2009 North American Urban Animal Survey (NAUAS)

You have questions. We will have answers!

• Does the average pet guardian think a spayed or neutered pet makes a better behaved pet?
• Do they think that mandatory pet licensing is just a "cash grab" for their city?
• If a pet guardian gets a prescription for their pet, how many follow through with proper administration of the drug?
• When buying pet food, is price the deciding factor?
• How has the economy impacted attitudes about pet care?
  

These and dozens of other important questions will be addressed in the 2009 North American Urban Animal Survey (NAUAS) being conducted in September. The results will be presented at the National Summit for Urban Animal Strategies to be held at the Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta, in mid-October.

The Responsible Pet Owner Segmentation Survey is the third of its kind to be conducted by Calgary-based PetLynx Corporation on behalf of its many industry partners.

"The cumulative answers to these questions will enable us to better understand 'the big picture' of important issues affecting pet guardians and the pet care industry in North America," explains David Webb, research consultant with dmrkynetec, the leading global supplier of market research to the agriculture, animal health and nutrition industries. "When we have a better concept of 'the big picture' we can develop broad-based strategies to address the big problems."

Webb adds that the methodology used in this "segmentation analysis" will divide the overall cat- and dog-owning population to four or five basic typologies. This will help us better understand their underlying motivations and beliefs with regard to pet care. With this information, we can be better equipped to deliver targeted and powerful responsible pet ownership messages.

"In the past, the companion animal industry as a whole has been forced to make important financial and legislative decisions based on common beliefs and internal statistics, not sound research," adds Petlynx Corporation's President, Larry Evans. "Big industry players, like pet food manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies, may have been in a position to fund their own research. But those of us at the front lines... the animal control centres, shelters, small retailers and veterinarians have been limited to our own internal data resources, which may not tell the whole story."

"Because this research is being conducted on a collaborative basis across Canada and the United States," concludes Webb, "it is a cost-efficient and affordable means of providing all facets of the pet industry -- from large corporations, to municipalities, to small service providers -- with a wealth of information that would otherwise be totally out of reach for them."

If you are interested in participating as a subscriber to the Responsible Pet Owner Segmentation Survey you must act now! Click here for details on how to sign on as a subscriber.

The Year of the Cat Initiative - A Business Case from Hamilton/Burlington

Dr. Elizabeth O'Brien - On cats in the community

You have a great big passion for cats, which makes you work tirelessly in your practice, with your peers and across your community with other service providers to elevate the status of cats and move towards a more feline friendly environment.

Just how would you convince your community to increase adoptions, reduce euthanasia and improve other measurable metrics.

Dr. Elizabeth O'Brien will present a business case that shows how passionate, practical activities can move the yardsticks towards the goal line and will show the experiences of this project in Hamilton/Burlington during 2008.

Born and raised in Hamilton, Dr. Elizabeth O'Brien, DVM, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners certified in feline practice, is the current owner of two successful feline exclusive practices, The Cat Clinic in Hamilton and Village Cat Clinic in Ancaster.

Dr. O'Brien graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario in 1985. Today, Dr. O'Brien is the only board certified feline specialist in Hamilton with only 4 in Canada. In partnership with the Hamilton Burlington SPCA, Dr. O'Brien piloted a trap-neuter-release program in 2004 in hopes of developing a program that will reduce the stray and feral population.

Dr. O'Brien received the prestigious Jean Rumney award in 2008. This award recognizes those who have shown outstanding commitment and dedication to the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA and to the animals and the communities it serves. The award is the most esteemed honour the HBSPCA can bestow upon an individual. The Cat Clinic was also the recipient of the National Award for Animal Wellness in 2008 at The Banff Summit for Urban Animal Strategies which is the highest honor bestowed by the alumni of the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies in Canada.

Dr. O'Brien is member of various feline organizations including Cornell Feline Health and the American Association of Feline Practitioners. She chaired 'The Year of the Cat' for the SPCA, is chair of the 'Feline Advisory Committee' for the SPCA, appeared on several radio talk shows and spoken for numerous events including youth education on animal care.

Cat Licensing - A Business Case from Calgary, Alberta

Imagine you manage Animal Control and Bylaw Services for a city of more than one million people. A city that has the best compliance record for dogs in North America. And yet a city where cats are second class citizens. Imagine for a moment that you decide to embark on providing cats with the same services and privileges that dogs have. That is exactly what Bill Bruce and his colleagues in the City of Calgary set out to do.

This business case will present a multifaceted, multi-year approach to how the bylaw was changed, how the service providers were brought together into one collaborative group and how cat licensing became a reality.

