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.

Individual Achievement Summit Accepted by Dr. Karen Becker

Dr. Karen Becker received the 2015 Summit Award for Individual Achievement.

From writing pet cookbooks and pet wellness newsletters, to her non-profit wildlife rehabilitation centre, lectures on nutrition and television appearances, Dr. Becker has had a profound affect on animals and their humans throughout her career. She received 48.5% of the votes from her peers in the animal industry to win the award.
 
The Individual Achievement Summit recognizes an individual who is currently active in the urban animal industry and is well regarded for their achievements to improve the experience of pets and people. Preference is shown to those who actively mentor the development of leaders and professionalism in the industry.

 

Urban Animal is grateful to Pets Plus Us for sponsoring the 2015 Summit Awards.

 

SPCA de l'Outaouais Receives 2015 Sheltering Summit

Karolyne Trottier of Pets Plus Us presented France Dubois, along with other staff and volunteers of the SPCA de l’Outaouais (SPCAO), with the 2015 Urban AnimalSheltering Summit Award.

 

The Sheltering Summit recognizes organizations that have improved the care and handling of animals in transition (recovery, intervention, transfer). 
  
This year the SPCAO was recognized for its outstanding adoption rate, achieved through internal and external initiatives and partnerships, along with its collaboration with other agencies in an effort to improve the wellbeing of pets on a larger scale.

Urban Animal is grateful to Pets Plus Us for sponsoring the 2015 Summit Awards.

 

AASAP Accepts 2015 Collaborators Summit

Clearly illustrating what collaboration is all about, individuals from eight different organizations shared the 2015 Urban Animal Collaborators Summit Award.

This year’s recipient, 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 Urban Animal Collaborators Summit recognizes the efforts of two or more organizations (service providers) that work collaboratively to create a healthier environment for urban animals.

Back row, from left:

Jocelyn Forseille DVM, Alberta Veterinary Medical Association; Deanna Lewis, WIN House; Amy Corpe, Red Deer & District SPCA; Patricia Mamak, Alberta SPCA; Kim Taylor, Alberta Human Services; Lesley Conley, Centre for Public Legal Education of Alberta; Karen Melnyk RVT, City of Edmonton Animal Care & Control.

Front row, from left:

Ken Keeler DVM, retired veterinarian; Tim Battle, Alberta SPCA; Jeff Wilks, A Safe Place Women’s Shelter.

Urban Animal is grateful to Pets Plus Us for sponsoring the 2015 Summit Awards. 

2015 Innovation Showcase Winner

The Innovation Showcase was launched in 2013 to discover innovative projects that could be replicated across the Urban Animal industry. The top FOUR innovators are awarded the status of ‘Mentor’. The 2015 innovator of the year is…

Dr. Ardra Cole

Dr. Cole received a score of 7.63 or 84.8% to win the Innovation Showcase.

Dr. Cole is the founder of ElderDog Canada, an organization that supports and maintains the relationship between senior citizens and their dogs. ElderDog also supports older dogs that have had their lives disrupted due to illness, relocation, or death of their human companion.

Dr. Cole is a university professor that currently works as a Senior Administrator at a university; she has been a university faculty member for 25 years. Dr. Cole volunteered for Therapeutic Paws of Canada with her dog Tattoo (now passed on) and they regularly visited palliative care patients. Currently Dr. Cole is an Evaluator of prospective dog volunteers and their humans.

The 2015 IRED Scholarship Competition was made possible with grants from:

• PIJAC Canada
  
• Petsecure/Western Financial Corporation
• Kijiji Canada
• Ontario SPCA
• CDMV Inc
• Petland Superstores
  
• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
  
  
  
  
  
   

2015 Emerging Leader

The Emerging Leader Scholarships were launched in 2010 to illuminate the up and coming leaders in the pet industry. The goal is to grant these emerging leaders the opportunity to network with current leaders and gain executive insight into their sector. The Emerging Leader program illuminates future leaders for the benefit of organizations who wish to hire emerging talent. The winner this year is…

Kelsey Birtch

Kelsey received a score of 7.56 or 84% to win the Emerging Leader category.

She was born in New Westminster, British Columbia in 1986. Animals formed a big part of her life until she graduated from New Westminster High School in 2004. Around this time, Kelsey volunteered with the New Westminster Police Department in their Crime Prevention Unit and started working at a doggie daycare in Burnaby where she was responsible for upwards of 40 dogs a day. Concurrently, she attended Simon Fraser University from 2004-2010 and received her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Criminology. From there she moved onto the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as an Auxiliary Animal Care Attendant for the City of Vancouver and Maple Ridge respectively. In October 2014, Kelsey was recruited by the City of Vancouver as the first full-time Animal Services Licensing Liaison in British Columbia. Learn more about Kelsey here.

The 2015 IRED Scholarship Competition was made possible with grants from:

• PIJAC Canada
  

  
• Petsecure/Western Financial Corporation
• Kijiji Canada
• Ontario SPCA
• CDMV Inc
• Petland Superstores
• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
  
  

  

  

   
  

  

2015 Research Posters - Winner

Research Posters, introduced in 2014, deliver evidence supporting the improvement of the pet experience in urban communities.  The Poster program provides students with an opportunity to distribute information beyond the research environment and share important evidence with members of the Alliance for Urban Animals. The winner this year is…

Dr. Tyler Flockhart

Dr. Flockhart received a score of 8.54 or 94.8% to win the Research Posters category.

He is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Guelph that is studying feline overpopulation and its management. Flockhart is performing research to answer several critical questions, including how to determine the actual population of feral cats. He is developing a population model for cats and is tracking feral cats in Toronto and Guelph to examine their movements. Flockhart’s research should provide crucial information on feral cat populations and successful management of Canada’s feral felines. Find more information about his work here. 

The 2015 IRED Scholarship Competition was made possible with grants from:

• PIJAC Canada
  

  
• Petsecure/Western Financial Corporation
• Kijiji Canada
• Ontario SPCA
• CDMV Inc
• Petland Superstores
• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
  
  

  

  

2015 Digital Journalist

The Digital Journalist category was introduced to the Urban Animal program in 2015. The intent of the Digital Journalist category is to illuminate those who deliver digital images and information to audiences in urban municipalities. These individuals are instrumental in the development of public opinion, culture and behaviours for a healthy, wholesome environment for Urban Animals (human and non-human). The winner this year is…

Dr. Rebecca Ledger

Dr. Ledger received a score of 7.6 or 84.4% to win the Digital Journalist category.

She writes for the Vancouver Sun about animal welfare issues including animal legislation, pet care/health, and animal behaviour. Her articles may also be found in the National Post, the Leader Post, the Calgary Herald, The Star Phoenix, The Windsor Star, the Montreal Gazette and the Ottawa Citizen. Dr. Ledger is also active on her Twitter account and is in the process of creating her Animal Behaviour and Welfare Consulting website.

 

Dr. Ledger is a Faculty Member at Langara College, teaching Basic and Advanced courses in animal behaviour, animal welfare, animal law and business. She was awarded her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of London, her Masters Degree in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare from the University of Edinburgh (The Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies) and her Doctorate in the assessment and treatment of behavioural disorders in shelter dogs from Brunel University.

Learn more about Dr. Ledger here.

The 2015 IRED Scholarship Competition was made possible with grants from:

• PIJAC Canada
• Petsecure/Western Financial Corporation
• Kijiji Canada
• Ontario SPCA
• CDMV Inc
• Petland Superstores
• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association