CONFERENCE LODGING: If you plan to stay overnight, please call Best Western Kelly Inn directly for reservations at 320-253-0606 and ask for the MN Animal Welfare Conference rate.
2018 Minnesota Animal Welfare Conference Speakers:
Myles Chadwick
Vice President, Emancipet New School
Leading Emancipet New School, Myles has deep experience in supporting new and established spay/neuter clinics, shelters and community outreach programs. During his tenure at Emancipet, Myles has at different times overseen all aspects of clinic operations, outreach, and internal training. Prior to his work at Emancipet he was with the National Spay/Neuter Project at the ASPCA coaching new clinic directors as they established clinics. His areas of expertise are spay/neuter implementation, facilities and equipment, staff management, social change strategies, and training.
Ana Zorrilla, CAWA
Executive Director, CEO Louisiana SPCA
Zorrilla joined the Louisiana SPCA as Vice President of Development in 2006. She was elected by the Board of Directors to lead the organization as its new Chief Executive Officer in 2007. In 2012, Zorrilla became the first person in Louisiana (and one of less than 100 professionals in the country) to successfully complete the Certification of Animal Welfare Administrators (CAWA). Zorrilla has served as a panelist on many animal welfare professional conferences including The Humane Society of the United States’ Expo conferences, PetHealth’s CEO Roundtable conferences, The Society of Animal Welfare Administrators Management conferences, and the National Federation of Humane Societies Adoption Forum.
Rosemarie Crawford, LVT
Director of Educational Programs, National Kitten Coalition. MA, BA, BS.
Rosemarie Crawford has almost 20 years’ experience in animal welfare. As a medical staff member in a high-volume, open-access shelter, Rosemarie worked with the shelter veterinarian to provide for the animals’ medical and surgical needs. She assisted in developing and implementing progressive, proactive protocols to care for kittens in the shelter’s kitten nursery room as well as for those in foster care. Additionally, Rosemarie served in two shelters as the foster coordinator and understands the challenges of creating, expanding and maintaining a foster program as well as the life-saving rewards such a program can reap. She is co-founder of The National Kitten Coalition, and she also works at a large veterinary practice in northern VA.
Dr. Aleisha Swartz
Dr. Swartz graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Since that time, she has worked with nonprofit and municipal shelters, cat rescues, sanctuaries and spay-neuter programs.
Dr. Swartz participated in the UC Davis/ University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Fellowship Program in 2014 and has been the Outreach Veterinarian with the UWSMP since 2016. As part of the UWSMP team she works with shelters across the US (and beyond) to increase their lifesaving capacity by assisting to implement best practices, managing outbreaks of infectious disease in addition to maintaining an online resource library for shelter professionals and the public.
Dr. Swartz seeks to improve the level of care for animals in shelters as well as that for animals living in the community, and has a special interest in encouraging shelter staff to become effective and engaging leaders who make a positive impact. She currently shares her home with her husband, 2 dogs, 2 cats, several fish, and a menagerie of foster animals.
Dr. Rebecca Stuntebeck
Dr. Stuntebeck attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2013. She completed an internship in Madison based at Dane County Humane Society after which she split her time between working as the first veterinarian of a small private shelter in Janesville, Wisconsin (Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin), and in a research assistant position with the new University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Program led by Dr. Sandra Newbury. She began her residency in July 2015.
Her professional interests include shelter data analysis, infectious disease management, the socioeconomic relationships between shelters and community pets and their parents, shelter population management, community cat programs, and teaching.
Minnesota Animal Welfare Conference 2018
17th Annual Minnesota Animal Welfare Conference:
Meeting the Needs of Pets & People in the Animal Welfare Field
The Minnesota Animal Welfare Conference is an annual educational and networking opportunity for the State’s animal welfare community.
The Tri-County Humane Society volunteers to organize this annual conference because we believe that providing affordable opportunities for continued education and networking among animal welfare professionals is key to making Minnesota a more humane community.
This year, attendees will once again have two tracks of learning to choose from with an impressive line up of speakers.
The General Track will focus on organizational culture, animal transport, finding homes for FIV and FeLV cats, and features highly accredited speakers: Myles Chadwick, Ana Zorrilla, CAWA and Rosemarie Crawford, LVT.
The Veterinary Track will focus on medical issues specific to shelter medicine. Six continuing education credits have been approved for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, although shelter directors of operations, executive directors and kennel managers are also welcome to attend these presentations.
The Veterinary Track provided by the UW Shelter Medicine Program has been approved by the MN State Board for 6 C. E. credits for veterinarians & vet techs. Other state CE approval possible, for more information please contact aleisha.swartz@wisc.edu
General Track
Download detailed conference information and printable registration (.pdf)
General Track Speakers: Myles Chadwick, Ana Zorrilla, CAWA and Rosemarie Crawford, LVT
General Track Location: Best Western Kelly Inn University Room B
General Track Agenda:
General Track workshops located in Congress/Senate rooms
8:00-8:55 Registration, Breakfast Served Poolside
8:55 Opening Comments
9:00-10:30 Workshop #1: Managing for Culture
A toxic workplace is the Achilles Heel of any organization’s success: it leads to higher turnover rates, unhappy staff, and a reduced ability to deliver on mission. Conversely, a healthy workplace fuels teams to believe that the impossible is not just possible, but absolutely achievable. In this workshop we will discuss the important role managers play in creating and maintaining a healthy organizational culture, and attendees will leave with a set of tools and systems they can start putting to use right away in order to strengthen their skills as a leader, increase employee engagement, and guide teams towards success.
