American Humane Association Announces Inaugural Be Humane Summit

Nation's leading charity protecting children and animals to host national dialogue on the Humane Movement at Walt Disney World September 12-13, 2013

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The country's top thought leaders and scientists in the humane movement will descend on Central Florida next week for a dynamic conversation with national implications for the welfare, wellness, and wellbeing of children and animals. American Humane Association, the first national humane organization dedicated to the protection of both children and animals, will host its inaugural Be Humane Summit at Disney's BoardWalk Inn and Conference Center on September 12-13.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101108/DC97343LOGO ) 

This two-day summit will celebrate the human-animal bond and explore common sense, evidence-based solutions for today's most pressing challenges facing America's children and animals. The dialogue will pursue what it means to be humane in today's times, including how the interaction of science, technology and entertainment will impact the humane movement. 

Keynote speakers featured include PetSmart, Inc. Retired CEO and Board Chairman, Philip L. Francis; Zoetis Executive Vice President and President of U.S. Operations, Clinton A. Lewis, Jr.; Founder of Dognition, Dr. Brian Hare; and Animal Planet star Jackson Galaxy. Panelists include Victoria Stilwell, certified dog trainer and star of Animal Planet's "It's Me or the Dog"; celebrity chef Douglas Keane of Bravo's "Top Chef Masters"; farm animal welfare experts; renowned veterinarians; humane researchers and scientists from leading academic institutions; and executives representing Costco and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Filmmaker Ric Burns's new short documentary will debut depicting American Humane Association's Red Star™ Rescue Animal Emergency Services deployment to Moore, Oklahoma to aid the animal victims of the deadly tornado earlier this year. Billboard Recording Artist Shara Strand will perform at the Summit dinner on the evening of September 12.

A high-profile convening of the nation's top cat experts will take place simultaneous to the Be Humane Summit with the Cat Health and Welfare Forum, presented by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. There are many challenges facing America's most popular pet, and this forum – led by Dr. Patricia Olson, American Humane Association's Chief Veterinary Advisor – will explore solutions for improving feline health, wellbeing, and adoption and retention rates of cats in homes.

The public is invited to participate in Humane Intervention Red Star™ Animal Emergency Services and Therapy Dog Training working sessions during the morning of September 13.

"The Be Humane Summit is a national dialogue for the benefit of bringing innovation and evidenced-based solutions to the Humane Movement.  It matters now to the children and animals in our country – those who don't have a voice – that such preeminent thought leaders are convening on their behalf," stated Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Though this organization has a nearly 140-year history of protecting our most precious treasures, we know there are always new challenges facing our children and animals. Never before has such a wide array of experts convened for a dialogue on the future of this vitally-important movement, but we know this is just the first step to enriching our communities through compassion."

The four panels on the first day of the Be Humane Summit include:

HUMANE HOLLYWOOD
Victoria Stilwell (Television Star and Certified Dog Trainer)
Dr. James Peddie (Industry Veterinarian)
Dr. Kwane Stewart (American Humane Association)
Tom Hopkins (Disney) with a surprise guest appearance!

HUMANE HEARTLAND
Chef Douglas Keane (Celebrity Chef)
Ira Brill (Foster Farms)
Dr. David Wicker (Springer Mountain/Fieldale Farms)
Christine Summers (Costco Wholesale)
Michael Tenenbaum (Attorney at Law)

HUMANE RESEARCH
Dr. David Haworth (Morris Animal Foundation)
Gerald McDougall (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
Dr. Patricia Olson (American Humane Association)
Matthew Huntleman, Ph.D. (Translational Genomics Research Institute)

HUMANE INTERVENTION
Stephen Fern (G9 – Intelligent Wealth)
Justin Scally (American Humane Association)
Amy McCullough (American Humane Association)

The agenda for the American Humane Association Be Humane Summit may be found at http://site.americanhumane.org/site/Calendar?id=12802&view=Detail.  

Media are welcomed to attend the sessions.

About American Humane Association
American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.

SOURCE American Humane Association