Best Friends National Conference: Guide for May 7-9, 2026

I’ve been watching Best Friends Animal Society for years — ever since I started researching everything I could about dog health after losing Cooper. When I heard they’re hosting their National Conference in Salt Lake City this May, I knew I had to put together a guide for anyone considering going.

This isn’t your typical pet expo. It’s three days of learning from people who’ve dedicated their lives to animal welfare, connecting with others who care as deeply about dogs as you do, and maybe — just maybe — finding the tools or knowledge that could add healthy years to your dog’s life.

What Is the Best Friends National Conference?

The Best Friends National Conference is an annual gathering organized by Best Friends Animal Society, the group behind the nation’s largest sanctuary for homeless animals in Kanab, Utah. This year’s conference runs May 7-9, 2026 in Salt Lake City.

Best Friends has been at the forefront of the no-kill movement since 1984, and their conference brings together shelter workers, rescue volunteers, veterinary professionals, and dedicated pet parents like us. It’s part education summit, part networking event, part inspiration recharge.

The conference typically includes workshops, panel discussions, keynote presentations, and opportunities to meet the people doing groundbreaking work in animal welfare. You’ll find sessions on everything from shelter management and foster programs to senior dog care and end-of-life planning.

Why Attend This Conference

I’ll be honest — after Cooper died, I spent months second-guessing every decision I’d made. Did I wait too long to get that lump checked? Should I have pushed for better pain management? Could I have given him even one more good month?

Conferences like this matter because they put you in a room with people who have answers. Not just theory from a textbook, but real-world experience from thousands of dogs.

You’ll learn from veterinarians who specialize in areas most general practice vets see only occasionally. You’ll hear from behavior specialists who’ve worked with dogs that shelters once considered “unadoptable.” You’ll meet researchers sharing the latest findings on canine health and longevity.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re on your own trying to figure out the best care for an aging dog, a rescue with a complicated past, or a pup with a chronic condition — this conference reminds you that you’re not alone. There’s a whole community doing this work, and they’re generous with what they’ve learned.

Key Highlights to Look For

While Best Friends hasn’t released the full 2026 program details yet, based on previous years’ conferences, here’s what typically makes the agenda:

Senior Dog Care Sessions: These are the ones I’m most interested in. Workshops on managing arthritis, recognizing pain signals, nutrition for aging dogs, and quality-of-life assessments. This is where you learn the practical stuff that could genuinely extend your dog’s healthy years.

Veterinary Panels: Discussions on emerging treatments, preventive care strategies, and when to seek specialist care. The kind of information that helps you ask better questions at your own vet appointments.

End-of-Life Planning: I know it’s hard to think about, but having a plan before you’re in crisis mode makes all the difference. These sessions cover hospice care, euthanasia decisions, and grief support.

Rescue and Foster Training: If you’ve ever considered fostering senior dogs or medical cases, this is where you learn how to do it well — and how to protect your own emotional health while doing it.

Networking Opportunities: Sometimes the most valuable part is the conversation you have over coffee with someone who’s been exactly where you are now.

Practical Information

Registration: Check the official conference page for current ticket prices and registration deadlines. Early bird pricing usually offers significant savings.

Location: The conference takes place in Salt Lake City, Utah — about a 4.5-hour drive from the Best Friends sanctuary in Kanab if you want to extend your trip and visit the actual facility.

What to Bring: A good notebook or tablet for taking notes is essential. I recommend a durable conference notebook that can handle three days of intensive sessions. Comfortable shoes matter more than you’d think — you’ll be walking between session rooms and standing in networking areas.

Pack business cards if you want to stay in touch with people you meet. Bring a refillable water bottle. If you’re planning to take a lot of notes, a portable phone charger is a lifesaver for long conference days.

Accommodations: Book your hotel early. Conference hotels typically offer a group rate, but those blocks fill up fast. If you’re traveling with your dog, verify the hotel’s pet policy in advance — some have size or breed restrictions.

Travel Considerations: Salt Lake City has good flight connections from most major cities. If you’re bringing your dog, research airline requirements well in advance. Some attendees prefer to drive, especially if they’re combining the conference with a sanctuary visit.

What to Expect

This is a professional conference with a heart. You’ll see shelter directors in jeans sitting next to veterinary specialists in business casual. The dress code is “come as you are” — comfort over formality.

Sessions run back-to-back, so you’ll need to make choices about what to attend. Review the agenda when it’s released and prioritize the topics most relevant to your situation. Don’t try to attend everything — you’ll burn out by day two.

The emotional tone can be intense. You’re surrounding yourself with people who’ve seen animals in crisis, made impossible decisions, and experienced profound loss. That shared understanding is powerful, but it can also be heavy. Give yourself permission to step out if you need a break.

Bring tissues. I’m serious. Whether it’s a speaker sharing a rescue story or your own memories coming up during an end-of-life planning session, tears happen at these events.

The vendor area usually features organizations, products, and services relevant to animal welfare and pet care. It’s a good place to discover tools and resources you might not find locally.

Most importantly, expect to leave with both practical knowledge and renewed motivation. The research I’ve done since losing Cooper has taught me a lot, but being in a room with people who dedicate their entire careers to helping dogs? That hits differently. You’ll go home with new strategies, better questions to ask your vet, and probably a few new friends who get why you care so much about getting this right.

If you’re considering attending, my advice is simple: go. The conference fee is an investment in being a better advocate for your dog — and if you’re like me, still carrying regret about what you didn’t know soon enough, this is how you turn that grief into something useful.