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.

Dog Saves Human

In the spirit of love and compassion that is the foundation of the Christmas season, we share the following adoption story as a way to acknowledge and thank people across Canada who work tirelessly to rescue and re-home lost, abandoned and abused animals.

In the companion animal industry we always talk about humans adopting animals... but in many cases it is the animals who give unconditionally of their love and are our salvation. Enjoy this adoption story from an dog's point of view! 

Merry Christmas from PetLynx Corporation

I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY. 

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.

CareerBuilder Survey Looks at Pet Owners and Career Paths

Are you a cat person or a dog person and what does that mean for your career path? A new survey from CareerBuilder looked at pet ownership in relation to chosen profession, compensation and job satisfaction.

Key findings include:

• Workers with dogs were more likely to report holding senior management positions (CEO, CFO, Senior Vice President, etc.)
• Workers with snakes/reptiles were the most likely to report earning six figures.
•  Workers with birds were the most likely to report being satisfied with their jobs.

In terms of career paths, owners of certain pets were more likely to report being drawn to certain professions:

• Dog owners were more likely to be professors, nurses, information technology professionals, military professionals and entertainers.
• Cat owners were more likely to be physicians, real estate agents, science/medical lab technicians, machine operators and personal caretakers.

 

Want to know what a snake or bird owner might be when they grow up?

Get the full story in the Globe and Mail.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Petsecure Pet Insurance's 'FURther the Fight' Campaign

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month

Petsecure pet insurance is joining the fight against pet cancer with their November Pet Cancer Awareness Month campaign, ‘FURther the Fight’, on Facebook and Twitter ... and PetLynx Corporation is pleased to be able to help them promote this campaign!

For every new fan to join their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter in the month of November, Petsecure pet insurance will donate $1 to the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) Pet Trust Fund, towards pet cancer research.

2010 Summit Speaker Synopsis Part XIII

The International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies Presents:

High Volume Spay/Neuter Clinics

Presenters: Kate MacDonald and Jim Sykes, Ontario SPCA

This session will tell the story of how the high-volume spay/neuter model was introduced in Ontario … and more importantly, of the impact the model has had in the brief period of time since its inception.

FixYourPet.ca … It’s the kindest thing you can do.

A legacy for Animal Welfare in Ontario

Learn the key components of developing the model including forming strategic partnerships, establishing the goals and objectives, working within regulations and engaging our communities and the public in the cause.

By the end of the session, you will have gained a synopsis of the program’s impact to date and future projections, the key components of the business plan and budget for one site, and an overview of the marketing messages and communications strategies for the promotion of spay/neuter.   

ABOUT KATE MACDONALD

Kate MacDonald has 25 years experience in the non-profit sector, specializing in strategic planning, capital campaign management, financial analysis, non-profit administration and donor relations.

Currently, Kate serves as Chief Executive Officer for the Ontario SPCA, supporting over 50 active communities across Ontario. Kate’s main emphasis is on re-focusing the organization’s cultural vision to concentrate on collaborative service delivery, including establishing strategic alliances, strengthening brand recognition and developing province-wide fund development programs.  Since joining the Ontario SPCA in 2007, the organization has achieved the strongest financial position in recent history, has strengthened provincial legislation with the first substantive change in 90 years, and has introduced the first high-volume spay/neuter services in the province, along with the award winning public service campaign FixYourPet.ca.

Kate looks forward to contributing to the Year of the Cat in 2011 by engaging communities across the province to promote the campaign and by being an active member of the Care for Cats Advisory Council, chaired by Dr. Liz O’Brien.

Kate is proud of the contributions she has made to organizations including United Way, Canadian Living Foundation, Sunnybrook Foundation, William Osler Health Centre Foundation and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Kate is an active volunteer nationally and within her rural community, has taught fundraising at Mount Royal College and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

ABOUT JIM SYKES
 

Jim has spent his entire career working with grassroots community groups and large national organizations.  He spent ten years as a faculty member at Hamilton’s Mohawk College teaching urban politics and psychology.  After a career of more than twenty-five years as a community development and management professional in the Canadian YMCA Jim decided to re-challenge his skills by working with the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA as its President and CEO from 2004–2009.

