Join Open Door Veterinary Collective for lively conversations as we explore innovative and practical solutions that organizations are using to address barriers to accessing pet care and resources in their communities.

This new monthly webcast series begins on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 from 12 pm - 12:30 pm Pacific Time. 

We’ll cover various topics and share successful strategies through short 30-minute presentations, panel discussions, video snippets and Q&A sessions. 


Topics and featured programs include:

• Pet Inclusive Local Transportation Options 
• Access to Financially Friendly Pet Services 
• Engaging with Human and Social Service Providers to Increase Access to Care 
• Successful Program Profiles: Neighborhood Pets and their Community-Centered Well-Being for People and Pets
• How to Multiply Existing Donor Dollars for Veterinary Care in Your Community and more!


Who should attend?
Everyone is welcome! This series is perfect for those interested or involved in access to veterinary care. Each session will be recorded and viewable on-demand within a few days after the event. 

Come make friends and learn to make access to care more achievable for all involved! #ThanksToMaddie

Register for Webcast Series

 

Session #1 - January 21, 2025


Pet-friendly or pet-inclusive transportation is a recurring barrier identified by public-facing staff and volunteers across the human and animal welfare sectors. Families who struggle to find pet-friendly transportation are directly affected in their ability to access care for their animals. By highlighting these barriers and some solutions, we aim to expand the conversation to help increase access to veterinary care for bonded pet families in need.

This session will touch on local transit options, including public transport and specialized pet shuttle services. We will also spotlight examples of organizations that have successfully leveraged their own resources to create effective transportation solutions.


Guest Speakers: 
- Geraldine D'Silva, Maddie's National Director of Programs & Partnerships at Open Door Veterinary Collective

- Gayle Bair, Pet Retention Liaison at Animal Friends

- Marty Sampson, Founder and CEO at Leash

- Sarah McGoldrick, Vice President of Animal Operations at Dallas Pets Alive!


Recording for this session is now available to watch on-demand! You can access the recording & ask questions to our guest speakers on the discussion thread: https://maddies.fund/OpenDoors01212025

If you would like to earn continuing education credit and receive a certificate of completion,
you can view the recording on Maddie's University: https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/doors-wide-open-exploring-pet-inclusive-transportation-options-to-increase-access-to-veterinary-care-on-demand




Session #2 - February 18, 2025

 

Pethelpfinder.org was launched after targeted research to expand access to veterinary care and pet care resources. Hear about the research, why this database uses the term “financially friendly” care and how it is expanding the connection and conversation on accessible pet care among non-profit animal welfare agencies, social service agencies, private practice veterinarians and leaders in the field. 

We’ll share site features, benefits to pet families and benefits for listed service providers and social service agencies. We’re adding more benefits every day! We’ll also share some site statistics, insights on exciting plans for future development and cover how the site can help you during man-made or natural disasters.

Guest Speaker: Heather Cammisa, Program Manager at pethelpfinder.org and Chief Enterprise Officer at Open Door Veterinary Collective




Session #3 - March 18, 2025


Human social services and healthcare organizations can be critical partners with animal welfare in intake diversion/surrender prevention.  

This session focuses on:
   1. Understanding the types of human services typically encountered in animal welfare work
   2. Quickly raising awareness of common ground and shared goals for collaboration around human and animal welfare
   3. Offering simple strategies to engage in ongoing relationships with key human service providers.

Ample time for questions and discussion will be included as part of this session.

Guest Speaker: Janet Hoy-Gerlach, PhD, LCSW, LISW-S, Director of Veterinary Social Work at Open Door Veterinary Collective




Session #4 - April 22, 2025


In this session we’ll share the statistics that describe the crisis in accessing veterinary care from a credit and cash-flow perspective and offer practical solutions to help pet families pay for veterinary care over time, at your clinic or with clinics in your community.

We’ll share research that demonstrates that these expanded payment options offer the ability to multiply donor (or discount) dollars by 14.5, turning $100,000 into $1,450,000 of veterinary care in your community among clients unlikely to qualify for common payment tools such as CareCredit. This will enable you to best target limited dollars to the cases that most need them and to expand care overall, keeping clinics working to sustain accessible care.

