February 1 2026

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 UACOA Conference!

We had an incredible turnout this year, and it was truly wonderful to see so many dedicated professionals come together again. Your passion, commitment, and enthusiasm are what make this conference such a success year after year.

This year’s conference featured a wide variety of engaging and educational classes, including:

• Defensive Tactics

• Poisonous Snake Handling

• Understanding Animal Body Language

• Rabies Education & Response

• Courtroom Preparation

• Grant Writing

• Investigating Cockfighting

• Working with the Homeless and Their Pets

• Search and Seizure with an Emphasis on Animals

Each session was designed to strengthen knowledge, sharpen skills, and support the critical work you do every day in your communities.

At our annual banquet, we were proud to recognize several outstanding individuals for their dedication and service:

• Shelter Employee of the Year: Carrie Ward

• Officer of the Year: Sarah Allred

• Rescue of the Year: Arctic Fox

• Volunteer of the Year: Lisa Coombs

Congratulations to all of our award recipients! Your hard work and commitment to animal welfare truly make a difference.

Thank you again to everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, and supported the 2026 UACOA Conference. We are grateful for each of you and look forward to seeing you again next year!