2010 Regional Summits A Resounding Success

The 2010 Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies were successfully delivered in four locations across Canada during the week of April 19. And, according to delegates who attended the Vancouver, Edmonton, Halifax or Toronto events, the Summits provided education, inspiration and excellent value.


When asked to rate The Regional Summits on a scale of 1 - 9, with six-to-nine being "agree" to "strongly agree", 100% of respondents gave it top ranking for inspiration.

When asked if they had "gained at least one new idea to take back to their workplace," 92% ranked it 6 and above.


95% of delegates felt the mid-April scheduling of the event was desirable and 74% said they would attend next year.

In the comments section of the delegate survey, one satisfied attendee wrote: "It was an honour to be in a room and hear these speakers that are so like-minded. They have truly inspired me and given me much-needed encouragement to carry on the work that our Foundation does in our community."


Another delegate summed it up by saying: "[The Summit] was extremely well-organized and had great presenters with a great sense of humor. It made it fun to be there."


Want to learn more about how you can connect with other thought leaders in the companion animal industry? Check out the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies to be held at Lake Louise, Alberta, 13 - 16 October 2010.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Last Chance RSUAS Registration

This is it!  The cross Canada tour of the Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies is about to begin.  Thursday April 15th is your last chance to register for your regional summit.

Pacific Regional Summit ~ Monday April 19th, Vancouver 

Prairie Regional Summit ~ Tuesday April 20th, Edmonton 

Atlantic Regional Summit ~ Thursday April 22nd, Halifax 

Central Regional Summit~ Friday April 23nd, Toronto

These events foster collaboration with all pet industry stakeholders in the region and help to find solutions for current companion animal issues.  All delegates will have a chance to participate in a valuable continuing education program that focuses on the business case "Cat Licensing in Calgary." This program will be delivered by Bill Bruce from The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services.

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 International 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.

Speakers 
Bill Bruce ~ Manager Animal & Bylaw Services, City of Calgary
Dr. Elizabeth O'Brien ~ DVM, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners
Dr. Leslie Lyons ~ Associate Professor of Genetics UC Davis Veterinary Medicine

Registration

$150 plus taxes includes your breakfast, lunch and reception. 

A Destron Fearing microchip scanner will be awarded as a door prize!

Click here for the agenda for each event.     For more information contact:

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

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

2010 International SUAS Schedule Extended

Since 2006, the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies have been the voice for collaboration in the companion animal industry. Each October, executive level thought leaders from the four sectors of this industry convene to develop strategies that will move the industry forward toward healthier communities for pets and people.

The 2010 International Alumni Summit will again take place at the beautiful Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Wednesday, 13 October to Saturday, 16 October 2010.

With a focus on "New Strategies & Codes of Conduct for Homing" the Summit has been extended and the schedule adjusted to allow more face time for Alumni attending this event. 
 

Summit registration includes the following:

• Wednesday Evening Welcome Reception
• Six Working Sessions on Homing
• Three Night's Accommodation in a Fairmont Room
• Continental Breakfast and Lunch on Thursday and Friday
• Your ticket to the Summit Awards Gala Friday night
• Continental Breakfast and Keynote Speaker Saturday
• Your summary of the 2010 Urban Animal Survey and speaker resources

Please visit www.tsuas.com to register, nominate delegates, purchase Summit Awards tickets or nominate recipients for the Summit Awards program.

For more information:

Judi Cannon
Program Manager
Direct: 705.930.7387
Office: 403.219.1088

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

2009 Summit ReCap: Cats Our Biggest Opportunity

Highlights from the Panel Discussion at the 2009 Summit

The panel discussion on the last day of the National Alumni Summit For Urban Animal Strategies always provides opportunity for lively discussion and information sharing. In effort to remind alumni of the importance of this dialogue -- and to keep these topics top of mind -- here are a few powerful quotes excerpted from the session:

On the issue of cat licensing:

"It is an urban myth that cats can't wear collars and tags. This often comes up in community discussions about municipal cat licensing. It shouldn't be a factor [in whether or not a licensing program should be mandated]. In Calgary, [for example], if a cat is tattooed or micro-chipped they don't have wear the cat license... but they do have to be licensed.
"

Bill Bruce ~ City of Calgary

On the issue of restricting the number of cats/dogs per household:

“The reason we don’t do this [in Calgary] is that if you are a responsible pet owner [how many pets you have] is none of the government’s business. Some municipalities do this because they think it will alleviate hoarding. This does not work.”
Bill Bruce ~ City of Calgary Animal and Bylaw Services


“We also grappled with this. Our response was that to impose a limit [on the number of owned animals] shows that we don’t believe that our responsible pet ownership programs work. Instead, we emphasize that if someone is responsible, they could have 15 pets and no one would know it! What has to be factored into this equation is that hoarding is a psychological issue, not a compliance issue.”

