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Program

Morning Session

  • 8:30 – 8:40 – Welcome – Buffy Phyne, V.P Board of Directors, Pet Friendly Services of Indiana
  • 8:40 – 8:50 – Update from Pet Friendly Services of Indiana – Cheri Storms, Executive Director
  • 8:50 – 9:05 – Update from Board of Animal Health – Jennifer Price, Director of Investigations

General Sessions (Three Tracks)

Veterinary Medicine Track

The Public Health Benefit of Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return (TNVR) Programs

Session 1: 10:00 – 11:00
Room A

For decades, we’ve been sterilizing community cats in order to help reduce their population, with the primary goal of improving their wellbeing. But what if I told you there is an additional benefit to Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (TNVR) programs – one that protects the health of pets and people in our communities?

By integrating rabies vaccinations into TNVR efforts, we create a proactive barrier against the disease, reducing the risk of transmission from wildlife to both pets and people. This added layer of protection has garnered the attention and support of public health officials across the country. In this presentation, we’ll also explore how TNVR programs can help prevent the spread of toxoplasmosis by community cats. Ultimately, TNVR not only reduces community cat populations but also plays a critical role in safeguarding public health.

G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH

G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH is a High Quality, High Volume Spay-Neuter (HQHVSN) surgeon with Paws Plus Veterinary in Lakeland, FL, and a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He also trains veterinarians in HQHVSN techniques through his consulting company, SNIP (Spay/Neuter Instructional Program). Dr. Weedon earned his DVM from Purdue University and his MPH from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A longtime advocate for addressing pet overpopulation, particularly community cats, Dr. Weedon has served with numerous animal welfare and public health organizations, including the Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs, United Spay Alliance’s Vet Shortage Task Force, and Alley Cat Allies. He has held leadership roles in public health organizations, received national recognition for animal control volunteerism, and contributed extensively to veterinary literature, including textbooks and peer-reviewed research on spay/neuter, rabies prevention, and community cat management.

Session 2: 11:15 – 12:15
Room A

Does your organization have policies or SOP’s around one of the most difficult tasks we need to do in shelter and rescue? Behavioral euthanasia is a complicated topic and performing BE “on a case by case basis” can result in staff burnout or volunteer/donor pushback. Not performing BE on truly dangerous dogs can lead to bites, injuries, or lawsuits  Having policies and timelines around  the sorts of behaviors you’re able to work with and proceeding promptly to euthanasia when these criteria are met will prevent you from warehousing dangerous dogs and reduce the behavioral damage their behavior may be causing to the friendly dogs housed beside them. In this presentation, we will discuss how to develop and communicate these important policies, and avoid human and animal suffering that often results from indecision. 

Learning objectives:

After attending this talk, people should

  1. Have a better understanding of why behavioral euthanasia is sometimes the most ethical choice for some shelter animals
  2. Recognize the importance of written, transparent policy and procedures around this difficult area of shelter work
  3. Have some tools for communicating with staff and volunteers, and around remembering animals they’re attached to

Trish McMillan

Trish McMillan holds a Master of Science degree in Animal Behavior, and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She has been involved in the animal rescue and sheltering world since the mid-1990’s, starting out as a volunteer and working her way up to director of animal behavior. She worked for the ASPCA for nearly eight years in several positions, as Director of Animal Behavior at their NYC shelter, as well as on the field team, helping assess and rehabilitate dogs from cruelty cases, dogfighting and hoarding situations. She is the author of the defensive handling section of the ASPCA’s book, Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff and speaks and consults on shelter and behavior topics worldwide.

Session 3: 1:15 – 2:15 
Room A

In veterinary practice, surgical sterilization of cats and dogs is one of the most common surgical procedures performed. Routine spaying/castrating is often performed because of its value in preventing animal overpopulation. Shelters and rescues routinely sterilize at a young age because these animals are highly adoptable and sterilizing them allows placement sooner in forever homes. However, recently the routine practice of sterilizing all non-breeding animals has come under scrutiny.

Recently, there has been much discussion, and confusion, regarding when to sterilize dogs and cats. This lecture will review the current literature regarding dog and cat sterilization surgery, and why a one-size-fits-all approach may no longer work. The overarching goal of sterilization is to prevent animal overpopulation; however, veterinarians need to be aware of the individual health benefits, and concerns regarding sterilization. This presentation will go through various scenarios regarding timing of sterilization, and will discuss the benefits, and risks, in those scenarios.

