March 2019 by Debra Griggs, President, Virginia Federation of Humane Societies, and Davyd Smith, President, No Kill Colorado

Audience: Executive Leadership, Shelter/Rescue Staff & Volunteers

Video Length: 59:38

Combatting Anti-No Kill Extremism

Anti-no kill extremism exists, and it can put a damper on your hopes, dreams and strategic plans. Watch this presentation to learn what anti no-kill extremism looks like and how to cope with it. Join California and Virginia animal advocates as they share their stories of how they have battled this extremism and continue fighting. This presentation was recorded by Maddie's Fund® at the 2019 American Pets Alive! Conference.

About Davyd Smith

Although he adopted his first cat at 6 years old, Davyd, now the president of No Kill Colorado, began earnestly participating in advocacy around 2007. After training at several conferences around the country (including APA!), he helped found No Kill Colorado (NKC) in 2011. During his tenure as a board member at NKC he helped develop relationships with national No Kill leaders and organizations. Davyd developed the annual Just One Day Colorado adoption event and led a highly successful initiative to reform a Colorado animal shelter (the shelter saves 98 percent of all intakes, almost double before reform). In 2018, No Kill Colorado passed the Pueblo Animal Protection Act in Pueblo, CO, based on Austin's ordinances and CAPA. The law mandates that the shelter save every healthy or treatable pet.


About Debra Griggs

Debra Griggs is the President of the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies (VFHS). Under her leadership, the VFHS has distinguished itself as one of the most effective statewide animal welfare organizations in the country and is leading the charge to bring Virginia to at least a 90 percent save rate for sheltered pets by 2020. To brand this commitment, they created the initiative, "SaveVAPets - Crossing the No-Kill Finish Line." Debra has served on a myriad of local and state boards, both for-profit and non-profit, and promotes the notion that the business principles and strategies embraced by for-profits must also be implemented in the world of non-profits. To add to her list of life-saving accomplishments, Debra was the founding chair of the Animal Welfare Coalition of Hampton Roads and served on the City Council-appointed Norfolk Animal Advisory Board.