Workshops

Workshops for Expo 2027 will be announced in Fall 2026.

Animal Care Expo 2027 will feature over 100 professional development workshops and learning opportunities across 12 themed tracks. At every Expo, leaders and experts in animal welfare provide attendees with insight into trending topics, best practices and tools they can use within their own communities and organizations.

Educational opportunities include:

• Learning Labs – Learning Labs are an additional fee.  These daylong sessions (9:30am – 3:00pm) allow for a deeper dive into specific topics. Learning Labs will take place on Thursday, May 6 and include lunch.
• Main Stage - We will convene together for three Main Stage sessions to discuss some of the biggest topics and trends in the animal welfare field today.
• Workshops- 2027 workshop tracks include:
  • Access to Care (Sponsored by Aeolus Pet) - Workshops cover approaches and best practices for animal welfare organizations, service providers and veterinary professionals on how to ensure equitable access to animal health and pet care resources; and share innovative programs and research on community outreach and pet support services.
  • Behavior- Workshops provide tips, tools and resources to support the behavioral and enrichment needs of dogs and cats in shelters, rescues and the community.
  • Cats - Workshops focus on strategies for bolstering your impact for cats, assessing community needs and building community support for cat programs.
  • Community Engagement - Workshops emphasize building relationships through inclusive and volunteer-powered programs that foster trust, reduce barriers and  strengthen community connections to drive change.
  • Data and Technology Workshops explore digital tools, technologies and innovative strategies that enhance efficiency, strengthen data-informed decision-making and support effective outcomes for animals.
  • Expanding Our Reach - Workshops explore strategies to strengthen our networks and build new connections, allowing us to broaden our impact and create positive outcomes for all animals. 
  • Field Services (Sponsored by National Animal Care and Control Association)- Workshops support professionals such as field officers, humane investigators and outreach staff who provide services including cruelty investigations, wildlife conflict mitigation, community education, and enforcing ordinances, laws and regulations.
  • Leadership and Career Skills (Sponsored by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement)- Workshops support skill-building, address current and future challenges in animal welfare, and equip individuals at any career stage with essential skills and knowledge to enhance their impact.
  • Marketing and Fundraising (Sponsored by Petfinder)- Workshops provide tools, insight and guidance into the many ways organizations share their work, engage with their communities and raise funds to support their mission.
  • Progressive Programs - Workshops feature forward-thinking initiatives and replicable models that address evolving challenges in animal welfare with bold ideas, innovative partnerships and community-driven solutions.
  • Shelter Operations (Sponsored by CDE Animal Cages) - Workshops highlight best practices in adoption, foster programs, data collection, and emerging practices.
  • Veterinary Medicine (Sponsored by Virox) - Workshops explore the latest trends in shelter and community medicine, along with ways to increase access to veterinary care for people and pets. Participants earn RACE continuing education credits.

Workshops that highlight specific themes throughout the conference include the following spotlight designations:

• Spotlight on Global - Content explores animal welfare issues and topics from an international perspective, highlighting their experiences, insights and innovations.
• Spotlight on Inclusion - Content focuses on increasing equity in access to care services, community-centric programs and community-based solutions inclusive of underserved, underrepresented and historically marginalized communities; and on creating a more diverse, just and fair animal welfare movement.
• Spotlight on Rural - Content explores animal welfare issues and topics from a rural perspective, including speakers from rural communities and innovations that can support rural organizations.
• Spotlight on Wildlife - Content focuses on humane, practical approaches to wildlife care and conflict mitigation, offering strategies for shelters, rescues and field services on how to support wild animals and communicate effectively with the public about wildlife-related issues.

A note on content from speakers, presenters and vendors

As the host of Animal Care Expo, Humane World for Animals endeavors to invite speakers, presenters and vendors who are knowledgeable in their subject areas and/or provide useful products and services for the animal welfare field. Please note that views expressed, and materials distributed by speakers, presenters, and vendors are solely those of the presenters and not of Humane World for Animals.