The Ithaca Conference: Planning for a Dog-Friendly Community

April 22, 2006

Ithaca4Dogs, a project of Bridges-PRTD, announces a national conference on planning for dog-friendly communities. This two-part event, including a one-month online e-conference and a one-day in-person conference, is intended for community planners, activists, tourism consultants, and entrepreneurs in pet and related sectors.

Provisional Agenda:

1. e-Conference: February 15-March 15
   Register by joining the Google Group IthacaConference
   
   • Feb. 15 - Feb. 21: Defining the "dog-friendly community"
     
   • Feb. 21 - Feb. 27: Founding and managing dog parks
     
   • Feb. 28 - Mar. 6: No-kill animal shelters
     
   • Mar. 7 - Mar. 13: Breed-specific legislation
     
   • Mar. 14 - March 15: Organizing on the national and international level
   
   
2. Conference: April 22, 2006
   
   • Venue: Holiday Inn, 222 S. Cayuga Street, downtown Ithaca, NY. Ithaca is located in the scenic Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York. For more information consult VisitIthaca.com
     
   • Themes: Presentations and workshops will focus on
     
     • Establishment of an International Alliance of Dog Owner Groups
       
     • Dog-based tourism: developing dog-friendly destinations
       
     • Planning and managing dog parks
       
     • No-kill pet shelters
       
     • Equitable access to public areas, housing, and commercial establishments
       
     • Dog-rage and dog phobia: mitigating the hazards of
       ignorance, prejudice, and the itch to litigate
       
     • Community services (companion dogs, etc.)
       
     • Liability and legal exposure
       
     • Suggestions for other topics are welcome.
     
     
   • Costs: conference fee is $30, and includes buffet dinner and open-bar farewell party. A block of rooms has been reserved at Holiday Inn, but accommodations are not included in the registration fee and conference participants are free to stay where they want.
     
   • Results: selected proceedings will be published in CD-ROM form, possibly also a book.
     
   • Registration: An online registration page will be posted soon. Meanwhile, prospective presenters and participants should email Seth Sicroff at conference@ithaca4dogs.com.

     Suggestions and collaboration are welcome.

   Posted by Michèle on April 22, 2006 5:18 AM