James Wilke ~ City of Saskatoon Animal Services

For more information on Cats: Our Biggest Opportunity, NASUAS alumni are encouraged to log onto the 'Members only' section of tsuas.com.

Why Are There Two Types of Summits?

In effort to meet the needs of various stakeholders in the companion animal industry, there are two types of Summits for Urban Animal Strategies held each year. Although the topic for both Summits is the same, the attendance criteria are different.

Regional Associate Summits for Urban Animal Strategies (RASUAS):

· Attendance is open to individuals working in animal control/legislation, animal health/wellness, animal welfare and animal services. An invitation from an industry peer is not required. Once a delegate has attended, they have the status of Summit Associate.

· To accommodate participation of a variety of attendees each year, the location of Regional Summits changes annually.

National Alumni Summit for Urban Animal Strategies (NASUAS):

· Attendance is restricted to executive-level industry thought leaders in the companion animal industry. All potential delegates must be nominated by a current Alumnus and be approved by the Summit Nominating Committee.

· The 2010 NASUAS will be held at Lake Louise, Alberta. The 2011 Summit is tentatively scheduled to be held in Central Canada.

For more information contact:

Judi Canon, NASUAS Program Manager

(P) 705.930.7387 (E) event@tsuas.com

2010 Summit Series Topic

The 2010 Summits for Urban Animal Strategies turns the focus on homing animals in our communities. The Alumni will be discussing urban animal strategies that require urgent consideration by those involved with homing animals in our communities. The CBC documentary that aired in early March 2009, the focus on supply chains to both livestock resellers and adoption agencies and the input from the 2009 Forum on Homing, which preceded the 2009 Summit, all point to the need for a collaborative solution in our communities.

• How many animals are entering our communities each year?
• Who are the primary and secondary suppliers of these animals?
• What proportion of animals reaching these homes come from "inside" and "outside" the system?
• Is adoption a better strategy than selling or does that even matter?
• Can rescue/adoption agencies and resellers work toward common goals?
• Can we agree on National Codes of Conduct?
• How will online resellers be incorporated into successful, sustainable homing strategies?
  

Check back with www.tsuas.com for dates and locations announcements for the both the Regional Summits and the Alumni Summit.

To register, CLICK HERE.

2009 Summit Photos On-Line

The scenery at Lake Louise, Alberta, and the spectacular Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel provided some spectacular photo opportunities for our Summit photographers... But we did manage to draw them away from the breathtaking vistas to shoot some photos of Summit attendees and events, too!

For '09 Summit delegates, view the photos and enjoy a walk down memory lane....
For alumni and industry thought leaders not able to make it to this year's event, take a peak to see what you missed!

Why Become a Summit Alumnus?

Because the National Alumni Summit for Urban Animal Strategies (NASUAS) gives you the tools you need to bring practical solutions to your organization and inspire industry stakeholders to work collaboratively to create a healthier community for pets and people.

The NASUAS attracts some of the brightest minds in the North American companion animal industry. Your attendance allows you to participate in executive level discussions, hear world-class speakers and network with others who face similar challenges.

By being part of the alumni group, you become part of the solution. This results in significant benefits for you, as an individual, for your organization and for your community.

What does this mean for you?

As an Alumnus, you have access to a proprietary ‘Alumni Only’ section of the tsuas.com website that provides a wealth of information, including:

Directory: Published to encourage and facilitate continued dialogue and is for exclusive use of alumni in good standing. Includes the names and contact information for more than 160 thought leaders from all four sectors of the companion animal industry.

Resources: Designed to facilitate information sharing and the implementation of ideas and concepts discussed at the NASUAS. This information is updated and added to on a regular basis, so be sure to check it out every few weeks to learn what’s new!

Discounts: Special consideration is given to the Alumni group, for such things as event registration and subscriptions to the annual survey.

To maintain your Alumni status, it is essential that you attend at least one NASUAS every two years. If you cannot attend, then you must apply for special consideration to maintain your status or have another alumni nominate you as a delegate.

For more information contact:

Judi Canon, NASUAS Program Manager

(P) 705.930.7387 (E) event@tsuas.com

2009 Summit Delegate Survey Results

The results from the 2009 Delegate Survey are in. The 2009 Delegates had the following to say regarding the venue and timing of the Summit:

• 62% of delegates agreed with alternating the Venue from East to West
  


• 71% of delegates agreed with keeping the mid-October date


• The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise received an overwhelming approval rating of 98%

Some of the comments we received about the Summit venue were:

"...some signage such as many hotels would have helped since the hotel is a tad of a maze..."

"First time staying at the Chateau and I was very happy with it!"

"More time to experience the setting would be wonderful, it's a shame to waste the view."

"Beautiful location and staff at the Fairmont are top notch."

"I love it being at the Lake Louise venue, but that it would be selfish to expect Easterners to make the big trek every year just for my convenience :) !"

Based on the above results, we are pleased to announce that the 2010 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies will take place at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise from Wednesday, 13 October to Friday, 15 October.

We are planning on having the 2011 Summit at an Eastern location. Watch the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies blog for updates on this event.

Thank you for your feedback.

Delegate Feedback Appreciated

Your Summit organizers were thrilled to receive several congratulatory emails from satisfied delegates within hours of the event wrap-up on October 16.

Here is a snippet of what some people had to say about the event:

"I just wanted to send along a quick thank you on the this year's Conference. Again PetLynx has gone over and above on this event."

G. Potter ~ Alberta Animal Services

"I can’t tell you how many delegates were raving about the Summit! The most frequent sentiment expressed was that the event just keeps getting better and better. Congratulations on a great event!"

P. Cameron ~ Calgary Humane Society

"On behalf of everyone who worked so hard to create and deliver the [Summit] programs, thank you! By all accounts, it was an excellent Summit. Our thanks to PetLynx for providing national leadership. Everyone is looking forward to 2010."

K. McDonald ~ Ontario SPCA

While we really appreciate this unsolicited feedback and show of support, we still encourage all delegates (who have not already done so) to complete the 2009 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies Delegate Survey.

Yes, we work hard to make this event better each year, but we can't do that without your honest evaluation. The deadline to provide delegate feedback is Friday, November 6.

We would also like to take this opportunity to encourage those of you who wish to have the complete North American Urban Animals Survey (NAUAS) for the Canadian and/or US markets to contact Cindy Kreutzer (cindy.kreutzer@petlynxmail.com or 403.219.1088).

Cindy will provide you with the NAUAS Subscriber Contract and the discount voucher you will receive as one of our important clients.

Summit Presentation Synopsis #6

Building a Feline-Friendly Community

Presenter: Nadine Gourkow ~ Esteemed researcher, educator and companion animal activist

All of us working for feline friends have experienced moments of despair, wondering how to shift from a world where millions of cats are abandoned, abused, and put to death, to one where cats are valued and every kitten has a loving, forever home.

"Although creative solutions, devotion and hard work have done much to improve the plight of cats in the last few years, much remains to be done," believes Nadine Gourkow. "Evidence-based practice (EBP) is an innovative approach that can help cat welfare professionals and activists better understand the root causes of problems. Furthermore, it provides guidance in the development of effective targeted solutions and a methodology for measuring effectiveness. The EBP movement has already been adopted by many in disciplines such as Social Work, Education, and Veterinary Medicine, among others. Recently EBP has been used by some animal welfare professionals, yielding effective measurable solutions to human/cat problems in their community."

Nadine’s Summit presentation will review a number of concepts central to EBP and describe leading edge case studies including the CatSense System – an evidence based approach to the care of cats in animal shelters. Her presentation will be followed by a though-provoking and dynamic brainstorming session on how evidence based practice could be applied to different aspects of cat welfare work.

And the Nominees Are....

Some of Canada’s hardest working animal advocates recognized by their peers

CALGARY, 08 October 2009: The Summit Urban Animals Strategies is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2009 Summit Awards. More than 20 nominations for the nine award categories were received from across Canada. The final awards will be presented Thursday, 15 October 2009, during the Gala Reception that is part of the Summit for Urban Animals (SUAS) at Lake Louise, Alberta.