Guest Speaker: Heather Cammisa, Program Manager at pethelpfinder.org and Chief Enterprise Officer at Open Door Veterinary Collective




Session #5 - May 20, 2025


Join Geraldine, Becca and Janet as they discuss the community-centered approach of Neighborhood Pets Outreach & Resource Center, a membership-based, Cleveland nonprofit created by proximate leaders—those deeply connected to the communities they serve. They have built strong human service and community development partnerships to help families also access vital healthcare, legal and emergency resources. 

This webcast highlights how Neighborhood Pets offers adaptable strategies for innovative community building in support of human and pet well-being!

Guest Speakers:

- Geraldine D’Silva, National Director of Programs & Partnerships at Open Door Veterinary Collective

- Janet Hoy-Gerlach, PhD, LCSW, LISW-S, Director of Veterinary Social Work at Open Door Veterinary Collective

- Becca Britton, Executive Director at Neighborhood Pets




Meet Our Guest Speakers

Learn more about the guest speakers for Doors Wide Open: Quick Strategies to Expand Access to Care That Work!


Geraldine D'Silva is an international human and animal welfare consultant with over 15 years of experience helping people keep their pets and supporting underserved communities. Known for identifying patterns and strategically connecting people and organizations, she creates value through innovative solutions that benefit both human and animal welfare. Currently, Geraldine serves as Maddie's National Director of Programs & Partnerships at Open Door Veterinary Collective, a mentor and strategic consultant for Project Street Vet, a consulting Advisory Council Member with California for All Animals, and a board member of My Dog Is My Home.
With an MBA from Edinburgh Business School in Scotland and a BA in Sociology, Geraldine’s career spans research, advertising, and branding across three continents. She has held pivotal roles, including as Executive Director of a nonprofit founded to support vulnerable pet families during the AIDS epidemic, where she led the organization through a successful merger with San Diego Humane Society. Post-merger, she forged more partnerships and became Director of Community Veterinary Services, launching the inaugural Community Veterinary Program, integrating intervention programs organization-wide, bringing vital services to veterinary deserts in Baja California and expanding the pet pantry to provide over 2.5 million meals.
Geraldine lives in San Diego with her daughter and two adorable “puppycats.”

Speaker for sessions titled, "Exploring Pet Inclusive Transportation Options to Increase Access to Veterinary Care" and "Successful Program Profiles: Neighborhood Pets and their Community-Centered Well-Being for People and Pets"

Visit Geraldine D'Silva's Profile on Maddie's Pet Forum

Gayle Bair is the Pet Retention Liaison at Animal Friends in Pittsburgh, Pa. Gayle holds a BA in Social Science, MS in Education, and Graduate Certificate in Shelter Medicine. The heart of her work is preserving the human animal bond. Gayle is also a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and enjoys leading group classes at Animal Friends and Chautauqua Institution in NY. She shares life with her husband and three big, beautiful rescues.

Speaker for session titled, "Exploring Pet Inclusive Transportation Options to Increase Access to Veterinary Care"

Visit Gayle Bair's Profile on Maddie's Pet Forum

Marty Sampson is the Founder and CEO of Leash, a pet-only transportation platform that connects pet owners with professional, vetted pet drivers in their local areas. Leash makes it easy for pet owners to get their pets to and from daily appointments at pet resorts, daycares, groomers, and veterinary clinics. By partnering directly with pet care businesses, Leash enables these businesses to offer seamless pick-up and drop-off services without the need to invest in vehicles or additional staff.

Before launching Leash, Marty led the large-project business unit at Lindsay Corporation (NYSE:LNN) a global leader in agricultural irrigation technology. Earlier in his career, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer, building water systems for rural communities in the Dominican Republic, and later led reforestation efforts at Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique.

Marty holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Marquette University and a Master’s in Environmental Management from Harvard University. He is the proud parent of two girls, a lifelong lover of rescue dogs, and enjoys spending time on his family farm.

Speaker for session titled, "Exploring Pet Inclusive Transportation Options to Increase Access to Veterinary Care"

Visit Marty Sampson's Profile on Maddie's Pet Forum

Sarah got her start with Dallas Pets Alive! when she adopted her first pup, Harper, from DPA in 2017. Ensuring her husband stayed true to his promise of getting a dog when they moved to Texas, she found the perfect pup within 6 weeks of moving. One more DPA adoption, Theo, and a couple of years later, Sarah started volunteering with DPA on the Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (PASS) program. Like many people, the pandemic gave Sarah a lot of free time to become a full time volunteer. After several months of helping the community and fosters, the decision was made to leave the hotel industry permanently and move into animal welfare full time. She started working for Spay Neuter Network, focusing on a project building a case management program and engaging with community partners. In 2022, Sarah transitioned to her role as Vice President of Animal Operations at Dallas Pets Alive.

