InfoStream Newsmakers of 2013

2013 was an exciting year for the urban animal industry. A refactoring of the Urban Animal Program; the introduction of the Pet Experience Project; industry insight to the power of social media; and countless stories of success from across the nation all played a part in collective achievements celebrated by Urban Animal associates this past year. 

Here are a few InfoStream highlights (in order of top pageviews) from 2013:  

Tiny's Weight Loss Challenge at Atlantic Regional Conference: The story of Tiny, an overweight cat left on the steps of the Fredricton SPCA made global news headlines as the FSPCA team launched a social media campaign based around the cat's weight loss program. With nearly 6,000 Facebook 'Likes' and Tiny headlines on CNN, CTV, People Magazine and more, the FSPCA discovered a way to capitalize on the campaign and succeeded in raising thousands of dollars for special needs animals though the Tiny's Weight Loss Challenge Medical Fund. 

Interview with Randy Valpy: Twenty thirteen was a busy year for Randy Valpy as he launched Canada's newest entry to the pet insurance market, Pets Plus Us. Randy's dedication to the Urban Animal industry and his commitment to creating healthy pet communities resulted in a successful inaugural year for Pets Plus Us. Randy was also recognized by the Urban Animal Program for his efforts with a 2013 Summit Award for Individual Achievement. 

Planet Paws Pet Essentials recognized as leading retailer: Planet Paws co-owner Rodney Habib recognized an opportunity to connect with pet families on a personal level as well as a professional one. His Nova Scotia pet supply shop has received awards for its quality products and professional staff but Rodney's ability to build trust and relationships with pet owners through his Pet Nutrition Blog has allowed the company to reach a new and much larger audience. 

2013 Regional Conferences: The Regional Conferences were refactored in 2013. The improved program was designed to capture stories, successes and barriers where the rubber hits the road. The launch of the Regional Innovation Showcases and the restructuring of the Summit Award nomination process to begin at the regional level helped develop a widely successful 2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies and allowed Urban Animal associates at the local level an opportunity to network and become involved in the Program. 

Dog Dazed: Dog Dazed was instrumental in developing Pet Experience Project conversations in 2013. This CBC documentary gathered insight from both pet owners and non-pet owners and created an unbiased and neutral narrative revealing the social and environmental impact of our four-legged companions. 

PetLynx adds financial resources: In October 2013, PetLynx Corporation welcomed Dr. Drew Van Niekerk to a leading role in the management of the company. Since 2001, PetLynx has met each new challenge with understanding, agility, tenacity and a commitment to PetLynx Core Values. The expansion of management and addition of capital will allow PetLynx to continue bringing value to large brands while lowering PetLynx acquisition costs, delivering the largest share of the identification/recovery market in Canada (with plans for global emergence) and driving positive cash from operations.

Free recovery for YYC pets: The 2013 Alberta Flood displaced thousands of people and hundreds of pets. Recognizing the need for a global recovery system and central database, partners of the Urban Animal program and PetLynx offered free recovery services to pets and families affected by the floods. Weeks later, the same was offered to pets affected by the Lac Megantic train disaster.  

Summit Award winners: The 2013 Summit Awards program was the most successful to date. Winners of the Summits included individuals, agencies and organizations from all sectors of the Urban Animal Industry. With 56 nominees in 12 categories, 1,642 eligible voters and just under 700 ballots cast in the process, this year's program signified the most involvement ever from urban animal subscribers.

Thank you to everyone who made this a successful year. Your collaborative efforts, forward thinking and commitment to the industry will undoubtedly lead to an even more successful 2014.

Happy New Year!  

DOG DAZED Director, Helen Slinger Luncheon Guest at 2013 Regional Conferences

Helen Slinger, is joining delegates of the 2013 Regional Conferences in Calgary next Monday and Vancouver next Tuesday. The Urban Animal industry owes Helen a huge debt of gratitude for the direction and insight she brought to the DOG DAZED film which recently aired on CBC's Doc Zone.

In naming her one of BC's 100 Most Influential Women, the Vancouver Sun said, “Helen Slinger’s filmmaking is all about taking a grabber of an event and turning it on its head. The documentarian deliberately digs deeper, looking for real meaning beneath surface shock.” 

Helen began her career as a reporter in print and then television. After a lengthy turn at news management, she left to pursue her passion for the documentary. She is an empathetic director and the subjects of her films trust her completely. However, it is her command of the narrative that brings each story alive. In DOG DAZED, she artfully weaves together a complicated story line and multiple perspectives to deliver a film experience that is immensely satisfying to each participant and viewer alike.  

