E-Newsletter | November 2019
Joyce with Leo

Greetings!

A few years ago, I spent many restless nights pondering how we could test the efficacy of a contraceptive meant for free-roaming cats without involving laboratory cats. Our options were imperfect. On one hand, we could save some healthy cats bound for euthanasia in animal control shelters if they were involved as study participants; on the other, was it ever acceptable to involve a shelter animal in research?

While we resolved our ethical dilemma in a way that had positive outcomes for all, I wish I'd had ACC&D's new ethical decision-making publication back then to help me through the process. With the help of experts, we created this newly available resource (see below) to help us and others answer the call to innovate to help animals, navigate the many "firsts" of innovation, and measure our results. Whether you're conducting studies or involved in more traditional animal welfare programs, I hope this guide helps you in your work – do catch the reviews from several animal welfare leaders who have previewed this resource.
 
Sincerely,
Download for free: Ethical decision-making: Practical guidance & toolkits on ethical decision-making and considerations for field projects targeting dogs and cats
Are you creating new programs or studies to help dogs and cats? Innovation is so essential for animal welfare, but it can also create ethical dilemmas relating to both the animals themselves and the people (owners, guardians, communities) who care about them. ACC&D just completed a comprehensive guidance document, Ethical decision-making: Practical guidance & toolkits on ethical decision-making and considerations for field projects targeting dogs and cats. Written with contributions from multiple topic experts, the publication offers comprehensive information on the issues that are most relevant to animal welfare work being done in field settings.

Click here to download it for free and be sure to share your feedback with us.
ACC&D welcomes two new members to its Scientific Advisory Board
To us at ACC&D, these two need no introduction. They have long contributed their brainpower and dedication to our work. It is our pleasure to announce that Dr. Amy Fischer and Dr. Phil Miller have agreed to serve on ACC&D’s Scientific Advisory Board.
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Amy Fischer, PhD, finished eight years on ACC&D’s Board of Directors at the end of 2018. While serving as a Director, Amy designed and ran Clowder Concepts, which offered exceptional colony housing for cats in ACC&D’s GonaCon study, and helped conduct our ear marking study in cats. Since leaving the Board, Amy has continued to play a pivotal role on our committee to evaluate microneedle patch tattoos as a way to visually identify animals sterilized non-surgically, as well as to offer benefits for other initiatives such as dog rabies vaccination campaigns. We are so glad to have Amy back in an official capacity. Learn more about Amy here.
Phil Miller, PhD, has been one of ACC&D longest-standing volunteers. He participated in our 2011 Think Tank exploring the population dynamics of cats and dogs to better design and launch non-surgical fertility control, especially evaluating possible multi-year contraceptives. As Senior Program Officer with the Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG), Phil’s expertise with computer simulation modeling and wildlife populations is extra-ordinary. We’re currently working with Phil on our third manuscript to analyze free-roaming cat population modeling data. We're thrilled to have him join our Scientific Advisory Board. Learn more about Phil here.
Connect with us, learn more, or spread the word about ACC&D’s work
  • Visit with us at The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement’s Fall Conference November 18-21, 2019 in Houston, Texas. On November 18th, Director John Boone will be presenting ACC&D’s work: Optimizing Outdoor Cat Management to Minimize Preventable Deaths While Reducing Populations: Insights from New Models. President Joyce Briggs and several other Boardmembers will also attend. We'd love to see you!
  • The 3rd International Dog Population Conference was held September 18-20, 2019 in Kenya. An update on ACC&D’s work was presented remotely by ACC&D Program Director Valerie Benka. You can watch it here.
  • The following courses incorporate ACC&D-created modules on work advancing non-surgical options for fertility control and related initiatives. These include:
  • The ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance National Training Center, which incorporates our recorded webinar as part of their training for vets; and
  • Maddie’s Professional Certificate in Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
Please help us to innovate to save lives!
We are so fortunate to have dedicated Directors to serve on our Board who are strongly affiliated with organizations such as Best Friends Animal Society, the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, and many more. ACC&D’s Board of Directors provides a wealth of expertise, ideas, connections, and financial support. In this season of giving, ACC&D's Board of Directors and staff hope you will remember ACC&D.

Don’t forget, Giving Tuesday is just around the corner! Mark your calendar for December 3, 2019 or make your donation today!  
Thank you for your support!
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