Best Friends Animal Society National Conference 2017

The alarm clock blared.  Through blurry eyes, I read the time:  1:45 a.m.  It was time to begin our 14 hour journey.

My husband and I were heading to New Jersey to attend the Best Friends Animal Society National Conference.  I have always been passionate about animals and their welfare.  To be able to spend three whole days with others who share that passion is truly amazing.

With Polar Pops in hand, we hit the road!  The trip took us through the states of Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.  I loved getting to see gorgeous mountains looming against the night sky surrounded by stars.

I must admit that we were a bit overwhelmed when we reached Atlantic City.  We were not used to all of the lights, extremely tall buildings and valets on every corner.  Stepping into the Harrah’s hotel and casino was like walking onto a movie set.  Plush carpet gave way to luxurious marble floors.  Lights flashed continuously in the casino as music and game sound effects blasted forth.

A bellhop followed us to our room pushing our luggage on a golden cart.  The elevators required a room key card for activation.  The view from our room was breathtaking.  Skyscrapers gave way to the Jersey shore.  Seagulls lazily circled the rooftop below.

Our view of New Jersey!

After settling in, we decided to take a tour of the place that was to be our home for the next three nights.  We discovered numerous dining options, an incredible indoor pool complete with a DJ and multiple specialty shops, including a jewelry store!  There was also a cooking school, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa and a fitness center.  Talk about paradise!

The conference started bright and early at 7:30 a.m.  Did I mention that the New Jersey time zone is an hour ahead of our usual time?  Caffeine was a must!  After we nibbled on fresh fruit and bagels, we went to the opening session.

So excited for the first day!

Gregory Castle, the founder of Best Friends Animal Society, gave a truly empowering presentation.  He is leading the movement to make all animal shelters across the United States no-kill by 2025.  Several states have already put this policy into practice.  I am going to do everything that I can to make my home state of Illinois part of the no-kill solution.

I am proud to have signed the 2025 piece!

My husband and I made constant use of the conference app.  We could mark which sessions we wanted to attend, receive notifications, and share photos using the hashtag #BFNC.  The app also contained detailed maps so that we could easily find our way to the next event.

We attended four sessions on our first day.  Even though we were tired, we headed to the Exhibitor Hall to do some shopping.  I was beyond excited to see a BOBS by Sketchers booth!  Not only were they sponsoring the conference, but they also brought adorable dog and cat themed shoes to sell!  The best part?  Conference attendees received a 20% discount!  I bought three pairs.

BOBS was also hosting a scavenger hunt.  Cut outs of BOBS shoes were hidden all around the conference area.  If you found a shoe, you earned an entry into a drawing to win several prize packages.  I was lucky enough to find a shoe on the first day of the conference!  We had just finished reading the placard about the 2025 piece.  I turned around to say something to Matt and there was the shoe hiding behind the placard!

I found a shoe!

I also loved getting to speak with representatives from animal rescue groups and shelters across the country.  Some of my favorites included: Alley Cat Allies, My Pit Bull Is Family, and Wayside Waifs.  I picked up some awesome swag to proudly show my support for these amazing groups.

I am seriously loving all of my new shirts!

Aside from shopping, I gained a great deal of knowledge.  I learned about the Million Cat Challenge. Per their website, “The Million Cat Challenge is a shelter-based campaign to save the lives of one million cats in North America over the next five years. 

The core strategy of the campaign will focus on five key initiatives that offer every shelter, in every community, practical choices to reduce euthanasia and increase live outcomes for shelter cats.”  (http://www.millioncatchallenge.org/)

Hanging out with Frank the Feral at the Alley Cat Allies booth.

Maddie’s Fund, a sponsor of the conference, dropped some major knowledge.  They have created a free app that allows shelters and rescue groups to track all of the animals that they have taken in and adopted out.  The database keeps a detailed log of each animal from the date of intake through adoption.  The shelters/rescue groups receive updates in real time including medical alerts.  I cannot believe that such a valuable app is free!  #ThanksMaddie

Maddie was so sweet!  I even got a hug!

Maddie’s Fund was also handing out tokens to all conference attendees.  You could earn additional tokens by stopping by their different booths and learning about their numerous animal welfare projects.  The tokens then earned you a spin on the Maddie Wheel, where you could win awesome prizes.  Some attendees walked away with $1,000 grants for their shelter/rescue group!  My husband and I both won luggage tags.  (www.maddiesfund.org)

One of my favorite conference moments was getting to meet Aladdin.  This adorable Pitbull had been found severely emaciated, his back legs and tail were broken and he was missing 12 teeth!  Aladdin has since recovered and is now a therapy dog, spreading joy and smiles to everyone he meets.  This amazing pooch is now in the running for a Hero Dog Award.  We were lucky enough to see Aladdin meet Maddie from Maddie’s Fund.  My husband recorded the adorable event.

Aladdin relaxes at the conference on his favorite bed.

Matt and I left our mark on the Petco Foundation map!

Wayside Waifs has created their own anti-bullying curriculum that features real dogs!

The second day of the conference was just as busy.  My favorite session was Working with Shy and Fearful Dogs.  This session ended up being standing room only!  The speaker was amazing!  The tips and tricks that she provided were truly helpful and the training videos were so touching.  Seeing dogs that were once shy and fearful blossom into happy pooches was an emotional experience.

I am very glad that I brought my husband with me.  There were so many sessions that I wanted to attend, so we did a bit of tag teaming.  He ended up leaving one of the sessions early to assure that we would get our copy of Catify to Satisfy signed by Jackson Galaxy.  I am glad that he did.  By the time my session ended, the line was out the door!

My husband, Matt, and Jackson Galaxy!

My favorite session was presented by the Cat Daddy himself!  He was so dynamic and passionate.  I loved how he totally immersed himself in the topic and completely lost track of time.  When the Best Friends volunteers held up the 10 minute warning sign, he said, “Is that all the time I have?  For the whole presentation?  SH*T!”

He would have talked to our group the whole day if he could have.  I loved watching the video for his new Cat Pawsitive shelter program.  This is a system of training techniques and care to make cats more adoptable.  The program teaches cats how to high five, jump through hoops and more.  The video was so emotional that Jackson was even crying!  Seeing him whip out a blue handkerchief and dab his eyes made my heart swell.

I was so inspired by the conference that I became a Guardian Angel Member of the Best Friends Animal Society!  My monthly donations will go toward saving animals across the country.  The Best Friends staff and volunteers were absolutely amazing!  Their passion for animals and their welfare was evident in everything that they did.  Some volunteers danced as they held signs that guided the attendees toward key locations. They were always available to answer any questions that we might have had and did so with a smile on their face.

I am so proud to be a Guardian Angel Member of the Best Friends Animal Society!

  The closing session was beyond motivating.  Legend Gloria Gaynor surprised the audience by singing her epic hit “I Will Survive.”  We then listened to an impassioned presentation about how we can all make a difference in the no-kill movement. 

I left the conference feeling more inspired and motivated than I have ever been before.  My commitment to be a voice for the animals has been renewed.  I am going to work tirelessly to ensure that the United States of America becomes a no-kill nation by 2025! 

Join me in this powerful movement and together, we can Save Them All!  Take the pledge by clicking here:  http://bestfriends.org/about-best-friends/our-mission/no-kill-2025