Summit Presentation Synopsis Series #1

We're excited about the remarkable people who will be featured speakers at this year's National Summit for Urban Animal Strategies! And we want to share our enthusiasm with delegates!

This is the first in a series on "Summit Presentation Synopses" to give you a "sneak peak" at some of the intriguing topics that will be covered and the various presenters.

The Year of the Cat Initiative
Presenter: Dr. Elizabeth O'Brien

According to the Vietnamese calender, 2008 was technically the Year of the Rat. But that didn't stop Jim Sykes, CEO of the Hamilton Burlington SPCA and his team from designating it "The Year of the Cat" in his community.

The purpose of the campaign was multi-fold:

• to make citizens realize the nation-wide severity of the cat overpopulation problem and the degree of the problem within their own community;
• to educate people about the various misconceptions about the cat -- the most misunderstood, yet popular of all domesticated pets; and
• to encourage the various appropriate team leaders in the community to work together, including the HBSPCA, Hamilton Animal Control, veterinarians and rescue groups.

"All of the community leaders needed to step up to the plate and become part of the solution," explains O'Brien. "It was intended to create a ripple effect. A wave of problem awareness and joint community solutions, which would continue once the year was over."

Dr. O'Brien's presentation is designed to explain the various initiatives that took place during the year-long promotion, to encourage other communities to duplicate its success.

"Looking to the future," adds Dr. O'Brien, "the actual 'Year of the Cat' according to the Vietnamese calendar is 2011. I hope that this presentation will encourage other communities -- or better yet, national organizations -- to take political license and create a North American Year of the Cat for 2001!"

Dr. Elizabeth O'Brien is one of only four board certified feline specialists in Canada. She is a member of various feline organizations and is the chair of the Feline Advisory Committee for the Hamilton Burlington SPCA.

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.