OPEN PAW is a non-profit organization dedicated to decreasing the suffering, surrender, abandonment, and euthanasia of unwanted cats and dogs.

Behavior, temperament and training problems are the most common reasons for the surrender or abandonment of companion animals. All of these common problems are utterly predictable and easily preventable. Therefore timely preventive education is the key to successfully keeping cats and dogs in their original homes, and out of shelters.

OPEN PAW's primary goal is to educate: prospective pet owners before they get their pets, veterinary students before they become veterinarians, and shelter staff and volunteers before they work and volunteer.

As part of our commitment to education, OPEN PAW offers an annual humane education conference that brings together leaders in the relevant fields of education, sheltering, animal husbandry, behavior and training. Many of the conference topics specifically address aspects of the OPEN PAW program. However, in order to create a well-rounded curriculum and provide opportunity for stimulating and profitable discussion, we have invited speakers with varied backgrounds and views. All of our speakers though, share our common goal of reducing animal abuse, abandonment, and euthanasia.

OPEN PAW champions a necessary developmental and preventive approach to solving the problem of unwanted animals. OPEN PAW's mission is threefold.

1. To educate prospective pet owners before they get their pets
2. To provide practical hands-on experience and training for shelter staff and volunteers, and for prospective and existing pet owners, and
3. To promote the adoption of Minimum Mental Health Requirements for shelter animals.

1. All shelter animals were once perfectly normal, well-behaved, loveable and loved, puppies and kittens, yet many are surrendered to shelters or abandoned when they are six months to two years old. Many behavior, temperament, and training problems are apparent before puppies and kittens are eight-weeks-old and are well-established before three months of age, i.e., before dog owners normally come into contact with pet professionals (veterinarians and pet dog trainers).

OPEN PAW advertises and distributes free educational materials to prospective pet owners and veterinary studentsÑeducational information, which alerts prospective owners and pet professionals to predictable developmental pet problems, and offers a variety of user-friendly and animalÐfriendly preventive measures and solutions.

Pre-pet owner education is the most obvious way to reduce the number of animals surrendered to sheltersÑby keeping animals in their original homes with satisfied and appreciative owners.

2. OPEN PAW has created protocols to redirect the focus of sheltering towards education and prevention, so as to establish shelters as hands-on educational centers within the community.

Conventionally, day-to-day shelter operations comprise the collection, routine care, and re-homing of unwanted cats and dogs. All too often, essential shelter operations are restricted by shortage of staff, time and funds, and overloaded by an excess of unwanted animals. Rather than limiting shelter operations to routine husbandry of resident animals, OPEN PAW has devised educational protocols to enable shelter animals and their rehabilitation and re-homing process to be used as an educational opportunityÑto provide practical experience and education for shelter volunteers, and existing, and especially prospective, pet owners. In a sense, the care and rehabilitation (education) of shelter animals provides practical education for existing and prospective pet owners within the community.

3. Sadly and ironically, many animals rapidly deteriorate after only a short time in the shelter environment. Many shelter animals become de-housetrained, hyperactive, noisy, anxious, and lonely. Their delight and excitement at seeing people is expressed as uncontrollable exuberance.

Many shelter animals have behavioral baggage when they come to the shelter and unless a vigorous socialization and training program is in effect, they become less and less adoptable with each day that they stay. While there are many rigorous physical health regulations for kenneling animals, there are no standard guidelines for the maintenance and improvement of the animals psychological health when kenneled.

OPEN PAW has created a set of Minimum Mental Health Requirements to provide for the essential needs of sheltered animals, specifically regarding their comfort, companionship, entertainment, and education.

Introduction
There are several reasons why pet owners and those in animal-related professions should know about normal and abnormal feline behavior.

• Cats now outnumber dogs in this country.
• Rather than wanting to be just cat or dog people, more and more people desire the companionship of members of both species.
• Cats are not little dogs and treating them as if they were creates problems.
• As our most recently domesticated species and the only one for which a complete written history exists, feline behavior and the human-feline bond provide valuable insight into the process of domestication.

The basic small wildcat behavioral repertoire
All domestic cats possess a basic set of behaviors which they inherited from their wild ancestors and which they may express in the most primitive form or adapt to survive in a human household.

