2026 Indiana Animal Welfare Conference
April 17-18, 2026
Registration Open Now!
All are welcome! The Conference brings together animal welfare professionals & volunteers, rescue and community cat organizations, veterinary professionals, and animal control officers. If you are new to animal welfare, there’s a seat at the table for you!
This year’s conference features three dedicated learning tracks, designed to meet you where you are:
- Shelter & Rescue Operations
- Leadership & Strategic Planning
- Veterinary & Shelter Medicine (5 CE Credits for attending veterinarians & veterinarian technicians)
This year, we’re excited to add something brand new: a Friday night networking reception featuring the inaugural “Pawflix” Awards—a fun, celebratory evening recognizing the stories, creativity, and impact happening in animal welfare. It’s the perfect way to kick off the weekend and connect with fellow attendees.
Last year saw a record-setting, sell out crowd – don’t wait to register!
Pricing Schedule:
Now – March 31: General Admission – $75
April 1 – April 17 (if available): – $90
Now Accepting Scholarship Applications
Partner Hotels
We’ve secured discounted room blocks to make attending easy and affordable. Reserve your room using the group links provided before March 18 to access special rates.
- Home2 Suites by Hilton
5215 Noggle Way Indianapolis, Indiana 46237 USA
Book here for our group rate! Towneplace Suites Indianapolis Downtown
629 Russell Ave, Indianapolis IN 46225
Book here for our group rate!
The 2025 Indiana Animal Welfare Conference was a SOLD OUT crowd!
The 2025 Indiana Animal Welfare Conference saw over 425 animal advocates, volunteers, rescues, shelters, animal control officers, and veterinary professionals come together for a day filled with learning, networking, and working together to make a difference. We’re thrilled to grow on this success in 2026!
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors
2025 Conference Resources and Takeaways
Videos: The Indiana Animal Conference is an in-person event to promote networking! If you missed the conference, we do have some recordings available on this YouTube playlist.
Morning Group Session Presentations
- Update from Pet Friendly Services of Indiana – Cheri Storms, Executive Director
- How to Bring Public Vet to Your Community – Sandi Petee, Public Vet
- How to Bring Four Directions Vet to Your Community (NE Indiana) – Drs. Gamble & Bobo
- Avian Influenza’s Impact to Cats – Dr. Lovejoy, Board of Animal Health (BOAH)
- Networking via Facebook Groups – Janet Showley, Pet Friendly Services
Presentation
Concurrent Sessions
- Community Cat Complaint Mitigation – Angela Hollinshead, Director, Kent Co. Animal Services, Grand Rapids, MI
- More Than Just a Number: Exploring the Overall Impact of Capacity for Care – Emily Curry, Purdue University Shelter Medicine
- From Hello to Hero: Nurturing Volunteers Every Step of the Way – Dani Wagner, Volunteer Programs Manager, Humane Fort Wayne
- Grant Writing – Dwana Back-Lamberson, GPC, Pet Friendly Services Board Member
- Physical and Mental Health in Animal Welfare – Dr. Peavy, Public Vet
- Quick Wins- Easy Steps for BIG Impact (simple solutions to chronic problems in shelters) Cameron Moore, Univ Florida, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program
- HASS Field Services Toolkit –Elkie Wills, Maddie’s Director of Human Animal Support Services & Angela Hollinshead, Director, Kent Co. Animal Services, Grand Rapids, MI
- Limited Admission Strategies vs. Public Health – Amy-Jo Sites, Director, Fort Wayne Animal Control & Rebecca Stevens, CFRM, President & CEO, Humane Society Hamilton County
- Testing, Treatment, and Compassionate Care for FeLV+ Cats in 2025 – Monica Tarant, Chief Innovation Officer, Give Them Ten
- The Best Outcome for Every Cat: Implementing the Cat Superhighway – Cameron Moore, Univ Florida, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program
- “Take a Minute”: Applying Low-Stress Handling for Animals and the People Who Care for Them – Kelsey Guenther, RVT, Executive Board Member of Indiana Veterinary Technician Association (IVTA)
- Declawing and Its Effects on Cats in Shelters – Jessica Snyder, Purdue University, Director Paw Project – Indiana
- Balancing Compassion and Compliance in the Field – Melissa Miller, Director of St. Clair County Animal Control, Michigan
- Fundraising 101 – Rebecca Stevens, CFRM, President & CEO, Humane Society for Hamilton County
- Ruff Day? Recognizing, Understanding, and Reducing Stress in Dogs – JoAnna Rogowski, M.S., KPA CTP, Veterinary Behavior of Indiana, The Dog Analys
- Handling Emergencies in the Shelter and in the Field: A First Responder Approach – Amber Curry, RVT, Pet CPR+ Instructor
- Marketing – Using AI to Simplify Your Life and Get More Done – Rhiannon Johns – Pet Friendly Services of Indiana
- Small but MIGHTY Shelters – Janet Showley, Programs & Outreach Manager, Pet Friendly Services of Indiana
2024 Conference Materials
Resources & Handouts
- 2024 Conference Take Away Page
- Introduction to Animal Welfare Guide
- Indiana/National Grant List for Rescue Partners
- Marketing 101 Tip Sheet – Hamilton Humane
- Start off on the Right Paw Dates & Times for 2024
- Home Scholarship Program – Indianapolis Animal Care Services
- Speaker’s List & Contact Information
Conference Slideshows
- Pet Friendly Services – Programs & Strategies – Cheri Storms
- Grant Writing – Dwana Back Lamberson
- The Power of Coalitions – Give Them Ten – Monica Tarant
- Engaging the Community to Meet the Needs of Animals – Katy Hudson
- Animal Welfare Investigations & The Role of BOAH – Dr. Macy & Dr. Lovejoy
- Fundraising & Marketing for Animal Shelters and Rescues of All Sizes – Rebecca Stevens
- Welfare-Focused Training Partnerships – Allie Kirby
- Dubois County Humane Society Spay and Neuter Clinic – Andrea Gramelspacher
- Health Risks to Animal Welfare Workers – Dr. Peavy
