Animal Welfare in Practice: Trends Shaping the Field

Joint and the for Animal Welfare in Practice: Trends Shaping the Field with speakers Danielle Case and Emily Klehm (Anti-Cruelty).

This event will be hybrid, in-person and online. 2 hours of CLE will be available. Plant-based snacks and drinks provided to in person guests.

This event is made possible by the generosity of the Andrew E. Buslik Endowed Award, which recognizes outstanding student achievement and programming in animal law.

Description:

Animal welfare in the United States is at a critical inflection point. While national intake numbers for dogs and cats have modestly declined, shelters and animal control agencies remain over capacity, with government-run facilities bearing nearly half of the system’s total intake and outcomes. Public expectations around “No K*ll” policies—often disconnected from operational realities—are placing increasing strain on humane care, public safety, and community trust.

Adoptions have largely plateaued, transfers are softening across the sector, and vulnerable populations—particularly kittens and large dogs—are experiencing longer lengths of stay and higher health risks. At the same time, owner surrenders are rising as economic pressures limit access to veterinary care, housing stability, and pet-support resources. Stray intakes now dominate admissions, contributing to community safety concerns and highlighting gaps in prevention and reunification strategies.

Field Services play a growing and complex role at the intersection of public safety, animal welfare, and community engagement. However, inconsistent data collection and wide variation in field service models nationwide limit the sector’s ability to assess outcomes, compare interventions, and shape effective policy.

This presentation examines current national trends, operational challenges, and emerging opportunities—from in-field medical care and kitten intervention to legal frameworks for outdoor cats and enhanced training for Animal Control Officers. Designed for legal professionals, policymakers, and advocates, Animal Welfare in Practice explores how law, data, and frontline practice must align to create safer communities and more humane systems for both animals and people.

Speaker Biographies:

Danielle Case is an animal welfare leader with more than a decade of experience working at the intersection of shelter operations, organizational leadership, and community-centered services. Danielle's leadership roles have focused on supporting organizations through periods of growth, restructuring, and cultural change. Her work has spanned strategy development, staff engagement, community partnerships, and sustainable operational design in high-impact animal welfare organizations. Danielle’s approach to animal welfare emphasizes not only protecting animals, but also supporting the people and communities connected to them. She is particularly interested in national trends across the field both locally and nationally, including workforce sustainability, evolving shelter models, data-informed decision-making, and the growing recognition that long-term animal welfare outcomes depend on strong organizational health.

Emily Klehm

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Host or Publisher Anti-Cruelty and DePaul Center for Animal Law