2020 Virtual Conference & Expo Agenda

Day 1 - Thursday, October 29, 2020

 Welcome and Announcements: 9:30 am - 10:00 am

Conference 10:00 am - 7:15 pm

Virtual Exhibit Hall Open: October 15 - 31, 2020

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9:30 - 10:00   Welcome and Announcements

10:00 - 10:55

Track 1: Everyone

Lessons Learned from COVID-19: Updates to Disaster Planning, Policy & Implementation

Presenter:      Venessa Sims, Emergency Management Director, Georgia Department of Agriculture  

                          Tracy Reis, Atlanta Humane Society   

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Track 2: Legal

Working With Reactive Dogs

Presenter:     Victoria Stilwell, VSPDT, APDT, Celebrity Dog Trainer and Behavior Expert, Trainer and reator of It’s Me or the

                        Dog (Animal Planet), Bestselling Author and Founder of Victoria Stilwell Positively, Inc. and the Victoria Stilwell                           Academy of Dog Training and Behavior

11:05 - 12:00   

KEYNOTE SPEAKER JANE VALEZ-MITCHELL:  

Jane Velez-Mitchell is a television and social media journalist and author. She is the founder of #JaneUnChained, a digital news network for animal rights and the vegan lifestyle which uses more than 60 volunteer contributors from around the world to showcase vegan festivals, animal rights conferences, organizations, vegan restaurants and cooking.    

12:00 - 12:30 LUNCH BREAK - Announcements and Raffle

12:30 - 1:25   

Track 1: Everyone

Spay/Neuter - Still Saving Lives  

Presenter:  Dr. Jeff Young, DVM, Owner of Planned Pethood Plus and Star of Animal Planet's Rocky Mountain Vet

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Track 2: Legal

Anatomy Of A Dog Fight And Lessons Learned

Presenter:  Doug Bridges, United States Department of Agriculture

1:35 - 2:15   

Track 1: Everyone

New Rules Affecting Government Animal Shelters and Much More  

Presenter:  Mark Murrah and Jason Smith, Department of Ag: Animal Protection and Equine Division 

Track 2: Legal

“Making Your Case” (Crime Scene - Including Multi-Animal Impound, Documentation)

Presenter:  Amy Soeldner, retired Atlanta Police Department

2:40 - 3:35  

Track 1: Everyone

No-Kill: The Controversy Continues  

Presenter:  Dr. Jeff Young, DVM, Owner of Planned Pethood Plus and Star of Animal Planet's Rocky Mountain Vet

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Track 2: Legal

Georgia’s Animal Cruelty Statute:  In-Depth Examination & Case Examples

Presenter:  Kimberly S. Schwartz, Senior Assistant District Attorney, Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit

3:45 - 4:40    

Track 1: Everyone

Zoonotic Disease:  How to Protect Yourself and Animals/Highlights on the Emerging Chaga's Disease Dubbed the "Heartworm of the New Millenium"/Vaccines in the Anti-Vaccine World:  Normal Responses vs. Bad Reactions; One Year vs. Three Year Rabies  

Presenter:  Dr. Jay Tischendorf, DVM, Specialist in zoonotic diseases

Track 2: Legal

Dog Bite Investigations and Case Scenarios

Presenter:  Jim Crosby, Dog Bite Expert 

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4:50 - 5:45   

Track 1: Everyone

Disinfection:  Don't Let Your Disinfection Miss Infection  

Presenter:  Dr. Jay Tischendorf, DVM, Specialist in zoonotic diseases, 

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Track 2: Everyone

Resource Development Strategies in the New Future for Non-Profits - Part 1 

Presenter:  Michelle Long, Owner NP Voice - Fund and Resource Strategies in the New Normal 

6:00- 6:55     

Track 1: Everyone

Resource Development Strategies in the New Future for Non-Profits - Part 2  

Presenter:  Michelle Long, Owner NP Voice - Fund and Resource Strategies in the New Normal

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Track 2: Legal

Improving Public Safety By Stopping Animal Cruelty: The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence in a Post Covid World

Presenter:   Phil Arkow, National Link Coalition - the National Resource Center on "The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence.

7:00 - 7:15  CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RAFFLE    

Adjourn – THANK YOU and see you tomorrow morning!

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Day 2 - Friday, October 30, 2020

 Welcome and Announcements: 9:30 am - 10:00 am

Conference 10:00 am - 7:15 pm

Virtual Exhibit Hall Open: October 15 - 31, 2020

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9:30 - 10:00   Welcome and Announcements

10:00 - 10:55

Track 1: Everyone

Emergency Protocols and Disaster  

Presenter:     Patricia Montgomery, Chief Executive Officer, PAWS Humane, Columbus, GA   

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Track 2: Legal

Connections Between Animals and Human Trafficking - What the Dark Web Has To Do With Animals

Presenter:     M. Jenny Edwards, Criminologist, Subject Matter Expert - Animal Sexual Abuse and Exploitation 

11:05 - 12:00  

KEYNOTE SPEAKER DR. JAY TICHENDORF, DVM - When the COVID-19 Coast Clears, Impacts on the Human Animal Bond, Veterinarians, and the Animals…and Moving Toward the "One Health Movement"  

Dr. Tischendorf holds a BS degreein Zoology from Ohio University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (DVM) degree from Colorado State University.  Dr. Tichendorf specializes emerging and zoonotic disease, anesthesiology, dermatology, and animal cruelty forensics and investigations.  