Bountiful Films' production, DOG DAZED emerges just as the Urban Animal industry tackles the weighty Pet Experience Project. Helen's segment at the  Regional Conferences is to provide highlights from her experience as a dog owner and as the filmmaker. Her comments will set up the Pet Experience Project workshops directed by Jason Coe during the afternoon sessions. 

Louis McCann Luncheon Guest at 2013 Regional Conferences

Prominent industry leader, Louis McCann, is the Luncheon guest of the 2013 Regional Conference on Thursday in Halifax. Louis was a national spokesperson for the CBC Doc Zone airing of DOG DAZED.  He fielded online questions and contributed an industry perspective to the CBC Online Chat as DOG DAZED moved through the various time zones across Canada.

As the Chair of the National Companion Animal Coalition and the Executive Director of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada, Louis brings more than 20 years of experience as a national voice for Urban Animals. Louis was also a founding member and continues to be a significant contributor of the Urban Animal think tank. His appearances across Canada on the Regional Conference tour shows his commitment to understand local issues and support regional initiatives.

Louis will add his comments to the showing of the DOG DAZED trailer setting up the Pet Experience Workshops lead by Dr. Jason Coe during the afternoon.

DOG DAZED AVAILABLE ONLINE

The CBC/Bountiful Films Documentary DOG DAZED was viewed by more than half a million viewers across Canada in its first airing last Thursday. This DOG DAZED episode is now available for linking from the CBC Doc Zone site.  

Link to DOG DAZED episode

InfoStream recommends adding this conversation starter to your Social Media program and also ensuring those attending the 2013 Regional Conference workshops in your area take time to view this documentary in preparation for the Pet Experience Project Workshops.

THANKS CANADA!

DOG DAZED Online Chat was positive and robust 

A must see documentary on the urban dog, three industry experts, six time zones and an industry engaged in the Pet Experience conversation. It all added up to lots of sharing, fun and information. Industry experts learned about real time communications and how to find obscure evidence/references quickly.

InfoStream extends a big THANK YOU to Barbara Cartwright, Executive Director of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and Louis McCann, Executive Director of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada for investing their knowledge and evening to the DOG DAZED presentation. Kudos to our colleagues at CBC Doc Zone, Bountiful Films and CBC Online for bringing the Urban Animal Industry this unusual opportunity.

The response to the experience from those who participated and viewed the program, has been overwhelmingly positive. But for the industry this is not the end, nor is it the beginning of the end. It is rather, the end of the beginning.

The Urban Animal Industry now moves to the 2013 Regional Conferences where the Pet Experience Workshops intend to gather input from key government leaders, urban planners, licensing agencies, veterinarians, retailers, breeders, pet owners and humane/rescue representatives in four events across Canada.

DOG DAZED is scheduled for two more screenings:

CBC News Network, Saturday 11 PM ET

CBC-TV, Sunday at 6 PM ET

Please check your local CBC listings for the time in your area.

DOG DAZED Live Chat

As the Bountiful Films documentary sweeps across the country this evening on CBC's Doc Zone, three industry advocates will participate in an live online chat to discuss the show's impact on the companion animal industry, the Pet Experience Project and how the world may just be 'going to the dogs'. 

Join CFHS CEO Barbara Cartwright, PIJAC Canada executive director Louis McCann and Urban Animal executive producer Larry R. Evans:

JOIN THE LIVE CHAT

Tune in TONIGHT at 9 p.m. on CBC to watch DOG DAZED.

Dog Politics: Karen Stintz on Metro Morning

Dog Politics

Not long ago, Ledburry Park was at the centre of a battle between dog owners and pretty much everyone else who used the park. This morning, Matt Galloway spoke with Toronto city councillor Karen Stintz. She is featured in DOG DAZED, which airs tonight at 9 p.m. on CBC's Doc Zone.

Karen Stintz will be speaking about the Ledburry Park debate as well as the documentary at the 2013 Regional Conference in Toronto on 17 April. 

DOG DAZED in Printed Media Across Canada

Canada's Conversation about the Canine Pet Experience continued across the nation yesterday.

Already this morning the conversation stimulated by DOG DAZED has hit local papers and radio.