Speaker: Myles Chadwick
10:30 – 10:50 Break Poolside, Visit Exhibitors, Silent Auction, Network
10:50 – 12:20 Workshop # 2: Bringing people in for Culture
In this workshop, we’ll discuss what culture is, why it matters, and how you can create and preserve a great organizational culture through bringing in the right people. This workshop is based on a transformation that our organization, Emancipet, went through, resulting in lower turnover, increased employee engagement, and improved culture overall. We’ll specifically discuss attracting people in the animal welfare environment, which is particularly challenging when most of your applications just say “I love animals!”
Speaker: Myles Chadwick
12:20 – 1:20 Lunch (Poolside), Silent Auction Closes at 1:15
1:20 – 2:50 Workshop #3: Protocols for Animal Transport. Give ‘em a Ride: Best Practices for Transport of Companion Animals
The Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) Best Practices & Emerging Trends Committee has developed a comprehensive best practice document outlining the optimum ways to design and manage a companion animal transport program – from the standpoint of both “source” organizations and “destination” shelters. Learn how to build and manage your transport program. You will be challenged to make changes to benefit your extremely precious “cargo” as they take their journey to a long, happy life.
Speaker: Ana Zorrilla, CAWA
2:50 – 3:10 Break Poolside Visit Exhibitors, Network, Silent Auction Cashier Open
3:10 – 4:40 Workshop #4: Promoting Adoptions for Felv or FIV Positive Cats
Until recently, prospects for most FIV and FeLV positive cats have been grim, but things are changing. This workshop looks at the implications of these diseases and the concerns people have about adopting FIV/FeLV positive animals. Learn how to develop a program for saving FIV/FeLV cats and ways to promote their adoption into loving homes. Create strategies for highlighting animals, talking points for adoption counselors and information that addresses adopters’ concerns. Help FIV/FeLV+ cats have a brighter future through adoption.
Speaker: Rosemarie Crawford , LVT
4:40 - 5:00 Door Prizes in Ballroom—Must be present to win!
Fill up your stamp card by visiting each exhibitor to qualify.
Fee Waived for Veterinarians!
Thanks to a special grant obtained through the ASPCA, we are able to waive the fee for veterinarians.
Veterinary Track
Veterinary Track workshops located in Sunwood/State rooms
Download detailed conference information and printable registration (.pdf)
The Veterinary Track provided by the UW Shelter Medicine Program has been approved by the MN State Board for 6 C. E. credits for veterinarians & vet techs. Other state CE approval possible, for more information please contact aleisha.swartz@wisc.edu
Shelter directors of operations, executive directors and kennel managers are also welcome to attend these presentations.
Veterinary Track Speakers: Dr. Aleisha Swartz and Dr. Rebecca Stuntebeck
Veterinary Track Location: Best Western Kelly Inn Ballroom
Veterinary Track Agenda:
8:00-8:55 Registration, Silent Auction opens; Breakfast Served Poolside
8:55 Opening Comments
9:00-10:30 Workshop #1: What is on your pharmacy shelf? Developing protocols for therapeutic choice and use in shelters.
Choosing what medications to stock in a shelter veterinary setting requires numerous considerations. Well-devised medical protocols and choices of therapeutics will be discussed in order to enable the veterinary practitioner to make informed choices about the best medications to keep on the shelf. Basic dos and don’ts will be shared to avoid common pitfalls of medication use. Considerations for antibiotic use in a shelter will also be shared.
Speaker: Dr. Aleisha Swartz
10:30 – 10:50 Break Poolside, Visit Exhibitors, Silent Auction, Network
10:50 – 12:20 Workshop # 2: Pernicious parvoviruses: Recognizing and responding to disease outbreaks in cats and dogs, with emphasis on implementing strategies for prevention.
Parvoviruses can quickly sicken or even kill a large number of cats or dogs in a shelter outbreak. Responding to cases of parvoviral disease in a shelter requires more than knowing how to treat an individual sick animal; this talk will focus on the ways veterinarians can help non-veterinary staff in animal shelters to recognize and respond to suspect cases of parvoviral disease to limit the spread of disease within the shelter, as well as implement operational changes that promote outbreak prevention.
Speaker: Dr. Rebecca Stuntebeck
12:20 – 1:20 Lunch (Poolside), Silent Auction Closes at 1:15
1:20 – 2:50 Workshop #3: Saving the tiniest and most vulnerable – Neonatal care for orphan kittens .Nursing kittens have specialized needs. Caring for neonates requires special knowledge and a fine-tuned plan. Close monitoring, early recognition of problems, and quick intervention are essential for success. This session will review best practices to provide optimal care for orphaned kittens, including feeding, warmth, elimination, sanitation and socialization. Vaccination protocols and other medical recommendations will be shared to minimize risk of mortality and spread of infectious diseases. Recommended age for spay/neuter surgery and adoption will also be addressed. Speaker: Dr. Aleisha Swartz
2:50 – 3:10 Break Poolside, Visit Exhibitors, Network, Silent Auction Cashier Open
3:10 – 4:40 Workshop #4: Ringworm- Taking the Guess out of Fungus!
Ringworm is often feared as a shelter's worst nightmare, but it really doesn't have to be that way. This session will give shelter veterinary staff the skills needed to effectively screen for ringworm infections, prevent spread, and perform risk assessment on the shelter population when needed. Tips and strategies for halting existing outbreaks will be highlighted as well as treatment options.
Speaker: Dr. Rebecca Stuntebeck
4:40 - 5:00 Door Prizes in Ballroom—Must be present to win!
Fill up your stamp card by visiting each exhibitor to qualify.
Fee Waived for Veterinarians!
Thanks to a special grant obtained through the ASPCA, we are able to waive the fee for veterinarians.