8:30-10:30

Compassion Fatigue is a common issue among ACOs and its relation to PTSD and burnout are well known.  This session will help you learn what to do if you or a co-worker is expressing these symptoms.  Additionally, the unique responsibility that those in supervisory and management positions have will be discussed as well as the roles they should play to help their co-workers who are struggling with these issues. Since recognizing the signs and symptoms is just the start of addressing it properly, this class will also help attendees learn resilience to compassion fatigue and help them build mental and emotional wellness so that they know how to better manage their struggle with mental health while also becoming a resource for others in the animal welfare profession.

Becca Boronat, MV, CAWA, is a passionate multilingual shelter veterinarian. After 6 impactful years in a shelter outreach program of the Charleston Animal Society, she joined Best Friends Animal Society as a Veterinarian with the National Shelter Medicine program in June 2023. She has served as board member of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians since January 2023. Throughout over 20 years of experience and an international career, Becca has remained steadfast in her mission to elevate the quality of care and lifesaving efforts within animal shelters. She is driven by the unwavering belief that every animal deserves access to the five domains of animal welfare and a fulfilling life. By employing data-driven approaches and fostering a solution-oriented mindset, Becca continually develops evidence-based protocols and implements effective strategies, aiming to promote sustainable lifesaving practices nationwide. In addition to her shelter medicine and operations background, Becca holds certifications as an animal control officer, animal cruelty investigator, and animal welfare administrator.

Nick Walton is the senior manager of national shelter support for Best Friends Animal Society, providing leadership and training for strategic shelter partners across the country. Through Best Friends’ municipal and shelter support program, Nick conducts professional shelter operations and field assessments, and leads progressive, humane trainings for animal control agencies and officers. Prior to joining Best Friends and serving as the behavior and training coordinator for the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Atlanta, Nick was an animal control officer and cruelty investigator for Fulton County Animal Services through LifeLine Animal Project. Through this work, he served as Fulton County’s primary field training officer, providing professional training and development to new officers and cultivating a community-oriented approach to animal services in order to help Atlanta become a no-kill city.  Nick’s many years of experience as a dog trainer and behavior specialist combined with his commitment to keeping pets safe at home through proactive neighborhood engagement have resulted in a deep expertise in and love for community-based lifesaving. Once known around town as “the Dog Food Man,” he has a reputation for building trust and key relationships with lasting positive effects for both pets and people. 

Decoding Animal Shelter Operations: A Candid Dialogue on Shelter Practices

This session will be a deep dive into the beating heart of animal shelter operations. We're igniting a conversation aimed at empowering animal control agencies to navigate the complex landscape of shelter practices and policies with confidence and clarity. This is a unique opportunity to gain invaluable insights from a shelter veterinarian and an animal control expert, as we tackle the burning questions that often surface when new policies are proposed or implemented, directly impacting fieldwork.
From the frontlines to the operating table, we'll explore:
· Unraveling the Anatomy of Shelter Operations: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricate workings of animal shelters, from impound decisions, intake protocols to adoption strategies.
· Bridging the Gap: Forge meaningful connections between shelter policies and their real-world implications for animal control officers in the field.
· Establishing a Unified Mission and Vision: Creating a cross departmental cooperation, sustained by common knowledge and effectively silos break down, foster unity, enhance insight into workflow dynamics across all areas.
· Charting a Course for Health and Wellness: Discover best practices for promoting the physical and mental well-being of shelter animals amidst evolving policies.
· Harnessing the Power of Knowledge: Equip yourself with the tools and insights needed to make informed decisions that prioritize the welfare of animals and the efficacy of shelter operations.
This session promises to be a transformative experience, with candid conversations, challenging assumptions, and emerge with a renewed sense of purpose in the noble endeavor of sheltering operations and animal care.

Examining Animal Cruelty & Neglect

Animal Cruelty and Neglect can come in all shapes and sizes. Laws can differ in your county, city and state. Case examples and outcomes will be shared to provide the attendees with ideas and skills to use in their investigations. We will examine and discuss your state laws to help better understand how to prove your case beyond reasonable doubt.

Recent Trends in Federal Law, Wildlife Law and Animal Law - from federal to state!

Laws are the tools that help animal welfare personnel make a difference. Laws dictate what can and can't be done and knowing what they say and how to use them is a vital skill every ACO must have.  This class will go over some of the laws that currently exist, what new legislation is being proposed, and what changes in local laws can help make your community more animal-friendly.

How to gain/obtain compliance

This presentation will explain how to gain compliance without returning several time to the same complaint. "My way or My way, but you have choice!"

Texas' Homeless Pet Problem: the state of things, how we got here, and how we get out of it.

Texas has one of the largest population of homeless animals in the country.  The reasons for this are as varied as the state itself.  By looking at actual studies and statistics, a better understanding of the problem can be obtained and this knowledge can be used to allocate resources and develop programs that can help improve animals' lives.

Scrap the Traps

Offering economical and effective alternatives to the outdated practice of trapping and
relocating. This class shows us why trapping and relocating is not humane, is not
effective and is costly. It offers solutions for different wildlife species and teaches us
how to think in a cost efficient, effective, and humane way while protecting our homes
and our yards from invasion. 

Driving the Struggle Bus

This class will cover some of the unique issues and problems that small town/county agencies and also one man/woman operations face.  It will also touch on some compassion fatigue and burnout.  You may not have any co-workers that you interact with on a daily basis, but this class will help you see that you aren't alone and give tips and tricks that are geared towards smaller agencies but are useful for any size operation.

Using Technology to Maximize Return to Owner Programs

Returning lost pets to their rightful owners is one of the most basic responsibilities of all animal control programs.  Unfortunately, many don't know about available programs, apps, and websites that can help get animals back to their families quickly and efficiently.  This class will discuss how technology can help get more animals back home with less effort, and even better, it will discuss where you can get grants to help pay for these programs!

Servals, and Tegus, and BEARS, OH MY!

This is an introductory course that includes basic care of exotics kept as a part of the exotic pet trade. As the exotic pet trade continues to boom across the US, to the point of $15 Billion a year, more and more calls are being received for exotics.
When rescues/animal control receive a call, what do you do? What supplies will you need? Who do you call? How do you know that the animal will end up in the right hands and not continue to be neglected and abused and/or sold back into the exotic pet trade or become a “mill animal”. You will receive resources for basic husbandry, and the people to call, when you receive a call.

Beyond the Call of Duty: Promoting Resilience and Retention in Animal Welfare

In this presentation, we delve into the crucial aspects of promoting resilience and fostering retention within the realm of animal welfare. Acknowledging the demanding nature of the work and the inherent challenges faced by staff, volunteers, and caregivers, we explore actionable strategies and innovative approaches aimed at cultivating a culture of resilience and commitment. Through compelling anecdotes, evidence-based insights, and practical tips, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to turnover and burnout in animal welfare organizations. Moreover, they will discover effective methods for nurturing staff well-being, enhancing job satisfaction, and bolstering retention rates. Join us as we embark on a journey to empower individuals and organizations to go beyond the call of duty, creating a supportive environment where compassion thrives, and dedication endures.

2013 - 2018
Special Investigator, Dallas County District Attorney Animal Cruelty Unit ·

2011 - 2021
Reserve Patrol Deputy Sheriff, Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office

Officer Safety

ACOs face many of the same threats and dangers that other first responders do, but seldom receive even a portion of the training in situational awareness that peace officers get.  While everyone knows the dangers that come with trying to impound aggressive animals, the people we deal with are often the biggest threats to personal safety.  This class will help you see the risks and evaluate situations in a way that will make sure you are always answering every call as safely as possible.

Ethics in Animal Welfare

When it comes to dealing with animal issues, there's never any shortage of opinions on how things are handled. Every decision is scrutinized and critiqued by people who have strong emotions but often lack an understanding of the total situation. Having a strong set of personal and organizational ethics can help navigate the often emotionally challenging world of animal welfare.  This class will utilize actual animal-related ethical dilemmas to challenge attendees’ views and perceptions while helping them understand that there often is no one right answer.

Rural Lifesaving 101

Our sector has seen significant turnover and many of our staff and leaders had little, if any, prior experience in animal welfare. This presentation will include a brief history lesson for context and introduce current best practice concepts such as open adoptions, pathway management, return-to-home, disease control, and community engagement. These will be high-level reviews of the concepts, but links and additional resources for each will be provided. The idea is to help set a baseline of knowledge enable all attendees to better engage with each other and the rest of the conference. While there will be some focus on rural issues, attendees from all areas may benefit from the class.

 9:00-10:30

Testicle Talk: Customer Service in the animal space

Customer Service training in Animal Welfare has often been an afterthought. Seldom do we see curriculum on this topic at most conferences and when we do, it's nothing new. We all assume everyone knows how to be nice, but it's not about being nice, it's about being effective in our communication with one another, volunteers, customers, and anyone else we encounter through the course of our work. It's about legitimizing the feelings of others, finding words that impact the psyche and leave the other person feeling cared for, even when our answer might be no. This session will inspire attendees to really evaluate the training given to all staff/volunteers that interact with others. Often, we presume customer service is something our parents should have taught us, but that is not always the case. This session will be unique in that we will walk through conversations that we have routinely, but often fall short in doing so. This session is intended to provoke conversation, thoughts, and action.

Making Sense of Texas Wildlife Laws

Possession of various wildlife species in Texas is regulated by the Texas State Administrative Code, County and Municipal regulations, and Federal laws. These laws, regulations, and administrative rules can be confusing and, in some cases, may be in conflict with one or more other governing bodies. Recent updates and revisions to the administrative code include reporting requirements for Animal Control agencies as well as changes to the permitting process for wildlife rehabilitators and new guidance for veterinarians.
In order to understand the nuances of the various laws and regulations, and unravel potential conflicts to ensure that laws are correctly enforced, it is important to look at the historical development of these laws for context. Having established a contextual foundation, one can then look at specific elements of the laws, and identify and resolve conflicts between the various governing bodies.
Ultimately, the goal of this workshop is to enable participants to understand the current state and federal regulations governing wildlife care, transportation, and possession. Armed with this information, shelter personnel will be able to make appropriate decisions when presented with wildlife issues.
Agenda:
1. Introduction
2. Overview of wildlife law development in the US and Texas
3. Texas administrative code
4. Species and activities requiring permits
5. What about threatened and endangered species?
6. Federal restrictions
7. Hoarding, cruelty, and jurisdiction
8. Case Studies