Addressing the Issue of Homing Animals Part 4

On 13 October 2010, the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies will turn attention to strategies and codes of conduct for homing animals in urban municipalities.

Passions run deep when the industry talks about homing. Who is the real target as the companion animal industry tries to clean up homing issues?

Discussion of this topic produces questions:

•    Why are retailers and breeders so often the target?

•    Can industry work together to control demand through education and community expectations?

•    Why don’t breeders have a better relationship with retailers?

•    How do the vast number of animals being homed come into our communities every year?

•    How can the industry target sub-standard animals/breeders who access their clients via the Internet?

To read about and comment on the role of pet retailers and animal welfare organizations in relation to animal homing, scroll down to blog posts Parts 2 and 3 below.

To read about and comment on the role of breeders in relation to animal homing, read the blog post for August 20 ... click here.

Join your executive level peers and contribute to the formation of homing strategies at the 5th Annual International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. Your opinion matters! Register now.

Provide your comments to this discussion below.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Addressing the Issue of Homing Animals Part 3

On 13 October 2010, the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies will turn attention to strategies and codes of conduct for homing animals in urban municipalities.

Animal welfare organizations believe that spay/neuter programs are an important part of controlling overpopulation.

Discussion about high volume spay/neuter programs has produced questions:

•    Are health care providers overcharging for spay/neuter procedures?

•    Who should pay for high volume spay/neuter programs?

•    Can spay/neuter programs support lifetime relationships with community health care  providers?

•    Can industry adopt a code of conduct that provides for all non-breeder animals to be sterilized?

•    Do high volume spay/neuter programs take clients away from veterinarians in the community?

To read about and comment on the role of pet retailers in relation to animal homing, scroll down to Part 2 below.

To read about and comment on the role of breeders in relation to animal homing, check the blog post for August 20. Click here.

For thought provoking questions that affect the companion animal industry as a whole, watch for Part 4 of this series to post on August 31.

Join your executive level peers and contribute to the formation of homing strategies at the 5th Annual International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. Your opinion matters! Register now.

Provide your comments to this discussion below.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Addressing the Issue of Homing Animals Part 2

On 13 October 2010, the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies will turn attention to strategies and codes of conduct for homing animals in urban municipalities.

Retailers believe they have the right to sell companion animals at prices the market will bear. 

Discussions about retailers and their practices has produced questions:

·       Who is buying that little doggy in the window?

·       Can retailers become partners in adoption for the animal welfare sector?

·       What codes of conduct and attributes identify a responsible retailer?

·       Is adoption a better model for homing animals from retailers than sale?

·       Should retailers be allowed to sell unaltered animals?

·       Who enforces the codes of conduct for retailer compliance?

For thought-provoking questions about animal breeders and the homing issue click here.

For more dialogue on this topic, watch for Parts 3 and 4 of this series to post on August 29 and 31.

Join your executive level peers and contribute to the formation of homing strategies at the 5th Annual International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. Your opinion matters! Register now.

Provide your comments to this discussion below.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Celebrate the Achievements of Your Peers

The Awards Committee for the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies have received many requests to extend the award nomination deadline.  The new cut off date for submissions is 4 pm MST Wednesday September 8, 2010.
 

The Summit Awards are presented annually to individuals, organizations, and communities that have achieved the recognition of their peers for proficiency or achievement in the award area. 

It is the only awards ceremony in Canada to recognize excellence within all four sectors of the companion animal industry [Animal Control & Enforcement, Animal Welfare, Animal Services and Animal Health & Wellness].

The Summit Award criteria have been refined and new categories added - full category descriptions are available on the ISUAS website. Review them and nominate a deserving peer in your community. The procedure is simple and online.

 
Reminder:  The deadline for delegate registration is Friday, September 17th.      

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Addressing the Issue of Animal Homing Part 1

Annual event will address important issues ... and work collaboratively to create solutions.

On 13 October 2010, the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies will turn attention to strategies and codes of conduct for homing animals in urban municipalities.

Breeders believe they have the right to produce companion animals for a large and profitable market. Discussion about breeders and their practices has produced questions:

• What codes of conduct and attributes identify a responsible breeder?

• Who should be setting National Codes of Conduct for breeders?

• How does the industry enforce compliance for breeders?

• Is adoption a better model for homing animals from breeders than sale?

• How does the industry eliminate over production?

How do you feel about this issue?

To comment on this discussion item, use the comments section below.

To join your executive level peers and contribute to the formation of homing strategies at the 5th Annual International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies click here.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Important Deadlines for the Upcoming Summit!

Deadlines are fast approaching for delegate registration and nominations for the 2010 International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies.

The Summit Awards Program

The Organizing Committee for the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies continues to call for nominations for the 2010 Summit Awards. 

The Summit Award criteria have been refined and new categories added - full category descriptions are available on the ISUAS website. Review them and nominate a deserving peer in your community. The procedure is simple and online.

The deadline for award submissions is Friday, August 27th.

The Summit Delegate Registration
 

This 5th annual meeting of alumni and executive thought leaders from across Canada will be considering one of the most important areas of discussion for our communities.  The homing of animals in our culture and society requires a new perspective and new strategies that will respond to the needs of a more responsible pet family.

The deadline for delegate registration is Friday, September 17th.

      

For more information contact:

Judi Cannon
Summits for Urban Animal Strategies
705.930.7387
event@tsuas.com 

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

How Has Domestication Changed the Cat?

Delegates at the Vancouver and Toronto 2010 Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies were provided with with a rare opportunity to gain research-based insight into how genetics have played a role in the evolution of the cat.

A total of 92% of delegates who responded to a survey agreed that Dr. Leslie Lyons, Associate Professor of Genetics at the University of California Davis,  was "considered to be an expert" and "conveyed information in her presentation in a way they could relate to."

Pet Adoptions That Really Rock!

There is always cause for celebration when a lost pet gets reunited with their guardians. Whether PetLynx plays a role in a successful recovery or not, we are always thrilled to hear when a wayward dog or cat gets home... safe!

But in animal shelters across the world, many dogs, cats and other companion animals are never claimed and must wait to find new 'forever homes.' Knowing that every new animal adoption is something special, the good folks at the Nevada Humane Society have put a new spin on saying "congratulations" as they present one lucky dog to an excited new owner! Watch their adoption entrance dance ... it is sure to put a smile on your face!