NOTICE - National Urban Animal Report for 2010

Executives in the companion animal industry concerned about the impact of the Internet and the other matters impacting their business are invited to attend an OpenSpace on this matter at the Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies, 13 - 19 April 2011 in Toronto, Halifax, Red Deer and Vancouver.

Agenda Set for the 2011 Regional Summits April 13-19

Great Presenters. Compelling content. Stimulating conversations.
The 2011 Regional Summits will deliver all this and more!  

'Collaboration, change and progress' are not words usually associated with the many challenges we face in the companion animal industry. Yet they are now being used to describe the various initiatives resulting from conversations that started at the October 2010 International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies (ISUAS) and are continuing in communities across Canada!
   
We invite you to attend the 2011 Regional Summit (RSUAS) event in the community nearest you. The Regional Summits are the 'Reader's Digest' version of the International Summit. These events allow you to gain insight on what transpired at the International Summit, review industry metrics and and to join in conversations that are moving the companion animal industry in exciting new directions!
  
This year's Regional events will focus on the ever-challenging issue of 'animal homing'. A line-up of dynamic speakers will deliver a synopsis of presentations from the 2010 ISUAS and an interactive 'Open Spaces' program will be facilitated by Karen Dawson, Create Now Inc.  Open Spaces is a proven networking strategy that puts all industry stakeholders in one room and fosters a spirit of respect, trust and open communication. Karen's role as moderator is to support us as we get 'unstuck' and engage in meaningful and productive conversations. 

Thank You for Caring for Cats!

 

"We are only one month into the 2011 Year of the Cat (YOC) campaign and already we have made significant progress!" says Judi Cannon, Collaboration Manager Care for Cats. "Reports about the Year of the Cat have appeared in dozens of newspapers, websites and other media outlets in the past four weeks. As a ‘behind-the-scenes’ member of the Care for Cats Committee, I extend a heart-felt THANK YOU to everyone involved with this important project for making this progress possible."

In the months leading up to the official YOC launch on January 5th, Canada’s companion animal industry rallied together in an amazing spirit of collaboration and commitment. Although we are still in the early stages of the program, all indicators are that we are moving in the right direction. Our combined efforts are creating a heightened awareness about the plight of cats in our communities and the industry is combining resources to insure a successful project. Well done!

Regional Summits 13-19 April 2011

People in the companion animal industry are talking about change ... and you are invited to join the conversations!  

At a cost of just $150 per day, per delegate, the Associate Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies are a cost-efficient way to connect  to your community and participate in on-going discussions that are  impacting the companion animal industry, pets, and people in your region and across the nation.

Join us as for any one of four full-day programs focused on 'animal homing in our communities' ...

1.1 Million Homeless Animals Adopted

The 2010 Iams Home 4 the Holidays Pet Adoption Drive was a resounding success! In 96 days more than 1.1 million animals were adopted to new forever homes and five million bowls of pet food were donated!

Believed to be one of the world's largest pet adoption campaigns, Iams Home 4 the Holidays resulted in 1,125,667 animal adoptions in 96 days. The campaign ran from between October 1,  2010 through January 4, 2011.

The campaign is supported by Iams and longtime partner, the Helen Woodward Animal Center, along with more than 3,500 animal organizations from around the world once again joined forces to help reduce pet homelessness.

Wackiest Pet Names of 2010

For many pet owners, the names 'Max' and 'Bailey' may sound mundane and  simply boring. In order to pay homage to those who take pride in their pets’ unconventional names, Veterinary Pet Insurance set out for the third year in a row to find the 50 most unusual dog and cat names in the United States.

VPI employees selected the most unusual dog names from the company’s database of more than 470,000 insured pets, and narrowed them down by voting for the 50 most unusual names in each category.

Some of the funny names for dogs included: Pickle Von Corndog, Bettie Poops and Virginia Woof!

Wacky cat names were Bing Clawsby, Cleocatra and Chairman Meow.

Does your pet have a funny name?
Share it with PetLynx EZBits followers!
Comment below or send us an email.

Read more funny pet names HERE.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

If you Care for Cats ... post this information on your Facebook Page

PetLynx Corporation is proud to be one of the sponsors of

2011 The Year of the Cat, a Canada-wide public education initiative orchestrated by Care for Cats that is intended to "get rid of the myths and give the facts!"

This program was launched on January 5th and has been well-publicized through various media outlets, on blogs, tweets, facebook pages and good old-fashioned 'word of mouth' advertising. Thank you to everyone who has played a role in making this possible!

Loads of valuable content has been added to the Care for Cats website and new information is posted weekly. This information is there for you to use -- free of charge -- to help you better care for your own cat or to help promote responsible cat ownership in your community. Be sure to check back often!

To access these valuable resources, click on the scroll down menu on the Pet Industry Toolbox for great content on education, wellness, ID/legislation and population control.

The section for Pet Families has a kids corner, fun cat videos and a tool box.

Help use celebrate cats and educate Canadians about their value in our society ... and thank you for caring and for sharing!

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Help Spread the Word About the Farley Foundation

PetLynx is please to share exciting news from the Farley Foundation!

TORONTO, Jan. 19 /CNW/ In celebration of surpassing its first $1 million in disbursements to help people in need pay for the necessary veterinary care of their pets, the Farley Foundation is asking all pet owners and members of the media to spread the word about our amazing charitable work through Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts with the following message:

"Help spread the word. The Farley Foundation has reached a major milestone by disbursing its first $1million to help thousands of pets across Ontario. Learn more at www.farleyfoundation.org"

Did you miss the 'Cat Crazed' Documentary on CBC?

As a proud sponsor of Care for Cats and the 2011 Year of the Cat initiative, PetLynx Corporation encourages people in the community and those working in the companion animal industry  to become part of the conversation to change public perceptions about cats.

To gain insight into the magnitude of the cat overpopulation crisis in Canada watch the CBC TV Doc Zone special 'Cat Crazed' on line

Interested in being part of the solution to the cat overpopulation crisis? Participate in the 2011 Year of the Cat initiative.

Learn about the International Summits for Urban Animal Strategies.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

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.