During this time the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA expanded the scope of its programs and services, pioneering the ASPCA© Meet Your Match™ family of adoption related programs in Canada, created a range of new youth/humane education programs, re-launching a greatly enhanced Pet Encounter Therapy program, and successfully brought Therapeutic Riding programs under the HBSPCA’s umbrella.  In the Fall of 2009 the HBSPCA successfully accredited a new Companion Animal Hospital within its existing 28,000 square foot facility.  In 2007 at the National Summit for Urban Animal Strategies, Jim was selected by his colleagues to receive the prestigious “Summit Award for Individual Achievement”  This award recognized Jim’s leadership in Animal Welfare at both the Ontario SPCA and Hamilton/Burlington SPCA.

In October of 2009 Jim accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer for the Ontario SPCA where he had previously been the volunteer President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for almost four years.

Jim’s current work with the Ontario SPCA focuses on assisting the CEO and Board with a renewed vision for the organization to be shared with the fifty communities that it currently serves under the OSPCA Act.
 

Jim’s family includes four dachshunds all adopted from the SPCA over the past six years.
 

For information on other Summit speakers and topics, check the agenda.




Learn more about the Summit For Urban Animal Strategies. Click here.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

2010 Summit Speaker Synopsis Part VII

The International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies Presents:
Homing Animals in the Canadian Urban Environment
Presenter: Lisa Chen, Socialstruct


Petlynx has conducted a number of empirical research studies to investigate public opinion and metrics on behalf of the industry.  This presentation discusses how we can best mine the plethora of existing data and the strategies we can use to collect real-time market intelligence on a go forward basis.  Among the areas we will discuss are the following:

2010 Summit Speaker Synopsis Part 1

The International Summit For Urban Animal Strategies Presents:

2010 National Survey on Retail Puppy Sales

There have been numerous media reports about the sale of puppies in stores. Questions about sources and care practices are frequently brought up. Subjective facts and figures have resulted in wide spread misinformation.

To help develop a clearer picture of how the retail model functions PIJAC Canada conducted the 2010 National Survey on Retail Puppy Sales as a way for stores to share their methods of operation. PIJAC Canada's Susan Dankert's presentation of the survey results will offer an insightful look into the sale and care of puppies in pet shops around Canada.  This talk will offer data on topics such as, average number of cages, sales, sourcing, care and warranties.

Dramatic Increase in Animal Surrenders

Think about how animals have been affected by the Gulf Oil Disaster and chances are good that the first images that come to your mind will be oil-soaked pelicans and turtles ... not the pleading eyes of forlorn dogs and cats languishing in animal shelters.

According to a recent news segment on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, hundreds of family pets now face an uncertain future because their guardians are no longer able to care for them. Many who have become unemployed have little hope of things changing for them anytime soon. Sadly, they are forced to choose between feeding their families and providing for their companion animals.

Green Guidelines for Dog Parks

It’s a hot topic for many an urban dog owners: Do dogs have the right to explore parks to their hearts’ content? To sniff, jump, dig, chase, swim and run amok the way nature intended?

Yes, leash-free time is important, but running amok is not the answer, especially when dogs run the risk of disturbing ecologically sensitive areas.

Being a responsible dog owner means more than ensuring your pet is spayed or neutered, has a license and is registered with PetLynx! It means taking responsibility for natural parks, too.

Learn more in this Dogs in Canada Magazine article and then share this information with friends, family and colleagues!

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Pierce Brosnan Supports California Spay/Neuter Program

At PetLynx Corporation we love to learn about and share examples of collaboration. Here's a neat story of how one celebrity is supporting spaying and neutering in his community. Let us know if your organization is doing something out of the ordinary and we may share it on our blogs!

