No More Homeless Pets Conference - Win a free t-shirt!

Fuzzypaw, questions posted as comments to news stories tend to not be noticed, particularly if the news story is eight months old.

I recommend that you post your question to the No More Homeless Pets forum.

How can a public citizen make sure the employee's in the animal shelters are providing basic needs to the cats and dogs ? Unfortunately, even when supplies are donated, employees still will not do the right thing (and their job) and administer basic needs like canned wet food and blankets/towels for cats.

My neice is volunteering in Utah for 6 weeks for the Best Friends Network. Just recently with the sudden death of my sister, Melissa flew from Germany to be here. Then there is the heart of the matter getting Kujo and Bandit a new home and keeping them together. It's so important to keep them together they have been since puppies.They too are suffering the pain of my sisters death. Thanks to Best Friends network in Las Vegas and my niece and newphew they have been able to have the dogs adopted out and keep them together and all this has happened in the last 2 weeks. Thank you A Friend in need is a freind in deed,

After having to break up a group of elementary school kids trying to stone a mother duck and her flightless babies last month here in Vegas, it will be wonderful to be around people who care for & about animals. Can't wait for the trip to the sanctuary as well. Will feed the chipmunk colony over on Decatur even more til then ;)
Mike B

this is the sweetest pet is he for sale

lisadoglady,

There is also
Prison Pet Partnership Program
Puppies Behind Bars
Pups on Parole
Safe Harbor Prison Dogs

While I don't know if this will be on our agenda this time around, you might want to learn about Joan Dalton's Project Pooch at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Oregon. You can read about her program at www.pooch.org <http://www.pooch.org/>; . They run a workshop to show others how to start their own program that might be helpful.

Also, Best Friends Magazine did an article in their Jan/Feb 2008 issue about Canine Connections, a similar program at Echo Glen Children's Center, a
correctional facility in Snoqualmie, Washington. You can reach the founder of that program, Jo Simpson at simpsmj@dshs.wa.gov. Good luck!

Hi, I would love to see a "How to" workshop on how to start a training program which utilizes shelter dogs that need training and problem teens or prisoners. I have seen these programs offered but I have no idea how to even begin to start one. I am a volunteer at my local shelter and our supply of homeless dogs is far greater than the demand (most of our dogs are pits or pit mixes). They need a purpose!

I would like to see a seminar about filling out IRS form 990. I have filled it out a few times, but it would be nice to get some tips!

Thanks everyone, for such great ideas! All of them will be taken into consideration as we plan this exciting event.

The contest is now officially over. The animals are the true winners with all of you working on their behalf!

Congratulations to these lucky posters:
moonvine
sherylcatmom
cajunbiker
sjane
njanmlrsq3

You’ll be getting a Network mail to learn how to claim your prize!
Cathie Myers
No More Homeless Pets Outreach

I attended the NMHP conference in Las Vegas in 2003. It was excellent. I'd like to take a group to this conference so that they can learn and experiece what I did.
I'd also like to learn how to get more info about how to find out how many animals are being killed in my area, and how many Spay/Neuters are being performed.

I'd like to know how to use the Freedom of Information Act to extract data from secretive Animal Control agencies: What information to request, how to request it, how to force compliance if necessary, and what to do with it when it is divulged.

It would be great if this conference were an opportunity to gather together all of the smaller rescue efforts, official and seat-of-the-pants, going on here in Las Vegas, to share info, coordinate efforts, and support each other. What a difference we could make if we all worked together. As Danielle from adoptions said at the Super Adoptathon, it does not matter whose animals get adopted; what matters is that another pet has a home.

Great Ideas everyone!

One thing that I have always thought was extremely vital to the No More Homeless Pets cause, was to push for legislation making it mandatory for schools to teach a new course: "Love And Respect For Animals 101".

