October 3rd - 5th, 2025 - Cumberland University Alumni Center, Lebanon TN

If you haven't registered at the shelter on Thursday, please arrive by 8 am to register and check in!

Welcome attendees! Don't miss opening remarks and daily Q&A with Amy!

Leading the Way: Kitten Lifesaving in Shelters 

Best practices for kitten-focused programs including kitten diversion, foster programs, on-site care of kittens, and more 

Ask the Vet!

Food trucks and vendors available all around the Alumni Center!  

GDubs Brew Co Truck (All day)

Sambwich Co Food Truck (Lunch only)

This event is for Meet and Greet ticket holders only!

 Saving Kittens Workshop 

This class includes information on kitten development, assessing health, monitoring stool and urine, bottle feeding, kitten-led weaning, behavior and socialization, and more. Attendees gain an understanding of the issues impacting kittens, learn the fundamentals of caring for kittens 0-8 weeks of age, and become empowered to play a role in saving their lives.

Cat Math Part 1: Determine Your Key Cat Numbers to Reduce Overpopulation in Your Community 

Join Stacy LeBaron and Kristen Petrie for a 50-minute workshop where you’ll actively participate in identifying the strategic number of owned cats that need to be spayed/neutered annually, as well as the number of cats for TNR. Each participant will determine their target population and use the Community Cat Calculator to better understand what needs to be done to create a more humane community for cats. This is organizational strategic planning-accomplished in less than an hour.

 Closing remarks and reminders for Day Two

Please check in each day by scanning our QR codes at the door

Welcome attendees! Don't miss opening remarks and daily Q&A with Amy!

Growing Your Rescue's Social Media: Tips for Success

Discover the essential dos and don’ts for building a strong social media presence as an animal rescue. Learn practical strategies to boost engagement, reach more supporters, and share your mission effectively.

 Cat Pawsitive & Shelter Catification: Happier, More Adoptable Cats

Join Jackson Galaxy as he shares how his groundbreaking initiatives, Cat Pawsitive and Shelter Catification, are transforming the shelter experience for cats, staff, and adopters. Through positive-reinforcement clicker training, cats build confidence, reduce stress-related behaviors, and strengthen their bond with humans, making them more appealing to adopters. Meanwhile, Catification applies behavioral science and thoughtful design to create enriching, comforting environments that meet cats’ sensory needs and ease anxiety. Together, these programs empower shelter teams, enhance feline well-being, and ultimately help more cats find loving, permanent homes.

 Against All Odds: My Journey with Special Needs Cats 

A heartfelt story of rescuing and caring for cats with unique challenges, highlighting the triumphs, setbacks, and life lessons learned along the way.

FIP, CH, FIV & FELV: What Every Rescuer Should Know 

An informative session unpacking the realities of four common yet often misunderstood feline conditions, exploring symptoms, care strategies, and the latest advances in treatment and management.

Food trucks and vendors available all around the Alumni Center!   

Bubbles and Brews Coffee Truck

Pig Pen BBQ Food Truck

This event is for Meet and Greet ticket holders only!

This event is for Meet and Greet ticket holders only!

From Wild Instincts to Healing Hands: Decoding the Mysteries of Cats 

An in-depth exploration of the adaptive and evolutionary forces that shape feline behavior, revealing why cats act the way they do and how those instincts play out in our homes and shelters.

From Fearful to Friendly 

A groundbreaking, humane approach to helping extremely frightened cats who don’t respond to traditional positive reinforcement techniques. Includes a practical “bonus” method for testing when a fearful cat can be safely picked up-every time.

The Human Heart 

A personal account of overcoming vicarious trauma in the shelter environment and finding resilience in the work of animal welfare.

Medical Issues That Present as "Behavior Problems": Recognition & Management 

Learn how common medical conditions can appear as behavior problems in cats and gain practical strategies to recognize and manage them effectively.

 Closing remarks and reminders for Day Three

This event is for UCC Attendee's, Speakers and Vendors. Doors open at 6 pm. Food and drinks provided as well as giveaway prizes throughout the night. Don't miss one of a kind cat crafts you help create with the cats of True Rescue! Come network with like-minded feline focused friends! Live music, Karaoke, awards and lots of fun will be had!

Please check in each day by scanning our QR codes at the door

Welcome attendees! Don't miss opening remarks and daily Q&A with Amy!

TBA

TNR and Disaster Response

Eric will be sharing his TNR work with Sister Kitten and their experience during Hurricane Helene.  

Collaboration Over Competition: Building Unity in Animal Rescue 

This session begins with a brief introduction and an overview of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and how it all began. But the heart of the conversation is about something bigger. It's about how we can come together as a rescue community instead of working against each other. After traveling across the country and even internationally to places like Greece and Spain, one thing has become clear; our biggest challenge isn’t the animals, it’s learning to work as a team.  

Food trucks and vendors available all around the Alumni Center!   

 GDubs Brew Co Coffee Truck

TN French Dip Food Truck

Kettle Corn Shop 

Feline Health Challenges: Panleukopenia and Caring for Pregnant or Nursing Queens 

This two-part session explores two vital topics in feline health. The first half examines panleukopenia in kittens and adult cats, outlining the disease process, treatment protocols, and prevention strategies to protect feline populations in shelters, foster programs, and clinics. The second half focuses on the care of pregnant and nursing queens, covering health management, specialized needs, and guidance for navigating challenging situations. Together, these discussions provide essential information for improving health outcomes and welfare for cats in all care environments.

 Cat Math Part 2: How to Get More Cats Fixed in Your Community 

In this 50-minute session, Stacy LeBaron will share models of spay/neuter initiatives designed for non-veterinarians who want to build capacity in their community. She’ll cover not only the types of models, but also how to launch and implement them. Key issues such as staffing, funding, and planning will be addressed so you can apply your cat math to build a sustainable spay/neuter and community cat program tailored to your community.

 Bridging the Gap in FIP Treatment: Proven Partnerships Driving Progress 

 Since 2021, FieldHaven Feline Center and FIP Global CATS have collaborated to advance understanding and access to treatment for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This 60-minute session highlights how FieldHaven and FIP Global CATS' partnership supports veterinarians in diagnosing and typing FIP, while also sharing critical knowledge gained during the “underground” treatment years. Attendees will gain insight into evolving treatment protocols and the collaborative efforts driving progress in FIP care. 

 Closing remarks