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Presenter:  Dr. Courtney Graham, Assistant Professor, Ontario Veterinary College

Description: Foster volunteers are vital to kitten development and adoption success, yet their perspectives are rarely studied. With kitten intake numbers rising, retaining these volunteers is critical. This presentation shares findings from a survey of 487 kitten foster caretakers, revealing key insights into current care practices, adaptations for fearful kittens, resource needs, and motivations to foster. Attendees will learn how shelters can use these insights to better support fosters and improve behavioral care for kittens.

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2025 Research Forum keynote remarks from Dr. Emily Weiss, Applied Animal Behaviorist and Strategist. 

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Presenter: Dr. Hayley Hadden, DVM, Medical Director, Gigi’s

Description: Many rural shelters depend on transferring clinically healthy puppies to other organizations, but this can risk spreading canine parvovirus (CPV) during transport and intake. In response to rising CPV cases at one rural partner shelter, a deferred intake protocol was introduced to reduce transmission risk. This presentation will explore the details of the protocol and attendees will learn about the implementation process, key outcomes, and survival rates associated with the new approach.

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Presenters:  Dr. Jamirelis Carrero, DVM & Dr. Sara L Bennett, Clinical Assistant Professor of Veterinary Behavior, North Carolina State University

Description: A major welfare concern in animal shelters is excessive barking from kenneled dogs. This contributes to noise pollution, can cause hearing damage, and has a negative impact on all animals within earshot. This study demonstrated that by implementing a simple classical counterconditioning exercise, consisting of instructing all ward passers-through to toss treats to each dog regardless of behavior exhibited, could change the emotional state of dogs from negative to more positive, thus reducing fear and frustration that often leads to excessive barking.

Data analysis showed that implementation of this simple exercise did reduce barking at clinically relevant levels even with a changing shelter population. Additionally, for each percent increase in compliance rate, there was an average decrease of 17.3 dB in the maximum decibel reading. Moreover, an overall positive change in attitude from most dogs towards visitors further showed the positive effects of the study.

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Presenter:  Dr. Linda Jacobson, BVSc, PhD, Toronto Humane Society

Description: Current American Heartworm Society guidelines recommend a three-dose melarsomine protocol along with additional therapies, but could a two-dose approach be just as safe and effective for dogs with Class 1 or 2 heartworm disease? This presentation explores a simplified treatment protocol that, if validated, could reduce costs, resource demands, and the duration of treatment and exercise restriction while maintaining effectiveness.

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