We are very pleased to announce that Susan Taney, Co-founder of Lost Dogs of America and Rob Goddard, President and Founder of Helping Lost Pets (HeLP) will be speaking at the 2015 Best Friends National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, July 16 – 19.
Every year the Best Friends National Conference brings together leaders of the no-kill movement, experts in animal care and behavior, animal welfare professionals, rescue groups, and volunteers, so that together, we can do even more to save the lives of homeless pets.
The presentation entitled The Way Back Home: Reuniting Pets with Their People will be part of the “Components of a No Kill Community” track, one of eight tracks that the conference is offering. Our 2015 conference presentation will include tips and ideas on how shelters can utilize our services and/or implement programs of their own to return more lost pets to their owners.
Every day, more than 9000 cats and dogs are killed in America’s shelters. Reuniting pets with their people is the most cost-effective way to increase a shelter’s live release rate. An estimated 40 – 60 percent of shelter animals are lost pets and by getting these pets back home, space is freed up for needier animals.
The partnership between Helping Lost Pets (HeLP) and Lost Dogs of America uses a centralized database to help pets get back to their owners. Using social media, and a free, easy-to-use, map-based website, we create flyers and alerts to help spread awareness and bring pets home. In 2014 alone, our sister sites helped reunite over 20,000 dogs with their owners. This saves lives, taxpayer dollars and increases goodwill and donations for the shelters participating in the program.
About the Speakers:
Susan Taney is the director and founder of Lost Dogs Illinois and co-founder of Lost Dogs of Wisconsin and Lost Dogs of America. These all-volunteer organizations use social media to reunite lost dogs with their families. They also provide education and outreach through microchip clinics, events and online resources.
Prior to her work with lost dogs, Susan volunteered for, worked at and managed animal shelters and rescue groups in both the Midwest and on the East Coast, including the Ozaukee Humane Society in Wisconsin and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA). Additionally, Susan co-founded BONES (Beagles of New England States), a beagle rescue group.
Currently, Susan lives outside of Chicago with her husband, Bill; their three dogs, Ricky, Ellie and Tippy; and their parrot, Bob.
Rob Goddard is the president and founder of HelpingLostPets.com. A software developer and animal lover, Rob has been helping to rescue pets for over 12 years. He was one of the co-founders of a rescue umbrella association called Helping Homeless Pets and has served as its president since its inception in 2007.
Researching how people were using the Internet to find their missing pets led Rob to the conclusion that a free, map-based, national lost-and-found pet registry would make a difference. He launched HelpingLostPets.com in 2010 and the website allows the public, shelters, veterinary clinics, rescue groups and volunteer groups to all share the same lost-pet listings.
Rob is also a dog trainer and lives in Markham, Ontario, in Canada with his wife, Linda, daughter, Jessica, and two mini dachshunds, Milo and Layla.
Rob and Susan hope that you attend their session and take the time to introduce yourself at their booth in the exhibitor hall.