4th International Symposium
on Non-surgical Contraceptive Methods of
Pet Population Control
April 8-10, 2010
Dallas, Texas, U.S.

Presented by the Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs (ACC&D)
in partnership with the Found Animals Foundation.

The 4th International Symposium offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to stakeholders in the development and use of non-surgical methods of controlling cat and dog populations worldwide. The Symposium will feature nearly 40 speakers and will bring together scientists, veterinarians, animal welfare professionals, public health advocates, pharmaceutical industry representatives, and funders from the U.S. and abroad.

The goals of the symposium are to expedite the progress of scientists, raise awareness among animal welfare advocates, veterinarians, scientists, and those working in public health,advance effective and humane use of currently available non-surgical approaches, and facilitate networking among stakeholders.
     
“The brain trust present at this meeting was exceptional and I was honored to attend.”
-Dr. Apryl Steele, Denver, CO (3rd International Symposium participant)

Who should attend
Advancing non-surgical methods of controlling cat and dog populations bridges a number of diverse fields. This is the event for you if you are:
  • An animal welfare advocate interested in the status of non-surgical methods of sterilization.
  • A researcher working in a field related to, or with potential applications in, fertility control
  • A scientist interested in learning more about or applying for a Michelson Grant from the Found Animals Foundation
  • A nonprofit organization interested in using an injectable sterilant for male dogs outside the U.S.
  • A feral cat caregiver or advocate interested in learning more about and exploring non-surgical population control for feral and free-roaming cats
  • A foundation or investor interested in understanding the work going on in this field
  • A public health professional interested in methods of controlling zoonoses through population management

Registration
Registration fees will be kept modest, with discounts available for early registration, representatives of nonprofits based outside the U.S., veterinary students, and ACC&D’s Organizational Partners. Registration will include access to all sessions and meals (breakfast, lunch and breaks on the 9th and 10th; Friday Banquet.
•View registration rates and details or register today using our secure online registration or mail-in form

 
Refund Policy
ACC&D will refund your registration fee, minus a $25 administrative fee, for cancellation requests received by April 1, 2010. We are unable to refund registration fees for cancellation requests received after that date. Cancellation requests may be submitted to symposium@acc-d.org. (Note: Please contact the hotel directly regarding refund policies for hotel room reservations.)


“The most valuable part of the Symposium was that ACCD opened the doors to other people from other parts in the world.”
-Dr. Carlos Esquivel, Mexico (3rd International Symposium participant)
 


 
Venue and Hotel Registration
All meetings will take place at the Omni Dallas Park West in Dallas, Texas, U.S. A discounted group rate of $122 (single)/$127 (double) has been arranged. A limited number of rooms are available so please make your reservation soon!

Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West
1590 LBJ Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75234
Phone: (972) 869-4300, Fax: (972) 869-3295
Reservations: Call (800) 843-6664 or book online by clicking here. When making a reservation by phone, be sure to tell the agent you're with the "ACCD" group.

Transportation
The nearest airport is Dallas Ft. Worth International (DFW), 8 miles from the hotel. (Love Field Airport is 15 miles from the hotel.) Airport transportation is available through Super Shuttle or private taxi.
•Reserve your airport transportation through Super Shuttle

 
Program
Detailed Agenda
•View the detailed symposium agenda


Program Overview
General sessions will take place the first half day of the event. These sessions will introduce participants to the:

  • product characteristics necessary to meet animal welfare objectives (i.e. single dose, easy to administer)
  • international need and market for non-surgical sterilants
  • status of non-surgical sterilization for cats and dogs
  • characteristics (effectiveness, safety, non-reproductive effects) of surgical sterilization, as a benchmark against which non-surgical approaches can be evaluated
Friday afternoon and Saturday will feature two tracks to best match attendee interests:
The Michelson Prize and Grants Track
The Michelson Prize and Grants track, sponsored and hosted by the Found Animals Foundation, is designed to meet the needs of scientists and those considering applying to the Michelson Grants program. Sessions include the following topics:
  • Michelson Prize and Grants Overview (program goals, animal welfare guidelines, grant application process, intellectual property, projects and concepts funded to date, and a Q&A session)
  • Competing Successfully for Michelson Grants (targets and historical approaches to non-surgical sterilization, demonstrating safety and toxicity, regulatory challenges)
  • Targeted delivery of cytotoxins
  • Silencing genes that control reproduction
  • Immunological approaches to sterilization

“Last weekend was really life-changing; because of the symposium I've now decided to do PhD research on a topic involving non-surgical sterilization”
-Holly Anderson, student, Cornell Univ. College of Veterinary Medicine (3rd International Symposium participant)

Field Implementation Track
This track will feature two segments:

Focus on Feral and Free-roaming Felines
Friday afternoon will be dedicated to addressing and exploring the unique needs and characteristics of feral and free-roaming cats. This interactive session will feature experts in feral and free-roaming cat population control, population dynamics, and the latest in contraception and non-surgical sterilization of feral cats. Sessions will address:
  • What we know (and what we don’t know) about feral and free-roaming cat population dynamics.
  • How non-surgical sterilants should or might look different for free-roaming cats vs. confined cats
  • What hormonal contraceptives are available, and whether they should be used.
  • How we might make use of long-acting (i.e. three-years) contraceptives to control free-roaming cat populations?

