The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement Learning Center
6-9-26 Paws & Policy: 2026 Legislative Trends Every Animal Shelter Should Know
- Registration Closed
Join us on June 9 for Paws & Policy, a national policy update designed specifically for animal shelters.
The event will open with a concise legislative briefing from Katie Jarl, Vice President of Government Relations for Animal Policy Group, highlighting the most significant policy developments from the 2026 legislative sessions and the issues most likely to affect animal shelters and their communities.
The second half of the program will shift from presentation to moderated conversation. Dr. Jasmin Robinson, Director of DEI Initiatives for The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, will join Katie in dialogue informed by questions submitted by participants in advance. Together, Katie and Jasmin will explore emerging policy trends, discuss how advocacy priorities are evolving across different regions and political landscapes, and examine what these developments mean for shelter leaders and organizations.
Topics will include pets and housing, access to veterinary care, and other key issues identified through the Association's member survey.
Whether you are new to advocacy or already engaged in policy work, you'll leave with a clearer understanding of what's happening across the country, where animal welfare voices are making an impact, and how your organization can engage in policy conversations that matter.
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify key 2026 legislative trends impacting animal shelters and animal welfare organizations across the United States.
- Describe current policy developments related to pets and housing, access to veterinary care, and other emerging issues affecting shelters and communities.
- Recognize how policy priorities and advocacy approaches are evolving across different political and geographic landscapes.
- Explain opportunities for animal welfare professionals and organizations to engage in advocacy and policy conversations within their communities.
Host: Dr. Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and MSM Global Consulting
Presenter: Katie Jarl, Vice President of Government Relations for Animal Policy Group
This live and recorded program is approved for
- 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
Check out these other Animal Welfare Legislation updates by Katie Jarl
Blog: Policy That Matters: Animal Welfare Legislation On the Move in 2026
Check out the recorded Justice in Action Roundtable from February, featuring Katie as a panelist.
Blog: Policy That Matters: The Animal Welfare Trends Defining 2026
Katie Jarl
VP of Government Relations
Animal Policy Group
Katie Jarl is the Vice President of Government Relations at Animal Policy Group. For two decades, she has combined her love of animals with her experience working with government at the local, state, and federal levels. After spending 15 years in nonprofit animal welfare, Katie is excited to bring the pet industry and animal welfare together to advance meaningful solutions for animal shelters and rescues across the country.
Dr. Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson, Ph.D., is The Association’s Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also a consultant with MSM Global Consulting and the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC. She has over 15 years of experience and has contributed her thought leadership across industries, including higher education, p-12 education, nonprofit organizations, government, and corporations. Jasmin is committed to empowering professionals who recognize societal inequities and strive to be better leaders in their communities and organizations.
Jasmin completed a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, Higher Education Leadership. Her research interests include Black women's experiences in historically white spaces, anti-Blackness, and cultural competence. In her spare time, Jasmin enjoys cooking, walking, thrifting, and reading.