G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH

G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH is a High Quality, High Volume Spay-Neuter (HQHVSN) surgeon with Paws Plus Veterinary in Lakeland, FL, and a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He also trains veterinarians in HQHVSN techniques through his consulting company, SNIP (Spay/Neuter Instructional Program). Dr. Weedon earned his DVM from Purdue University and his MPH from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A longtime advocate for addressing pet overpopulation, particularly community cats, Dr. Weedon has served with numerous animal welfare and public health organizations, including the Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs, United Spay Alliance’s Vet Shortage Task Force, and Alley Cat Allies. He has held leadership roles in public health organizations, received national recognition for animal control volunteerism, and contributed extensively to veterinary literature, including textbooks and peer-reviewed research on spay/neuter, rabies prevention, and community cat management.

Session 4: 2:30 – 3:30 
Room A

This presentation outlines nutritional guidelines for kittens from birth through weaning, with an emphasis on supporting healthy growth and preventing common nutritional complications. Age appropriate feeding, frequent monitoring, developmental readiness and kitten-driven weaning are highlighted as critical factors for improving survival and long-term welfare outcomes, particularly in shelter and rescue settings. While general recommendations are provided, the presenter emphasizes that each kitten must be evaluated individually, and feeding plans adjusted based on development and health status.

Dr Emily Coleman, DVM

Dr. Emily A. Coleman grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and acquired a Bachelor of Science at the University of Mary Washington in 2005. She then attended the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, graduating in 2009. In 2020, after over ten years in private practice and shelter medicine, Dr. Coleman decided to pursue her niche and start her own mobile feline spay/neuter/TNR and preventative care practice dedicated to supporting rescue organizations in her community. The Celtic Cat, LLC will be opening Fall/Winter of 2021. Her veterinary interests include neonatal kitten care, preventative medicine, as well as geriatric care. She currently lives at Lake Anna, Virginia with her husband and their eight cats, two dogs and two guinea pigs. Dr. Coleman serves on the Content Review Committee of the National Kitten Coalition and is on the Board of Directors for Louisa Humane Society. She fosters over 30 of the most vulnerable neonatal kittens from surrounding counties each year. When not busy with her foster kittens she enjoys live music, reading, hiking, and kayaking.

Session 5: 3:40 – 4:40 
Room A

This session will provide practical strategies for developing technician training programs tailored to high-turnover environments. Key topics will include:

  • Best practices for creating effective onboarding programs
  • Developing skill tiering systems to promote growth and retention
  • Strategies for maintaining staff morale and reducing turnover in veterinary settings
  • Techniques for adapting training to small and rural shelters, where staffing resources may be more limited.

I will also touch on how smaller shelters can form partnerships with their veterinarians to enhance patient care and overall operational efficiency, including a discussion on the financial benefits of hiring a full-time veterinary technician.

Molly Myers (Ellis) - RVT, VTES, FFCP, CFVP, PVFR Instructor, CVHDP

Molly Ellis is an emergency and critical care technician educator in a large referral specialty hospital. A RECOVER CPR and PVFR instructor, she specializes in translating evidence-based guidelines into practical team training, with a focus on triage, resuscitation, transfusion medicine, and point-of-care ultrasound. Molly is an active leader in IVTA, PrideVMC, and WVLDI, and is dedicated to elevating technician practice through education, systems improvement, and inclusive leadership.

Shelter/Rescue Operations Track

Go Big and Go Home: Grow and Market Your Short-term Foster Programs to Move Big Dogs

Session 1: 10:00 – 11:00
Room B

Shelters are struggling with unprecedented overpopulation, especially of large dogs who are harder to place and often decline behaviorally in kennels. Short-term foster programs offer a creative solution by sending dogs on overnights and community field trips to boost exposure and generate marketing assets. This workshop will share best practices for recruiting the public, partnering with local media and businesses, and using smart marketing to support these dogs. In addition to helping new programs launch, we’ll focus on growing, modernizing, and post-pandemic-rebooting existing short-term foster initiatives. Attendees will walk away with strategies to get big dogs seen, supported, and into homes faster.