We teach our children math, science, english, but we do not teach them THE most important things of all:
1. Love: If we can teach our children (who are our future) that they should love and respect EVERY living soul, it would make a big difference. Love doesnt kill (and neither will adults who were taught this, as children). Love doesnt abandon (neither will adults who were taught NEVER to abandon their Pets, as children). Love doesnt discriminate (and neither will children who are taught this now , and thus that whole "Their life isnt precious, they are expendable" nonsense that much of society currently has towards animals, will be a thing of the past, and the act of killing healthy animals (euthanasia, I.E. Murder) itself will be euthanized. Love nurtures, and so will adults who were taught this, and who were nurtured themselves as children....... thus, not only will Pets not be homeless in the future, they will be treated better than ever, in general. Love is kind. And so will be the adults who were taught how to kindly treat animals. Love is patient. And so will be adults who were taught that just because a Cat or Dog pees on an irrelevant rug, doesnt mean that they deserve to be thrown outdoors, or into a kill "shelter". Accidents happen. Remember a golden rule of love: Love NEVER Abandons.
Love does what is best. And adults will do what is best for us all, by spaying and neutering their pets and keeping them indoors.
Love doesnt profit from the pain and suffering of others. And neither will adults, who will refuse to sell out and become "backyard breeders" or "animal pimps" who mass produce cats and dogs for their own selfish reasons ($). Love is the way. It is the light that will rescue us from the darkness of cruelty and death.
2. Respect: If we taught our children to respect EVERY living soul, regardless of speciesm race, religion, etc, what a fantastic future it will be!
You dont call for the murder of someone who you love and respect (unless you're Tony Soprano). Thus, loving, caring shelter operators will not call for the murder of innocent cats and dogs using the "population control" myth. Perhaps PETA, the HSUS, The ASPCA etc will all become loving and respecting of cats and dogs in the future....and STOP MURDERING THEM. (Remember, love doesnt kill).
Respect leads to intelligence: If we respect animals, we will look for NON-LETHAL ways to accomplish the mission of seeing to it that every cat or dog is safe and in a good, loving home. Instead of killing, this soul searching will instead lead to a creative solution rather than the destructive act of killing someone). This creative solution will offer:
1. Low cost Spay/Neuter Programs/Awareness Programs.
2. Vast Foster Care Programs that will save animals whom would otherwise have been killed in a "shelter".
3. A written, legal binding agreement by EVERY animal shelter, animal control facility, Veterinarian, breeder, etc that they will NOT kill a healthy cat or dog, or any cat or dog who isnt suffering and close to death. To do so will subject them to imprisonment and their licenses being permanently revoked.

We can go on and on.

But, in a nutshell, this is the bottom line: Children are the future. If we teach them NOW about "Love And Compassion For Animals 101", we will have an extremely bright future where No More Homeless Animals will not just be a goal, it will be a reality.This is not to say that we shoulnt do what we can as adults NOW to move the process forward. It just means that what we sow in our children today, animals will reap tomorrow.

Change the way that society views animals, and you change the way that animals are treated, since we treat someone by how we view them.(Whites were seen as the "higher beings" and reaped the rewards of their social standing, while Blacks were seen as the "lower beings" (sound familiar?) and were treated like slaves.)

Men were the "honorable" heart of the fmaily, while the woman (the "lesser sex") stayed in the kitchen, gave birth and helped the man while he "ran" the family operations.

Just like Blacks were treated wrongly and women were treated wrongly, animals are the modern day individuals who are treated wrongly, and just like we saw the light about Blacks, just like we saw the light about women, we will see the light about animals, and treat them as the beautiful living, breathing, feeling, loving, soul-filled children of God that they are. And once that happens, the way in which we treat our brothers and sisters in fur will change......and change for the better.

How about something like "Tips from the Trainers" on:
~Ways to help us to help those dogs who may be labeled as 'shy' or 'aggressive' due to the stress of being in a kennel show their true potential to visitors.
~Help our four legged companions make better choices for themselves.
~Or any tips on training techniques they can share!

This is an oldie but a goodie but - compassion fatigue, dealing with it, what is it.
Dealing with rescue politics and people who would keep us from our lifesaving mission.
Legal issues - how to find lawyers, how to make animal control understand the difference between hoarding and rescue.