• Solitary
• Territorial
• Nocturnal
• Predatory
• Sexual
• Maternal
• Social

Common feline behavioral problems, their causes and solutions

• Inappropriate elimination
• Aggression
  1. Direct
  2. Displaced
• Destructive behaviors

Preventing feline behavioral problems
Regardless how wildly successful a treatment for behavioral problem may be, the fact remains that experiencing it invariably stresses both the animal and the owner and undermines their relationship. Because of this, preventing problems is always the most caring as well as energy-efficient response.

• The benefits of Free-Access Crate-Training (FACT) for kittens and cats
• Environmental enrichment
• Ensuring a quality human-feline relationship

When social animals are kenneled individually, the development of behavior and temperament problems is a major concern, especially for puppies and kittens. When cats and dogs are housed in groups, or when handled/trained by the same person, infectious disease is a major concern, especially when the health/disease status of incoming animals is unknown, and especially for puppies and kittens with underdeveloped immunity.

The sheltering of companion animals poses many problemsÑof these, balancing the stringent requirements for the maintenance of both physical and mental health is the most challenging. Topics will include:

• A discussion of the pros and cons of: socialization with people, handfeeding, housetraining, communal toys, and housing individually or communally.
• How the physical and social environment may affect activity, stress, and immunity.
• Husbandry and cleaning protocols for different shelter populationsÑhealthy, healthy but maybe infected (quarantined), and sick (isolation).
• A comparison of the likelihood of contracting infectious diseases vs. the likelihood of developing behavior and temperament problems (equivalent potential terminal illnesses), and how disease and behavior problems affect adoptability.
• Adoption protocols for quarantined and sick animals.
• Special physical and mental health requirements for puppies and kittens.

Animal training is a complicated science, requiring considerable education and experience. Pet dog training is even more complicated, since it focuses on teaching people how to teach dogs. By teaching training techniques in four levels of progressive difficulty, it is possible to get all volunteers, (children and adults, novice and experienced), safely and effectively working with shelter dogs after a short (15 minute) orientation. Thus shelter animals receive an education, but more important, the education and rehabilitation of shelter animals provides a practical, hands-on education for volunteers in the community. Successful people training is the key to successful animal training.

LEVEL ONE
At Level One volunteers learn the two most powerful and effective training methods available: Classical Conditioning and Reward Training. Classical conditioning teaches resident dogs to enjoy people approaching their kennel. The dogs progressively form positive associations with people and look forward to them approaching the kennel. The dogs will then be less inclined to bark, lunge, growl, or hide. Kibble is hand fed (or tossed) to the dog regardless of the dogs' reactions. The dogs are not pressured, encouraged, or requested to approach or sit.

Reward training techniques teach resident dogs proper kennel presentation, specifically to sit and shush when people approach. Volunteers approach a kennel, stand outside, observe a dogÕs behavior, wait until the dog does something they like, and then reward the dog with praise and a piece of kibble. The dog is rewarded for specific desirable behaviors, such as eye contact, friendly approach, sitting, lying down, silence, stopping barking, stopping bouncing, and looking cute.

LEVEL TWO
At Level Two volunteers learn how to desensitize dogs to people entering and exiting their kennels, and to reward the dogs for sitting politely while people enter and exit the kennel and while a collar and leash are attached. Thus the dogs will be much less likely to get overexcited when potential adopters come to visit, walk, and play with the dogs.

LEVEL THREE
At Level Three volunteers learn how:

• To use lure/reward training to teach the dogs basic manners such as to come when called, to sit, to lie down, to stand, and to pay attention.
• To check the dogs safely for sensitive spots and progressively desensitize the dogs to being touched in those spots.
• To teach the dogs not to touch or to take food and toys until instructed.
• To play tug-of-war according to the rules.
• To use play as a reward in training.
• To teach the dogs how to greet people politely.

LEVEL FOUR
At Level Four volunteers learn how to walk dogs outside in the real world, and how to integrate training with really big doggy rewards such as sniffing and exploring. The volunteers walk the dogs and specifically, teach the dogs how to walk on a loose lead. Mannerly leash-walking impresses potential adopters, and substantially increases the likelihood that dogs will be adopted and walked on a regular basis.

What can be determined about the behavior of a dog in the shelter environment? Shelter staff has to examine a dog and decide if a particular set of behavioral characteristics indicates an adoptable animal. Often this is accomplished with a behavioral evaluation test. But are these tests reliable? Are they valid? Do they predict how the dog will behave in a family home? Our goal is to minimize mistakes in classifying dogs as adoptable or not and, right now, weÕre guided more by intuition than by scientific knowledge.

