Companion Animal Industry Rallies Together to Tackle Cat Overpopulation Crisis

2011 is declared ‘The Year of the Cat’ —
launching a nation-wide campaign
to encourage people to treat cats like dogs

Conversations about the cat crisis in Canada that started at the International and Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies have evolved into an unprecedented national campaign to tackle the cat overpopulation crisis and raise the social status and value of cats in our communities.

At the 2009 Summits for Urban Animal Strategies (ISUAS), Dr. Elizabeth O’Brien, one of only four Board Certified Feline Specialists in Canada, was one of the featured speakers. She showcased a successful Year of the Cat education campaign created by the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA. Enthused by the support she received at the ISUAS and the Regional Summits, Dr. O’Brien agreed to become the spokesperson for a national Care for Cats committee. The Year of the Cat campaign is the committee’s first project. Coincidentally, 2011 is officially the Vietnamese Year of the Cat.

The 2010 International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies is on now!

THANK YOU TO OUR VALUED SPONSORS!

CLICK HERE for more info on the International Summit For Urban Animal Strategies.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

2010 Summit Speaker Synopsis Part II

The International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies 

Presents:
Retail Adoption Centres Collaborating with Animal Welfare

Speaker: Kit Jenkins, PetSmart Charities

Instead of selling cats and dogs, PetSmart, Inc. partners with PetSmart Charities and local animal agencies to promote adoption of homeless pets through in-store adoption opportunities and community adoption events.

Adoption Partner agencies represent many philosophies and include private shelters, foster-based networks, breed- and species-specific organizations, and municipal shelters. The program has been in place in the US since 1992, with over 425,000 American adoptions to date.

Regional Summit Update

It is with great pleasure that the organizing committee for the Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies announces the sponsors and collaborators for this year's events that are happening across Canada the week of April 19th, 2010.

The Regional Summits gather industry leaders (unit and branch managers) from all sectors of the pet industry.  These one day events deliver content from the previous National Alumni Summit, promote industry collaboration in each region, provide Continuing Education for industry management and expand the number of collaborators working toward common goals and urban animal strategies in the companion animal industry.

PRESENTING SPONSOR:
Iams Canada 

SESSION SPONSORS:

Petsecure

CDMV

GENERAL SPONSORS:

Petsmart Charities of Canada

Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)

Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) Canada

Canadian Kennel Club

Canadian Federation of Humane Societies

Destron Fearing

The collaborators play an important role in their region bringing new delegates to the events while fostering collaboration in their communities.  We would like to thank the Edmonton Animal Services, BC SPCA, OVMA, Ontario SPCA, Calgary Humane Society, and the Moncton SPCA.

We thank the sponsors and collaborators for sharing the vision of the Summits.  Without their support these events would not be possible.  Feel free to speak with a sponsor or collaborator regarding their reasons for participating in the Regional Summits.

This year's agenda is packed with high quality speakers and industry metrics never seen before.  We also have an exciting game that involves a door prize for each event - a microchip scanner from Destron Fearing.  Unfortunately we are limiting the number of delegates to 60 per event.

Register today to avoid disappointment.

Judi Cannon
The Summits for Urban Animal Strategies
Direct: 705.930.7387     Office: 403.219.1088

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor