Urban Animal - Will There be a 2016 Summit?

The cancellation of the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies 2015 was not just a huge disappointment for the Urban Animal Foundation, it also prompted rethinking and reevaluation of the event.

After measuring the benefits of the Summit - partnerships, relationships, knowledge, recognition, innovation and more - it was decided the value to the animal industry was so great the event needed to continue.

How

The first step is to manage the shortfall from last year’s event and make participants whole.

PetLynx has once again stepped up to the plate for Urban Animal Foundation and committed to reimbursing delegates. Payments have been made to IRED scholarship recipients this month. Other delegates who submitted claims will receive payment in the coming months.

The 2016 event will be streamlined - without losing value in key areas such as networking and recognition.

Virtualization of programs like IRED was done on a trial basis last year, and will continue this year to reduce costs.

Sufficient funding was committed for 2016 to give the Foundation confidence moving forward.

Where

Travel and venue costs are being reduced by hosting the event in Toronto. If travel to the Alberta mountains was part of what made past summits special for you, don’t worry. Future plans may include different locations.

When

Mark your calendar now. Plan a full day of learning, sharing and celebrating the animal industry on November 17th.

What

Expect a keynote presentation on a topic of the most importance and interest to the animal industry.

Watch for announcements in InfoStream about nominations for IRED scholarships and Summit Awards along with exciting updates about these programs.

Anticipate an amazing opportunity to learn from and network with thought leaders from across the country.

Stay up-to-date as plans for Summit 2016 develop - keep following InfoStream.

PetLynx moves UA Program and Brand to Foundation

Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Friday, September 25, 2015

PetLynx Corporation announced today it is moving the Urban Animal (UA) brand and program elements to the Urban Animal Foundation effective 1 January, 2016.  This move clears the way for Urban Animal to develop a broader base of support and consumer benefit in the urban animal industry.

The Urban Animal Foundation was incorporated in 2014 to be the vessel for UA programs, knowledge, expertise and resources. PetLynx has worked to develop new strategies for funding and program delivery that will emerge in October.

“PetLynx Corporation and Urban Animal have been uniquely people (client) centric in their offerings and approach”, said Larry R. Evans, Managing Director of PetLynx Corporation. “Re-purposing a few pennies of consumer spending on products and services can drive benefits for consumers through the understanding, innovation and research developed by Urban Animal. We envision a few cents from a policy premium, product or a consumer visit being contributed to ‘Enrich Life’ and ‘Foster Community’ in the client experience”, he said.

Over the past decade, UA enjoyed several million dollars of investment by PetLynx and industry allies. UA research and innovation has contributed value to urban animals of every description. While human animals occupy the top of the value chain with votes, money and culture, evidence shows that other animals have an important role to enrich human lives and foster community.

Under Foundation restructuring, the UA program year will begin in October and end in September (ie. 2015/2016), so that funding and program outcomes can be reported during the Foundation Dinner on Thursday evening of the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. The fiscal year of the Foundation will begin in January and end in December (ie 2016) for accounting and financial reporting.

The proposed slate of Foundation Officers, Directors, Councilors, Advisors and Subject Matter Experts for 2015/2016 has been published on UrbanAnimal.com. A joint meeting of the Foundation Board of Directors and Action Counsel has been called for Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 1300 hrs to be followed by the Foundation Board Meeting at 1600 hrs.

Meeting Agendas and the Financial Forecast for 2015/2016 will be published online at UrbanAnimal.com on October first. Consent to act forms will be provided for execution prior to October 14, 2015.

Urban Animal Names 2015 IRED Scholarship Recipients

Urban Animal IRED Competition brings a diverse group of Finalists to Summit 2015

Urban Animal is pleased to announce the Finalists of the 2015 Innovation, Research, Emerging Leader and Digital Journalist (IRED) Scholarship programs. Each Finalist receives a scholarship to attend the 2015 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in Lake Louise, Alberta, October 14 to 17, valued at $2,700. 

The 2015 Finalists are presented in the order of standing after the Adjudication Round: 

Innovators of 2015

Charmaine Hammond - Team Toby 

Ardra Cole - Elder Dog 

Tracy Robertson - The Bello Project 

Krista Foreman - Safe for Pets Too 

Researchers of 2015

Tyler Flockhart - Free Roaming Cat Populations 

Tasha Welch - Companion Rabbits: Facts & Figures 

Taryn Graham - Persons Partnered with Assistance Dogs   

Janet Cutler - Socialization in Puppies 

Emerging Leaders of 2015

Kelsey Birtch - Jerry Aschenbrenner Scholarship  

Blake Paulin - Rolf C. Hagen Scholarship 

Digital Journalists of 2015

Rebecca Ledger 

Rodney Habib

Cheryl Wallach 

Sarah Hylton-Foster

Presented by the Urban Animal Foundation, IRED and Summit Award Scholarships provide current and future leaders of the Urban Animal industry with an opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise with the thought leaders of North American agencies and organizations who meet annually at the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies.

IRED Finalists present in the final round of competition on Thursday, October 15, at Summit 2015. In addition, all Finalists have an opportunity to involve themselves in Urban Animal sessions and are honored during the Urban Animal Foundation Dinner on Thursday evening. The winning Finalist in each category receives special recognition during the 2015 Summit Awards Celebration on Friday evening.

About Urban Animal IRED Scholarships:
Winners of each scholarship were selected by the Urban Animal Adjudicator Panels at four regional and one virtual event between April and June 2015. Fourteen finalists were selected from a field of 36 applicants.

“Urban Animal Scholarships help the industry discover the talented people who can enrich the lives of people and pets in our communities,” said Executive Producer, Larry Evans. “Sharing new information, programs and ideas propels the industry forward, eliminates barriers, develops relationships and provides healthier, happier experiences for people and pets.” 