Kelly Duer

As Senior Shelter Solutions Specialist for Maddie’s Fund, Kelly's focus is on helping shelters and rescue organizations keep people and pets together and maximize pet welfare through the implementation of robust foster care programs. Her role includes creating and providing training for organizations and their foster coordinators, writing, assisting with research on foster care and consulting with shelters. Her work with foster care and marketing has been featured in many national publications, websites and networks, including Animal Sheltering magazine, the Huffington Post, Best Friends magazine, BarkPost, Catster Magazine, iheartdogs.com and HuffPost Live.

Finnegan Dowling

Finnegan Dowling serves as Mutual Rescue’s Senior Shelter Engagement Manager and brings more than 30 years of experience in animal welfare. She is the author of the Mutual Rescue Doggy Day Out Toolkit and has supported shelters nationwide in launching and expanding short-term foster programs. Finn has presented at conferences and workshops across the country, providing instruction on short-term foster strategies, community engagement, and marketing. Her work in shelter marketing has been recognized with Shorty and Communicator Awards, and her writing has appeared in The Bark, Bay Woof, and the Huffington Post. She resides in coastal Texas with her husband and their dog.

Session 2: 11:15 – 12:15
Room B

Customer service in animal welfare is often overlooked or reduced to reminders to be polite. This session reframes communication as a strategic skill that validates emotion, uses intentional language, and leaves people feeling heard, even when the answer is no. We will examine real interactions across all roles, including Animal Control Officers, field staff, and shelter teams, and identify where communication breaks down and why. The session also looks at how shelters have lost market share in pet adoption, examines the competition, and focuses on what we can do differently to compete and win in the pet acquisition space.

Gina Knepp

Gina Knepp is a nationally recognized leader in animal welfare innovation and Senior Specialist of Outreach & Engagement at Petco Love. She drives the expansion of Petco Love Lost, a groundbreaking platform that uses AI to reunite lost pets with their families faster and more often. Previously, Gina transformed Sacramento’s Front Street Animal Shelter into a model of lifesaving practices and later advanced national lost pet initiatives at Michelson Found Animals. With a background in 911/311 emergency services, she brings unmatched expertise in crisis management, community engagement, and organizational leadership. Passionate, dynamic, and visionary, Gina is helping lead a national movement to reinvent how communities keep people and pets together.

Session 3: 1:15 – 2:15
Room B

It can be extremely difficult to keep dogs from deteriorating behaviorally while living in kennels, and many behavior problems get worse instead of better, even if we have a behavior program. But we always have other dogs around, and one important intervention that can help with many different behavior problems is the incorporation of dog-dog interactions. Dog play/social facilitation is the antidote to shelter stress. It is a way to give dogs exercise, fresh air, sunshine, and conspecific contact while helping smooth out dog/dog social skills and help with all kinds of common shelter behavior problems, from fear and anxiety to overarousal and frustration. If you are not allowing your shelter dogs to interact with one another, you. may be inadvertently adopting out dogs who are dangerous to other dogs, and you are definitely. missing out on some very valuable rehabilitation measures.

Learning objectives:

After attending this talk, people should:

  1. Recognize the importance of dog play and interactions in keeping shelter dogs happy and well-exercises
  2. Understand how social facilitation can be more powerful than food in changing a dog’s mind about things they fear.
  3. Have some resources for learning more about the bringing the magic of dog play to their shelters.

Trish McMillan

Trish McMillan holds a Master of Science degree in Animal Behavior, and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She has been involved in the animal rescue and sheltering world since the mid-1990’s, starting out as a volunteer and working her way up to director of animal behavior. She worked for the ASPCA for nearly eight years in several positions, as Director of Animal Behavior at their NYC shelter, as well as on the field team, helping assess and rehabilitate dogs from cruelty cases, dogfighting and hoarding situations. She is the author of the defensive handling section of the ASPCA’s book, Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff and speaks and consults on shelter and behavior topics worldwide.

Session 4: 2:30 – 3:30
Room B

Animal hoarding presents complex challenges involving mental health, legal processes, and animal welfare concerns. This session explores identification, investigation, intervention planning, and community-based response strategies that protect both animals and people.  Attendees will walk through actual case examples to highlight principles discussed during the session.