Common and predictable behavior problems (housesoiling, destructive chewing/scratching, and barking) are the major reasons for pet surrender. Training and temperament problems are the second and third most common reasons. It is in the best interest of animals that all shelter staff and volunteers receive training as behavior counselors.

Behavioral sciences are normally taught by a multi-disciplinary approachÑbehaviorism, ethology, zoology, comparative psychology, cognitive psychology, behavior modification, physiology, pharmacology, neurology, etc. etc. Consequently it requires many years of education and many years of experience to become an effective behavior counselor. It is far more efficient and effective to teach behavior counselors 1) which problems are most common, 2) how to recognize common signs of predictable problems and 3) which preventive and therapeutic strategies work the best. The problems are no secret, and neither should be the solutions.

For example, the most common reported behavior problem from the SF SPCA Nationwide Animal Behavior Hotline (1985, n=3819) was cat housesoiling. Cat housesoiling problems comprised 51.2% of all cat problems and 25.4% of all cat and dog problems combined. By taking just 30 minutes to teach shelter staff and volunteers how to housetrain (litterbox-train) a cat, shelter personnel become litterbox-training counselors, who can successfully resolve 51.2% of cat behavior problems, and 25.4% of all pet problems!

The Solution to Common Problems teaching technique (first devised when establishing the SF SPCA Behavior Department in 1985) is the current education-style employed in the OPEN PAW behavior counseling program. Shelter staff, volunteers, and visitors are taught a variety of solutions to each problem. Trainees are taught one problems at a time. And since cats and dogs have only a finite number of common and predictable problems, education is a finite, fairly simple, and highly successful process.

Dogs rarely end up in shelters because they are perfectly well behaved. In fact, research reveals that the number one reason why dogs are surrendered to shelters or turned out of their homes is because of their behavior. So it falls squarely on the shoulders of shelter staff to determine if a dog can be behaviorally rehabilitated to make a good companion animal. At the ASPCA, a concerted effort is made to work with the majority of our dogs "with issues."

In this presentation, Dr. Reid presents a glimpse of the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center's work: desensitization and counter conditioning, response substitution, positive and negative punishment, and remedial socialization. Join me for a series of fascinating case studies involving under socialized fearful dogs, dog-aggressive dogs, dogs that resist handling, dogs that guard resources, cage aggressive dogs, dogs with separation anxiety, dogs that are resistant to house training, and so forth. You'll see some of our successes and some of our failures. YouÕll come away from this seminar equipped with the know-how to help these delinquent dogs in need.

Properly diagnosing and treating an aggressive dog is comparable to doing the same for a dog with a potentially fatal and contagious disease. Both require a tremendous amount of time, energy, and commitment to ensure the greatest probability of success. At the same time, those with an interest in aggressive dogs often fall into one of two distinct populations:

1. Those who work in shelters with limited resources who must allocate those resources for the benefit of the most animals
2. Those whose goal it is to save one particular dog (i.e. owners or those who work with owned dogs)

Because of this, diagnostic and treatment methods that require the expenditure of a great deal of time, physical and emotional energy, as well as money frustrate and depress shelter workers who donât have access to those kinds of resources. On the other hand, those who do have access to such resources are frustrated and depressed by approaches which may cull dogs they believe could be saved.

To resolve this dilemma, this seminar will examine aggressive dogs from both sides. Using their combined more than fifty years of experience intimately working with problem shelter and owned dogs and the people involved with them, Sue Sternberg and Myrna Milani will evaluate dogs representing critical life stages and temperaments from the shelter and owned-dog points of view. How should we deal with any physical problems that will surely affect the dogâs behavior? What about the bond between this dog and humans? How much do we know about this particular dog and his or her particular aggressive problem? How much time and energy would it require to gain that information? What would it take to turn each of these dogs around in a shelter setting in terms of resources? How much of the shelterâs total resources would that represent? With what kind of owner could that dog be then safely placed? If this same dog were brought to a professional for rehabilitation rather than given up to shelter, how would this affect both the diagnosis and treatment of the aggression?

