Operation Kindness brought new training opportunities to 545 animal welfare professionals in North Texas at a new location for their annual Texas Unites for Animals Conference. Representatives from 30 states — plus Puerto Rico and Canada — made their way to the 16th annual conference, which was held at the pet-friendly Marriott Dallas Allen Convention Center in Allen, Texas, on May 7-10, 2025.
The Texas Unites for Animals program of Operation Kindness enhances professionalism in the animal welfare industry by hosting training opportunities and required continuing education courses for those working in animal control, shelters and rescues. The conference brought animal welfare professionals from all types of organizations together to collaborate on the shared goal of providing the best possible care and outcomes for animals.
“We could not have been more excited to bring our Texas Unites for Animals conference to North Texas for 2025,” said Ed Jamison, CEO of Operation Kindness. “As we grow this professional development program, we are committed to reaching as many animal welfare workers as possible.”
With programming featuring 85 speakers in 64 training workshops for conference attendees to select from, animal welfare professionals were able to learn how to improve the lives of animals and the people that love them.
In a session with Art Munoz, Clint Ganus, Katie Fine and Jerrica Owen called “Take Action: Advocate for the rights of pets, people, and professionals,” attendees learned about top priority initiatives in the industry and how to get involved in the areas that mean the most to you.
In Texas, animal control officers are required to earn 30 hours of continuing education training every three years. Certified Animal Welfare Administrators, Veterinarians and Licensed Veterinary Technicians also have continuing education requirements. Texas Unites training courses and the annual conference help animal welfare workers meet these requirements.
The 2025 conference was made possible through the generosity of Texas Unites for Animals Lone Star sponsor Petco Love, Heart of Texas sponsor Best Friends Animal Society and Bluebonnet sponsor the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA), Maddie’s Fund and DocuPet.
Visit our conference page for announcements and updates on Texas Unites for Animals Conference 2026.