Adam Leath

Adam Leath is the Senior Director of Collaborative Initiatives for the Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS). He leads the statewide work done by JHS. Shelters across the state of Florida have received direct assistance through this cutting-edge program. Leath also responds to situations involving animal victims of natural disasters and cruelty cases. Leath was formerly a Regional Director of the Field Investigations and Response Team at the ASPCA where he led one of the largest operations in ASPCA history with the seizure of over 1,000 animals in August of 2016. Leath has responded to multiple dog fighting operations throughout his career, including the second largest dog fighting bust in U.S. history in 2013, resulting in the seizure of more than 400 dogs as part of the ASPCA’s National Response Team. Leath holds a bachelor's degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and a Master’s Degree in Veterinary Forensic Science from the University of Florida. He is a Courtesy Assistant Professor for the University Of Florida’s College Of Veterinary Medicine. Leath has sat on the Board of Directors for the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), and the Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association (FAPAA). He is a Past President of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association (IVFSA). He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Animal Forensic Sciences. Leath is a Certified National Animal Cruelty Investigator through the University of Missouri and has been certified in Equine Cruelty Investigation through the University of Colorado. Leath has been qualified as an expert witness in animal fighting and animal cruelty in the states of Florida and New York.

Session 4: 2:30 – 3:30
Room B

Animal welfare organizations are being asked to deliver critical public services under increasingly complex and constrained contracts. This session provides a practical, real-world guide to negotiating animal shelter contracts with clarity and confidence. Attendees will learn how to avoid common contracting pitfalls, prepare strategically, understand the power of BATNA, and ensure contract language aligns with operational realities. Through concrete examples and lessons learned, this presentation offers tools to build sustainable, respectful partnerships that protect both mission and financial viability.

Julianna Tetlow, CAWA

As Senior Director of Government Relations for San Diego Humane Society, Julianna has led successful negotiations for municipal contracts worth more than a quarter of a billion dollars, countless successful contract renewals, and currently manages relationships with 14 contract cities. She also oversees SDHS’s licensing, records, and business intelligence teams. Julianna started her consulting practice, Civic Alliance Solutions, in 2015. Since then, she has served numerous non-profit animal welfare organizations seeking new or more favorable government contracts for animal services. Julianna resides in Sacramento, CA with her husband Barrett, daughters June and Penelope, and rescue dog Winnie. Leath holds a bachelor's degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and a Master’s Degree in Veterinary Forensic Science from the University of Florida. He is a Courtesy Assistant Professor for the University Of Florida’s College Of Veterinary Medicine. Leath has sat on the Board of Directors for the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), and the Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association (FAPAA). He is a Past President of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association (IVFSA). He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Animal Forensic Sciences. Leath is a Certified National Animal Cruelty Investigator through the University of Missouri and has been certified in Equine Cruelty Investigation through the University of Colorado. Leath has been qualified as an expert witness in animal fighting and animal cruelty in the states of Florida and New York.

Leadership & Strategic Planning Track

Marketing and Major Gifts 101: Turning Engagement into Philanthropy

Session 1: 10:00 – 11:00
Room C

In this session, you will learn the basics on how marketing your organization can set you up for fundraising success. Put down the event playbook to focus on your individual donors. Discover how aligning brand voice with mission, leveraging digital engagement tools, and nurturing meaningful relationships can build a stronger, more sustainable pipeline for transformational giving.

Kendall Paul

Kendall Paul is the CEO of the Vanderburgh Humane Society in Evansville. She has a degree in Public Relations from the University of Southern Indiana. She earned her Certificate in Fundraising from the Indiana University School of Philanthropy. She has been with the VHS for over 30 years, where she has served as the CEO since 2005. She has led the organization through times of growth and transformation, including the addition of their low cost, spay & neuter clinic in 2007, the opening of Happy Tails Resale Shop in 2014, and the acquisition of River Kitty Cat Café in 2019. During her tenure with the organization the VHS live release rate has gone from 41% to 93%.

Session 2: 11:15 – 12:15
Room C

This session reframes fundraising as relationship-building rooted in trust, connection, and shared values—not just transactions. It explores how to deepen engagement with major donors, identify high-capacity recurring supporters, and use your own data to guide smarter, more personal outreach. Participants will gain practical strategies for stewarding donors between campaigns and making confident, authentic asks that feel like a natural continuation of the relationship. Attendees will leave with a clearer plan to build lasting donor partnerships that fuel long-term impact.