Chemical Sterilization for Male Dogs
Saturday’s session will focus on male dog products currently available outside the U.S. The session will begin with an update on availability, current use, and key learning about these products. An international panel of respected veterinarians and animal welfare professionals experienced with these products will share insights and address audience questions. Ark Sciences (the makers of EsterilSol) will provide training in EsterilSol injection protocol and technique. Information about ACC&D’s EsterilSol Small Grants Program will be shared. Topics will include:
    • The unique characteristics of these chemical sterilants, and how to determine appropriateness of these products for a particular community
    • Side effects (including prevention and treatment)
    • Pricing and availability
    • Community response to availability of alternatives to surgical castration

(Note: Though not currently available in the U.S., Neutersol is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.)
“The most valuable part of the Symposium was various professionals (scientists, vets, epidemiologists, funders, humane workers) all
learning more from each other - that's the only way to really see the big picture!”
-Dr. Lynne Swanson, VA (3rd International Symposium participant)

 
Sponsorship
This event would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. If your organization or company is interested in advancing non-surgical sterilization or connecting with our symposium audience, please consider joining us as as sponsor.
•View Sponsorship Opportunities and Benefits


Speakers
•View the complete speaker list.

Keynote Speakers
Dr. Stephen J. O’Brien
Friday’s Banquet Dinner is the crowning event of the symposium featuring a keynote address from Dr. Stephen J. O’Brien, head of the Laboratory of Genetic Diversity at the National Cancer Institute of the NIH. Dr. O’Brien led the mapping of the cat genome and is now using that knowledge to improve animal health. His riveting book, Tears of the Cheetah, tells genetic detective stories that help the reader understand and help the animal world. A master storyteller, Dr. O’Brien is sure to deliver a fascinating and inspiring address.

Dr. Charles Rupprecht
Non-surgical sterilization offers great promise for expanding population control programs worldwide, helping prevent the spread of rabies and other zoonotic disease. Friday’s lunch will feature a keynote presentation from Dr. Charles Rupprecht, Chief of the Rabies Program at the Centers for Disease Control. He’ll share how he sees non-surgical sterilization as a key element of work to eradicate rabies, a deadly but entirely preventable disease, and how population control is part of the One World Health initiative.


Call for Posters
ACC&D invites submissions for posters to be displayed at our 4th International Symposium. The poster session (which will not include formal presentations) will be held Friday, April 9, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the main symposium foyer area at the Omni Dallas Park West. 
•Download the Poster Abstract Submission Instructions.

 
Scholarships
ACC&D is pleased to offer a limited number of scholarships to nonprofits based outside of the U.S. for participation in the Field Implementation Track. These scholarships are made possible by the generous support of the World Society of Protection for Animals (WSPA).
Update Feb. 19: We are no longer accepting applications for scholarships. Thank you to all who have applied! We are currently reviewing applications and will notify applicants of their status soon.


Volunteers
We need volunteers to help with attendee check-in, speaker support, and other advance and on-site duties. Volunteers will receive complimentary registration and may participate in functions outside volunteer shifts.
•If you are interested in volunteering, please review this overview of volunteer opportunities and volunteer application.


Continuing Education Credit for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians
This program was reviewed and approved by the AAVSB RACE program for 20.5 hours of continuing education in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval. Please contact the AAVSB RACE program if you have any comments/concerns regarding this program’s validity or relevancy to the veterinary profession. Continuing education credit is available for veterinarians and veterinary technicians in the following subject categories: theriogenology/reproduction, shelter medicine, surgery, epidemiology, gene silencing, immunology, and regulatory processes with FDA and EPA. Methods of delivery are seminar/lecture and lab/wet lab. The maximum number of CE hours available for any one veterinarian or veterinary technician is 13. The Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs' RACE Provider number is 520. If you have any questions about CE for this program, please contact Karen Green at karen@acc-d.org or 503-310-4265.


Promote the Symposium
We appreciate your help spreading the word about this event! We have several tools available to make it easy for you to share information about the symposium by e-mail, list serve post, e-newsletter, in hard copy, or on your website.
•Click here for an announcement (Word doc) you can print and post or copy and paste from for electronic communications
•Click here for a flyer (pdf) you can print and post or distribute in hard copy
•Click here to download a symposium web graphic (several versions available) you can post on your website or blog
•Use the "add this" button at the bottom of this page to share through a social networking site
•Share the link to this page with your friends or colleagues: www.acc-d.org/4thSymposium


Keep Posted!
Please contact us at symposium@acc-d.org with questions about the symposium. Subscribe to our e-mail updates (box at right) to receive updates as new information is available, or check back here.

 
Past Symposia
•To view proceedings from our previous three symposia, please click here.