Join us October 10 - 14, 2023 at the Big Hairy People and Pets Summit and Worksops.

The theme for this year's event is Breaking Down Barriers. 

In 2023, we will focus on the programs, practices and strategies that involve and engage the community in managing their pets. We will be looking at the role that organisations play in providing support to both companion animals and the people that care for them.

VIEW MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT HERE.

VIEW PROGRAM INFORMATION HERE. 

VIEW THE EVENT FLYER HERE.

VIEW THE "CONVINCE YOUR BOSS" LETTER TEMPLATES HERE

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMPANION ANIMAL MANAGEMENT & SHELTERING AWARDS HERE

CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SUPPORTING THE EVENT THROUGH THE SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES

Attendance at this conference is essential for everyone involved in companion animal and community health and safety policy and practice, including those working in all levels of government, the not-for-profit welfare, shelter and rescue sector, the research, academic and veterinary professions, and the pet industry.

A summit is a strategic conversation between the leaders of the sector, bringing together different perspectives within a system to find solutions to the big questions. What are the barriers to positive results in the work that is undertaken? What can be done to reduce or remove those barriers? How can we engage the broader community with companion animal management and the problems that face the sector and those that work in the space? How can the issue of companion animal management and sheltering be looked at from a broader, social, ethical and One Health perspective? How can we empower pet lovers, owners, carers and those without pets to be a part of the solutions? These, and many more questions relating to social change, community safety and welfare, animal management and welfare, emergency management and responsible pet ownership will be discussed at this event. Industry and sector leaders from Australia and overseas will lead sessions to explore innovative solutions to guide Australia’s approach to the management of companion animals now and into the future while providing insights on how the challenges are being met elsewhere.

Dates: Daylong Workshops will be held 13 October with the Summit itself running 10 - 12 October.

Venue: Mantra on View Hotel 

Accommodation is limited and can be booked by at a discounted rate by contacting the Hotel Reservations Department on 07 5579 1060 or by emailing view.res2@mantra.com.au  and using "G2Z23" as the discount code.

Car Parking: Car parking is available at Mantra on View Hotel but is subject to availability. Conference delegates may use the hotel car park at a discounted rate of $15.00 per day. To receive this discount please see reception prior to your departure. Please note as the Car Park is owned and operated by Care Park Parking the daily parking rate is subject to change without notice.

*Hotel guests and conference delegates staying overnight at the hotel may use the car park at a discounted rate of $15.00. Please see reception prior to your departure to receive the discount.

Airport transfers: Click here and use discount code G2Z23

View "Convince your boss" letter templates for LG teams here

View "Convince your boss" letter templates for NFP teams here

 

International Speakers 

MIKE WHEELER - DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES, CITY OF CABOT, ARKANSAS

Mike Wheeler is the Director of Community Services for Cabot Arkansas. Over the past 14 years he has been dedicated to animal welfare and public safety while reducing euthanasia and promoting responsible pet ownership in Cabot, Arkansas. Mike’s management of his City’s open-admission shelter fosters a culture of helping people and animals, which has brought about 23 community programs in 2020 that focuses on improving the lives of every person and every pet in his community through strengthening the human-animal bond and keeping families together. This philosophy of keeping animals with their families has reduced his annual intake from 3,357 animals in 2019 to 1,022 animals in 2022 - with a euthanasia rate of less than 1%, counting every animal the organization touched in 2022. His passion for animal welfare and public policy has driven him to a position on the Executive Management Committee for the Human Animal Support Services (HASS), the board of the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), and the position of president of the Arkansas State Animal Control Association (ASACA). In this capacity he helps form best practices, trains animal control officers, and assists Animal Welfare Departments and individuals across the country to become better representatives within their communities while providing a higher standard for animal welfare and public safety in those communities. 

DR JIM CROSBY - FLORIDA

Dr. James W. Crosby M.S., PhD., CBCC-KA, is a retired Police Lieutenant (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville, FL) and has professionally trained dogs, taught individual and group obedience classes, and addressed canine behavior problems since 1999.  Dr. Crosby first obtained his Certified Professional Dog Trainer certification in 2008 and became a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine -Knowledge Assessed in 2016. Dr. Crosby is also a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant.

