New Mexico Humane Conference

Course overview

The New Mexico Humane Conference is a premier regional gathering dedicated to advancing the care, protection, and well-being of animals through education, collaboration, and innovation. Hosted annually in Albuquerque, NM, the conference brings together professionals and advocates from across the fields of animal welfare, veterinary medicine, public health, social work, and municipal services. The 2025 conference will offer a multi-disciplinary slate of sessions designed to deepen participants' understanding of animal health, shelter medicine, humane care standards, and the interconnected challenges faced by people and pets. Conference content is developed to reflect emerging trends, evidence-based practices, and real-world scenarios encountered in both clinical and community-based animal care settings. Topics include, but are not limited to: -Shelter medicine best practices and innovations -Strategies for addressing animal hoarding and cruelty investigations -Public health impacts of companion animal care and community outreach -Behavioral health for companion animals in shelters and foster homes -Managing infectious disease outbreaks in shelter environments -Emergency and disaster response involving animals -Cultural competence and access to veterinary care -Interdisciplinary collaborations that strengthen human-animal support systems Veterinary professionals will benefit from sessions that provide practical, actionable guidance for improving animal outcomes, understanding complex medical and behavioral conditions, and applying trauma-informed, equity-driven approaches in their work. Several sessions are taught by veterinarians, behaviorists, legal experts, and sheltering leaders who bring case studies, data, and field experience to the forefront of learning. The conference is appropriate for licensed veterinarians, veterinary technicians, shelter medical staff, animal control officers, nonprofit leaders, and students preparing for careers in animal health or sheltering. A one-day virtual option with limited session access is available for those unable to attend in person.