The ACES International Conference Comes To San Diego

World Renowned Helen Woodward Animal Center President Mike Arms Heads Groundbreaking Three-Day Conference   

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Helen Woodward Animal Center announces the ACES (Animal Center Education Services) International "The Business of Saving Lives" Conference.  Headed by world-renowned animal welfare expert, Mike Arms, this three-day conference will be held at the Bahia Hotel in San Diego from September 27th-29th.  Keynote speaker, Jill Rappaport – NBC TODAY Show's award-winning animal advocate and best-selling author – will headline an impressive list of speakers from across the country and around the world focused on changing the face of animal welfare in positive and profound ways.

The International ACES Conference is the next big step for Helen Woodward Animal Center which regularly offers a quarterly, free, three-day workshop (taught by Center management team members) on the Rancho Santa Fe, California grounds.  Over the past ten years, animal lovers, shelter workers, and humanitarians have made the "pilgrimage" to learn more effective ways to increase adoptions and lower euthanasia.  The workshops have attracted shelter workers from throughout the United States and as far away as Argentina, China, Ethiopia, India, Ireland, Kenya, Romania, and Singapore.  Within weeks after returning to their home shelters, ACES graduates report amazing results, placing more pets in lifelong homes, generating added funds to carry on their programs, and expanding their reach into their communities.

"We began offering ACES workshops to share the success we've experienced here," said Helen Woodward Animal Center President Mike Arms.  "There are still animal care facilities in the United States that are euthanizing orphaned pets every day of the week, simply because they have no space or because the animals have 'run out of time.'  Through ACES we're helping them to put an end to that."

September's ACES International Conference will go even further by providing an extensive line-up of some of the most cutting-edge speakers, thinkers and activists in the animal welfare industry today.  The ground-breaking event will provide tools that NO other organization is offering – skills to save lives today and end euthanasia tomorrow.  With brand new ways to look at aspects of animal welfare, marketing, social media, fund raising, training, and more, the conference will explore how these concepts can breathe life into adoptions programs that are outdated and killing millions of domestic animals annually.

The high profile list of speakers includes such names as Jill Rappaport;  Krissie Newman - founder of "Rescue Ranch" and wife of NASCAR driver Ryan Newman; Arden Moore - speaker, author, animal behavior consultant and host of award winning "Oh Behave" show on Pet Life Radio.com; Tamar Geller - best-selling author and founder of The Loved Dog™ method of dog training;  Steve Dale - syndicated newspaper columnist (Steve Dale's Pet World and The Pet Minute); Senator Andy Dinniman – champion of "Daniel's Law," banning the use of gas chambers for pet euthanasia in the state of Pennsylvania; and Mike Arms – credited with saving the lives of more animals that any other human being on the planet.

"This conference is not about clinical terminology and kinder ways to perform euthanasia - it is about innovation, inspiration, excitement and most importantly providing tangible programs and ideas to create a better tomorrow for our animal friends.  Each one of us has the power to effect positive change – each one of us can make things happen." 

Join us September 27-29 at the Bahia hotel in beautiful Mission Bay, California to find out how you can be an agent of change for animal welfare.  For more information on the International ACES Conference or to register, visit www.animalcenter.org/ACESConference or call 858-756-4117 x 350. 

About Helen Woodward Animal Center

Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where "people help animals and animals help people." Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 57,000 people and thousands of animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the international Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive and the Animal Center Education Services program, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world.

SOURCE Helen Woodward Animal Center