“The ‘Summits’ are intended to convey the recognition of peers from all four sectors of the companion animal industry – animal control/legislation, animal health/wellness, animal welfare and animal services,” explains Larry Evans, Chairman of the SUAS organizing committee. “Considering that individuals and organizations can not nominate themselves, this public acknowledgment of commitment, creativity and collaboration in effort to make their communities better for pets and people is, in itself, a great honour. Although there can only be one award per category, we consider all of our nominees to be ‘winners’ in whatever it is they do.”

the 2009 summit nominees are:

Animal Health & Wellness

• Eastern Passage Village Vet
• Animal Hospital of Manitoba

Animal Re-Homing

• Langley Animal Protection Society
• Lincoln County Humane Society
• Moncton SPCA

Animal Sheltering

• Animatch
• Calgary Humane Society
• City of Calgary Animal Services
• Heaven Can Wait
• Saskatoon SPCA
  

Community Education

• Edmonton Animal Services
• Ontario SPCA - Animal Voice Magazine
• Ontario SPCA - BARC Camp

Community Collaboration

• Lincoln County Humane Society

Distinguished Service Provider

• Associated Vet Clinic Ltd.
• Ontario SPCA

Media & Communications

• Dogs in Canada
• Ontario SPCA

Individual Achievement

• Dr. Hugues Lacoste, Centre Vet
  
• Debbie Nelson, MEOW Foundation
• Dr. Drew Van Niekerk, Assoc. Vets
• James Wilke, City of Saskatoon Animal Services

Lifetime Individual Achievement

• Tim Dack, City of Winnipeg Animal Services
• Paul Teichroeb, City of Vancouver Animal Services

All Summit alumni are encouraged to review the nominees and their supporting documents at the www.tsuas.com website, under the section “summit award nominations”. Then vote by completing the survey.

See you at the Summit!

Summit Presentation Synopsis #4

Licensing Cats in Calgary

Presenter: Bill Bruce, City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Service Manager

Trying to legislate cat licensing in your community? Here's hope... and help!

After years of effort, on January 1, 2007, The City of Calgary began licensing cats. The program has been a resounding success.

"To date, over 48,000 responsible cat owners have licensed their cat(s)," explains Bill Bruce. "Within the first two years of the program, return to owners statistics for cats at the City’s shelter has increased to 56% and there has been a reduction of cat euthanasias to 18%."

Bruce's presentation will look at the process of implementing cat licensing with a high degree of public acceptance, working with partnerships on managing cats in the community and future steps to increase the level of responsible pet ownership with cat owners and reduce the number of unwanted cats in shelters across the City.

Summit Presentation Synopsis #3

Survey Says!
Presenter: David Web, Research Consultant, dmrkynetec

The results of the 2009 North American Urban Animal Survey (NAUAS) ~ the Responsible Pet Owner Segmentation Study ~ are sure to be an eye-opener for all of us!

"The presentation will go far beyond superficial attitudes and behaviours to provide us with never-before-seen information about the underlying motivations of pet owners," explains Webb. "This research was specifically designed to be relevant for all members of the companion animal chain."

The NAUAS encompasses the results from 1500 interviews with cat and dog owners in Canada. It includes a segmentation of these pet owners that will distill this diverse group into four or five basic typologies (or segments) based on their attitudes and behaviours relating to pet care. This analysis will help industry stakeholders better understand pet owners and allow for more informed decisions regarding how to best reach this market.

"Given that the topic for this year's Summit is Urban Cats, the presentation will pay particular attention to the different attitudes and behaviours between cat and dog owners and the segments that exists between these two groups," adds Webb. "Only by truly understanding the unique characteristics and motivations of cat owners can the industry develop the necessary strategies to reach this group and maximize the opportunities."

Mark Labelle Entertainer for Summit Gala

Mark Labelle aka Mr. Music, the comic entertainer with the keyboard, is back for the National Summit Awards Gala in Lake Louise on Thursday, 15 October 2009.

We first saw Mark at Agribition as he entertained the crowd at one of Canada's largest agriculture shows in Regina. When the opportunity came to use Labelle for the 2007 Summit Awards Gala there was absolutely no hesitation. We weren't disappointed. Labelle received rave reviews from his performance and a few new bookings from delegates in the audience. Mark's ability to engage the audience and to integrate music with comedy ended the 2007 celebration event on a high note.

Those attending the 2009 Summits Gala will have an opportunity to enjoy a high energy show to which Fairmont has now added a room and continental breakfast option. Those travelling up just for the Gala who are not delegates can bring a companion to the Thursday evening Gala and spend a relaxing Friday morning at one of the nicest resorts in the Rockies.

