2024 Conference
Speakers.
Angie Arora, MSW, RSW
Angie Arora is a Veterinary Social Worker supporting the human needs that arise from human-animal relationships, specializing in veterinary wellbeing, pet loss support, and equity issues within veterinary and shelter medicine.
In her private practice as a Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist and Wellbeing Coach, Angie provides trauma-informed support, coaching, and psychoeducational training to animal care providers to improve professional quality of life, addressing issues of burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue.
She served on the inaugural Board of Directors for the International Association of Veterinary Social Work and is actively involved in other relevant veterinary medicine initiatives including blendvet, the International Association of Veterinary Social Work and the Canadian Collective for Equity in Veterinary Medicine.
Angie is a professor with Seneca College's School of Community Services in Canada, where she developed and teaches a micro-credential improving stress management for those working in veterinary and shelter medicine.
She completed her Bachelor of Social Work with the Toronto Metropolitan University, Master of Social Work with York University and is deeply committed to her personal and professional growth. She is certified in Emotional CPR with the National Empowerment Centre, completed her Compassion Fatigue Specialist certification with the Traumatology Institute and completed her International Coaching Federation training with the Mind Rebel Academy.
Jeff A. D. Martin
Jeff A.D. Martin is a soul-stirring, thought-provoking, highly requested transformational speaker, who has been using his platform to inspire people from around the world.
Much of Jeff’s love for people can be attributed to his years of involvement as a community advocate, a mentor and also to his 15+ years of experience in Law Enforcement. Jeff has worked as a police officer and in various investigative roles. He is a youth communication specialist, with over 1000 forensic interviews with children.
Jeff is an award-winning professional speaker, a certified coach, University of Guelph certified leadership professional, Harvard University certificate recipient for public speaking, Diversity & Inclusion Trainer from Ashton College and the curator of Inspire Legacy Company Online Academy, where he teaches the art of public speaking and student character development.
With his career and life experiences, coupled with his benevolence and passion to inspire, Jeff A.D. Martin shares his gift of purpose in efforts to help others find their true potential.
Peter Freeman
Peter started working with animals at a city shelter in Toronto, in 1987. Two years later began to work as an animal control officer and then worked as a senior animal control officer in Toronto for 34 years. Peter is also chief product developer and founder of Freeman By Design, a company dedicated to the manufacture of humane animal handling products.
Dr. Quinn Rausch, PhD
Dr. Quinn Rausch is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Clinical Studies at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. Their current research is working to understand how Canadian organizations are addressing intersecting barriers to accessing animal healthcare and developing a program evaluation tool to assess organizational impact and community partnership. They completed a PhD in epidemiology and companion animal behaviour and welfare with a focus on puppy behavioural development in the Department of Population Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College in 2023. Their overall goal is to generate and effectively mobilize knowledge about companion animals in human society to inform community partnership in animal care, improve companion animal welfare, human wellbeing and the human-companion bond.
Dr. Sherri Cox, DVM
Dr. Sherri Cox is a wildlife veterinarian and a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College. She is the co-founder and Medical Director of the National Wildlife Centre and an Assistant Professor in the College of Biological Science at the University of Guelph where she teaches wildlife rehabilitation. Dr. Cox chairs the veterinary committee for the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association. Her expertise is rooted in wildlife medicine, surgery and rehabilitation where she provides hands-on care for sick and injured wildlife, and trains future wildlife veterinarians, wildlife biologists, wildlife rehabilitators and veterinary technicians in how to properly care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife.
Dr. Hanna Booth, DVM
Dr. Hanna Booth graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph in 2007 and has passionately pursued population control through spay and neuter ever since. Out of vet school she spent a year traveling and doing volunteer MASH spay/neuter work throughout Central/South America. After returning to Canada, she worked at the Toronto Humane Society (THS) and then became a board member during the rebuilding of the THS. She is a founding member of the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition and also the Director of Toronto Street Cats - a volunteer-based, high volume, trap, neuter and return program. She has worked as a shelter and high volume spay/neuter surgeon at Toronto Animal Services for the past 10 years. Since 2016 much of her career focus has been on a mobile spay/neuter truck targeting low income neighborhoods to provide accessible/free preventative veterinary care.
Dr. Lynn Henderson, DVM, MEd, CHPV
Dr. Lynn Henderson has been involved in clinical companion animal practice in many forms since receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in 2007. Having worked in general practice, emergency medicine, house-call medicine and hospice and palliative care, she has always been most interested in the areas of veterinary medicine that allow engagement with the human side of practice. Dr. Henderson operated a successful veterinary house-call practice for 10 years, gaining certification in veterinary hospice and palliative care through the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care in 2019. Dr. Henderson also recently completed her Master of Education. She believes strongly in relationship-building, authentic communication and accountability in delivering on promises. 
As Veterinary Director, Dr. Henderson leads the program’s clinical and learning teams who are engaged in community service and service learning and oversees the relationships and partnerships between OVC and many community stakeholders and committed organizations with a focus on improving access to veterinary care.  I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Dr. Jennifer Farr, DVM
Dr. Jennifer Farr has been involved in the animal welfare industry for over a decade, transferring to full-time shelter and outreach medicine in 2014. Graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in 1996, she spent the first 11 years of her career in small animal practice, and then caught the “shelter bug”. Dr. Farr acted as the Veterinary Surgeon for the Brant-County SPCA, Surgeon and Medical Director for the Welland and District SPCA Mobile Outreach Clinic, and since 2011 has been working as a shelter vet, surgeon and Medical Director at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA and Companion Animal Hospital. She also developed a safe and effective protocol for high volume rabbit spay/neuter and has done several rabbit surgery clinics in co-operation with the Humane Society of Greater Niagara.
