Summit 2014 presentations now available online!

The 2014 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies was a tremendous success with more attending delegates, more Summit Awards participation, more conversations and more positive feedback than ever before. 

Featured for the second year, the Innovation Showcases introduced delegates to eight unique innovations that are up and running in Canadian communities. Facts and Evidence sessions provided delegates with valuable metrics and information to help guide delegates in their promotion of healthy communities for pets and people. 

Summit 2014 presentations are now available online!

Facts and Evidence: Obstacles to a Positive Pet Experience

Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) Canada is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the highest level of pet care and to representing all elements of the Canadian pet industry in an equitable manner. PIJAC Canada is a founding member of the Urban Animal program.

 

Summit 2014 is pleased to present PIJAC Canada:

'Obstacles to a Positive Pet Experience: The Pet Owner Challenges Survey'

Directed by Susan Dankert, Communications & Research Coordinator

During Summit 2012, delegates observed a requirement for factual knowledge of the pet owner experience. A subsequent search of existing literature showed a lack of information that described this experience from the pet owner perspective.

At Summit 2013 a decision was made to gather evidence of the challenges faced by pet families. Two initiative arose from this decision: An initiative by Urban Animal to gather videos of pet owners talking about pets in their lives; and, The development of a survey to poll Canadian pet owners.

During spring 2014, PIJAC Canada spear-headed a nation-wide survey to ask Canadians about the obstacles they faced caring for their pets. The PIJAC Canada presentation will reveal what pet families had to say and discuss the implications and opportunities for future engagement.

Register for this conversation

The Challenges of the Pet Experience

Preventative animal healthcare is a top priority for all sectors of the urban animal industry. With decreasing vet visits, increasing judgement and the emergence of "Dr. Google", the industry is facing challenges which will require communication and collaboration across the board. 

Dr. Brenda Bonnet has studied the pet experience around the globe. At Summit 2013, Bonnett presented some of her findings to Summit Delegates as part of the Facts & Evidence sessions. Her lecture focused on the Challenges of the Pet Experience citing breeder suppositions, veterinary expectations and assumptions and the complex interplay of human and animal factors as dilemmas to the pet experience. 

To help refactor these dilemmas into opportunities, Bonnett suggested three action items:  

1. Commercial pet industry - "The general public is the engine that drives the pet breeding industry." Bonnett considered a strategy to 're-align educational, practice, regulatory, health management strategies and attitudes to recognize the reality'. She also noted that 'Breeders' shouldn't be lumped into a single category as good/bad, commercial/hobby, etc.  
2. Define a model of humanely conservative care and an education program around it - Citing studies focusing on the gap between veterinary professionals and pet families, Bonnett suggested 'spectrums of care' options, focusing on outcomes rather than just actions and reconsidering the vet/pet owner relationship from a multi-stakeholder/ evidence based and reality/based perspective.  
3. Explore partnerships and sharing with U.S. organizations already practicing these opportunities 

LINK TO PRESENTATION 

Brenda Bonnett to speak during Summit Session III: The Challenges of the Pet Experience

The urban animal industry is facing a variety of challenges in communities around the world. Several factors determine each experience and every challenge but many maintain underlying similarities. Collaboration, education and communication throughout the industry is a necessary step to creating healthy communities for people and pets.

Which trends are challenging the urban animal experience? Are these challenges best defined as problems addressed by a 'solution' or as dilemmas requiring innovation to convert them into an opportunity.

Dr. Brenda Bonnett has studied the pet experience around the globe. Her multifaceted international experience and research will be explored during her Summit 2013 Facts & Evidence Session III: The Challenges of the Pet Experience presentation.

Formerly tenured faculty at the Ontario Veterinary College, Brenda is now a Consulting Epidemiologist. Her research and projects in Europe and North America include development of national and international programs with kennel clubs, numerous pet welfare initiatives spanning the National Council on Pet Population and the recent American Humane Association Cat Welfare Forum.  

Betsy Saul to speak during Summit Session II: The Pet Dilemma

In 1996, Betsy Banks Saul co-founded Petfinder.com, the first online system presenting adoptable pets to prospective pet owners. 

Fifteen years and some 25 million adoptions later, Petfinder has seen consistent and steady growth. At any given time the site lists over 300,000 adoptable pets from nearly 14,000 animal welfare organizations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and beyond. 

Well-known and respected in the global pet industry, Saul is considered an expert on adoption strategies and the pet-owner experience. Her commitment and compassion secured her post as one of Women's Day Magazine's "50 Women Who Are Changing the World".  

Saul recognizes an urban animal industry increasingly focused on moral dilemmas. Can we now put aside beliefs that have kept us apart? Can we recast dilemmas into new opportunities? Can we partner with pet owners to create a more positive pet experience? Can we draw outside the historical lines? These are the quandaries Saul will present during the 2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies Facts & Evidence Session II: The Pet Dilemma.

As the industry strives to create healthy communities for people and pets, her knowledge and understanding will help connect the urban animal industry with pet owners to break down the barriers to a positive pet experience. 

2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies

16-19 October

Lake Louise, Alberta

REGISTER NOW

Dr. David Goodnight to speak during Summit Session I: The Pet Healthcare Experience

The Urban Animal industry is changing. Consumers can now access everything from merchandise to health care in real-time, online. Pet health insurance and healthcare providers are attempting to maintain a focus for pet families by offering models catering to simplicity, cost effectiveness and quality. 

Dr. David Goodnight, a long-time urban animal advocate conceived of and designed a Planned Wellness model for Nestle Purina which other organizations are now emulating. Partners in Wellness is a turnkey software solution for veterinarians to create and offer customizable wellness programs to their clients without the administrative constraints associated with billing and the tracking of service delivery. 

