ADCH 2009: Join the conference in Dublin!

The annual Association of Dogs and Cats Homes conference is to take place in the Irish capital this year, thanks to the support of Dublin SPCA.

The event, held on the 22nd and 23rd of April at University College Dublin includes topics such as customer care, animal behaviour, the business of running a shelter and updates on animal welfare legislation. The full four-page program can be found here (pdf); the eagle-eyed will notice that Dogs Trust Chief Executive Clarissa Baldwin will chair proceedings.

Transport and travel should be easy enough from the UK, given regular cheap flight deals to the Republic of Ireland, and the delegate rate is just €50.00 per person. This covers full conference registration including the evening function on the 22nd April.

There's even a Facebook Event set up so that you can see who else is going and chat about what's happening before, during and after the conference.

Please pass on this information to anyone who might find it relevant!

ICAWC 2008: All I can say is "phew"

After a few hairy moments battling with the Internet connection (lifeblood to any blogger and my primary reason for being here... oh yes, apart from the minor matter of a presentation) we're online and ready to go!

We're expecting the first early delegates to show up at any moment, even though registration doesn't officially start until 11am. The earlier the better for those going on the first visit to a shelter, as it'll be busy busy all day with visits and workshops.

But I'm not going to repeat everything I've said here. I'm going to get on with enjoying the show and bringing supporters and anyone else whose interest is animal welfare all the news I can!

Heading to ICAWC: see you in Italy!

I've just been rushing around the living room discovering that no, I don't have a European adaptor but yes, I have remembered to pack my toothbrush. This year I'm lucky enough to be part of Dogs Trust's annual conference which sparks ongoing conversation with animal welfare workers around the world.

A chance for animal rescues small and large to share and learn from expertise and best practice, ICAWC (the International Companion Animal Welfare Conference) is being held in Italy this year, and that's where I'll be blogging from this week.

Although I'll be stopping by here as often as possible to make sure you're up to date with dog news, I'll be making my main home on the ICAWC blog where I'll be covering as many of the presentations and workshops as possible for those who could not make it to Stresa this year. So please do come and join me there if you've got any interest in animal welfare. There's also a social network where - delegate or not - you can communicate with those who share your focus on helping companion animals and even a wiki on which to display your knowledge, research or area of interest.

Areas covered this year include changing behaviour patterns, keeping supporters well-informed and happy, the Tellington Touch, education programmes, internet marketing on a low budget (that would be my topic!) and population dynamics - and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

I look forward to reporting it all for you, and maybe even meeting some of you there!