A Vets for Climate Action & Getting 2 Zero webinar

How can animal shelters become leaders in climate sensitive design and practice?  

Animal shelters provide important community services including daily care of unhoused animals, community education, and even serve an essential role during and after natural disasters such as fire, earthquake, and flood. Can animal shelters also combat climate change? 

Join one of VfCA's founding members Dr. Angela Frimberger to learn how climate change is affecting animals, leading to a need to inform animal shelter design and future planning.

Our guest speaker Bruce Playle, architect, will then explore the subject of resiliency for animal shelters broadly, shine light on the shelter of the future, and provide a menu of operational and facility changes which any shelter can implement now. 

We will also hear from our ClimateSmart team who will introduce VfCA’s new program empowering vet nurses, vets and business owners to transform their animal shelters or clinics into environmental leaders. 

Who should attend:

The content presented in this webinar will be invaluable to any organisation or community members who are concerned about better management and welfare of animals. 

There are no limits on attendees per organisation and we would like to encourage as many people as possible to join live to take part in this unique event.

Webinar Date: Tuesday 26th October 2021

Webinar Time: 12:00pm AEDT (VIC/NSW/TAS/ACT) / 11:30am ACDT (SA) / 11:00am AEST (QLD) / 10:30am ACST (NT) / 9:00am AWST (WA)

Webinar Recording:

This webinar will be recorded and shared after the event so anyone who is unable to attend can watch at a time convenient to them.

Agenda (AEDT –  Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra time):

• 12:00 AEDT – VfCA Welcome & Acknowledgement
• 12:05 AEDT – Climate Change: A Veterinary Problem (Dr. Angela Frimberger)
• 12:15 AEDT – The Resilient Animal Shelter, Naturally! (Bruce Playle, AIA)
• 12:35 AEDT – Introducing ClimateSmart (Dr. Jeremy Watson / Dr. Corinna Klupiec)
• 12:45 AEDT – Open Q&A with presenters 
• 13:00 AEDT – Webinar Ends

About Dr. Angela Frimberger, BS, VMD, DiplACVIM (Oncology):

Angela is a biologist, veterinary oncologist and volunteer climate advocate / educator. She has always been concerned about the environment and in 2014 trained as a Climate Leader with the Climate Reality Project and ACF. Angela seeks to advance climate advocacy within the veterinary profession; founded ClimateVets in 2016; and was a founding Board member of Veterinarians for Climate Action in 2019.

About Bruce Playle, AIA:

A founding principal of Davis, California based Indigo Hammond + Playle Architects, Mr. Playle has over 40 years of experience serving public and animal shelter clients. An early collaborator with the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine program, he has brought many innovations to the animal shelter world, including design-integrated shelter medicine best practices, reinvention of the dog kennel using shotcrete construction, and use of building-within-a-building modular construction to optimize animal care in buildings that cost less. After hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, he realized that natural “bioregional” design methods could help make buildings more survivable and serviceable, that is resilient. He is a recognized subject matter leader in the field and is a frequent speaker including to the national conference of the American Institute of Architects, and provides zero-net-energy consulting to the State of California. He is presently working on the design of resilient, earthquake and fire-resistant shelters which also use much less water and energy to operate. 

About ClimateSmart:

Designed by vets and vet nurses, VfCA’s ClimateSmart Program combines knowledge in sustainability and carbon with experience in the field to combat industry specific environmental challenges. By outlining clear steps and providing the tools and information necessary, ClimateSmart can help any animal shelter or veterinary clinic across Australia  successfully integrate sustainable solutions into their day-to-day operations.

About Getting 2 Zero: 

Getting to Zero (G2Z) aims to increase responsibility for companion animals so that every community and municipality can achieve zero euthanasia of all healthy and treatable cats and dogs. G2Z is relevant to state governments, local government animal management departments, pounds, shelters, rescue groups, breed organisations, breeders, pet shops, animal trainers, groomers, wildlife organisations, veterinarians, and all community members who are concerned about better management and welfare of cats and dogs.