Leading the world

In 2006, AMRRIC staged Dog People, an international conference on animal management in remote Indigenous communities.  The conference raised profile, encouraged greater participation, reinforced or established best practices, built the body of research and created networks that will contribute to great advancements in the future. Keynote speakers brought international perspective Dr Henry Baker and Dr Frank Ascione. Both are recognized as leaders in their field and brought with them an enormous depth of experience and insight (see below).

Dr Frank R. Ascione

Dr Ascione is a world-renowned researcher currently examining the common roots of violence toward people and animals with the aim of identifying an early indicator of at-risk children. He is currently Professor of Psychology (and Adjunct Professor of Family and Human Development) at Utah State University and has authored many articles and books about the link between animal abuse and violence in interpersonal relationships (violent youth, child and spouse abuse). Dr Ascione's latest book, published in 2005, is 'Children and Animals: Exploring the Roots of Kindness and Cruelty'. Dr Ascione has been invited to speak at many international conferences and has applied his findings in many different contexts, from collaborating ‘on the ground’ in programs for abused children, youth corrections personnel and in state shelters for battered women, to influencing legislation regarding cruelty to animals. Dr Ascione has been a guest of many prominent television and radio programs including CNN and the Oprah Winfrey Show. He received the 2001 Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations and serves on the editorial boards of Aggression and Violent Behavior and Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma.

Dr Henry Baker

Dr Baker is a distinguished and widely published researcher and veterinary pathologist, as well as an active member of the academic community at Auburn University where he contributes to the research training of postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, professional students and undergraduates. Dr Baker is the director of the Scott-Ritchey Research Center and has, for over 20 years, conducted research into fatal inherited diseases in children, dogs and cats. In 2004 he was presented with the Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence from the College of Veterinary Medicine.

International conference was a resounding success

The Dog People conference staged in 2006 brought together the very latest research and practical experience in a five day conference held in Darwin, July 16-21. Vets, academics, health workers, politicians and members of remote Indigenous communities came together to share their knowledge, debate contentious issues, establish best practice and create strategies for enhanced animal management in remote indigenous communities. Prominent international speakers delivered the keynote addresses and that was just the beginning. All the speakers were of the highest calibre and represented a broad cross-section of topics; from Veterinary and Anthropological research to field reports and dog dreaming.