Will the choices in healthcare afforded by these new programs satisfy clients who visit a veterinarian less frequently and can access everything, anytime, anywhere online? Will urban animals continue to have a role with low income/special needs households or will they become objects for an elite group that can afford higher healthcare costs? 

During the 2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies Facts & Evidence Session I: The Pet Healthcare Experience, Goodnight will explore these uncertainties and help guide industry leaders to success and understanding. 

Goodnight brings more than 35 years experience in several areas of the Urban Animal industry including Health & Wellness, insurance, consulting and research.

2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies

16-19 October

Lake Louise, Alberta

REGISTER NOW

Summit 2013 Agenda Announced

Urban Animal thought leaders will be focused on the pet experience this October.

Thursday morning will showcase six Innovations from the Regional Innovation Showcases across the continent last April. Members of the Urban Animal program voted these six innovations as the most note worthy in North America.

Three of the Urban Animal industry’s leaders with global recognition for their subject matter expertise will bring their unique perspective on the pet experience. Program elements include: The Pet Healthcare Experience,presented by Dr. David Goodnight; The Pet Dilemma, presented by Betsy Banks Saul; and, Challenges of the Pet Experience, presented by Dr. Brenda Bonnett.

  

VIEW AGENDA  

  

Encouraging a more mindful pet owner, understanding the opportunities and challenges faced by the Urban Animal industry and defining a more positive pet experience is the goal of Summit 2013.

“We need to put the 'PEOPLE' back into the industry mission to create healthy communities for people and pets," said Larry Evans, CEO, PetLynx Corporation.

  

The 2013 Friday Forum requires diligent listening, openness to other values/beliefs and the discipline to create an industry consensus. 

Among the Summit Alumni and 2013 Delegates are the brightest minds of the urban animal industry. As an industry leader and executive thought leader, you are cordially invited to participate in the 2013 Summit*.  

  

2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies

Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta

16 - 19 October 2013

  

 REGISTER NOW!

  

Get the facts, have YourSAY™, move the industry.

*Delegate positions are determined on a first-come first-served basis.

  

Summit 2013 Brings Together Four Industry Conversations

In June, the agenda for Summit 2013 revealed four conversations for the 2013 Facts and Evidence Session:

• Consumer service - Consumers can access everything, anytime, anywhere, online. What change does this demand within communities, organizations and within the Urban Animal Industry?
• Declining pet population - Statistics show the number of pets are in decline across North America. Why the lower numbers? Has the 'responsible pet owner' movement taken the joy out of pet ownership? Is the industry guilty of fostering a judgemental approach to pet ownership? What are the implications of a lower pet population for industry, for communities and for pet owners?
• Cost of pet ownership - The cost of pet ownership has risen to levels that can't be supported by some elements of society. Yet pets have an important role to play with the elderly, the infirm and the dependent members of community. Healthcare has been a major contributor to the rising cost of ownership but there are others. Will the rising cost of ownership be mitigated by new strategies and services or will pets become objects of the elite in our society?
• Licensing compliance - Compliance is falling in many communities across North America. What is driving this decline in compliance? Are license fees just another form of tax? Can falling compliance be arrested with strategies that add value, positive experiences and lifestyle integration for pet owners who are compliant?

In the past six weeks three questions have arisen:

• Are these conversations connected? 
• What would drive the industry to develop strategies/tactics that created a more positive experience for pet owners? 
• Do existing Summit alumni have the answers or must others be attracted to these conversations?

Contributions and observations are invited using the LinkedIn Urban Animal Group

Summit 2013 Reaching out for Thought Leaders

Larry Evans, Executive Producer of Summit 2013, is reaching out to assemble presenters who are the industry thought leaders.

The Summit 2013 agenda was revealed earlier today showing the 2013 Facts and Evidence Session with four subject areas:

• Client service - How to serve clients who can access everything, anytime, anywhere online?
• Pet population - What are the implications of a declining pet population for industry, for communities and for pet owners?
• Pet ownership - Will rising costs be mitigated by new financial strategies and  products or will pets become objects for the elite?
• Licensing - Can falling municipal compliance be arrested with strategies that add value?

The rest of Summit 2013 sounds exciting and productive:

• The 2013 Innovation Showcase features presentations from 2013 Regional Conferences. Can you imagine:
• Pet owners lined up around the block to purchase a dog license.
• Cat admissions reduced by 18% or more across an entire province.
• Legislation that enforces breeding standards and ethical conduct.
• A municipal 'Green Belt' that integrates leisure activities with pet friendly facilities and environmental stewardship.
• A regional collaboration that spayed/neutered almost 9,000 feral and barn cats.
• A criminal justice program that socializes problem pets and young offenders in 12 weeks.
• The 2013 Urban Animal Foundation Dinner on Thursday evening brings forward the new governance structure, the initial slate of directors and a proposal for the next industry wide initiative 'Celebrating Pets'.
• Dr. Jason Coe, facilitates the 2013 Urban Animal Forum on Friday.
• The 2013 Summit Awards Gala presents an exciting lineup for peer recognition, entertainment and celebration on Friday evening.
• The 2013 Urban Animal Keynote and Leaders Library Brunch on Saturday sports a new format to inspire and energize delegates as the event ends.

Asking industry to identify the thought leaders ensures Summit 2013 continues to lead the industry with state-of-the-art thinking and modern Urban Animal Strategies. Those wishing to promote a thought leader may  use the 'contact us' tab at the top of this InfoStream page.