Perhaps best known for his role as James Bond, Pierce Brosnan is also making a name for himself as an activist and artist. The many organizations Brosnan supports include various environmental, animal and child welfare, and women's health initiatives.

In one of his latest endeavors, Brosnan has put his signature on a new initiative designed to provide funding for low or no-cost spaying and neutering of dogs and cats in California.

The Perks of PetLynx for Pet Families

Whether they operate as part of a municipality or are non-profit agencies, animal shelters are busy places! While it can be a challenge, it is important that adoption staff and volunteers using PetLynx take a few minutes to explain the "perks" of registration that is part of the pet adoption package given to each new pet family.

Bones of the Business: Tips for Working Smarter

A recent survey conducted in the United States by PetSmart Charities provided a wealth of useful information relating to why people do -- and do not -- spay or neuter their pets.

The biggest barriers were identified as lack of understanding as to why it is important and the right age to have the dog/cat sterilized. Interestingly, researchers found that adults age 34 and under needed the most education.

CNN.com Living is Looking for Pampered Pet Photos

Each week CNN.com Living invites people to share images on one of three topics - design, fashion and pets. This week, it's all about pets that live pampered lives.

Do you know any pet owners who care for their furry ones like they're members of the family? Like the two lazy loafers pictured here, who live with one of our PetLynx team members?

CNN.com Living is looking for over-the-top ways people pamper their pets -- from matching person-pet outfits to elaborate birthday parties. Show them your fancy carriers, pet jewelry, intricate pet furniture and homemade pet meals or treats. They are looking for images beyond dressed-up pets  that celebrate the human-animal bond.

Do you have some photos you wold like to share?

Click here for more information.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

People Names for Pets

DENVER POST: The day care roster includes Hannah, Cameron, Sophie, Henry, Tucker and Emma. They are the same names you'd find at just about any day care center in town. The only thing that might raise an eyebrow — or in this case, a whisker — is the fact that these names were plucked from an attendance sheet at a day care for dogs. 
 
Not one of the 43 dogs playing and fetching at the doggie day care answers to Spot, Rover or even Pepper. Pet names have changed.
 
Many people are choosing family or celebrity names for their furry friends, considered a reflection of the deepening bond owners have with their pets.
 
According to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association, seventy percent of dog owners (and 65 percent of cat owners) said they consider their dog a full-fledged family member. 

So, when it comes to names, pet owners nowadays ruminate much like an expectant couple. Among the most popular dog names are Lucy, Jack, Bella and Charlie, according to an analysis by petfinder.com, an online database of hundreds of thousands of adoptable pets.
 
The trendiest cat names also include Lucy and Molly, though some perennial faves — Shadow, Smokey, Tiger, Tigger and Precious — are holding their own.

Dr. Linda Light, who practices at Ark Veterinary Hospital in Buford, Ga., said she has noticed a shift away from Grover and Pepper to more Stellas and Charlies. She said it's perfectly fine to change a name of a newly adopted dog or cat. The animals learn their names very quickly, she said. "Just be creative and have fun with the naming of your pet," she said.
 
So what about the pet's perspective? Angie Woods, a dog-behavior expert and owner of U.S. Canine in Buford, said a name is irrelevant to dogs since they don't understand words — only sounds. Still, simpler names with only one or two syllables are easier for dogs to recognize.

Get the full story in the Denver Post.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Top 10 Dog and Cat Medical Conditions of 2009

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), receives more than a million claims annually for treatment of cats and dogs. This data reveals that just like people, many dogs and cats receive treatment for non-emergency as well as ongoing disorders:




A few of the top 10 dog and cat conditions can be associated with an animal's natural aging process. However, many of the top 10 conditions can occur in any pet. No matter the age or breed, whether it be an indoor or an outdoor dog or cat, pet owners should familiarize themselves with their pets' daily routine in order to identify abnormal behaviors that might indicate an injury or illness. In addition, regular semi-annual physical exams can help prevent and identify certain conditions before they become serious or costly.



