Attendees at the AI in Animal Welfare Summit

Best Friends AI in Animal Welfare Summit

October 9–10, 2026 · Cedar City, Utah
Founding Academic Partner: Southern Utah University

AI is already in the tools animal welfare uses every day and its presence continues to grow. It's a powerful tool with exponential lifesaving potential, but it also comes with risks. Now is the time for us to come together as a field to shape how AI is used rather than waiting for developers to define it for us.

Whitney Bollinger, Director of the Best Friends Network, on where we stand and how we got here.

Why This, Why Now

Every life saved in this field came from a decision a person made: a director who changed an intake policy, a foster who said yes, a staff person who did what it took to help a family stay together. These daily decisions, made with compassion and humanity at the center, are how more than two-thirds of U.S. shelters reached no-kill.

Keeping that work going and growing isn't without its challenges, and that's where we're seeing AI come in. AI doesn't save animals or make the decisions that do. It’s a tool that gives time back to the people who do the work only people can do.

What the Summit Is

There's a lot of fear and uncertainty around AI, and it's reasonable. The technology is moving fast, and much of it is being built by people who don't understand this field or think about the people and pets in our communities the way we do.

The Best Friends AI in Animal Welfare Summit brought leaders from across animal welfare together with national organizations, academics, and technologists at Southern Utah University on October 9-10. During the Summit, the 57 participants worked through the hard questions to refine and finalize the Charter for the Responsible Use of AI in Animal Welfare, which will serve as shared principles for how the field uses AI.

Who is in the Room?

Shelter and rescue leaders from across the country. Southern Utah University staff, faculty and AI ethics experts. Technology advisors from outside the field. And leaders from ASPCA, Humane World for Animals, Petco Love, and PetSmart Charities, as well as Best Friends.

Aaron Klein Chief Product Officer Petco Love	Aaron Lamstein Chief Executive Officer Petwise Brands	Abigail Appleton Vice President, Statewide Initiatives Charleston Animal Society	Aimee Charlton Director, National Learning Advancement Best Friends Animal Society	Alicia Figueiredo Director, Development Manager Hearts & Bones Rescue
Alisha Vianello Executive Director Gateway Pet Guardians	Alyse Arras Executive Director Carver Scott Humane Society	Amanda Foster Senior Director of Data Strategy Austin Pets Alive!/ American Pets Alive!	Amy Davila Sanchez Associate Director, National Marketing Best Friends Animal Society	Amy Kohlbecker Executive Director, Best Friends Pet Adoption Center, Salt Lake City Best Friends Animal Society
Anastasia Nesbeth Artist Ink Factory	Angelita Sampaio Senior Specialist, Network Partner Mobilization Best Friends Animal Society	Bethany Heins Director, Shelter Collaborative Best Friends Animal Society	Cathy Hart Regional Pathways Director Southern Utah University	Christa Chadwick Senior Vice President, Shelter Services ASPCA
Cynthia Pena Director of Adoptions Three Little Pitties Rescue	Daniel Hill College and Career Ready Coordinator Southern Utah University	Danielle Bolen Principal Connect Specialist Amazon Web Services	David Hatch Director/Associate Professor, Masters Interdisciplinary Studies Southern Utah University	Dr. Diane Darling Associate Professor of Psychology Southern Utah University
Doug McCrea Senior Vice President, Information Technology ASPCA	Elizabeth Bennett Project & Communications Lead Best Friends Animal Society	Evan Brown AI Innovation Advisor Best Friends Animal Society	Holly Sizemore Chief Mission Officer Best Friends Animal Society	James Sage Associate Provost/Associate Professor, Philosophy Southern Utah University
Dr. Jennifer Kitchen Staff Veterinarian, Health Informatics Lead Community Animal Medicine Project (CAMP)	Jessica Arias Director City of Burlington Animal Services	Jess Grand Chief of Staff Furry Friends Humane	Dr. JoAnn Bartley Associate Professor of Psychology Southern Utah University	Jonathan Sizemore Videographer Best Friends Animal Society
Jordan Craig Chief Operating Officer Operation Kindness	Josh Fisher Chief Executive Officer Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando	Julie Castle Chief Executive Officer Best Friends Animal Society	Dr. Julie McCown Associate Professor of English Southern Utah University	Dr. Katherine Polak Senior Vice President, Centers of Expertise Humane World for Animals
Katie Hutchinson Deputy Director Pima Animal Care Center	Laura Houston Executive Director Animal Welfare Association of NJ	Leslie Sans Founder & CEO Dallas Pets Alive!	Mary Pearson Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs Southern Utah University	Maureen Gillespie Data Scientist Best Friends Animal Society
Melinda Pfundstein Executive Director, Community & Workforce Development Southern Utah University	Melody Jennings Bowers Community Development Manager One Tail at a Time - West Texas	Melynda Thorpe Assistant Vice President, Workforce & Educational Opportunity Southern Utah University	Misty Valenta Animal Services Director Williamson County Regiona	Phil Chen Director of Strategy and Systems PetSmart Charities
Rachael Ziering Founding Executive Director Muddy Paws Rescue	Rachel Golub Chief of Staff Brandywine Valley SPCA	Regan Goins Co-Founder and President PORT Pets of Ohio Rescue Team	Scott Trebatoski Department Director Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center	Dr. Sean Murphy Assistant Professor of Philosophy Southern Utah University
Shubber Ali Tech & Innovation Advisor	Steven Martinez Executive Director York County SPCA	Sue Cosby Senior Advisor, Strategy & Integration Best Friends Animal Society	Talia Butler Division Director Salt Lake County Animal Services	Tanner Vario, MPA Assistant Director, Operations & Events, Community & Workforce Development Southern Utah University
Dr. Travis Simkins Assistant Professor of Marketing Southern Utah University	Whitney Bollinger Director, Strategy & Network Operations Best Friends Animal Society	William Heyborne, Ph.D. Dean, College of STEM/ Professor of Biology Southern Utah University	Zak Sprowls Technology & Data Coordinator SPCA Serving Erie County

What Comes Next

What came out of those two days belongs to the whole field, not just the people who were in the room. The Charter for the Responsible Use of AI in Animal Welfare is available now. We encourage you to use the charter to guide your organization’s AI policies, evaluate tools and vendors, and start conversations with your staff, board, and volunteers.