Holding a Master of Science degree in Veterinary Forensic Medicine specializing in Veterinary Forensics, and having a PhD in Veterinary Medical Science from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida, Dr. Crosby is recognized in and out of court as an expert, internationally and across the US, on dangerous dogs, canine aggression, fatal dog attacks, and related issues. Dr. Crosby assisted, on-scene, the Australian Capital Territory Government and Federal Police during a fatal attack investigation in the ACT in 2017.

Dr. Crosby's work on Dog Bite Related Human Fatalities has been the first that has looked at these worst-case bite incidents from a physical and behavioural perspective that includes analysis of evidence and both dog and human actions and behaviours that result in human death.

Dr. Crosby is an Associate Member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, a Charter Member of the International Veterinary Forensic Science Association, a Professional Member of IAABC, and is honored to serve on the Board of Directors of the CCPDT.

DR CYNTHIA (CINDY) KARSTEN - DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH, UC DAVIS KORET SHELTER MEDICINE PROGRAM, CALIFORNIA

Cindy graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, completed a shelter medicine internship at Colorado State University and a Shelter Medicine Residency at UC Davis. Currently she is the Director of Outreach with the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program.  She is also the lead veterinarian for the Sacramento chapter of the Street Dog Coalition and is a board member for Mercer Veterinary Clinic and Compassion Without Borders.  Dr. Karsten's interests include teaching and mentoring undergraduate and veterinary students, interns and residents, coaching shelter staff through online Bootcamp and other interactive formats, and providing accessible, affordable veterinary care to everyone who seeks it.  She also continues to work to understand her role and that of animal shelters in increasing awareness of social justice issues and implementing policies to bring about change.

VINCENT MEDLEY - MADDIE'S® DIRECTOR OF HUMAN ANIMAL SUPPORT SERVICES 

Vincent spent 21 years as a leader of four of the largest government funded animal shelters in the United States—Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Philadelphia—where he served at every level of shelter operations and management, and led through some of the toughest transitions. Vincent was also the CEO of a non-profit shelter that contracted enforcement and shelter services within large city governments, and has been a frequent speaker and trainer in animal shelters and at conferences across the country. Vincent’s background, experience, and values drive his commitment to lifesaving, and the HASS model of keeping people and pets together.

ALLISON CARDONA - CA STATE DIRECTOR, UC DAVIS KORET SHELTER MEDICINE PROGRAM

Allison Cardona joined the University of California, Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program in January 2022 as California state director. She manages the $37.5 million-dollar California for All Animals grant program funded by the state to help animal shelters reduce the euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals.

Prior to this, she worked for nearly five years as deputy director for the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. In that role, she oversaw three full-service animal care centers, a communications center, public relations, adoption partners, behavior and enrichment, and volunteer programs. Allison also served as liaison to the county’s homeless initiative, ensuring that people experiencing homelessness have options and resources for their pets. She also participated in the county’s anti-racism, diversity and inclusion initiative, assisting with the implementation of an anti-racist policy agenda.

Before moving to Los Angeles, Allison spent 14 years as a senior program director at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in a variety of departments including adoptions, spay/neuter, disaster response, large-scale cruelty operations, animal hoarding cases, cruelty intervention programs and community engagement.

She serves on the leadership council and volunteers on-site at the Downtown Women’s Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing trauma-informed care to unhoused women in Los Angeles. She is also on the fundraising committee of Hearts for Sight Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making outdoor activities and mental health services accessible to visually impaired participants.

Allison received a bachelor’s degree in public affairs from Empire State College in New York and is a graduate of the USC Price School of Public Policy executive leadership development program and Southern Utah University certificate in executive animal services. The proud daughter of Colombian immigrants, Allison is deeply committed to racial justice and equity work. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner, Yvonne, and beloved dogs, Emma and Dito.

YOU CAN VIEW THE LOCAL SPEAKERS HERE

YOU CAN VIEW THE PROGRAM HERE

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workshops

In order to make the most of our international speakers expertise while they are with us in Australia we will be delivering daylong Workshops.

