2015 Summit Award Winner - Retailer

The Summit for Retailer of the Year recognizes an organization in the retail sector that has achieved a remarkable relationship with pet families and has improved the experience of pets and people in the community(ies) they serve. Our winner this year is...

Evan Ropp, Homes Alive Pet Centres

Homes Alives Pet Centres won with 77.4% of the votes for providing outstanding services to pet families and communities in Alberta for nearly four decades.

Three generations of the Ropp family have dedicated their lives to serving and finding ways to improve the wellbeing of pets in their area. Beyond operating two successful independent pet supply stores, the Ropp family make a difference for their communities by: 

• Publishing a pet care blog focusing on safety, care, nutrition and rescue pets available for adoption
• Developing a Learning Centre page focused on care tips
• Using social media to drive engagement and conversations about pet safety & wellness www.facebook.com/homesalive www.twitter.com/homesalive www.pinterest.com/homesalive/
• Providing space for rescues on Saturdays to amplify their message and profile one of their rescue pets in the Featured Friends portion on their website: www.homesalive.ca/blog/tag/Featured-Friends/
• Providing a binder system listing available pets for those rescues that choose to use it, bulletin boards, etc.
• Assisting community pet partners by collecting food
• Offering 15% discounts on products that are donated rescue partners
• Networking and collaborating with humanitarian initiatives locally such as Youth One, Streets Alive and Bridges of Hope Rescue.

Homes Alive Pet Centres partner with Edmonton Humane Society, Humane Animal Rescue Team, CaliCan, Infinite Woofs, Greater Edmonton Area Rescue Society (GEARS), Berkeley's Place Lethbridge - Ridge Rescue, Lethbridge Humane Society, PAW Society, Last Chance Cat Ranch, Prairie Pitbull Rescue, and Windy City Canine Rescue.

Urban Animal is grateful to Pets Plus Us for sponsoring the Summit Awards.

2015 Summit Award Winner - Wellness

The Summit for Health and Wellness Provider of the Year recognizes the efforts of an organization to improve the overall levels of health and wellness for urban animals in a specific community, area of intervention or industry sector. Our winner this year is…

City of Edmonton Animal Care & Control Centre (ACCC)

The City of Edmonton received 83.2% of the votes for their on-site surgery suite which allows the Animal Care and Control Centre to help fix animals that are in immediate distress from wounds, broken bones, or other issues needing surgical intervention and spay/neuter animals that can be accepted by rescues.

The ACCC is responsible for caring for the 6,500 stray animals each year. Animals are held for 3-10 days in hopes that an owner will come forward and claim the animal. If the animal is not claimed, staff assess the animal for transfer out to the Edmonton Humane Society or a rescue group. Over the years the Vet staff has received great feedback from the rescue network. The concern from the network was always money and lack of support for spay and neuters of animals, or dentals. This reduces the number of animals that the rescues can take, thus increasing the ACCC’s euthanasia numbers. Recently staff were mandated by Council to reduce euthanasia numbers of adoptable animals. Armed with a small budget, the vet staff went on a mission to get a surgery suite built in the facility. This would allow the ACCC to A) help fix animals that are in immediate distress from wounds, broken bones, or other issues needing surgical intervention and B) spay/neuter animals that can be accepted by rescues.

100% of adoptable animals have been saved largely due to this new surgical suite. Without the surgical suite, animals that went to rescue most likely would have been euthanized, or would have been held in the Centre for an indefinite amount of time waiting for some room at the Edmonton Humane Society. Also, animals that came in with broken bones, infected uteruses, unable to urinate, or with severe wounds or injuries, would have been euthanized to end their suffering.

Urban Animal is grateful to Pets Plus Us for sponsoring the Summit Awards.

2015 Summit Award Winner - Homing

The Summit for Homing Provider of the Year recognizes an organization that achieves success placing animals in appropriate environments for animals and people through innovative adoption, sale, return-to-owner, re-homing or fostering programs. Our winner this year is…

Shelley Cunningham, Litters n Critters Rescue

Shelley received 86% of the votes for her dedication to rehabilitating and rehoming stray, abandoned, neglected and abused dogs in the Maritimes. She started her animal rescue in 2007 and was literally a one woman show. Since those early days, Litters n Critters has grown under Shelley’s leadership and inspiration to almost 18,000 Facebook followers. She has gained increasing support from volunteers across the Maritime provinces and has created a huge network of foster families.