Speaker for session titled, "Exploring Pet Inclusive Transportation Options to Increase Access to Veterinary Care"

Visit Sarah McGoldrick's Profile on Maddie's Pet Forum

Heather has twenty-five years of experience in community animal welfare, innovation and mission impact, with more than a dozen of those years as the chief executive of two non-profit organizations.

She has a Master’s degree in economics from Rutgers University and worked in both financial and social economics before devoting her career to the humane ethic. She is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator through the Association of Animal Welfare Advancement, holds a graduate certificate in Wildlife Forensics and Conservation from the University of Florida and is a certified animal control office and animal cruelty investigator.

Heather is known for innovating efficient approaches to welfare challenges and developing strategic partnerships for maximizing impact. She is a frequent speaker at regional and national conferences and was the keynote speaker at the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association in 2018 following a collaborative effort with the NJVMA to respond to Hurricane Maria. She has served on the Thought Leadership Council of PetSmart Charities and was an early recipient of Maddie’s Fund’s Hero to Animals award.

Heather shares her off-grid home in Colorado with five beloved adopted pets. When not working, she can be found gardening in a geodesic greenhouse or hiking in the woods.

Speaker for session titled, "Pethelpfinder.org, Access to Financially Friendly Pet Services and What the Site Means for You" and "How to Multiply Existing Donor Dollars for Veterinary Care in Your Community"

Visit Heather Cammisa's Profile on Maddie's Pet Forum

Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach is a licensed clinical social worker, researcher, author, and the Director of Veterinary Social Work at Open Door Veterinary Collective (ODVC). ODVC is a US-based training and technical assistance NGO focused on increasing access to veterinary care and related supports that help people and companion animals stay healthy and together. Janet’s research on Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) has been cited in sources such as Discover Magazine, Business Insider, the Guardian, and Psychology Today. She is an expert witness on ESAs for the U.S. Department of Justice, and trains and consults on ESA-related topics nationally and internationally. Janet is the lead author of Human-Animal Interaction: A Social Work Guide – peer reviewed and published by National Association of Social Work (NASW) Press in 2017. She is a part-time faculty member in the graduate social work program at Carlow University. Janet speaks and trains internationally on how to recognize and support the mutual well-being of humans, animals, and communities within and across human and animal service systems.

Speaker for session titled, "Successful Program Profiles: Neighborhood Pets and their Community-Centered Well-Being for People and Pets"

Visit Janet Hoy-Gerlach's Profile on Maddie's Pet Forum

Becca Britton, native to Cleveland Ohio, has been working in animal welfare since 2003. Outside of animal welfare, her work experience includes over ten years in the non-profit sector with a focus on community development, art-culture community programming, public art & program management. In 2003 Britton founded (2003) and ran Friends of the Cleveland Kennel, a non-profit organization that served as a support agency for Cleveland Animal Control. Through her non-profit, she funded supportive care and programming for animals in need. She also led the efforts to host large scale pet vaccine clinic events throughout the city of Cleveland.

In 2016, Becca founded Neighborhood Pets Outreach and Resource Center, a community based non-profit focused on supporting low income pet owners. Britton used her community outreach experience & training, certification from HSUS Pets for Life program, and experience in nonprofit management to create a dynamic & intuitive model based on relationship & trust building within the community, while providing accessible and affordable resources to low income pet owners. Ms. Britton is a graduate of the Leadership Development Program Initiative and has attended Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. She was recently awarded HSUS Humane Leader of the Year award and has been highlighted in various Northeast Ohio media outlets showcasing her work in the community. Becca’s focus as a “big picture thinker” is to create sustainable change in the animal welfare sector by being an advocate for animals and the people who love them.

Speaker for session titled, "Successful Program Profiles: Neighborhood Pets and their Community-Centered Well-Being for People and Pets"

Visit Becca Britton's Profile on Maddie's Pet Forum