The Association Blog

Join me this November as we set the vision for what the future of animal welfare can and should be—together.

I’m writing this letter with excitement and urgency as the Board Chair of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. This is a pivotal moment for our profession, and as animal welfare leaders, we’re not just navigating extraordinary challenges—we’re at the helm of shaping what comes next. Staffing crises, sheltering bottlenecks, and access to care are daunting, but we, together, have the power to not just manage these issues, but to transform them.

That’s why I’m excited to invite you to connect and collaborate with fellow leaders at The Network Live—an in-person forum on Sunday, November 17, just before our Annual Conference. This event is designed to be more than a meeting. It’s where passionate peers, bold industry experts, and visionary thought leaders come together, not just to talk—but to spark real solutions that will propel our field forward.

The panels at The Network Live are designed to ignite powerful solutions and reveal new opportunities that will challenge and inspire you. I’ll be moderating one that I’m particularly enthusiastic about. We’ll dive deep into mid-level veterinary practitioner roles, the importance of teaching veterinary students a spectrum of care (not just the “gold standard”), and how veterinary telemedicine can revolutionize shelter work. These are the conversations that will reshape our profession.

But it’s not just about the panel topics. We’ll set the vision for what the future of animal welfare can and should be—together. As the leaders in this profession, we will take charge of the narrative and set the vision for what comes next, raising the bar for how we collaborate and communicate with our peers and other animal welfare organizations. As we work toward setting expectations of how we show respect for one another, we’ll leave New Orleans with the momentum, inspiration, and practical tools to lead change in our communities. Are you ready to lead the way forward?

Don’t miss this chance to be part of something transformational this November. Register today for The Network Live and secure your spot at The Annual Conference. I can’t wait to see you there.

Let’s stand together, lead with integrity, and ignite success for our entire profession.

Warmest regards, 

Apryl Steele, DVM, CAWA