"Developing a More Pet Responsive Community" is the theme of a March 18 conference at McKissick Museum in conjunction with the museum's Pets in America Exhibit.

The working conference, which is sponsored by the USC Office of Research and Health Sciences, is free and open to the public and includes a vegetarian box lunch.

The session will address the future of people and animals in the community with national speakers guiding the consideration of how to build a community that is more environmentally and socially aware of the animal-human bond.

Keynote speakers include Steven Zawistowski of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals who will discuss "A History of Protecting Pets in America," and Katherine Grier, director of academic programs at the Winterthur Museum, Library and Gardens in Delaware who will speak on "Collecting and Understanding the Material Culture of Pets." Grier was the guest curator for McKissick's Pets In America exhibit.

Other speakers include Stephanie Shain of the Humane Society of the United States, speaking on "Companion Animal Advocacy at the Local, State, and Federal Levels;" Greg Golgowski of the Town of Harmony, Fla., "Designing Animal Friendly Communities;" Pam Reid of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, "New Approaches to Training and Animal Behavior;" Randy Lockwood of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, "Cruelty to Animals: Changing Social and Legal Perspectives;" and Michael Kaufmann of Green Chimney's Children's Services in Brewster, N.Y., "Green Chimneys: A Microcosm of a Pet Responsive Community."

For information or to register for the conference, call McKissick Museum, 7-7251.

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