Using their own expertise combined with input from participants, this seminar provides a rare opportunity to examine canine aggression from both the shelter and owned dog perspective. Doing so not only will help dispel the negative illusions that those with either orientation may harbor regarding those with the other, it will also ensure that those working with aggressive dogs in any setting have the most comprehensive understanding of these animalsâ and their existing or potential ownersâ needs.

This interactive session is designed to provide the information and tools for individuals interested in incorporating OPEN PAW protocols and procedures into their local shelter and community. We will identify the challenges that shelters will face when trying to implement a new program and provide a template to follow. (Limited enrollmentÑpre-registration required.)

The Role Of An OPEN PAW Shelter In The Community
Answers to questions such as:

• What is an OPEN PAW facility?
• What does a shelter have to do to become and OPEN PAW facility?
• How much does it cost?
• How long does it take to implement the OPEN PAW program?

Where To Start?

• Required resources and roles integral to the success of the program.
• How to set a realistic time-line, and identify and prioritize essential elements of the program to assure a successful transition.

Procedures and Protocols

• Staff schedules and assignmentsÑa breakdown of a day in the life of an OPEN PAW facility
• Efficient cleaning protocols
• Intake suggestions
• Volunteer programs, orientation, and training
• Community programs

Overcoming ProblemsÑPractical Suggestions and Solutions

• Identifying our "common goals"
• How to get "buy in" at every level, including executive, managerial, staff, volunteer, and community.
• Changing existing "shelter culture"
• Training and re-training of existing staff and volunteers without attrition.

Regular Evaluation, Keeping Records, And What To Track

Most shelter animals are housed individually in kennels and cages, often without comfortable bedding, without appropriate toilet facilities/opportunities, without toys, without companionship of their own kind, and with very little human companionship, communication, or education.

• Solitary confinement causes progressive de-socialization and fearfulness.
• Lack of toilet facilities, opportunities, and education forces cats/dogs to soil their living/sleeping area.
• Lack of stuffed chewtoys prompts destructive chewing and OCDs
• Lack of stuffed chewtoys and education prompts barking and hyperactivity (with allelomimetic encouragement).
• Well-meaning, but inappropriate, exercise fosters hyperactivity, barking, jumping-up, and pulling-on-leash.

Housesoiling, destructive chewing/scratching, excessive barking, hyperactivity, jumping-up, and pulling-on-leash are major reasons why people surrender their animals to shelters and let them stray (to be captured and taken to shelters), and why people do not want to adopt shelter animals. Caging and kenneling animals exacerbates these problems.

There are numerous and rigorous, veterinary and physical health requirements for livestock and for laboratory, zoo, and shelter animals. However, apart from zoological environmental enrichment programs, there are few requirements to cater for the animalsÕ necessary social and psychological needs.

If shelter animals are to remain, or become, suitable social companions for people, they require comfort, companionship, communication, education, and entertainment.

Minimal Mental Health Guidelines for Dogs

• A comfortable bed or den.
• At least three daily opportunities to use a dog toilet area (outside of their kennel) and be rewarded for using it.
• Sufficient entertainment (environmental enrichment, or occupational therapy)Ñstuffed chew toys, such as, Kongs, or Big Kahunas.
• Hand fed, with remainder of food stuffed in chewtoys, i.e., no feeding from bowls.
• Interaction with at least 20 people each day, including at least five unfamiliar people.
• Handling and grooming by at least three people a day, including one unfamiliar person.
• Daily education (basic manners training) and mental stimulation (walk).
• Quiet kennel "down time" each day, a scheduled break from the public.
• At least 20 minutes out of their kennel run each day, used either for training, socialization, playtime, exercise, or "down time" in somebodyÕs office.
• Canine companionship Ð either housed with other dogs, or daily 20 minute play/training sessions.

>Puppies under 4 months must be housed together in a self-training, long-term confinement area, with constant access to a puppy toilet area, and fed only by hand (during conditioning and training) or from stuffed chewtoys, (i.e., no feeding from bowls). Puppies require daily handling, grooming, and manners training by at least five unfamiliar people. Puppies should be fostered whenever possible.

Minimal Mental Health Guidelines for Cats

• A warm clean environment with comfortable hiding place.
• A separate litterbox area.
• Litterbox should be cleaned regularly (feces removed immediately when noticed).
• A convenient scratching post with suspended toys.
• Interaction with at least 20 people daily, including at least five unfamiliar people.
• Daily handling, gentling, and grooming by at least three people, including one unfamiliar person.
• Feline companionship for social cats (group housing).

