# Event Details - **Event Name**: Maine Humane Conference 2026 - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 14 Oct, 2026 at 08:30 am – Wed, 14 Oct, 2026 at 04:30 pm (-04:00) - **Event Description**: Get ready for a paws-itively awesome day of learning and networking at the Maine Humane Conference!About this EventWelcome to the Maine Humane Conference!Join us for a day filled with insightful sessions focused on animal welfare and humane practices. Connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for compassionate care and advocacy for animals.Whether you're a seasoned animal welfare professional or simply an animal lover looking to learn more, this conference is the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and network with others in the field.Don't miss out on this chance to be a part of the Maine Humane community and make a difference for animals in need. We can't wait to see you there!Staying overnight? See the hotel booking info in the FAQ section. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/6bdefbd0-a2b2-11f1-9988-bfc638c33a5a-rimg-w1200-h444-dcf8f8f8-gmir.jpg Track 1 Agenda🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AMRegistration🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AMWelcome- The Power of CollaborationHost: Katie Hansberry & Katie Lisnik🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AMTaking Our MEDs: Reconnecting with Joy in Animal Welfare WorkHost: Jessica DolceInfo: Empathy is our superpower in animal welfare. It helps us connect deeply with animals, support people through difficult situations, and make a difference every day. But while we often focus on the challenges that come with caring so much, we rarely talk about empathy's other side: joyful connection. In this session, we'll explore how intentionally taking our MEDs (Moments of Empathic Delight) can help us reconnect with what we love about this work, strengthen resilience, and tap into joy as a source of sustainability for ourselves, our teams, and the animals in our care.🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:15 AMBreak🕑: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PMMutt Mentors: A Volunteer-Based Approach to Supporting Long-Stay Shelter DogsHost: Olivia WhittonInfo: Shelters across the country are struggling with length of stay for larger dogs. With longer lengths of stay come challenges such as shelter deterioration and an increase in unwanted behaviors. The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (ARLGP) is tackling these challenges with an innovative program called Mutt Mentors. This program leverages engaged, motivated volunteers with exceptional dog handling skills by pairing them with long-stay (often large) dogs to work with until the dog is adopted. In the three years since the program’s implementation, 11 Mutt Mentors have worked with almost 100 dogs. As a result, the organization has seen an increase in live outcomes for these larger, long-stay dogs, and in many cases, these dogs are getting adopted more quickly. In this workshop, attendees will understand how ARLGP has leveraged its highly skilled volunteers and learn how they can build and propose a similar program to their shelter's decision-makers.🕑: 12:15 PM - 01:30 PMNetworking Lunch with Roundtable Discussions🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:30 PMElevating Client Service in Animal Welfare: Why People Skills MatterHost: Erica ChandlerInfo: Everyone who enters animal welfare shares a common truth: a deep love for animals. But in today’s work, that alone isn’t enough. True impact requires an equally strong commitment to the people in our communities who care for the animals as well. This session explores how strengthening your people skills can expand lifesaving within your organization through building trust, communication, and compassionate client service. Attendees will leave with practical and creative strategies that use client centered approaches to better support their community and increase lifesaving.🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:45 PMBreak🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:45 PMBad Cat Bootcamp: Pathways for Even the Most Formidable Felines Host: Michael KeileyInfo: If you are struggling with surrender inquiries and outcome options for cats with challenging behaviors, you're not alone. Limited socialization, histories of aggression, shelter related stress, or litter box issues can make finding live release options difficult. Understanding stressors in their current home can unlock access to options where they are more likely to be successful in the future. In this session we'll discuss thoughtful questions to ask prior to intake, alternative placements, and creative ways to market, matchmake, and counsel adopters for success.