12:00 - 12:30 LUNCH BREAK - Announcements and Raffle

12:30 - 1:25   

Track 1: Everyone

Barn Fire Presentation 

Presenter:  Paula Sewell, Georgia Department of Agriculture

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Track 2: Legal

Community Interventions to Reduce Neglect and Abuse

Presenter:      Lisa Milot, Associate Professor, UGA School of  Law and 

                          Shana Knight, Director of Madison -Olgethorpe Animal Shelter

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1:35 - 2:15   

Track 1: Everyone

Starting a Sanctuary - Rules, Regs and Things You Need To Know 

Presenter:  Carol Buckley, Founder, Elephant Aid International

Track 2: Legal

Seizure to Getting a Conviction

Presenter:  Michelle Welch, Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Virginia Attorney General's Office

2:40 - 3:35  

Track 1: Everyone

The Need for Rescues and Non-Profits to Learn Digital Marketing and Digital Funding 

Presenter:  Vito Maria, Founder and Owner, The Maria Group

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Track 2: Legal

Animal Control Officer Fundamentals

Presenter:  Doug Eddins, Executive Director, American animal Cruelty Investigations School

3:45 - 4:40    

Track 1: Everyone

Inside the Courtroom on Animal Cases

What all professionals should know about the court systems, which courts do what, the difference between rules violations vs. criminal violations, preparing for court, what to expect inside the courtroom, courtroom decorum, success in the courtroom and tips.

Presenter:  Jill Hollander, Chief Senior ADA, Fulton County District Attorney​

Track 2: Everyone

Snakes & Reptiles:  What professionals need to know about catching, caring, recognizing neglect, recording & reporting neglect, info & myths on types of snake bites & how bites affect dogs, cats and horses.

Presenter:  Jason Clark, Snake Expert, Founder of Southeastern Reptile Resuce​   

4:50 - 5:45   

Track 1: Everyone
Dangerous Dog Cases - Law, Charging, Prosecution and Practical Aspects

Presenter:      Claudine Wilkins, Animal Law Expert, Founder The Animal Protection Society, Animal Law Source

                          and APAW Academy

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Track 2: Legal

What Professionals Should Know When Service Animals Are Involved In A Complaint 

Presenter:      William Goren, Attorney and Service Animal Law Expert  

6:00- 6:55     

Track 1: Everyone

A Dog's First Year's Strategy for Training Success with Puppies and Adolescent Dogs

A dog’s first year is the most critical time in their lives to prevent behavioral issues like fear, aggression, and separation anxiety, and it’s a time that dogs are especially sensitive but are also especially open to learning. 

In this presentation, we’ll focus on effective strategies for training and socializing puppies (and how to do both despite COVID), dealing with common puppy problems, and how to set up new puppy parents for success. 

We’ll also be covering an often-overlooked topic: adolescence. This is an age in which dogs are often returned or rehomed due to behavioral challenges that are unique to this developmental period, but with the right guidance, we can better support people through this trying phase and keep dogs in their homes.

Providing the most up-to-date behavioral information relevant to all sectors of the animal welfare world, this presentation is designed to provide effective training and behavior solutions for puppies and adolescent dogs of all breeds and backgrounds. 

Presenter:   Alex Sessa, CPDT-KA, CDBC, VSPDT is the owner and head trainer at Peach on a Leash Dog Training.

                        She is a CCPDT Certified Professional Dog Trainer and an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant,

                        and has been training dogs professionally for over ten years.  

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Track 2: Legal

Cross-Reporting and Animal Cruelty

Presenter: Jamie Contreras, Senior Staff Attorney - Animal Legal Defense Fund

7:00 - 7:15  CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RAFFLE    

Adjourn – THANK YOU and we hope to see you at our next event!!

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WAIT THAT'S NOT ALL! WE HAVE SUCH AMAZING SPEAKERS, WE'VE GOT MORE...

BONUS CLASSES!

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BONUS 1: Everyone

Successful Prison Dog Programs

Presenter:  Susan Jacob-Meadows, Founder and Executive Director of Canine CellMates

                     and a special guest success story

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BONUS 2: Legal

Multi-Animal Impounding

Presenter:  Michelle Welch, Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Virginia Attorney General's Office, VA

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BONUS 3: Everyone

Enabling Both Animal and Ecosystem Welfare: Build Active Local Community Support and Get In-Court Standing. Understanding the Positive Link Between Animal and Ecosystem Welfare

Presenter:  Mark Grace, President Beyondvia Technologies, Author of eight books on how to build experidigms

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BONUS 4: Legal

Legislative Update

Presenter:  Andy Lord

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BONUS 5: Everyone

Mercy Kennels: The Documentary

Presenter:  Tracy Bishop, Hood Puppy Productions 

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BONUS 6: Everyone

Sustainability and Ecosystems Involving Humans and Animals  

Presenter:  Dr. Raj Pandya ​

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BONUS 7: Everyone

Wildlife Animal Cruelty

Presenter:  TBA Animal Legal Defense Fund

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BONUS 8: Everyone

Grant Writing - The Ins and Outs

Presenter:  Michelle Long, 

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