Top 10 Dog Conditions

1. Ear Infection
2. Skin Allergy
3. Skin Infection/Hot Spots
4. Gastritis/Vomiting
5. Enteritis/Diarrhea
6. Bladder Infection
7. Arthritis
8. Soft Tissue Trauma
9. Non-cancerous Tumor
10. Eye Infection

Top 10 Cat Conditions

1. Lower Urinary Tract Disease
2. Gastritis/Vomiting
3. Chronic Renal Failure
4. Hyperthyroidism
5. Diabetes
6. Enteritis/Diarrhea
7. Skin Allergy
8. Dental Disease
9. Ear Infection
10. Eye Infection

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Toronto Gets 29 New Dog Parks

Good news for dog lovers in Toronto! After more than two years of extensive reviews, in late January 2010, City Council approved the addition of 29 new green spaces where Fido can run off-leash. The review of dog parks is a result of Council's adoption of a new 'People, Dogs and Parks Off-Leash Policy' -- which was formed to deal with growing conflict between dog owners and other park users.

But the addition of the new off-leash parks doesn't come without controversy. Some now popular dog parks are still under scrutiny and many dog owners are barking mad!

At issue in many parks is "dog space" versus "environmental preservation." Dog owners want their pets to run free and socialize, while environmentalists are seeking to protect the parks flora and fauna.

Learn more about this issue by checking out Toronto Unleashed, an advocacy group for Toronto dog owners. Read the full story from the Toronto Star.

AKC Announces Most Popular Breeds

Labs are 'Top Dog' Again!

For the 19^th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America, but could this be the last year for the Lab’s reign?  

According to American Kennel Club^® (AKC) 2009 registration statistics released at the end of January, the German Shepherd Dog overtook the Yorkshire Terrier last year and is now ranked second most popular in the nation for the first time in more than three decades.

A favorite since the time of Rin Tin Tin, the German Shepherd Dog became the number one breed of the 1920s, but then slipped in popularity until after World War II. 

“Labs have been America’s top dog for nearly two decades due to their loyal and gentle nature,” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson.  “But the German Shepherd Dog has gained ground recently, quite possibly due to the increased attention they receive for their security efforts at home and abroad.  Hailed as the world’s leading police, guard and military dog, this energetic and fun-loving breed is a loyal family pet, ideal companion and dependable K-9 partner when duty calls.”

The AKC's Top Ten Dogs for 2009

1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd Dog
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Golden Retirever
5. Beagel
6. Boxer
7. Bulldog
8. Dachshund
9. Poodle
10. Shih Tzu

Start a Staff Meeting on a 'Pawsitive' Note

With introductions of new budgets, increased animal admissions due to inclement weather and a potential drop in adoptions due to post-holiday belt-tightening, staff meetings this time of year can be discouraging... if you let them be that way. This video -- of a mambo dancing Golden Retriever -- is sure to set a pawsitive mood at your next staff meeting. This dancing dog gives a whole new meaning to the term "human-animal bond." Go ahead! Kick off your next staff meeting with a mambo and turn some frowns upside down!

Help For Haiti's Animals

Photo: Copyright WSPA/FAW With hearts and minds focused squarely on the devastating earthquake that occurred in Haiti on January 12, 2010, the world is extending its full support to those organizations providing humanitarian relief in the ravaged island nation. But the animal victims of this disaster need help, too! In effort to help the animals in this time of crisis, the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) was created. The coalition is comprised of the following organizations:

• American Humane
• American SPCA
• Best Friends
• Humane Society of the United States
• Humane Society International
• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
• World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

These groups have banded together with the belief that partnering across organizations is the most effective way to address the serious and enormous problems facing animals in Haiti. There are an estimated 5 million head of livestock in the country (mostly goats), a large stray dog population, and an untold number of companion animals and native wildlife all adversely affected by the earthquake. To donate to the coalition or sign up for updates, visit the Animals in Disasters blog set up by the WSPA.