8:30-10:30

This job isn’t for the faint of heart—or the thin-skinned. Between the emotional rollercoaster, long hours, and unpredictable calls, it's no wonder burnout is high in animal control. This course is designed to help officers build real-world resiliency so they can stick with the work they care about without burning out in the process. We’ll cover practical strategies for managing stress, bouncing back from tough days, and finding some humor in the chaos. Packed with relatable stories, science-backed tips, and a few laughs along the way, this class is about more than surviving—it’s about staying strong, staying sane, and staying in the game.

Daniel Ettinger began his journey in animal welfare began in 2009 as a volunteer at a wolf sanctuary and animal shelter. Now, he serves as the Field Services Manager in one of the largest Animal Control agencies in the country. He is driven by his mission to protect both people and animals. With years of experience as a humane investigator, Daniel has handled numerous investigations, including bite incidents and cases of cruelty and neglect, earning him recognition as an expert witness.
Daniel Ettinger is the CEO of Keep it Humane, a company committed to training, consulting, and SMART (Saving More Animals Responsibly Together). He is also the host of the Keep it Humane: The Podcast, which serves animal control officers and welfare professionals. As an adjunct instructor at the University of Missouri's Law Enforcement Training Institute, Daniel educates law enforcement professionals and veterinarians about the link between animal cruelty and domestic violence. He develops and delivers training programs designed to raise awareness of this connection and equip professionals with the necessary tools to address it effectively.
Recognized internationally, Daniel is a sought-after public speaker, challenging stereotypes in the animal welfare field. Through his innovative talks he advocates for proactive and compassionate approaches to animal control, reshaping perceptions and fostering positive change.

Exploring Domestic Violence and Bites

This class is an enlightening exploration of the often overlooked connection between domestic violence (DV) and dog bites. Research has firmly established a compelling link between DV and animal abuse, shining a light on the intricate dynamics within abusive households. However, recent studies have revealed another crucial aspect: the correlation between DV and dog bites.
Dogs, being sensitive creatures, can display behavioral responses to abuse in their surroundings. Residing in abusive environments or experiencing mistreatment themselves, dogs may show increased aggression, heightening the risk of biting. Moreover, dogs often perceive threats to their human companions and may instinctively defend victims of DV, potentially resulting in bites directed at the abuser. Conversely, perpetrators of DV may exploit their canine companions as tools of intimidation or direct aggression towards their victims. By using their dogs as weapons, abusers not only maintain control over their victims but also pose a significant risk of physical harm through bites.  In this exploration, we will analyze the intricate relationship between domestic violence and dog bites, examining case studies, psychological insights, and preventive strategies. Join us as we shed light on this critical intersection and strive to create safer environments for both humans and their animal companions.

Disaster Sheltering: Purposeful Planning to help Pets and People

When it comes to emergency animal sheltering, it’s never a matter of “if ever we have to” but “when.” Too few animal shelters have formalized disaster sheltering plans, much less a community framework to coordinate wide scale emergency response and housing. Taking lessons from a comprehensive 18-month process San Antonio’s emergency managers recently completed, this workshop will delve into everything from pertinent protocols and partnerships to the real (legal) way to identify a service animal--and why that MUST be addressed in planning. Attendees will walk away with a template to create a universally accessible disaster sheltering plan that not only supports a unified animal welfare response but also keeps their shelter on the right side of federal law.

Fighting Words, Fists, and Teeth - An Assessment of Occupational Risk Reporting

Animal control as an industry is exposed to a variety of occupational hazards, from verbal to physical to animal assault. Studies of police officers' and even fire fighters' injuries are well-versed, detailed, and advanced. Animal control is lacking a formal reporting system, with injuries and incidents of assaultive nature often going underrepresented. I've been working to gather data over the past few months regarding recent trends in media response and reporting of animal control officer injuries throughout the US. Additionally, next step analysis and how to begin working towards inclusion in fitness programs can be discussed.

Shelter Safety

This class is a comprehensive approach to a safe environment inside and outside shelter facilities. Fundamental guidelines for the following will be discussed: (SOP) Standard Operation Procedures revision, Supervisor training, safety areas and equipment, walkthrough assessments to check existing procedures, protocols, and safety measures toward Biosecurity and more.

Thinking Outside the Kennel: How to Maximize Your Life Saving Impact

With kennel space and foster homes at a premium, shelters and rescues alike need to once again explore alternative ways to get their pets seen and adopted. By partnering with Petco, we can help with both. Organizations have the ability to house cats in the on-site habitats and have the flexibility in scheduling adoption events at Petco Pet Care Centers. With Petco Love, our grant awards are paid out based on the number of adoptions at our Petco locations. We will also provide our approved animal welfare partners an Adoption Support Benefit page to support every adopter, not just adopters at Petco, to set their journey up for success. During this session, attendees will learn how to become an adoption partner and how to get the most out of their adoption partnership with Petco. By partnering with Petco, you save not only one life, but two!

Engagement vs Enforcement

This session addresses a powerful trend: getting your community engaged with animal welfare. Where the traditional enforcement approach focuses on imposing rules and regulations to ensure compliance, communities understandably tend to resist and disengage. In contrast, the engagement approach brings communities together by emphasizing relationships, empowering individuals, and fostering collaboration to achieve desired outcomes. This shift in mindset and strategy can create more sustainable and positive impacts, as it encourages active participation, ownership, and mutual respect among everyone involved.