🕑: 03:45 PM - 04:15 PMWrap-up & GiveawaysHost: Katie Hansberry & Katie LisnikTrack 2 AgendaTrack 2🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AMRegistration🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AMWelcome- The Power of CollaborationHost: Katie Hansberry & Katie Lisnik🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AMTaking Our MEDs: Reconnecting with Joy in Animal Welfare WorkHost: Jessica DolceInfo: Empathy is our superpower in animal welfare. It helps us connect deeply with animals, support people through difficult situations, and make a difference every day. But while we often focus on the challenges that come with caring so much, we rarely talk about empathy's other side: joyful connection. In this session, we'll explore how intentionally taking our MEDs (Moments of Empathic Delight) can help us reconnect with what we love about this work, strengthen resilience, and tap into joy as a source of sustainability for ourselves, our teams, and the animals in our care.🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:15 AMBreak🕑: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PMLegacy vs. Logic: Rethinking our traditional animal services model to meet theHost: Audrey LodatoInfo: Why do we do what we do? In animal services, the answer very often lies in history we’ve forgotten. This session explores how the roots of the humane movement created policies and processes we still use today, even when they no longer serve us. We will take a look at the origins of the movement and how they continue to influence our work, and then take time to imagine what animal services would look like if we started from scratch today.🕑: 12:15 PM - 01:30 PMNetworking Lunch with Roundtable Discussions🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:30 PMBehavior Pathway Planning: Consistent and Compassionate Decision-MakingHost: Brittany LinkenheimerInfo: Every shelter makes decisions about animal behavior, welfare, risk, and outcomes—regardless of whether it has dedicated behavior staff. This session explores a practical framework for Behavior Pathway Planning that supports more consistent, transparent, and humane decision-making from intake through outcome. Participants will learn strategies for creating a shared language around behavior, assessing welfare and risk, considering adoptability and capacity for care, and navigating common decision-making challenges. Designed for shelters of all sizes and resource levels, this session provides actionable tools to strengthen communication, improve consistency, and support better outcomes for animals and the people who care for them. Learning Objectives Describe the key components of a Behavior Pathway Planning framework and their role in shelter decision-making. Identify practical tools for evaluating behavior, welfare, risk, and capacity for care. Recognize common challenges🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:45 PMBreak🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:45 PMPathways and Placements in a Challenging TimeHost: Jess T., Dr. Hurwitz, Dani B., Brittany L.Info: Join us as a panel of your peers from across the state digs into a timely exploration of our ethical obligations to our community and the animals we care for. Behavioral euthanasia, shelter capacity, and the addressing of community needs are hot-button topics, but ones that we need to discuss and frame in the overall context of our work. Bring your questions and thoughts for a robust discussion.🕑: 03:45 PM - 04:15 PMWrap Up & GiveawaysHost: Katie Hansberry & Katie Lisnik - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/orono/maine-humane-conference-2026/100001991084767137 - **Event Categories**: dog, business, conferences, workshops - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Age Limit: all_ages - Duration: 8 hours - Location: Black Bear Inn, Ascend Hotel Collection - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 6, max: 60, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Orono - **state**: ME - **country**: United States - **location**: Black Bear Inn, Ascend Hotel Collection - **lat**: 44.9022479 - **long**: -68.6900522 - **full address**: Black Bear Inn, Ascend Hotel Collection, 4 Godfrey Drive, Orono, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Maine Humane Conference 2026 - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/17237f740df2019da19ba4f710310f06c02f429daf80b882e51ae58b9ae5e8a4-rimg-w1200-h630-dc1c2d1a-gmir.jpg?v=1781289317 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Maine Humane Conference 2026 being held? - **A:** Maine Humane Conference 2026 takes place on Wed, 14 Oct, 2026 at 08:30 am to Wed, 14 Oct, 2026 at 04:30 pm at Black Bear Inn, Ascend Hotel Collection, 4 Godfrey Drive, Orono, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Maine Humane Conference 2026? - **A:** Maine Humane Conference 2026 is organized by Maine Humane. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Maine Humane Conference 2026 is ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, startup founders, and networking enthusiasts eager to grow their connections. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Orono, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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