Litters n Critters is 100% volunteer run and works tirelessly to help rehabilitate and rehome stray, abandoned, neglected and abused dogs in all parts of the Maritimes. All the dogs are placed into foster homes until they are adopted, no matter how long it takes. Many of the dogs need surgeries and vet care - dogs who would have otherwise been euthanized.

Shelley’s tireless devotion to helping dogs (and other critters) in need has inspired many others and, since 2007, over 3,000 animals have been rescued and rehomed. Shelley has actively promoted rescue through media, education and promotional events. She truly is a champion in the eyes of all who know her.

Urban Animal is grateful to Pets Plus Us for sponsoring the Summit Awards.

 

2015 Summit Award Winner - Collaborators

The Summit for Collaborators of the Year recognizes the efforts of two or more organizations (service providers) that work collaboratively to create a healthier environment for urban animals. Our winner this year is...

Alberta Alliance for the Safety of Animals and People (AASAP)

With 65.5% of the vote, AASAP is a network of agencies that includes emergency services, the veterinary community, social services, and animal shelters. These different groups work together to create options that allow victims of domestic violence to leave their situation and know their pet is safe and cared for. The need for the Pet Safekeeping Program exists in every community, and AASAP is working diligently to grow the network of partner agencies and expand the program across Alberta.

The Alberta SPCA, with Director of Education Tim Battle, led the formation of AASAP and secured funding for a coordinator to administer the program. They helped develop the process to admit animals to the program, keeping confidentiality and safety in the forefront. WIN House, with Community Liaison Deanna Lewis, is a founding member of AASAP and participated in the development of the referral process. They regularly refer clients to AASAP.

Urban Animal is grateful to Pets Plus Us for sponsoring the Summit Awards.

2015 Summit Awards Revealed by InfoStream

Urban Animal is pleased to advise the completion of the Summit Awards program. Urban Animal has engaged CW Communications to complete this project. During the next two weeks the 2015 Summit Awards will be revealed each day using InfoStream. The 2015 Summit Awards will then be turned over to local representatives of Pets Plus Us, the 2015 Sponsor, for delivery and presentation where possible.

For ten years the Summit Awards have represented the recognition component of the Urban Animal program in North America. Nominees for the Summits include individuals and organizations active in the Urban Animal Industry. Nominations are confirmed by the Urban Animal Action Council, who review the nominations, voting, process and results to ensure the established criteria are met and that no nominating or voting irregularities are present. The decision of the Action Council with respect to these matters is final.

This year's award program signified the most involvement from urban animal subscribers to date, with 35 nominees in 12 categories and an outstanding 16,144 ballots cast in the process. Thank you to everyone who nominated, voted and helped recognize the initiatives and accomplishments of all the nominees.

Continue to read InfoStream as we announce the winners of:

Breeder

Collaborators

Communicator

Community

Distinguished Service Provider

Homing

Individual Achievement

Lifetime Achievement

Pet Owner

Retailer

Sheltering

and Wellness Summit Awards.

Summit Award Poll FOUR - Current Leaders

The current leaders in Poll FOUR of the 2015 YourSay™ Summit Awards are identified below. Those who haven't yet voted, can still honour industry nominees by clicking on the VOTE NOW link below:

Sheltering
There are TWO nominations in this category: 
48.7% Mackenzie Blackburn - Parkland County Animal Shelter
51.3% France Dubois - S.P.C.A. de l'Outaouais

Individual Achievement
There are THREE nominations in this category: 
13.4% Heather Brown  
55.5% Dr. Karen Becker
31.0% Judanna Dawn

VOTE NOW

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels. Please note, you must use this EXACT link!

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebl6su8nievk00d2/start

Poll FOUR closes Wednesday, 30 September at midnight MST. 

REVIEW NOMINATIONS

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

**Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.

Summit Award Poll THREE - Current Leaders

The current leaders in Poll THREE of the 2015 YourSay™ Summit Awards are identified below. Those who haven't yet voted, can still honour industry nominees by clicking on the VOTE NOW link below:

Collaborators
There are TWO nominations in this category: 
59.9% Alberta Alliance for the Safety of Animals and People / Pet Safekeeping Program
40.2% Ontario SPCA / City of Markham

Homing
There are FIVE nominations in this category: 
1.9% Jane Russett - Air Angels  
88.4% Shelley Cunningham - Litters N Critters Rescue
4.3%  Lyndsay Tischer - Humane Animal Rescue Team (hart) 
5.0% Judaea Dawn - Angels Animal Rescue Society 
<1% Britaney Courtney - RPets4U

VOTE NOW

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels. Please note, you must use this EXACT link!

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebi3jtc3ie4ezvsf/start

Poll THREE closes Wednesday, 23 September at midnight MST. 

REVIEW NOMINATIONS

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

**Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.

Summit Awards Poll THREE - Current Leaders

The current leaders in Poll THREE of the 2015 YourSay™ Summit Awards are identified below. Those who haven't yet voted, can still honour industry nominees by clicking on the VOTE NOW link below:

Collaborators
There are TWO nominations in this category: 
56.0% Alberta Alliance for the Safety of Animals and People / Pet Safekeeping Program
44.0% Ontario SPCA / City of Markham

Homing
There are FIVE nominations in this category: 
3.3% Jane Russett - Air Angels  
87.6% Shelley Cunningham - Litters N Critters Rescue
5.9%  Lyndsay Tischer - Humane Animal Rescue Team (hart) 
2.3% Judaea Dawn - Angels Animal Rescue Society 
<1% Britaney Courtney - RPets4U

VOTE NOW

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels. Please note, you must use this EXACT link!

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebi3jtc3ie4ezvsf/start

Poll THREE closes Wednesday, 23 September at midnight MST. 

REVIEW NOMINATIONS

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

**Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.

Summit Awards Poll THREE - NOW OPEN!

Poll TWO is now closed (thank you for your votes!) making way for Poll THREE. This third of four polls in the 2015 Summit Awards program elects the Summit Award winners for the following categories:

COLLABORATORS
HOMING

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels: 

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebi3jtc3ie4ezvsf/start

Review all Nominations

VOTE NOW!!

This survey will close Wednesday, 23 September at midnight MST. Finalists will be announced early October and winners will be announced during the 2015 Summit Awards Gala, 16 October.

The 2015 Summit Award elections will be accomplished in four polls of 2-3 categories. Each poll will take about 3 minutes. Voting for the 2015 Summit Awards is by secret ballot using the YourSAY™ electronic polling system. 

Summit 2015 Polling Schedule: 

Poll 1 (Distinguished Service Provider, Retailer, Community): Sept. 3 - 9

Poll 2 (Pet Owner, Wellness, Breeder): Sept. 10 - 16

Poll 3 (Collaborators, Homing, Lifetime Achievement): Sept. 17 - 23

Poll 4 (Communication, Sheltering, Individual Achievement): Sept. 24 - 30

The International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies has developed an overnight package for those who live close by or plan to be in the area on Friday, 16 October. Please contact Shannon Woodward for details.  

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

** Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.

Summit Award Poll TWO - Current Leaders

The current leaders in Poll TWO of the 2015 YourSay™ Summit Awards are identified below. Those who haven't yet voted, can still honour industry nominees by clicking on the VOTE NOW link below:

Pet Owner
There are TWO nominations in this category: 
83.9% Brad Tanner 
16.2% Mirella Montgomery 

Breeder 
There are FOUR nominations in this category: 
37.0% Dawne Deeley - Tsarshadow Karelian Bear Dogs 
27.9% Catherine Betts - Bettsenterprise
27.0% Sharon Stegall - Dracoonfly Cattery
8.2% Colette Francis - Pooch Palace

Wellness
There are FOUR nominations in this category: 
28.8% Dr. J. Potter and Dr. S. Ruack - West Boulevard Veterinary Clinic
48.8% The City of Edmonton - Animal Care and Control Centre
17.8% Linda Townsend - Muddy Paws Adventures

4.6% Dr. Magdalena Smrdelj, D.V.M. - Ontario SPCA

VOTE NOW

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels: 

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebi3gvtxie4erc9b/start

Poll TWO closes Wednesday, 16 September at midnight MST. 