Workshop registration is seperate to the Summit itself.

All Workshops will be held at the Mantra on View, Surfers Paradise. 

FRIday 13 OCTOber 

WORKSHOP 1 - Animal MANAGEMENT Services Reimagined WITH MIKE wheeler & VINCENT MEDLEY

Human Animal Support Services’ (HASS) primary goal is to keep people and pets together, and pets at home, taking the pressure off Local Government Animal Management and Not for Profit Animal Shelters. We are bringing animal management and welfare organizations, and community members together to engage in partnerships that support the bond of people and animals.

This workshop will discuss the 13 elements of Human Animal Support Services. We will provide the tools and resources necessary to assess your services within your community.  We will then walk you through how to build these HASS elements into your organization. Throughout this workshop we will provide proven tools and tips from successful organizations to improve service provision and remove barriers to success.

Come and learn how to address the root cause of animal management issues in order to protect public health and safety, increase community engagement with your goals and ultimately protecting your precious human and financial resources. 

WORKSHOP 2 - FORENSICS OF AGGRESSION WITH DR JIM CROSBY

Bite cases all deserve full investigation. That is best served by examining all of the evidence with care and attention to detail, from testimony to video and physical detail such as blood patterns, bite marks, and other contributing factors in under both human and canine control. 

During this workshop we will examine best practices and processes for investigating dog bite incidents. This will range from day-to-day bite cases to those worst-case incidents where humans are critically wounded or even die from the incident. We will also look at the history of dog bite human fatalities across the recent past in Australia.

THIS WORKSHOP ALSO HAS AN ONLINE ACCESS REGISTRATION OPTION

WORKSHOP 3 - SHELTER MEDICINE AND MANAGEMENT WITH DR CINDY KARSTEN & ALLISON CARDONA

Join Dr. Cindy Karsten, Director of Outreach, and Allison Cardona, California State Director, for a thought-provoking, hands-on Shelter Medicine and Management workshop on how to find more homes for animals as well as reunite and keep more animals with the families that care for them. 

The workshop will discuss how embedded structural inequitable processes, systems and policies exist in the field of animal sheltering and animal management and what your organization can do to dismantle these systems.

Participants will review two to three policies and evaluate their readiness to address the barriers created by these embedded systems to increase positive outcomes while also preventing animals from coming into the shelter unnecessarily. This workshop will center work in animal shelters and within the larger community.

 

WE SEEK ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS SUCH AS:

We seek answers to big questions such as:

o   How can the issue of companion animal management and sheltering be looked at from a broader, social, ethical, and One Health perspective? 

o   How can we engage the broader community with companion animal management and the problems that face the sector and those that work in the space? 

o   What are the barriers and challenges we face to achieving the goal of people and pets living well together? 

o   What can be done to reduce the challenges or remove those barriers?

o   How can we empower pet lovers, owners, carers and those without pets to be a part of the solutions?

o   How can we keep people and their pets together? 

LOCATION



Surfers Paradise - The Gold Coast’s original epicentre of fun has been rejuvenated, and is now overflowing with a renewed energy you’ll fall in love with.

Stay in beachside accommodation and ease into your trip with an emerging café and restaurant scene, explore the revitalised foreshore precinct, then later on, be swept away by the spectacular range of after-dark entertainment. For that unique Surfers Paradise gift, head down to the Surfers Paradise Beachfront markets every Wednesday and Friday night between 5:30pm and 10:00pm. Explore more than 120 market stalls which stretch across half a kilometre of beachfront promenade, offering a selection of locally made gift ideas ranging from accessories, crafts, artworks, beauty products, homewares, jewellery and music.

When you add these with the world-famous beaches, 7-day late night shopping, family favourite attractions, and the new light-rail network connecting neighbouring precincts, now’s the perfect time to rediscover an icon - Surfers Paradise.

Just 30 minutes from Gold Coast Airport, you'll discover that Surfers Paradise is a must see, must stay destination experience.

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

There are a wide range of sponsorship and exhibition opportunities and we would be happy to discuss these with you. If you would like to be a part of this important event contact us for a prospectus.

Thank you to our supporters

                                           

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