Since it’s inception, Urban Animal has bestowed 58 IRED scholarships valued at $156,600. The Urban Animal Foundation plans to award 16 IRED scholarships in 2016.

PetLynx Scraps Regional Conferences

‘ACTION’ is the DNA of the Alliance for Urban Animals

PetLynx moves from an education and conversation conference to a new structure which favours an Action and Adjudication approach to the 2015 Urban Animal program in each Region.

In 2015, Urban Animal celebrates 10-years, countless dilemmas identified and conversations between industry sectors that now take place on a daily basis. Leaders of the industry work together to create healthy communities for pets and people. The first decade of the Urban Animal program moved the industry away from the fatigue and scarcity that threatened stakeholders to a new environment of abundance.During the next decade, PetLynx intends to use this foundation of new relationships, conversations, resources and trust to focus the Alliance for Urban Animals on ACTION.

Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German Philosopher

To bring about this change, the dates of Regional gatherings will  be moved to later in May and June. The format will shift focus from education and conversation to ACTION and ADJUDICATION. Innovators, Emerging Leaders, Researchers, Digital Journalists and those competing for Summit Awards will continue to be identified by their peers in each Region. Each of these nominees will appear before a panel of adjudicators chosen from Alumni, Mentors and Advocates in each region. This panel will select those receiving scholarships to attend the annual Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. The ACTION COUNCIL of the Urban Animal Foundation will confer these scholarships in a process aimed at bringing the top nominees in North America to present to the 2015 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in October.

ACTION will keep us relevant and focused on delivering positive pet experiences to the communities and the people we serve!

ADJUDICATION will ensure Urban Animal scholarships are invested in the best ideas and people to drive successful Urban Animal programs.

REPLICATION of the projects moving forward in the Alliance for Urban Animals and supported by the Urban Animal Foundation will now focus on assembling peers with the passion and resources to deliver a successful North American initiative. The Replication  activities of the Urban Animal program will operate independently as the ACTION element of Urban Animal. A review of the most successful Urban Animal program for Cats showed a four year emergence from 2009 to 2013 and specific elements that contributed to this success. This template will be further refined to ensure successful initiatives move forward each year.

STAY TUNED to InfoStream and UrbanAnimal.com for date and Action Council announcements

Get the facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the industry!

Urban Animal Foundation Launches at Summit 2014

"Today is one of those sweet moments when 10 years of dreams and intentions becomes a reality", said Larry Evans, Treasurer, Urban Animal Foundation. 

The Urban Animal program began in 2005 with a meeting of industry leaders in Banff, Alberta. Driving a more collaborative Urban Animal industry began with the first Summit in 2006. By 2009 allies of the urban animal program had identified the need to change the culture and behaviors experienced by cats in our communities. The Year of the Cat in 2011, was the first continent wide initiative to increase the value of cats. By 2012, this initiative had morphed into 'Care for Cats' and in 2013, Bayer launched the Feline Friendly program which used collateral and concepts developed in this initiative.

The very successful Cat initiative demonstrated a need for a development environment that would be funded and governed separately from the commercial activities of PetLynx and other industry contributors. In 2013, planning commenced for The Urban Animal Foundation. The incorporation of the Foundation occurred in April 2014. The first Advisory Council and Board meetings will take place today, Wednesday, 22 October 2014, in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada.

"I see this as a tree story, said Drew Van Niekerk, President of the Urban Animal Foundation. The tree is deeply rooted with a nine year investment to create and clarify the Urban Animal DNA. I expect this trust and subject matter expertise will develop the intentions of Urban Animal into the fruit so desired by the communities and pet owners we serve." 

Foundation Dinner celebrates 165 years of service

The 2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies presented the first ever Urban Animal Foundation Dinner which introduced delegates to the industry's newest non-profit and recognized the long-term achievements of leaders in the industry.

Western Financial Insurance Company (Petsecure) demonstrated its fidelity to the Urban Animal Program by generously sponsoring the Foundation Dinner. Founding sponsors of the SUAS, Petsecure continues to support its industry partners and allowed delegates to celebrate 165 years of service to animals and the people who love them. 

For 25 years, PIJAC Canada has proven itself a valuable player in the Urban Animal Industry. As an organization committed to strengthening the collaborative ties amongst all five sectors, PIJAC plays a critical role in the Urban Animal Program. 

Celebrating 140 years of service, the Ontario SPCA has been a long-time supporter of the Urban Animal Program. The organization's efforts to reinvent the humane and rescue sector have identified it as a role model, a leader and a partner. The Ontario SPCA featured  as one of 2013's Innovation Showcase models and received the Summit award for Community Compliance. 

PetLynx used this celebration to announce the Urban Animal Foundation which represents a momentous change in the way it will work with the Urban Animal Program to resource industry initiatives. The Foundation is a non-profit vessel to hold collateral and resources for the benefit of the entire industry. The Urban Animal Foundation will resource initiatives (like Care for Cats) arising out of the Summit and Urban Animal Conferences. 

Urban Animal Foundation Guiding Principles 

• Vessel – Creative Commons gathers and holds resources for the benefit of the Urban Animal Program
• Hybrid – Actively promotes/resources not-for-profit elements of PetLynx Corporation and the Urban Animal Program
• Develops consensus – For Urban Animal initiatives
• Models technology – Employ modern technology to ensure transparency for funding, for process and for decisions
• Supports Centre of Excellence – Used to prove up strategies and tactics
• FutureWorks – Gathers Urban Animal evidence (not necessarily driven by market demand)
• Lean/mean machine – Administration and infrastructure provided by PetLynx