On April 9, 2014 the Animals for Life Forum will feature a full day of speakers, presentations and panels, all discussing the different ways the human-animal bond is significant across different professions, such as psychology, therapy and education, among others. Three overarching themes will shape the day's discussions and complement the speakers' expertise: how animals help humans heal, health benefits from human-animal interactions and how humans care for animals. 

Continuing Education Credits:

Event Pricing:

Early Registration (on or before 3/26) - $99

Registration (after 3/26) - $129

Registration fee includes hotel space, speaker fees, breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.

*If you do not want to pay online, checks are also accepted. Click here for the Printable Registration Form. Make check payable to "Animals for Life Foundation" and mail to Wanda Campbell, Animals for Life Forum, P.O. Box 182383; Columbus, OH 43218-2383. Contact Wanda at wcampbell@ofbf.org or 614.246.8271 with any questions.

Hotel Information:

A block of rooms has been reserved at the rate of $99/night (plus applicable fees and taxes). To receive this group rate, reservations must be made with the hotel by 4:00pm on March 9, 2014. http://www.radisson.com/animalsforlife

Program Agenda:

8:45  a.m. - Registration

                   Book signing, selling and autograph session with Jon Katz

9:15 a.m. -  Welcome & Introductions – AFL President

9:30 a.m. -  ”The Current State of the Human-Animal Bond”

9:45 a.m. -  “The Places We Have Been & Will Go: Conceptualizing Human-Animal  

                    Interactions in Homes & Therapy”

        Dr. Aubrey Fine

10:45 a.m. - “The Human-Animal Bond at Its Best “

                    Bittersweet Farms

11:00 a.m. - “The Real World of Real Animals”                                                                

                     New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz 

12:00 p.m. - Lunch

                    Forum sponsor recognition

                    AFL sponsor recognition

                    Book signing, selling and autograph session with Jon Katz

1:00 p.m. - “Evidence Based Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interaction”  

        Dr. Sandra Barker, PhD, NCC, LPC, professor of psychiatry; chair, human-

                    animal interaction, medical campus, Virginia Commonwealth University;

                    associate director of inpatient psychiatry programs and affiliate scientist,

                    Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing Center for Behavioral

                    Approaches to Symptom Management; director, School of Medicine Center

                    for Human-Animal Interaction.

1:45 p.m. - Panel Discussion -- “Human Animal Interactions on the Farm”

                  Panel moderator – Dr. Leah Dorman, director of food programs, OFBF

      Panel members:

                      - Pat Hord, Hord Livestock

                      - Teun Verhoeven, Twin Oak Dairy

                      - Bev Roe, cow-calf

                      - Dan Frobose, beef cattle feedlot

                      - Katherine Harrison, Harrison Goat Farm

                      - Dr. Steve Moeller, professor of animal science, Ohio State University

                      - Dr. Steve Boyles, professor of animal science, Ohio State University

                      - Dr. Maurice Eastridge, professor of animal science, Ohio State University

2:45 p.m. - Break

3:00 p.m. - “What is the Human Animal Bond?”

      “How would you define the Human-Animal Bond?”

      Group table discussion/interaction

3:30 p.m. - "The Human-Animal Bond at Its Best"

      Read to Roo/Tina Anderson

3:45 p.m. - “No Animals Were Harmed”

      Karen Rosa, American Humane Association

4:30 p.m. - Adjourn

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