YAKIMA, Wash. – The city of Yakima is hosting over 130 animal welfare professionals attending the Pacific Northwest Animal Welfare Conference . This marks the first time since 2017 that the event is being held in person.

The two-day conference aims to foster collaboration among industry professionals to focus on animal control laws and increasing access to spay and neutering services.

Sarah Hock from the Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies highlighted a significant challenge in the region.

"The increase of animals coming into the shelter has always been a much larger issue for Eastern Washington," Hock said. "This is one of those times where we have to come together and some of our western Washington shelters can really look at how they can help by pulling anim

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