Jane Doe Email: jane.doe@americanhumane.org Phone: 202-677-4227 www.americanhumane.org

2. A Legacy of Caring
Since 1877, whenever children and
animals have needed protecting,
American Humane Association has
been there.
• Spearheaded the passage of landmark legislation
to defend the most vulnerable.
• Instituted local, state, and nationwide initiatives
to provide direct services that promote well-
being and prevent cruelty, abuse, and neglect.
• At the vanguard of a movement spanning
politics, ideology, and generations that has given
a voice to the voiceless.
www.americanhumane.org

3. Who We Are
Our mission:
To create a more humane and
compassionate world by ending abuse
and neglect of children and animals.
• Historic, national not-for-profit dedicated to the
protection of society’s most vulnerable: children,
pets, working animals, farm animals.
• At the forefront of nearly every major advance in
protecting children and animals from cruelty, abuse
and neglect.
• Also leading the way in understanding human-
animal interaction and its role in society.
• National headquarters in Washington, D.C.,
program operations in Denver, and Film & TV Unit
in Los Angeles.
www.americanhumane.org

4. What We Do
• Leading-edge programs that protect children from
abuse and neglect and provide better outcomes for
at-risk children and families in the child protective
services system.
• Help communities prevent abuse, support families,
re-engage fathers in the lives of families, and more.
• Conduct innovative research that explores and
develops science-based solutions to problems
affecting the well-being of children and animals.
• Red Star™ Animal Emergency Services — Our
national first-responder team that saves animal
victims of hurricanes, floods, wildfires, mass cruelty,
and other emergencies.
www.americanhumane.org

5. What We Do (continued)
• Red Star Animal-Assisted Therapy — Draws
upon the remarkable power of the human-
animal bond to help children and adults heal,
learn, and find comfort.
• ―American Humane Certified‖™ farm animal
welfare certification program — The nation’s
first, largest, and fastest-growing independent
program for the humane treatment of farm
animals.
• ―No Animals Were Harmed‖® certification
program — Oversees the humane treatment
and safety of tens of thousands of animals in
more than 2,000 film and TV productions
each year.
www.americanhumane.org

6. National Leadership, Local Impact
www.americanhumane.org

7. National Leadership, Local Impact
www.americanhumane.org

8. How We Do It
• We combine research, advocacy, and outreach
in the interests of protecting our most
vulnerable.
• We work through a vast network of
organizations, governments, corporations,
academic institutions, and professionals.
• Our work is built on a foundation of solid
science-based principles with guidance from
our Scientific Advisory Boards.
• Our programs bring about public policy change
and advance scientific knowledge, education,
and improved practices that benefit millions of
children and animals in life-changing and
quality-of-life enhancing ways.
www.americanhumane.org

9. Animal Welfare Research Institute
Innovative collaborative, and strategic science and training
programs to advance the health and well-being of
companion animals.
Takes an animals-first, citizen scientist approach to its
research, engaging pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary
students as never before in groundbreaking research.
Three main goals:
• Conduct solutions-oriented animal welfare and health
research
• Train veterinarians in animal welfare
• Develop a participatory platform to unleash the
scientific potential of millions of ―citizen scientist‖ pet
owners
www.americanhumane.org

10. The Problem
• Current research is often focused on treating disease
rather than animal welfare and prevention (e.g., best
housing methods for farm animals and shelter
animals, risk factors for companion animal
relinquishment, human attitudes toward cats)
• Of the research being conducted, the results are not
reaching those who care for animals
• Research using animals in laboratories may control
for variables, but is it those variables that often
contribute to health and disease
• Animals living in our homes and our environments
may hold the clues to human wellness
www.americanhumane.org

11. The Solution
• Create a new research institute that
funds welfare and prevention research
• Train veterinary students and fellows
through excellent research and training
programs
• Empower owners to participate in
research as ―Citizen Scientists‖
• Encourage scientists from multiple
disciplines to work together for strategic
collaboration
www.americanhumane.org

12. P4 Model for the Future: Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Predictive – Better diagnostics
Preventive – Control risk factors
Personal – Understand that each
animal differs genetically and
may require different drugs,
diets, diagnostic tests
Participatory – Engage the
public to help solve health and
welfare issues
www.americanhumane.org

13. Examples of Research
• Food access, Safety and Quality: food deserts, food recalls, vulnerable
populations with pets (e.g., elderly), obesity
• Diseases in Dogs, Cats, Horses, & Wildlife: genetic, dietary and
environmental risk factors might translate to risk factors in humans
• Human-Animal Interaction: understanding the human-animal bond,
developing humane communities, addressing risk factors for animal
relinquishment, determining the effect of pet relinquishment on children
• Environmental Toxins: endocrine disrupters (e.g., early puberty in
animals and in girls)
www.americanhumane.org

14. America’s Most Popular Pet – Cats Need Our Help
Cats vs. Dogs: MSPCA Intake Data
16000
14000
12000
10000
Dogs(total)
8000 Puppies
Cats (total)
6000
Kittens
4000
2000
0
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008
www.americanhumane.org

15. Cancer in Animals
#1 cause of death in dogs over age two (MAF)
• 75 million (25%) pet dogs in the U.S. will die from
cancer
#2 cause of death in humans (CDC)
• Heart disease (616,067)
• Cancer (562,875)
• Stroke / cerebrovascular diseases (135,952)
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases (127,924)
www.americanhumane.org

16. Cancer in Animals (continued)
Risk of specific cancer types are associated with different
breeds of dogs (e.g., 60% of Golden Retrievers will die of
cancer)
Risk of specific cancer types are associated with different
geographic locations (e.g., U.S. versus Europe)
Genetic, environmental and dietary risk factors need to be
studied:
• Dogs neutered before puberty do not get mammary cancer,
but may be at risk for other cancers
• Scottish Terriers, a breed with high incidence of bladder
cancer, have a 68% reduced risk for this cancer type when fed
certain vegetables three times per week (similar results later
reported for human bladder cancer)
www.americanhumane.org

17. Student Scientist Program
• Veterinary Student Scientist Program
– Summer research programs for students
– Excellent colleges and mentors
– Students from other disciplines can be
added to the team (business, psychology,
social work, computer science, etc.)
• Veterinary Fellow Program
– American College of Animal Welfare, newly
forming specialty college
– Veterinarians eager to earn specialty status
www.americanhumane.org

18. Human-Animal Bond
• Why are 3-4 million healthy dogs and
cats euthanized each year in U.S. animal
shelters?
• Why are horses abandoned – even in our
state and national parks – to fend for
themselves?
• Why are there 50 million feral cats living
in our urban and rural communities?
• How can we create humane communities
that support both animals and children
so that they can remain in safe and loving
homes?
www.americanhumane.org

19. Join With Us in Building Humane Communities
For 134 years, American Humane
Association has been making a positive
difference in the lives of children, animals,
and families.
With you as our partner, collaborator, or
sponsor, we can make even greater strides
in protecting children and animals from
abuse and neglect, and in building
humane communities — which are better,
healthier, and safer communities.
www.americanhumane.org

20. For More Information
Contact:
Robin R. Ganzert, Ph.D. Patricia Olson, DVM, Ph.D., DACT
President and CEO Chief Veterinary Advisor
Email: robing@americanhumane.org Email: patricia.olson@comcast.net
Phone: 202-677-4226 Phone: 970-222-0881