The ANIMAL Conference
Coming Together to Support Oklahoma Animals
The biennial ANIMAL Conference is a community-centered, educational event hosted by the Kirkpatrick Foundation as part of its Safe & Humane initiative. It brings together local, national, and international voices to connect, learn, and collaborate around a shared goal: improving animal wellbeing. Through presentations, panels, and conversations, the conference fosters meaningful exchange and highlights innovative approaches to creating a more humane world for animals.
Save-the-Date
Join us this fall at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center near downtown Oklahoma City for our fifth ANIMAL Conference!
We’re excited to gather with passionate advocates, experts, and community members to share ideas and spark meaningful change for animals in Oklahoma and around the world. Follow Kirkpatrick Foundation on social media for announcements about speakers and location details.
Announcing the
ANIMAL Conference Awards
New in 2026! The Kirkpatrick Foundation introduces five awards recognizing individuals and organizations advancing animal wellbeing across Oklahoma. The awards celebrate impactful work in areas like access to care, humane education, and community-based advocacy—helping accelerate progress and strengthen collaboration across the field. These awards, aligned with the Safe & Humane strategy, will be presented biennially at the ANIMAL Conference.
Award Details
- Five award recipients selected, one per category listed below
- Each award recipient receives a $5,000 award
- Recognized at the ANIMAL Conference
How to Nominate
Review the categories below, select the one that best fits your nominee, and click the nomination form to learn more and submit your nomination.
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Questions: manda@kirkpatrickfoundation.com
Award Categories Nomination Forms
Restaurants and Grocers
For responsibly sourcing animal protein
Veterinarian
For expanding access to care, education, and community advocacy
Architecture / Design
For designs that consider impacts on wildlife and animals
Farmer/Rancher
For utilizing humane animal welfare and land conservation practices.
Journalism
For reporting that raises awareness of animal issues in Oklahoma
2026 Agenda
More Details To Be Announced Soon.
|
Date |
Time |
Activity |
|---|---|---|
|
Friday, September 18 |
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM |
Registration Open |
|
Friday, September 18 |
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
Breakfast + Networking |
|
Friday, September 18 |
9:00 AM – 11:35 AM |
Welcome to ANIMAL 2026! |
|
Friday, September 18 |
11:55 AM – 12:50 PM |
Lunch |
|
Friday, September 18 |
1:00 PM – 2:50 PM |
Breakout Sessions |
|
Friday, September 18 |
3:05 PM – 4:10 PM |
Afternoon Plenary Sessions |
|
Friday, September 18 |
4:20 PM – 5:45 PM |
Artful Networking |
|
Friday, September 18 |
5:30 PM – 6:15 PM |
Documentary (optional) |
|
Saturday, September 19 |
8:30 AM – 9:25 AM |
Registration Desk Available |
|
Saturday, September 19 |
8:30 AM – 9:25 AM |
Breakfast + Networking |
|
Saturday, September 19 |
9:25 AM – 11:30 AM |
Welcome to Day 2! |
|
Saturday, September 19 |
11:40 AM – 12:50 PM |
Lunch and Awards |
|
Saturday, September 19 |
1:05 PM – 3:00 PM |
Afternoon Plenary Session |
|
Saturday, September 19 |
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM |
Closing Remarks |
Be Part of the Conversation
Why Attend
The ANIMAL Conference creates space every two years to pause, reflect, and reimagine what’s possible for animals and the communities we share. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the event sparks meaningful dialogue, fresh thinking, and collaborative solutions for animal wellbeing.
Across sessions, the full spectrum of animal wellbeing comes into focus—from companion animals to wildlife, farmed and research animals, and the human–animal bond—challenging assumptions and driving progress toward a more humane future.
Whether you work directly with animals, shape policy or education, or are simply looking to deepen your understanding, the ANIMAL Conference invites you to engage with new ideas, build meaningful connections, and contribute to forward-thinking solutions that support animal wellbeing.
Who Should Attend
The conference welcomes a broad audience, including:
What You’ll Gain
FAQs
Gallery
Past Conferences
Want to see the impact? Explore past conferences and the voices behind progress for Oklahoma animals and the people who care for them.
2024
Where: Oklahoma City Zoo
About the Event:
The fourth ANIMAL conference was held October 18–19, 2024, at the Oklahoma City Zoo, drawing over 125 attendees. Sessions highlighted emerging issues in animal care, policy, conservation, and humane practice,including presentations by Katie Hawk of the Oklahoma Monarch Society and former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson. Sessions addressed urgent issues, including the condition of Oklahoma’s animal shelters and the ethical implications of gestation crates for female pigs. The conference culminated with a keynote from biologist Doug Smith, renowned for leading the Yellowstone National Park wolf reintroduction project. Attendees drew inspiration from one another’s work and returned to their communities motivated to continue making a difference for animals.
2021
Where: Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
About the Event:
The 2021 ANIMAL Conference took place August 27-28, 2021, at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City and brought together nearly forty speakers from across the nation to explore current issues in animal wellbeing. Topics ranged from humane practices and policy to wildlife conservation, farm animal welfare, and community care, with presentations from national experts and local advocates alike. The conference also honored Jamee and Robin Suarez of the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals with the Kirkpatrick Honor for Animal Wellbeing for their years of work addressing pet homelessness and abuse in Tulsa. Attendees experienced innovative sessions, community engagement, and opportunities to connect across disciplines in support of the Safe & Humane mission.
2018
Where: The Skirvin-Hilton Hotel
About the Event:
The second ANIMAL Conference was held October 22–23, 2018, at the Skirvin-Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City and continued the Safe & Humane initiative’s mission of advancing animal wellbeing through learning and collaboration. Framed by the theme “Think Global, Act Local,” the conference brought together national and local leaders in philanthropy, research, and animal advocacy to share insights and inspire action. Presentations covered topics ranging from regional conservation efforts and resources for pet owners facing homelessness to best practices for animal sheltering. The event opened with an artistic performance at the Oklahoma City Zoo and included recognition of outstanding animal wellbeing leaders with Kirkpatrick Foundation Honors. Attendees ranged from wildlife specialists and animal welfare professionals to nonprofit leaders and community advocates.
2015
Where: The Skirvin-Hilton Hotel
About the Event:
The inaugural ANIMAL Conference was held March 30–31, 2015, at the Skirvin-Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City as part of the Safe & Humane initiative. The two-day event brought together more than 340 attendees from 16 states to learn, connect, and discuss key animal wellbeing topics in Oklahoma and beyond. The conference featured a pre-conference tour, a keynote by National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore, panel sessions with national and local experts, an Oklahoma City cat café, and recognition of service dog programs from across the state. Designed as a forum for ideas, impact, and inspiration, the 2015 conference set the tone for ongoing conversation and collaboration around animal advocacy in the region.