Bill Bruce joined the City of Calgary in 1981 in the Traffic Engineering Department where a great deal of his work was focused on traffic safety, regulations as well as truck and dangerous goods movement/regulation. Bill also served a two year term as assistant to the City Commissioners office before joining Animal and Bylaw Services in 2000.

Bill's approach to delivering services and compliance through partnerships with community members, business groups, other agencies and city departments has brought him a win that is highly recognized.

Bill has presented the Calgary experience across North America where the achievements of this community and the levels of collaboration are highly respected.

Nadine Gourkow - Improving the Quality of Life for Cats

Nadine is a researcher, educator and activist on behalf of companion animals. For the last twelve years, Nadine has developed and implemented science-based animal management practices to help shelter staff ensure good animal welfare, quality adoptions and to reduce disease and euthanasia.


Nadine is the Animal Welfare Manager of a large Humane Organisation in Canada and has been providing consultations internationally to other organisations. She holds a Masters in Animal Welfare Science and is currently working on her PhD. Her current research examines the interrelationship between emotions, immune competence and Upper Respiratory Infections. Knowledge uncovered will be developed into science-based shelter practices to further increase emotional well-being in cats and reduce Upper Respiratory Infection.

Nadine has won an international award for her video “The Emotional Life of Cats.” This video is the first educational video for shelter staff to help them recognize the behaviours associated with anxiety, fear, frustration and depression. Together with her CatSense program, this education material helps shelter staff ensure good mental health, low disease rates and quality adoptions for their cats. To help cats more directly, Nadine has developed the Hide Perch & Go Box™. This simple welfare tool now makes the shelter stay more tolerable for thousands of cats in animal shelters in Europe, North America and Australia.


Nadine’s work has been featured by the Humane Society of the United States, The Latham Foundation, the International Society of Anthrozoology, The Sir James Dunn Welfare Centre, The Ontario SPCA and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

Dr. Leslie Lyons brings the Genomics of Cats to the National Summit for Urban Animal Strategies

Dr. Leslie Lyons is well known for her work in genomics and her passion for cats. Her recent work has included the analysis of the origin of cat breeds and the sites of cat domestication. This body of knowledge was recently featured by the National Geographic program, 'The Science of Cats'.

National Geographic - The Science of Cats I

National Geographic - The Science of Cats II

Leslie Lyons was born and raised in southwestern Pennsylvania, one hour south of Pittsburgh, in Uniontown. Dr. Lyons received her graduate degrees from The University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Human Genetics. Both her Masters and Doctorate degrees are in human genetics, specializing in both laboratory and data analysis of human disease gene mapping.

In 1992, Dr. Lyons joined the National Cancer Institute, Laboratory of Genomic Diversity for her post-doctoral career in comparative genetics. While at the NCI, she helped organized the Feline Genome Project. Dr. Lyons developed a feline genetic mapping pedigree using natural mating and assisted reproductive techniques between domestic and Asian Leopard cats. These hybrid cats are known as Bengals by cat breeders. Dr. Lyons was promoted to Research Fellow at the NCI and expanded her interests by initiating population genetic and disease gene mapping projects for the domestic cat.

In the fall of 1999, Dr. Lyons joined the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health and Reproduction, to further pursue disease gene mapping and genetic map construction in companion animals, including the cats, dogs, horses and primates. The laboratory’s major focus is the genetics of the domestic cat, including disease, inherited traits, and population diversity.

Dr. Lyons’ research laboratory has had recent success with the identification of the gene causing Persian cat polycystic kidney disease, which is the most prevalent inherited disease in cats. The laboratory has also identified the mutations for Siamese, Burmese, albino, chocolate and cinnamon coat colors as well as the mutation causing cat blood group B. Each of these mutations can now be used as a genetic test in cats.

The Lyons’ laboratory has also led an international collaboration to develop a worldwide genetic panel for parentage and identification profiling in cats, which is even being used in forensic applications.

Dr. Diane Frank moderates Urban Cats Summit

Dr. Diane Frank, well known behaviorist, practitioner, educator and advocate has accepted the role of moderator for the 2009 National Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. Dr. Frank is currently serving as the 2008/2009 President of the Canadian Veterninary Medical Association.

Dr Frank received her DVM from the University of Montreal, Faculty of Veterinary medicine in 1983. She worked in companion animal practice for 13 years before completing a residency (1996-1998) in Animal Behavior at Cornell University. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB) in 1999. Dr Frank was a lecturer in behaviour at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 1991-2001, an assistant professor (animal behaviour and animal welfare) from June 2001- May 2006 and is now an associate professor at the University of Montreal, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Frank brings to this role her passion for cats and her vision of a healthy community for pets and people.