American Humane Society and the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed representatives from collegiate athletics, professional sports organizations, veterinary medicine programs and animal welfare experts from across the country for the Live Animal Mascot Symposium, held June 22–23 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“As a science-based organization dedicated to promoting the welfare and well-being of animals, American Humane Society was honored to convene this gathering of leaders committed to providing exceptional care for their mascot animals,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane Society. “The thoughtful discussions, exchange of best practices, and collaborative spirit demonstrated throughout the symposium reflect a shared commitment to ensuring that live animal mascots receive exceptional care while continuing to serve as beloved ambassadors for their institutions.”
The gathering brought together leaders responsible for some of the nation’s most recognized live animal mascot programs to share knowledge, discuss emerging challenges, and explore opportunities to further enhance animal welfare, health, safety and quality of life for mascot animals.
“Caring for live mascots is a great privilege and responsibility. I’m thankful to the professionals from around the country who came together to share best practices and standards of care for the animals that we all love so much,” said UT Chancellor Donde Plowman. “I’m grateful to Dean Paul Plummer and his colleagues at the College of Veterinary Medicine for their leadership in this area and to the American Humane Society for their partnership in making this event happen.”
Hosted by American Humane Society and the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, the symposium featured participants representing a variety of species of mascot animals from more than 30 universities, athletic programs, zoological institutions and professional sports organizations.
Throughout the symposium, attendees participated in program presentations and collaborative working sessions focused on the many dimensions of mascot care and management. Discussions addressed topics including handler qualifications and training, transportation and event safety, preventive veterinary care, enrichment and behavioral wellness, housing and daily management practices, emergency preparedness, strategies for continuously improving quality of life and more.
This was followed by a keynote presentation by renowned human-animal interaction expert Dr. Aubrey Fine, which further explored the human-animal bond and the importance of prioritizing welfare in public-facing animal programs.
Participants also engaged in structured focus groups examining current practices and identifying opportunities to establish shared standards and evidence-based approaches that support the long-term welfare of live animal mascots across institutions. Insights gathered during these collaborative discussions will inform the development of a white paper, which stands to be the most comprehensive assessment of live animal mascot programs conducted to date. The publication is expected to help advance animal welfare research, identify emerging best practices, and provide valuable guidance for institutions committed to meeting high standards of care for live animal mascots.
Organizers anticipate that the symposium will serve as the foundation for continued collaboration among participating institutions and inform future efforts to advance best practices in live animal mascot care nationwide.
About American Humane Society
American Humane Society is the United States’ first national humane organization and the
world’s largest certifier of animal welfare, helping to verify the humane treatment of more than one billion animals across the globe each year. Founded in 1877, American Humane Society has been at the forefront of virtually every major advancement in the humane movement to rescue, care for and protect animals. For more information or to support our life-changing work, please visit www.AmericanHumane.org, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram and subscribe to our channel on YouTube for the latest breaking news and features about the animals with whom we share our Earth.
About the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
The UT College of Veterinary Medicine educates students in the art and science of veterinary medicine and related biomedical sciences, promotes scientific research, and enhances human and animal well-being.
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