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2023 SCHEDULE
October 17
October 18
October 19
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
JOIN US FOR DINNER IN THE DINING ROOM
INCLUDED if you're staying overnight at the venue.
If you're not staying overnight, you can still join us for dinner for $40 plus hst.
Click here to REGISTER
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
BREAKFAST
Those who are staying overnight at the venue can eat breakfast in the dining room.
Not staying over? You can still find breakfast at the "nourishment hub".
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
REGISTRATION OPEN
If you weren't at the conference on day one, register at the entrance to the FORUM. Pick up your name tag and swag!
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
All conference attendees are welcome!
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
SPONSOR BOOTHS OPEN AND BINGO CONTINUES
Visit the sponsor tables in The Bow, participate in the scavenger hunt and win a prize!
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
DAY TWO - OPENING REMARKS FROM AASAO CHAIR, LINDSEY NARRAWAY
9:15 - 10:00 AM
Heather Lewis, Animal Arts Design Studio
DESIGNING ANIMAL HABITATS FOR WELL-BEING
Designing better housing and habitats for dogs, cats, and small animals is important to providing the best care. Improvements in housing and enrichment areas can be made on any budget. In this seminar, we will explore the basics of good housing design, and provide options for both new and remodeled facilities. We will explore how animals experience the world, and how this can inspire design.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Abigail Appleton, Charleston Animal Society
ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS - Guidelines for Standard of Care in Animal Shelters
How can you implement the ASV Guidelines on a shoestring budget? Humane care can be significantly improved by addressing space allocation and animal flow and by developing, implementing, and enforcing standard operating procedures - all at a minimal cost.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Heather Lewis
OFFICE HOURS WITH ANIMAL ARTS DESIGN STUDIO
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
BREAK - NETWORKING AND SPONSOR BOOTHS
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM (Concurrent Session)
Dr. Sharon Quinn, SMART.VET
TELEMEDICINE: Enabling Greater Access to Veterinary Care for Underserved Pet Populations
Improving access to care through telemedicine. What is virtual veterinary care, how does it work and how can it help animals in shelters, foster care and after adoption.
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM (Concurrent Session)
Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS)
UNDERSTANDING THE PAWS ACT
Overview of the PAWS Act and it's regulations, Ontario's animal welfare enforcement model and what happens when an animal welfare concern is reported.
11:15 AM - 12:45 PM
Heather Lewis
OFFICE HOURS WITH ANIMAL ARTS DESIGN STUDIO
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
Michelle Macnab, Hamilton Burlington SPCA
PET WELLNESS CLINICS
Why are pet wellness clinics so important? Learn about the benefits of building a community around your shelter.
12:45 PM - 1:30 PM
LUNCH - Last chance to visit Sponsor Booths and complete your BINGO card!
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Heather Lewis, Animal Arts Design Studio
DESIGNS THAT CARE FOR YOUR TEAM
Animal shelter employees are precious. It is more difficult to attract, retain and protect staff members from burnout. In this engaging session, we will discuss many methods for designing or remodeling space to nurture, and care for your team and explore ideas that fit in many budgets.
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Lynda Kitson, Who's Walking Who
GAMES BASED CONCEPT TRAINING
We'll work with some dogs to show how Games Based Concept Training works on re-shaping the dog’s brain through games so that the dog is able to make better decisions. The dog’s behaviour changes to one that is more acceptable, without us telling them what to do.
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
BREAK - NETWORKING AND SPONSOR BOOTHS
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Gord Perry, GNP Reptile Rescue
REPTILE RESCUES AND YOU
Gord will bring some live animals and discuss what can you expect when working with non-native reptiles and those who rescue them.
4:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Lindsey Narraway, AASAO Chair
WRAP UP AND PRIZE DRAWS
Click here to REGISTER
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
BREAKFAST
Those who are staying overnight at the venue can eat breakfast in the dining room.
Not staying over? You can still find breakfast at the "nourishment hub".
7:30 AM
REGISTRATION OPENS
Register at the entrance to the FORUM. Pick up your name tag and swag!
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
SPONSOR BOOTHS OPEN AND BINGO BEGINS
Visit the sponsor booths in The Bow, participate in the scavenger hunt and win a prize!
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
OPENING REMARKS FROM AASAO CHAIR, LINDSEY NARRAWAY
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Karen Griffin - Dog Rehoming Project and Researcher at Utrecht University
PRE-ADOPTION ASSESSMENTS: How Useful Are They For Improving Dog Placement Success?
What does science say about the relationship between factors addressed in pre-adoption adopter screening and dog behaviour assessments and placement success (specifically, human safety risk, dog quality of life and relinquishment risk.
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
BREAK - NETWORKING AND SPONSOR BOOTHS
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM (Concurrent Session)
Karen Griffin - Dog Rehoming Project and Researcher at Utrecht University
DOGS AND CHILDREN
Discussion on the importance of preparing and educating families with children about appropriate dog-child interactions, the prevention of dog bites to children and the often arbitrary restrictions put on adoptions with children of a certain age in the home.
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM (Concurrent Session)
Kathy Duncan, Humane Canada
HUMANE CANADA MEMBER SERVICES
Discover what Humane Canada can do for your organization
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Jaime Saad, Montreal SPCA
STARTING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WITHOUT EXTRA BUDGET OR STAFF
Since 2021, the Montreal SPCA has been developing community-based programs, including pet food banks, temporary housing programs and behavioural support services, to provide support to vulnerable populations and prevent companion-animal abandonment.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
LUNCH IN THE DINING ROOM - SPONSOR BOOTHS OPEN
Remember to complete the scavenger hunt at the booths!
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Jacklyn Ellis, Toronto Humane Society
MANAGING FELINE BEHAVIOUR CASES IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER
Managing (and preferably reducing!) feline behaviour problems can be difficult enough, but shelter settings have unique challenges that make this task particularly arduous. An organized system for identifying and managing these cases, tailored to the resources available at the specific organization, is essential to maintaining the well-being of the cats and the safety of their human caregivers.
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
BREAK - NETWORKING AND SPONSOR BOOTHS
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Josh Lagerquist, EIDAP
SPONSORED DISCUSSION
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
Julie Speyer, Canine Foundations
CANINE SAFETY
Safe, positive, and healthy human to dog interactions start with learning to decode and speak their language. This industry-specific discussion will focus on safety related topics such as, contributing factors for behaviour, how to identify subtle cues that indicate a dog’s emotional state, and how to respond in a manner that provides autonomy and restores a sense of safety for the animal.
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
DAY ONE WRAP UP and PRIZE DRAW
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
DINNER IN THE DINING ROOM
Dinner is available at no extra cost for those who are staying overnight at the venue. If you're not staying overnight, please join us for dinner (Cost: $40 plus hst) and come to the Social Centre after for some fun!
7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
EVENING SOCIAL IN THE SOCIAL CENTRE
Bring your drink tickets to the evening social, grab a snack and network with your peers (or play pool!)
Click here to REGISTER
We Couldn't Do This Without Our Sponsors!
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