Rob LaRoy

Rob LaRoy has served as Executive Director of the Humane Society of Elkhart County since October 2018, bringing with him more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership. Under his guidance, HSEC has seen remarkable growth, expanding its annual revenue from $1.3 million to $3.5 million in just seven years. Over the years, Rob has held key leadership roles across several states. He served as President of the Michigan State Association of Big Brothers Big Sisters and later as Chairman of the Tennessee State Alliance of YMCAs during his 14-year tenure with the YMCA. He now serves as Secretary of the Indiana Coalition of Animal Welfare Professionals. Rob earned his Bachelor of Arts from Adrian College and holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Grace College. He and his wife Tracy are the proud parents of five "mostly grown" children: 29, 22, 20, and 19-year-old twins. Their home is also happily shared with there beloved dogs: Bo Shembarkler, a 7-year-old Goldendoodle and Riley, a spirited 3-year-old German Shepherd.

Session 3: 1:15 – 2:15
Room C

Session Description

Attendees will leave with renewed hope—and practical mindsets and behaviors they can apply immediately to foster stronger connection, care for one another more intentionally, and create workplaces where people can truly thrive.

Katy Hudson

Session 3: 1:15 – 2:15
Room C

People don’t burn out because work is hard. They burn out because no one notices it’s hard.

According to Indiana University’s Lilly School of Philanthropy, 95% of nonprofit leaders say they are concerned about staff burnout, and nearly 75% report that burnout is impacting their organization’s ability to achieve its mission. Burnout isn’t just an individual issue—it’s a leadership and culture challenge.

In this presentation, leadership and culture expert Heather Haas shares three critical dimensions of burnout and reframes a common misconception: the solution isn’t more self-care alone. Sustainable well-being is built through connection, belonging, and shared responsibility.

Attendees will leave with renewed hope—and practical mindsets and behaviors they can apply immediately to foster stronger connection, care for one another more intentionally, and create workplaces where people can truly thrive.

Heather Haas

Heather’s passion for fueling others’ success drove her from her beginnings as a teacher and principal to her role as Owner + CEO of ADVISA. Heather leads a team of bright, caring people who help clients transform their work cultures into sustainably loved workplaces through leader development. Heather loves the mountains, singer songwriter music, curling up with a book and being active outdoors. Her family and her faith are her greatest sources of strength and joy.

Session 5: 3:40 – 4:40
Room C

Animal welfare work is deeply meaningful—and emotionally demanding. This presentation explores the unique ways compassion fatigue and burnout show up in animal welfare roles, including chronic stress, grief exposure, and moral strain. Participants will learn how to recognize early warning signs in themselves and their teams, understand the nervous system’s role in cumulative stress, and identify practical, realistic strategies to support emotional sustainability in high-impact work. The session offers both validation and tools to help animal welfare professionals continue caring without losing themselves in the process.

Tiffany Leader, LCSW-QS

Tiffany Leader, LCSW-QS, is a licensed clinical social worker, burnout recovery coach, and founder of See the Wonder, a multifaceted mental health and wellness company devoted to supporting helping professionals. With over 15 years of experience, she is passionate about guiding therapists, social workers, animal welfare workers, and other high-achieving helpers toward sustainable healing through therapy, training, coaching, and clinical consultation. Since 2024, she has partnered with the Bissell Pet Foundation to provide compassion fatigue and burnout trainings to frontline animal welfare professionals. Her company includes a virtual group therapy practice, The Wonder Well community for ongoing burnout support and peer connection, and both in-person and digital trainings focused on emotional sustainability. Tiffany’s work weaves together clinical expertise, lived experience, and a soulful, slow-living framework to help helpers reconnect with their purpose, regulate their nervous systems, and build meaningful, burnout-resistant lives. Leath holds a bachelor's degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and a Master’s Degree in Veterinary Forensic Science from the University of Florida. He is a Courtesy Assistant Professor for the University Of Florida’s College Of Veterinary Medicine. Leath has sat on the Board of Directors for the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), and the Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association (FAPAA). He is a Past President of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association (IVFSA). He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Animal Forensic Sciences. Leath is a Certified National Animal Cruelty Investigator through the University of Missouri and has been certified in Equine Cruelty Investigation through the University of Colorado. Leath has been qualified as an expert witness in animal fighting and animal cruelty in the states of Florida and New York.
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