Building & Managing a Thriving Municipal Volunteer Program: Prioritizing Safety, Retention, & Impact

• Understanding the demographics of your volunteers
• Transforming former and current volunteers into program champions
• Revamping regulars: keeping them engaged, informed, and supportive of change
• Creating multi-generational, inclusive training programs tailored to different learning styles

• Using past adoption and shelter data to identify and target potential volunteers
• Collecting information at various touchpoints (adoption events, shelter visitors, social media)
• Craft messages and outreach for different volunteer segments

• Online vs. in-person training: blended learning models and free resources
• Developing a volunteer handbook that reflects program expectations and Fear Free handling
• How tiered training aligns with behavior-based roles and growth opportunities

• Starting volunteers with the right tasks to build confidence and safety
• Designing an intentional progression of skills to increase retention
• Using volunteer time wisely and respectfully stewarding training

• The different types of training (initial, refresher, behavior-based)
• Follow-up, mentorship, and ongoing support for long-term success
• Knowing when to let volunteers take ownership while maintaining check-ins and communication

• Keeping both volunteers and staff invested in the program
• Creating unique, engaging opportunities to maintain enthusiasm
• Strategies to distribute responsibility, reward contributions, and communicate effectively
• Tracking Success & Sustainability:
• Retention, impact, and data tracking – what to measure and how
• Appreciating volunteers daily and through larger recognition efforts
• Getting staff on board as advocates and ensuring internal alignment for consistency

The Wildlife Conversation: How to Change Minds and Save Lives

This course equips attendees with effective strategies for public outreach and communication around wildlife encounters. Through real-world scenarios, students will learn how to guide community members in distinguishing when wild animals truly need assistance and when well-meaning human intervention may cause more harm than good. The course places special emphasis on addressing the prevalence of inhumane pest control practices and provides tools for respectfully educating others about the risks they pose and ethical, wildlife-friendly alternatives. By combining lectures, role-playing, and group discussions, participants will build the confidence and skills to engage the public with clarity, compassion, and credibility—fostering coexistence and promoting responsible wildlife stewardship.

First Responders for Pets: The Critical Role of Animal Control Officers in Lifesaving and Community Engagement

Animal Control Officers are not only enforcers of public safety—they are frontline ambassadors for animal welfare and often the public’s first interaction with the sheltering system. This session highlights the unparalleled opportunity officers have to influence outcomes for pets and their families, simply by how they engage in the field.
We’ll dive into the multifaceted nature of the officer’s role, with a particular emphasis on strategies for reuniting lost pets with their owners directly in the field—before those animals ever enter a shelter. From microchip scanning to community canvassing and tech-enabled reunification tools, officers are uniquely positioned to drive Return-to-Home (RTH) success rates.
The session will also unpack best practices in community engagement, aiming to reframe public perception of field services as proactive, compassionate, and community-centered. Whether you're new to the profession or a seasoned veteran, you'll gain practical tools to improve public trust, increase lifesaving, and reduce shelter intake.
Shelter staff and leadership are also encouraged to attend, as the session will explore how effective field operations support broader organizational goals—including budget efficiencies, decreased length of stay, and more robust community partnerships.
Key Takeaways:

• High-impact RTH field tactics that reduce shelter intake
• Community engagement strategies that elevate the role of officers
• Cross-functional collaboration between officers and shelter staff
• Budgetary and operational benefits of field-first reunification
• Ways to shift the public narrative around animal control

Showing You Know What You Know – Effective Communication & Decision-Making for Animal Control Officers"

Animal Control Officers (ACOs) are often the first point of contact in various situations, from public safety concerns to animal welfare issues. How an officer communicates and responds can impact public trust, legal outcomes, and the welfare of both animals and people. This class will focus on how to demonstrate expertise through effective listening, information collection, and professional responses.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this training, participants will:

• Understand the importance of active listening and how it affects public interactions.
• Learn how to gather accurate and relevant information during a call.
• Develop strategies to communicate confidently and accurately without overpromising or misleading.
• Recognize when it’s time to escalate a situation and call a supervisor.
• Avoid the pitfalls of "BS-ing" through a call and instead build credibility through honesty and knowledge.

 9:00-10:30

Legislative Update: Understanding the Changes and the Process

Every two years, Texas lawmakers convene to discuss thousands of bills, only a small percentage of which will actually become law.  Knowing how this process works and what is required to change the law is vital for those who are tasked with enforcing them.  This session will answer all your questions about how legislation is passed, give a comprehensive overview of the laws that were changed in the last session, and provide information on bills that are likely to be filed in future sessions.  

The Power of Peer Support in Animal Welfare
The emotional toll of animal welfare work is unique, often leading to burnout and compassion fatigue. This session explores the transformative role of peer support as a best practice for helping professionals. Attendees will learn what peer support is (and isn’t), how it can be applied in one-on-one, group, or online settings, and its role in helping staff navigate critical incidents and daily workplace stressors. With insights into Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, organizational strategies, and real-world examples from the field, this course highlights how peer support can build resilience, reduce stigma, and create a culture of wellness in animal welfare organizations.