Kittens under 4 months should be housed together in a self-training, long-term confinement area, with constant access to a scratching surface with suspended toys, and a separate litterbox area. Kittens require daily handling, gentling, and grooming by at least five unfamiliar people.

Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, dog trainer, and writer. He received his veterinary degree and a Special Honors degree in Physiology & Biochemistry from the Royal Veterinary College (London University) and a doctorate in animal behavior from the Psychology Department at the University of California in Berkeley, where he spent ten years researching the development of hierarchical social behavior and aggression in domestic dogs. For seven years Dr. Dunbar ran a behavior clinic specifically for biting and fighting dogs.

Dr. Dunbar is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the California Veterinary Medical Association, the Sierra Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (which he founded).

Over the past 30 years, Dr. Dunbar has given over 750 one-day seminars and workshops for dog trainers and veterinarians in an effort to popularize off-leash puppy training classes (which he pioneered), temperament modification, and owner-friendly and dog-friendly dog training. Dr. Dunbarâ books, videos, and AKC Gazette "Behavior" column (which he created), have won numerous awards.

Dr. Dunbar is currently Director of the Center for Applied Animal Behavior in Berkeley, California, where he lives with Kelly, Claude and Ollie. Photo

Kelly Gorman has been a professional dog trainer since 1992. She has a Behavior Counseling Certificate from the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers and was one of the first dog trainers to become a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT).

Kelly began her career in Chicago running her own private behavior counseling referral service. Also, she managing a training, daycare, and boarding facility for three years before moving to Los Angeles, where she worked with the SPCALA's Outreach DepartmentÑan after-school program for at-risk adolescentsÑthat teaches communication and conflict resolution, and builds self esteem through dog training. Subsequently, she relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area to be Managing Director of Sirius Puppy Training. Kelly is a Co-Founder of OPEN PAW and serves as its current Vice President. Photo

Jennifer Messer is a veterinarian working in a small animal practice in Waterdown Ontario. In addition to routine clinical medicine, Jennifer conducts private canine behaviour consultations and has implemented an in-clinic puppy parenting program to educate dog-owning clients about puppy behaviour and training.

Jennifer completed a BachelorÕs Degree in Psychology at McGill University, where she graduated with first class honours in 1993. She then went on to study Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario, and graduated with a DVM in 2001. During her years as a veterinary student Jennifer established and operated Montessaurus Puppy School in Guelph. Jennifer has given numerous lectures and workshops to veterinarians, dog trainers, veterinary students, and the general public on a variety of canine behaviour topics, including aggression and early training and socialization. She has also written on canine behaviour for Chatelaine magazine and has been featured on Discovery Channel.

Jennifer is owned by her Staffordshire Bull Terrier "Monte", and her Pit Bull Terrier "Charlotte", who live with her in Southwestern Ontario. Photo

Myrna Milani earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Capital University (Columbus, Ohio) and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Following a year as a full-time academic advisor to pre-veterinary students at the university, Dr. Milani entered private veterinary practice in New Hampshire. Her interest in the relationship between humans and animals as it affects the health and behavior of both led her to write seven books for the general public:

• The Weekend Dog (Rawson/Scribners, 1984; Signet paper, 1985)
• The Invisible Leash (New American Library, 1985; Signet paper, 1986)
• The Body Language and Emotion of Dogs (William Morrow, 1986; Quill, 1993)
• The Body Language and Emotion of Cats (William Morrow, 1987; Quill, 1993)
• DogSmart: The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Dog You Want, Keeping the Dog You Find (Contemporary Books, 1997 )
• CatSmart: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Caring for, and Living with You Cat (Contemporary Books, 1998)
• Preparing for the Loss of Your Pet: Saying Good-bye with Love, Dignity and Peace of Mind (Prima, 1998)

The editors of The Reader's Catalogue, which listed the 40,000 best books in print, voted The Invisible Leash and the body language books best in their categories. The Body Language and Emotion of Dogs also has been used as a textbook for collegiate courses in the human-canine bond and animal-assisted therapy and education, and in courses for professional dog trainers. Additionally, Dr. Milani has written a behavior- and bond-based veterinary text, The Art of Veterinary Practice: A Guide to Client Communication (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1995), the script for an audio tape, Understanding Your Cat's Behavior, for the general public for Proof in Advance Education Corporation, as well as scripts for the internationally broadcast "Pet Care Minutes," sponsored by Merck and the American Veterinary Medical Association. In addition to contributing articles to various professional publications, the author wrote a canine behavior column for Cornell's DogWatch newsletter and now writes for the PetCity website.

