeing veterinary care for a high volume of patients and teaching veterinary students on their clinical rotation. In 2018, she spent 6 months serving as the Interim Executive Director for the shelter, giving her better insight into the “big picture” of shelter management. She became the Medical Director in 2018 and continued to serve in that role before joining the UW team as an Outreach Veterinarian in 2022. Dr. Sarah has a particular interest in veterinary equity and community engagement, High Quality High Volume Spay/ Neuter practice, implementing low stress animal handling, and teaching veterinary students. Outside of work, Dr. Sarah enjoys seeking out all types of new adventures with her husband, her three children, and their foster-failure dog Libby.
Gina Knepp
Gina Knepp is the National Shelter Engagement Director for the Michelson Found Animals Foundation. Her primary focus is increasing the return to home rate by engaging animal sheltering organizations in finding innovative ways of locating missing pet people and more importantly, helping people not lose their animals to begin with. Gina’s background includes managing the Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento, California. Her experience leading a municipal, open intake, high volume shelter adds to her passion for helping lost animals get back home where they belong. Her current work with Michelson Philanthropies has offered the opportunity to work with shelters across the country, improving reunification efforts. Gina is currently on the Board of the Bitterroot Humane Association and on the Executive Committee of Human Animal Support Services (HASS) with American Pets Alive, launching national animal shelter reform. Gina lives in Hamilton, Montana with her husband Chris, two dogs, Lucy & Rex, her cat, Kit, 18 deer and 80 turkeys.
Nadia Novik, CAWA
Chief Operations Officer
Idaho Humane Society
Nadia started working with animals as a veterinary technician and quickly realized her passion was with homeless animals. She began her career in animal welfare working with veterinary students as part of the Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. From there, she became the Shelter Manager at Tompkins County SPCA in Ithaca, NY before finding her way to Idaho. After 11 years with Mountain Humane in Sun Valley, Idaho, Nadia joined the team at the Idaho Humane Society in Boise, Idaho. From working within underserved communities to help people keep their pets, looking for ways to decrease the time animals spend within shelters, and making sure animal welfare organizations are working together in order to best help animals, Nadia enjoys the multi-faceted roles she plays within the field. When she’s not working, Nadia can be found running with her German Wirehair Siri, riding her horse Henry, or meeting every need of her two cats, Bunny and Paw Paw.
Dr. Erica Schumacher, DVM
Outreach Veterinarian and Clinical Instructor
UW Shelter Medicine Program
Dr. Erica Schumacher (she/her) fell in love with shelter medicine in 2003 when she joined the medical team at Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) in Madison, Wisconsin as a certified veterinary technician. Following her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and worked with Dr. Sandra Newbury to create the school’s first shelter medicine elective in 2004. Upon graduation in 2008, Dr. Schumacher took a short break from shelter medicine after being accepted for a competitive Wildlife and Conservation Medicine internship at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Upon completing her wildlife internship, Dr. Schumacher sought to find a place where she could pursue both of her veterinary passions- shelter medicine and wildlife. After traveling and working in Arizona, Alaska and Africa, she returned to her roots at DCHS as the Chief Shelter Veterinarian where she oversaw the medical team as well as the shelter’s wildlife center for seven years. She particularly enjoyed supervising the clinical training for the UW Shelter Medicine Program interns, residents, and veterinary students. In 2018, Dr. Schumacher joined the UW Shelter Medicine Program as an Outreach Veterinarian. She enjoys using her clinical background in shelter medicine as well as her love of teaching to help other shelters reach their lifesaving potential. When not at work Dr. Schumacher enjoys gardening, cooking, nature and spending time with her family and their 3 cats, 2 fish, and 12 chickens (animal numbers subject to change without notice).
Register Now!
Speaker Schedule
Track focus: veterinary medicine, decreasing LOS, keeping pets out of shelters)
8-8:45am Registration & Breakfast
8:45-9am Opening/Welcome Remarks
9am-10:45 Developing and Improving Veterinary Medical Protocols in Shelters – Dr. Sarah Hicks How do we make the most with what we have? Not every shelter has a veterinarian and even those that do can’t expect them to be present at all times. This session will go into how shelters should work with a veterinarian to develop protocols that will help them get a head start on recognition and response to common illnesses and injuries in the shelter. What things can be done when a veterinarian is not on site and when should we call them in to assist? We will go over how to triage and prepare for common shelter scenarios
11am-12 Pathway Planning: Getting on Track to Save More Lives! Erica Schumacher, DVM, UW Shelter Medicine One of the most critical, yet often overlooked, steps in the shelter intake process is pathway planning. We will discuss how pathway planning from day 1 (or before!) can help ensure that animals in your care have a humane, enriched, and efficient stay in the shelter. We’ll share tips for use throughout the animals’ stay to keep them cruising along their path (or help them take an appropriate detour) with population rounds, pre-selection, foster-to-adopt, and other lifesaving programs.
12-1:15 LUNCH
1:15-2:15 Michelson Animal Foundation – Gina Knepp Return to Home, formerly known as Return to Owner, is the easiest and most affordable step in life saving. Many agencies have achieved incredible success and improvements, yet the vast majority of shelters remain stagnant in this area. The adoption of robust reunification programs will showcase what success is possible, how it’s being accomplished and what every animal welfare agency in the country can do to make this topic a priority. This session will look at the powerful ways in which we can impact human behavior, what steps need to be taken and the potential impact of doing so.
2:15-3:15 Creating True Access to Care
3:15-3:40 Break
3:45-4:30 Behavior Management for Dogs in Shelters
4:30-5 Networking
Hotel Information
Coming Soon