What’s Waggin’ – Spring 2025

By: Steven Appelbaum
ABC President & CEO

Welcome to another edition of Paw Prints.    While things are always pretty busy at ABC, the last 6 months have been particularly active.  

As I shared in previous newsletters, we've made and will continue to make improvements to our operating systems.   These changes started with an online enrollment application and student enrollment agreement.   The migration of all students to a new contact management system is occurring now.  While this might sound pretty dry, it will allow us to offer a more modern learning management system (LMS), which will improve the experience of all ABC students.  We will also be able to provide easier access (and more features) to our alums.  

While many of these improvements may not sound as exciting as launching new programs, upon completion, the experience of all people connected to ABC, whether prospective students, enrolled students, graduates, or mentors, will be better.   

A few other items to note.   Student's Saving Lives (SSL) has now exceeded 200,000 hours of volunteer work given to shelters and rescues.   Since SSL started, ABC students have donated hundreds of thousands of hours helping pets (primarily dogs but some kitties) find forever homes.  This is a remarkable achievement that many of you, as former students, contributed to. Your dedication and hard work have made a significant difference in the lives of these animals, and for that, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude.   SSL is one of the programs I am most proud of as it illustrates why most of us get involved in a pet-oriented career.  To give back and help pets and people who love them have better lives. 

Thank you for your continued support and interest in ABC. Your enthusiasm for our work and dedication to the welfare of animals is truly inspiring. I have some exciting updates in the pipeline that I can't wait to share with you.

I look forward to updating you on our progress and sharing more about our future plans. Until then, I wish you all good health and happiness.