Throughout her career Dr. Milani has taught numerous courses: Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Animal Behavior, Bioethics (including online),and wildlife ecology on the college level, and courses in the human-canine and the human-feline bond and behavior for the general public. In addition to doing private behavior/bond client consultations, she serves as a consultant to non-profit and for-profit organizations regarding animal-related issues. In her past capacity as a spokesperson, she discussed canine and feline care and behavioral problems with thousands of owners and professionals at shows and events was, and still is, interviewed regularly regarding various aspects of the human-animal bond by journalists, those researching animal-related books, television producers, and other representatives of media.

Dr. Milani has spoken to a wide variety of public and professional organizations on pertinent aspects of the human-animal relationship, and she currently enjoys a close working relationship with veterinarians nationwide who contact her regarding behavioral or bond problems and refer clients to her. Additionally, the eclectic nature of her studies have led her to develop a network of trainers, breeders, psychologists, sociologists, ecologists, ethologists, shelter personnel, wildlife experts, law enforcement officials, media specialists and other professionals with whom she routinely shares personal observations and material. She lives in Charlestown, New Hampshire with an assortment of pets and loves to work in her gardens.

Dr. Pamela Reid is a certified applied animal behaviorist. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in animal learning and behavior from the University of Toronto. Pam is the Director of the ASPCA Center for Behavioral Therapy in NYC. Through the Center, Pam consults with pet owners, veterinarians, trainers, and shelter personnel on animal behavior and behavior problems. She also supervises graduate students and conducts research in applied animal behavior at the University of Guelph.

Pam lectures on animal behavior, learning theory, and agility training in the U.S. and Canada. She writes articles for both professional journals and popular magazines and is author of the acclaimed book Excel-erated Learning! Explaining (in plain English) how Dogs Learn and how Best to Teach them (James & Kenneth Publishers 1996). Her new book, Dog Logic, is due for release in the fall 2002.

Pam has served on committees for APDT, Delta Society, American Humane Association, and HSUS on topics relating to canine learning and dog training. For several years, she consulted with the U.S. Department of Defense on the use of dogs for narcotics and explosives detection. Pam was a member of the development team for PETsMART's instructor training program. She has served on the Animal Behavior Society's Board of Professional Certification for applied animal behaviorists. Pam was recruited by the APDT to review test items for the new certification test for dog trainers and she is currently a member of the Certification Council for Pet Dog Training.

In her spare time, Pam is a die-hard USDAA agility addict, competing with her Border-Border mix, Eejit, MAD, SM, JM, RM, FbMCH, 2000 National Steeplechase Champion (runner-up in 2001). Pam's Border Collie, Ciaran, ADCH, MADC, AM CDX, FbCH (1989-2000) was once a serious contender at USDAA events, winning regional and national agility events. He also earned Dog World awards for his obedience titles. Pam is also known for her beloved Saluki Shaahiin, CDX, AD, FbCH, FCh (1986-2000), who was an awesome obedience competitor, the first Saluki to earn an agility title, and still holds the record as the only Saluki to earn NAFA flyball titles. Pam is now focusing on her young dog, a Border-Jack mix named Bent. Photo

Sue Sternberg is the head of Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption, a community not-for-profit animal shelter which serves both the local (upstate New York) community as well as runs national programs dedicated to ensuring the quality of life safe animal adoptions, quality of life at animal shelters around the world. She has over 23 years of canine behavior experience, including as an animal control officer, a behavior consultant at the ASPCA, a kennel and animal shelter owner, a successful competitor in a variety of dog sports, and a teacher of dog trainers. Since 1993, she has operated a not-for-profit animal shelter in rural New York called Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption, which is featured in an upcoming HBO documentary called Shelter Dogs (www.shelterdogs.org). Her most recent book is Great Dog Adoptions: A Guide for Shelters (Latham Foundation Press, 2002, www.latham.org). Her first book written for the general public on adopting a great dog is due out in September through Wiley Publishing. Sue has five dogs and two cats (all adopted), and shares her yard with a host of adopted farm animals. She is an accomplished fiddle player, a mineral and fossil collector, loves Earl Grey tea, and is a major Star Trek fan. Photo

This is a people training seminar. Working service dogs only, no pet dogs allowed in the conference rooms.

