Video Length: 48 Minutes
What should your shelter/community expect when you're ready to push past 90%? What are the dogs like, and how will you save them?
Austin's canine save rate is at or above 98%, and is the largest city in the country at this high of a save rate. Come learn about the behavioral trends we are seeing at each segment of "the last 10 percent", and learn about the programs that are saving the dogs that have historically been deemed unsaveable.
This presentation is packed with case studies that will put a face to the dogs that still need us once we've achieved 90%, and goes into the most common challenges and the respective solutions that exist once you venture past 90.
This presentation was recorded at the 2018 American Pets Alive! Conference.
Mike Kaviani began working with shelter animals at the Irvine Animal Care Center in California when he was 18. His "3rd Chance for Pets Program" received national recognition when IACC was given the 2007 Shelter of the Year award primarily due to this program.
Mike has been a Dogs Playing for Life Team Member and part of the program's development throughout his work with Aimee Sadler. Mike is a DPFL Lead Instructor and assists with seminars and provides mentorships. As Director of Lifesaving Operations at APA!, Mike provides immediate and ongoing support, leadership, and problem solving for the shelter's staff and volunteers in all of APA's animal care programs.
In addition to these on-site responsibilities, Mike is tasked with innovating new solutions in areas such as Length of Stay, Animal Care and Enrichment, Dog Behavior and Training solutions for the last 5%, Volunteer engagement and retention, and creating national No-Kill models and best practices. Lastly, Mike is also a proud member of Austin's Animal Advisory Commission.
Marian Cannell began her work with dogs in 2011 as a private dog trainer. In 2012, Marian joined the staff of Austin Pets Alive!, and in the Spring following, she was invited to join the behavior team under the direction of Mike Kaviani. Shortly after joining the team, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary provided the opportunity for APA! to integrate a new position into the behavior department, the Canine Good Citizen Coordinator.
Marian Cannell enthusiastically accepted the position, and created the Canine Good Citizen Program model that Austin Pets Alive! still uses today. At the end of 2014, Marian moved up into the position of Lead Trainer at Austin Pets Alive!, specializing in behavior modification for the dogs most at risk of euthanasia.
In the summer of 2016, Marian took on the role of Dog Behavior Program Co-Manager with Aaron Caldwell, and is now collaborating as much as possible to keep Austin the largest "No-Kill" city in the world.