The Business Of Saving Lives Down Under

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif., Feb. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Through The Business of Saving Lives, Helen Woodward Animal Center has demonstrated its dedication to saving the lives of orphan pets, not only within its San Diego-based facility, but within shelters and rescues across the globe.  The ground-breaking educational workshops, which began at the Center over 14 years ago, have made an impact on the lives of homeless animals and animal welfare workers from New York to Singapore via free three-day sessions taught at the Center and free one-day sessions taught at rescue facilities around the country.  Now, for the first time ever, the latest evolution of the program is heading Down Under to lend support to Australian animal welfare groups working towards humane treatment of animals on the other side of the world.  The Sydney, Australia-based The Business of Saving Lives Workshop will take place at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney between February 15^th and February 17^th, 2016. 

The Business of Saving Lives began at Helen Woodward Animal Center in 2002 as quarterly workshops, taught by Center management team members on the Rancho Santa Fe, California grounds.  The goal of the workshops is to share the success the Center has experienced through President Mike Arms' business-focused approach.   Business practices such as marketing, social media and customer service take on an equal importance to non-profit goals such as fundraising, volunteer-building and humane animal care, leading to more pets placed in lifelong homes, expanded reach into communities and more generated funds to carry on programs.  Over the years, shelters from throughout the United States and as far away as Argentina, Ethiopia, India, Ireland, Kenya and Romania have traveled to Helen Woodward Animal Center to take part in the free training and, last year, Seattle Animal Shelter in Washington and Virginia Beach SPCA located in East Virginia were the first two facilities to receive on-site, life-saving training at absolutely no cost to the rescue groups. 

In mid-February this year, The Business of Saving Lives will travel abroad for the first time and Helen Woodward Animal Center in partnership with Blue Buffalo have selected a very special rescue organization to host the first internationally-located training.  Maggie's Rescue, in Sydney, Australia, is a registered animal welfare charity dedicated to "a better world for all animals" and focused on supporting animals in need of homes.  In addition to finding these animals their permanent families, Maggie's Rescue is committed to No Kill philosophy and believes that public education and desexing is the cornerstone of its success. 

The upcoming workshop will include an informative session with Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms targeted at adapting policies to meet the changing needs of the animals and the community, along with sessions taught by Center Management experts who will provide information on concrete and proven fundraising methods; creative, out-of-the-box public relations techniques; and social media best practices.  Becky Robinson, President and Founder of US-headquartered Alley Cat Allies, and Diane Blankenburg, CEO and principal consultant of Humane Network will jointly present on humane methods of cat care and sheltering.  Robinson and Blankenburg will focus on Trap-Neuter-Return for feral cats, also known as community cats.  Maggie's Rescue has extended invitations to all Sydney-based animal welfare groups and the sessions are expected to have over 150 people in attendance.  Mark Pearson MLC, the first-ever Australian-elected Member of Parliament for the Animal Justice Party, is planning to attend.

"The only way to change the world of animal welfare is to work together,'" said Arms. "We are honored to join with Maggie's Rescue, Alley Cat Allies and Humane Network to discuss ways to continue working towards a more humane world."

"I'm very excited about the upcoming workshop and its potential to decrease euthanasia rates in Australia and enhance the outcomes for our Aussie companion animals," explained Lisa Wright, Founder and Director of Maggie's Rescue.  "The workshop is bringing unique international perspectives on companion animal welfare and management issues that we feel will create progressive and forward-thinking dialogues amongst all levels of government and key stakeholders."

The Business of Saving Lives offers brand new ways to look at animal welfare, marketing, social media, fundraising, humane education, and more, and explores how these concepts can breathe life into adoption programs that are outdated and killing millions of domestic animals annually.  To become an agent of change for animal welfare, apply for a FREE The Business of Saving Lives workshop in your own town. For more information or to register, visit www.animalcenter.org or call 858-756-4117 x 350. 

SOURCE Helen Woodward Animal Center

Related Links

http://www.animalcenter.org