PEOPLE ETIQUETTE
During the lectures, please turn off all cell phone and pager audio alerts. Please take all private conversations outside the seminar room while the speakers are presenting.

VIDEOTAPING POLICY
No videotaping or audiotaping is permitted. This conference will be videotaped and you may place an order at www.tawzerdogvideos.com.

BOOKS & TOYS, ETC. FOR SALE
A selection of books, videos and toys, etc. will be available for purchase.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Pre-registration ends Friday, October 17, 2003. You may register at the door if space is available.

CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY
Full refund issued if requested by email or phone no later than Friday, October 17, 2003. Refunds requested after Friday, October 17, 2003 will be issued a 50% credit slip that may be applied to future Puppyworks educational events. No credits or refunds after 9:00 am on October 24th.

HOTEL ROOM SHARING In an effort to help those individuals who wish to share a hotel room, a room listing will be compiled and listed below. Individuals may contact others seeking a "roomie". It is your responsibility to contact the individuals listed. To be included on the room share list, please check the box on the registration form.registration form. Please contact us when you have found a "roomie" so we can keep our list current.

HOTEL ROOM SHARE LIST
No listing at this time.

The Holiday Inn West Chester is an attractive, first-class hotel located just 30 minutes from the busy Philadelphia Airport and convenient to all of the most popular attractions in America's historic heartland.

From the Northeast Extension: Take Route 9 South to the West PA Turnpike, to Exit 24 (Valley Forge). Follow Route 202 South, approximately 40 minutes. Take the High Street Exit (West Chester). At the bottom of the ramp, take a left onto South High Street (you may also do a U- turn in the shopping center parking lot). The Holiday Inn is one-quarter mile on the left.

From the Philadelphia International Airport: Take 95 South to the West Chester exit (Route 322 West). At the intersection of Route 322 and Route 1, turn left. At the intersection of Routes 1 and 202 North, turn right onto Route 202. Take Route 202 North approximately 4.5 miles. The Holiday Inn will be on your right, just past the Amoco Gas Station.

From Points East and North: Take the PA Turnpike West to Exit 24 (King of Prussia). Take Route 202 South (approximately 30-40 minutes). Follow Route 202 to the High Street Exit (West Chester). At the bottom of the ramp, take a left onto South High Street (you may also do a U-turn in the shopping center parking lot). The Holiday Inn is one- quarter mile on the left.

From Western Pennsylvania: Take the PA Turnpike East to Exit 23 (Downingtown). Take Route 100 South, through Exton, to Route 202 South. Take Route 202 to the High Street Exit. At the bottom of the ramp, take a left onto South High Street (you may also do a U-turn in the shopping center parking lot). The Holiday Inn is one-quarter mile on the left.

From Wilmington, Delaware, and Points South: Take Route 95 North to Route 202 North. The Holiday Inn is 4.5 miles north of the intersection of Routes I and 202, on the right just past the Amoco Gas Station.

From the Northeast Extension: Take Route 9 South to the West PA Turnpike, to Exit 24 (Valley Forge). Follow Route 202 South, approximately 40 minutes. Take the High Street Exit (West Chester). At the bottom of the ramp, take a left onto South High Street (you may also do a U- turn in the shopping center parking lot). The Holiday Inn is one-quarter mile on the left.

AIRPORT SHUTTLE SERVICE:
Rainbow Transportation

• 800-322-4470
• You must schedule a pickup in advance.

Mention PUPPYWORKS to receive our discounted rate of $89.00 per night double or single. Make reservations on or before October 10, 2003 to receive this rate. Dogs allowed as guests at the hotel for a pet fee of $25.00 per day.

The conference location is 30 minutes from the Philadelphia Airport. For airline and car rental reservations, contact Diane Polss at All Travel.

ALL TRAVEL
2001 S Barrington Ave Ste 315
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 800-225-3614 (USA) or (310) 312-3368
Fax: (310) 312-5053
dianep@all-travel.com
all-travel.com
Internet keyword: alltravel

Office hours:
Monday-Friday 7:30am-7:00pm PST
Saturday 9:00am-4:00 pm PST

For registration inquiries, contact:

events@puppyworks.com