Here are press clippings and comments that developed yesterday and this morning:

STEPHEN HUME IN THE VANCOUVER SUN: When paws ignite passions

GLEN SCHAEFER in THE PROVINCE: There are other values to consider

ERIC VOLMERS IN CALGARY HERALD: The obsessive Dog Daze of modern cities investigated by Vancouver filmmaker

ALEX STRACHAN IN POSTMEDIA: Dog Dazed proves world is going to the dogs

CHECK the DOG DAZED Show Times in your Area

BRING YOUR COMMENTS TO CBC'S ONLINE CHAT TONIGHT

Anna Maria Tremonti and Helen Slinger on Dog Dazed

CBC's The Current interviews Helen Slinger and brings DOG DAZED into focus.

CBC's Doc Zone will air DOG DAZED tomorrow night on CBC's Doc Zone - Tune in at 0900 PM (0930pm in Nfld) local time across Canada and join the conversation.

This is interview is must listening for delegates to the 2013 Regional Conferences, for those working on the Pet Experience Project and those planning urban municipalities.

Join the DOG DAZED conversation on CBC's Doc Zone

Helen Slinger on The Rush

Bountiful Films executive producer Helen Slinger appeared on The Rush last week to promote DOG DAZED.  This is the documentary that caught the attention of the Pet Experience Project as balanced and important viewing for the companion animal industry.

During the segment, Slinger reveals why she thinks society's attitude to urban dogs has changed over the years, how we've become dazed by our dogs and what she believes the solution to the tension might be.

Tune in to CBC's Doc Zone on 

Thursday, 21 March to watch 

DOG DAZED

Canine Tragedy on Calgary's Trails

Late last week, Calgary, a city well known for green space, extensive dog walking trails and above average levels of licensing compliance, experienced another very tragic event.

One dead dog, one distraught dog owner, one hospitalized bystander and one owner at risk for huge fines (second time in a year). It all adds up to a REALLY BIG CANINE TRAGEDY.

Urban municipalities in North America are home to 10 million more dogs than just a decade ago. The conflict between dog owners and other users of public spaces has reached a critical level. Now more than ever, a conversation needs to develop that eliminates the risks and barriers to a more positive urban pet experience.

Thursday, 21 March at 09:00 pm (local)
CBC's Doc Zone airs DOG DAZED
a film by Bountiful Films.

The film chronicles canine conflicts in the modern urban municipality. All reports show DOG DAZED to be a balanced approach to Canine Conflicts. 

Industry leaders who viewed early screenings of DOG DAZED say it is 'must see' viewing for dog and non-dog owners in urban areas.
  

Read about A CALGARY TRAGEDY

Watch the DOG DAZED TRAILER

HAVE YOUR SAY - ONLINE CHAT

Producer Helen Slinger's Blog

CBC's Doc Zone illuminates the dog

DOG DAZED is an important and timely film for North America. We pre-screened the film last week. It is impressive in content and production. Kudu's to filmmaker Helen Slinger and the team at Bountiful Films for producing it and to CBC Doc Zone for bringing this film to air. 

DOG DAZED is a must see for those involved in the 2013 Regional Conferences or the UAS - Pet Experience Project. Watch as otherwise intelligent, reasonable human beings, turn rabid when anyone criticizes their dog or limits their freedoms. Observe as non-dog owners, forced to defend an increasingly limited turf, howl in protest. Helen Slinger wades into both camps to discover what's fueling this insanity. Slinger reveals the social and environmental impact of these furry family members with a light touch that keeps everyone involved. 

DOG DAZED airs on Thursday, 21 March 2013. Follow DOG DAZED conversations on LinkedIn Urban Animal Strategies group. 

WATCH THE DOG DAZED TRAILER

CBC seeks dog videos

Bountiful Films is looking for funny and clever dog videos to use in their upcoming documentary, Dog Dazed, set to air 28 February 2013 on CBC. 

"We are seeking fabulous and funny dog videos for inclusion in the Doc Zone documentary, Dog Dazed. If your dog has a special talent or has been caught on camera in a silly moment, this could be his or her chance for stardom. 

The top three videos, selected by a jury of dog-lovers and by on-line popularity, will be included in the documentary and the grand prize is a year's supply of Iams pet food and a year of pet insurance from Petsecure. The deadline for submissions is 15 December 2012. 

MORE INFORMATION

This is a great opportunity for industry leaders to reach out to their dog-loving communities and offer the chance at great prizes and celebrity status. 

About Dog Dazed
During the past decade, dog ownership in Canada has doubled while human population continues to urbanize. Since a majority of dog owners consider Fido a member of the family, it's a challenge to clearly examine the dog's impact and effect on other people. Dog Dazed explores the conflicts and the potential solutions as we work to integrate these descendants of wolves into our urban life-style without driving them - and our own species - barking mad.