Dr. Farr’s work has spanned numerous communities and has brought mobile pet wellness and low-cost spay/neuter options to low-income and vulnerably housed communities in regions across Ontario, including First Nations communities. After participating in the Hamilton chapter of Community Vet Outreach from 2014- 2020, she worked with the HBSPCA to develop its own Pet Health Outreach Program. She continues to oversee this program and expects to help over 1000 pets at their Hamilton outreach clinics this year. With an incredible passion for what she does, Dr. Farr was deservedly awarded the 2019 OSPCA Veterinary Professional in Animal Welfare Award.
Lindsay Johnston, BSc., RVT
Lindsay holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Animal Biology from the University of Guelph and is a graduate of the Veterinary Technician program at Seneca College. She entered the field of veterinary medicine in 2005, and spent nearly ten years in a small animal hospital practicing low-stress handling and prioritizing positive patient experiences. It was there that Lindsay developed a passion for animal behaviour and improving veterinary visits for her patients. Lindsay served as a Professor of animal nutrition and Senior Technologist in the Seneca College veterinary technician program, where she facilitated labs in handling, restraint, and nursing techniques. In 2021, Lindsay joined North Toronto Veterinary Behaviour Specialty Clinic in King City, Ontario, where she provides case support and behaviour modification to canine and feline patients with emotional and behaviour disorders.
Lindsay is Low Stress Handling® Silver certified, Fear Free certified, a member of the Society of Veterinary Behaviour Technicians, and is currently pursuing a Veterinary Technician Specialty in Behaviour.
​
Bailey Schroeder
Bailey Schroeder is the co-founder and CEO of Petcademy, a platform offering affordable training and support to adopters, fosters and pet parents considering surrendering their pets. Starting her career in wealth management, she transitioned into tech over a decade ago, launching and running ResQwalk, an app that raised funds for animal welfare groups, before being taken over by Best Friends Animal Society. Beyond Petcademy, Bailey contributes as a Product Management Coach at Stanford University, mentoring future innovators. An ardent animal advocate and outdoor enthusiast, she lives in Toronto with her partner Katie and dog Bruce.
Sara Munoz
Sara Munoz is a Senior Manager with Animal Welfare Services, a branch of the Ministry of the Solicitor General responsible for animal welfare compliance and enforcement in Ontario. Sara currently oversees the training, public education, and stakeholder management portfolio within the branch.
Prior to joining Animal Welfare Services, Sara was employed with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for 18 years working in both the animal shelter and investigations department including being a member of the Major Case Management team.
Jackie began her animal welfare career in 2007 and has been fortunate to hold several senior executive leadership positions in both non-profit and municipal animal welfare agencies across the United States since that time. After having served as the Vice-President for the largest non-profit behavioral healthcare agency in South Florida (an agency she was with for over 19 years), owning a private consulting firm
specializing in non-profit board development and organizational capacity building, and having a small law practice, Jackie found a way to combine her executive leadership experience with her passion for animals. Jackie has served as the Executive Director for the Addison County Humane Society in Middlebury
Vermont (2007 – 2013), the Executive Director for the Dutchess County SPCA in Hyde Park New York (2013 – 2015), the Director of Animal Services for Multnomah County in Portland Oregon (2015 – 2019) and the Director of Animal Services for Ventura County Animal Services (2019 – 2024). In May of 2024, Jackie joined DocuPet, the leading Pet Licensing company in North America, as their Chief Strategy Officer with
the mission to help increase lost pet reunification throughout the US and Canada.
Jackie holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, a postgraduate certification in Humane Resource Management, a Juris Doctorate in Law, and is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA). Jackie’s philosophy is that animal welfare is simply another branch of the social service fabric of a community. “While our primary clients may have fur and a tail, they are
all connected to people. Our services touch the lives of people and their pets.”
Jackie is originally from South Florida and now after having lived in all four corners of the US, resides in northern California with her husband, three dogs and one cat.
Jackie Rose
Jessica Nelson and Sharon Simas
Jessica Nelson and Sharon Simas, with their unique skills and qualities, are integral leaders within the 24Pet team. They each contribute their expertise and dedication to enhancing client services and software support.
Jessica Nelson, the Senior Manager of Software Support, excels in managing technical support and ensuring seamless software operations for PetPoint and Chameleon users. Having led multiple shelters, her deep understanding of animal welfare and commitment to customer satisfaction has been instrumental in resolving issues efficiently and enhancing user experiences.
Sharon Simas, the Managing Director of the Client Services team, brings extensive experience overseeing client relations and ensuring that high service standards are maintained. Sharon has nearly two decades of experience at 24Pet. Her strategic leadership, which has been pivotal in fostering strong client partnerships and delivering exceptional service, assures us of a promising future.
Dominick Lesinski and
Lindsay McAllister
Dominick Lesinski and Lindsay McAllister, two of the most dedicated members of the 24Pet team, bring a wealth of experience to assist animal welfare organizations throughout Canada better. Their unwavering commitment to elevating animal welfare through the products and services offered by 24Pet ensures that every organization receives exceptional care and attention.
Dominick Leskinski, who joined 24Pet six years ago, has made significant contributions to the animal welfare industry. His work alongside shelters and rescues throughout Canada and the Northeastern United States has led to the implementation of tailored microchips and software solutions that have greatly benefited these organizations.
Lindsay McAllister, an Animal Welfare Director at 24Pet, is renowned for her strategic approach to microchip and registration solutions. Her vision and planning ensure that our solutions are always at the forefront of the industry. Lindsay participates in PSA with her two dogs, Gala and Cauldron, in her spare time.
Thanks to our Sponsors.