'I know of no other entertainer who has made me laugh, touched my heart and lifted my soul in the same performance', said Larry Evans, Chair, Organizing Committee for SUAS, 'We are so pleased to have Mark back in 2009. With his background in entertainment, film and now broadcast, Mark Labelle is worth spending time with.'

In addition to celebrating the achievement of your peers from the industry, we promise a really enjoyable evening full of fun, laughter and good fellowship. Register for the Summit Gala here

Campaign to End 'Cattiness'

National Survey Reveals 'Catty' Stereotypes Amongst Non-Cat Owners

Thought leaders attending the October 2009 National Summit on Urban Animal Strategies are not the only pet industry professionals who have recognized the need to address the status of cats in our society. It seems we need to examine the status of cat owners, too!

A recent study in the USA shed some light on what non-cat owners think about those of us who share our homes and hearts with more than one cat. The survey revealed that much work still needs to be done to change public perceptions of multi-cat owners from 'crazy cat ladies' to simply people who love cats!

ST. LOUIS, July 27 /PRNewswire/ Owning multiple cats is a way of life for millions of Americans. In fact, 71 percent of all domestic cats living in the U.S. reside in multiple cat households. However, while owning more than one cat is the status quo in America today, a new national survey reveals a surprising number of stereotypes still exist about people who own multiple cats.

According to the survey, the majority of non-cat owners have negative perceptions about multiple cat owners and their homes, saying that they would describe people with more than one cat as....

* A homebody (75%),
* Lonely (69%) and
* A "crazy cat lady" (58%).

And, multiple cat owners' homes as....

* Smelly (75%)
* Having furniture and bedding covered in cat hair (85%) and
* Being cluttered (66%).

To help debunk these perceptions and celebrate the millions of multiple cat owners, Tidy Cats brand cat litter launched the "Tidy Cats Campaign to End Cattiness." The campaign includes a national contest in which multiple cat owners can share their stories about their fulfilled lives with their cats to help redefine what it means to be a "cat lady."

About the Animal Summits Blog

This blog is intended to keep you informed about the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies. These summits are a strategic initiative of PetLynx Corporation and involve several hundred thought leaders across Canada. The highlights and history of these summits follows:

2003 - PetLynx initiates the first annual summit for executive thought leaders of the companion animal industry in Canada.

2004 - Industry leaders convene in Calgary for the second annual summit and look at the prototype automated recovery system which is trialling in Calgary.

2005 - Planning for a new industry wide format takes place as it becomes clear that the focus of the summits needs to be more inclusive. Executives from all four sectors of the industry are invited to be present at the table as well as to form an alumni which will be associated with thought leadership for the industry and advancing Urban Animal Strategies.

2006 - PetLynx launches the Banff Summit for Urban Animal Strategies with the Banff Centre and strategic allies of the companion animal industry that include Canadian Federation of Humane Societies representing the Animal Welfare sector, CDMV a national provider of logistics, IAMS a multi-national nutrition company, SecuriCan General Insurance a national financial services company and PIJAC Canada representing the Animal Services sector.

2006 - PetLynx launches the annual Summit awards and summit awards gala to recognize those who achieve the recognition of their peers for activities in urban centres or nationally in the companion animal business in Canada.

2007 - PetLynx adds an agreement with Ipsos Canada to initiate a series of National Urban Animal Surveys that will be conducted and delivered to the Summit delegates and alumni annually.

2007 - PetLynx adds regional summits in Atlantic region, Central region, Prairie region and Pacific region, to add 'associate' level delegates across Canada and expand the thought leadership program for executives that aren't able to attend the National Summit.

2007 - Banff Summit hosts organizational meeting of the Canadian Association of Animal Service Professionals with the express interest of providing educational standards and professional services to this large and growing group of individuals across Canada.

2007 - PetSmart charities joins as national sponsor and supports the awards for Animal Welfare.

2008 - Canadian Veterinary Medical Association [CVMA/ACMV] joins as national sponsor and broadens representation to include the Animal Health & Wellness sector of the industry.

2008 - Canadian Kennel Club attends National summit and brings the perspective of Canadian dog breeders to the discussion.

2008 - PetLynx hosts first pre-Summit President's Forum to consider an industry wide approach to record keeping and identification. Industry brings PetLynx a proposal to accelerate the adoption of the PetLynx utility by all vendors and stakeholders using a powered by PetLynx approach.

The themes proposed for the next summits are:
2009 - Urban Cats - Our biggest opportunity
2010 - Animal health and wellness in an Urban setting
2011 - Successful, sustainable and responsible animal homing