Okay...hmmm..seems to be alot of good ideas already listed. Helping Municipalities and Rescue/Foster Groups change Pet Limit Laws so that Rescue/Foster groups can operate with out any legal issues and be exempt from current Pet Limit Laws.

I'd love to see public awareness continue to increase on the topic of puppy mills. I hope that this campaign will begin to encompass "backyard breeders" and ALL who are contributing to the pet overpopulation and euthansia rates.

I could use some help on presenting info and data to encourage the no-kill philosophy among people in position to change the system, but who are used to old ways and not readily willing to change.

There are communities that would like to create or improve their spay/neuter program or possibly become a no-kill community or just need fresh ideas to improve their programs but don't know what steps to take to begin their project. Some people do not have the internet skills to know how to research for the information to help them with their project. I would like to suggest creating documents that lists website links pertaining to topics such as, Successful Spay/Neuter Programs, Successful No-Kill Communities, Successful TNR Programs, Fundraising, Gathering Statistics, Advertising Your Shelter/Rescue, etc.

I would love to attend this! In order to better help homeless pets in my community, I would like to see the topic of more effective adoptions and adoption sites. For instance, we have one PetSmart in the area and about 20 different rescues all vying for attention there. Where are other legitimate places to hold adoptions where adoptable animals can be seen? It is all about getting the animals adopted to the right homes - and getting them properly seen by the public.
And what are effective ways to advertise adoptions? And what if several rescues got together for a BIG adoption event - ? That many more animals available for the public to potentially adopt.

Thanks!
Julie

I would like to see more interaction between the wildlife protection groups and feral cat advocates. It seems there is a lot of misunderstanding from both sides and if each could understand the other's point of view, perhaps a middle ground could be reached.

I'd like to see Pet Abusers recieve the same treatment they gave their "Beloved Pet"...but I don't think society/gov't would go for that one.

However, I do believe that every Rescue, Humane Society, Animal Control, SPCA should have internet access provided to them and that they ALL are required to post with a Pet Finder internet type of site, not just their own local website (that is too limited of an audience).

I believe potential pets are being overlooked and euthanized because the public doesn't know what's available and over look, what we consider, obvious adoption options. That is why I believe some people patronize the "Pet Stores" with the puppies from Puppy Mills.

I'd like to see basic advocacy training so anyone who wants to can leverage their power as a voter and resident of their city/county/state/country to help animals.

Possible topics:

►How to find & talk to legislators
►Getting involved in local government in an advisory capacity
►Running for local/regional political office
►How to raise awareness & support for animal issues among family, friends, colleagues, & community members
►Writing effective letters to the editor
►Writing and placing an Op Ed in the newspaper
►Many more, limited only by time & imagination!

How about how to successfully form coalitions between local animal welfare organizations in an effort to work together, instead of against one another?

I also really agree with Patty below. There are MANY people who love a particular breed of dog or cat, but buy instead of adopt, because they are unaware of breed specific rescues. How do you get the message out to the general public that such organizations exist?

I would love to learn how to effectively reach the general population of the community, about topics including spay/neuter, responsible pet care, adopting for shelters, and information about their local animal shelters, rescues, etc. And how to dispel the pervasive idea that animals in shelters are all mixed breed "strays" (nothing wrong with mixed breeds!), and that they are not high quality animals (hence, people buy animals from breeders.) I cannot tell you how many people I talk to who live in the community, have for years, and say they have "never heard of" or generally are unaware of rescue and adoption of animals in need. How do we do a better job of getting this information out to the public?
Patty Meehan
Network Volunteer
Louisiana Ambassador

I would like to see Las Vegas authorties enforcing rules to stop breeding and buying for at least five years. For existing pet shops; they can sell or adopt out homeless pets if they want to stay in business. Money can be made in selling food and supplies for the homeless pets.

Leslie Camp, Realtor

Well, this will come as no surprise to anyone; I'd like to learn more and more about spay/neuter programs! ;) Specifically, I'd like to know what to tell people who don't have any low cost spay/neuter options in their area.
Celeste Crimi
Network Member Support
Best Friends Animal Society