REVIEW NOMINATIONS

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

**Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.

Summit Award Poll TWO Current Leaders

The current leaders in Poll TWO of the 2015 YourSay™ Summit Awards are identified below. Those who haven't yet voted, can still honour industry nominees by clicking on the VOTE NOW link below:

Pet Owner
There are TWO nominations in this category: 
93% Brad Tanner 
7% Mirella Montgomery 

Breeder 
There are FOUR nominations in this category: 
51.2% Catherine Betts - Bettsenterprise
21.6% Dawne Deeley - Tsarshadow Karelian Bear Dogs 
19.2% Colette Francis - Pooch Palace
8% Sharon Stegall - Dracoonfly Cattery

Wellness
There are FOUR nominations in this category: 
55.7% The City of Edmonton - Animal Care and Control Centre
18.0% Linda Townsend - Muddy Paws Adventures
14.8% Dr. J. Potter and Dr. S. Ruack - West Boulevard Veterinary Clinic

11.5% Dr. Magdalena Smrdelj, D.V.M. - Ontario SPCA

VOTE NOW

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels: 

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebi3gvtxie4erc9b/start

Poll TWO closes Wednesday, 16 September at midnight MST. 

REVIEW NOMINATIONS

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

**Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.

Summit Award Poll ONE Current Leaders

The current leaders in Poll ONE of the 2015 YourSay™ Summit Awards are identified below. Those who haven't yet voted, can still honour industry nominees by clicking on the VOTE NOW link below:

Distinguished Service Provider
The Corporation for the District of North Vancouver - Frank Rawlings
51.6% K9H20 - Kendall DeMenech 
33.2% Run Free Canine Centre - Karl Braun 
9.4% Welland & District SPCA - John Greer
5.8% Tisol Pet Nutrition & Supply - Henry & Brenda Kozub 

Retailer
There are FIVE nominations in this category: 
83.3% Homes Alive Pet Centre - Evan Ropp 
11.0% Bosley's (New Westminster) - Karima Jivraj
2.9% La Grand Menagerie - Sara Cote
2.2% Petland Canada - Amy Pawson 
<1% The Top Dog Store - Robert Church  

Community
There are FOUR nominations in this category: 
31.8% Four Feet Companion Foundation - Daniela Montgomery
32.2% The Corporation for the District of North Vancouver - Frank Rawlings 
22.9% Regina Humane Society - Lisa Koch

13.2% Lakes Animal Friendship - Valerie Ingram and Alistair Schroff

VOTE NOW

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels: 

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebhffdbdie02fbf9/start

Poll ONE closes TONIGHT, 9 September at midnight MST. 

REVIEW NOMINATIONS

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

**Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.

Summit Award Poll ONE Current Leaders

The current leaders in Poll ONE of the 2015 YourSay™ Summit Awards are identified below. Those who haven't yet voted, can still honour industry nominees by clicking on the VOTE NOW link below:

Distinguished Service Provider
The Corporation for the District of North Vancouver - Frank Rawlings
51.7% K9H20 - Kendall DeMenech 
6.4% Welland & District SPCA - John Greer
4.9% Run Free Canine Centre - Karl Braun 
4.1% Tisol Pet Nutrition & Supply - Henry & Brenda Kozub 

Retailer
There are FIVE nominations in this category: 
37.6% Bosley's (New Westminster) - Karima Jivraj
13.3% La Grand Menagerie - Sara Cote
6.0% Petland Canada - Amy Pawson 
2.6% Homes Alive Pet Centre - Evan Ropp 
1.9% The Top Dog Store - Robert Church  

Community
There are FOUR nominations in this category: 
13.3% Regina Humane Society - Lisa Koch
12.5% The Corporation for the District of North Vancouver - Frank Rawlings 
10.6% Four Feet Companion Foundation - Daniela Montgomery

5.3% Lakes Animal Friendship - Valerie Ingram and Alistair Schroff

VOTE NOW

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels: 

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebhffdbdie02fbf9/start

Poll ONE closes Wednesday, 9 September at midnight MST. 

REVIEW NOMINATIONS

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

**Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.