The Other End of the Leash: Trauma-Informed Approaches to Animal Services
Lack of pet-friendly housing, financial hardship, and limited access to care disproportionately affect pet owners from marginalized and underserved communities. These systemic inequities can lead to traumatic separation between people and their beloved animals. In response, many animal welfare organizations are working to provide crisis support that acknowledges and addresses these barriers.
Presented by Lis Conarton, Director of Organizational Culture and Engagement with Veterinary Medical Center of CNY, April Moore, Senior Manager of Learning Advancement with Best Friends Animal Society, and Zoë Agnew-Svoboda, Director of Engagement and Program Development with BestyBnB at the 9th International Veterinary Social Work Summit in Toronto, Canada. This session will explore how understanding the intersections of trauma, systemic oppression, and animal companionship is essential to building equitable, inclusive, and trust-based relationships with pet owners. Participants will learn how to integrate trauma-informed care into organizational practices, centering the lived experiences of those most impacted by structural inequities.
Through storytelling, empathy-building activities, and practical tools, this session will equip attendees to recognize the widespread impact of trauma, respond in ways that avoid retraumatization, and integrate trauma-informed strategies into agency policies, team training, and client engagement. By prioritizing trauma-informed care, organizations can create more responsive, inclusive systems that honor the human-animal bond and promote healing-centered support.
Location:
Courtyard Toronto Downtown, 475 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1X7, Canada
Presented by
Zoë Agnew-Svoboda
zagnewsvoboda@bestybnb.com
Director of Engagement and Program Development
Zoë has worked in animal welfare for over a decade. Prior to joining BestyBnB, she spent close to 8 years providing direct service to survivors of domestic violence by managing the pet advocacy program at a domestic violence agency in Kansas City, Missouri. With this program, she gained first-hand knowledge on the positive impact pets play in our lives and how the relationship we share with animals can be life-saving. Zoë regularly provides training on her vast knowledge of the connection between domestic violence and animal abuse, and how to provide pet advocacy services. In her role with BestyBnB, she partners with agencies to implement lifesaving programs for survivors seeking safety with their pets.
*BestyBnB webinars are geared toward professional development and are not intended to be utilized for therapeutic or psycho-educational purposes. If you are a survivor of domestic violence seeking help please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline.