Credentials

Education
 
 - Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences
 - Minor in chemistry and studio art
 Brown University
 - Master of Science in Experimental Psychology
 - Course work focused on animal behavior, learning, and cognition
 - Thesis work examined communication among shelter dogs
 
 
Certifications
 
     (one of  48 Certified Animal Behaviorists in the world; one of 8 at Associate level)
 
 Certified Animal Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

 Certified Pet Dog Trainer though the Association of Pet Dog Trainers
 
Pet CPR and First Aid Certified though the American Red Cross (in partnership with RIDART)
 
 
Experience

 Adirondack Humane Society

 - Assistant Manager, 2000-2001

 

 Providence Animal Rescue League

 - Animal Care Technician, summers 2001-2003

 

 Canine Behavior Program Through Brown University, Funded By the Rhode Island Foundation

 - Program Director, 2002-2003

 - Examined how training affected adoption of shelter dogs by training over 200 volunteers how to train shelter dogs, primarily pit bulls. Results were presented at the American Psychological Association Conference in Washington DC. 

 

 Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

 - Animal Behaviorist/Special Agent, 2004-2007

 

 American Humane Association

 - Humane Educator, current

 

 

Presentations
 
 “Animal Behavior and Bite Prevention” 
 - RIDART volunteer training (Warwick, No Kingston, and Aquidneck RI, 2008)
 - Ocean State Veterinary Specialists staff training (East Greenwich RI, 2008)
 - DelMaPa Annual Conference (Bensalem, PA 2008)
 - Deleware County SPCA Staff and Volunteer Training (Media, PA 2007)
 - New York State Veterinary Technician workshop (Hudson Falls, NY 2007)
 - Delaware SPCA "Sheltering Without Walls" Conference (DE, 2007) 
 - Rhode Island Veterinary Technician Symposium (North Kingstown, RI 2007 & 2008)
  -  As part of “Officer Safety” presented to RI State Troopers Academy (Chepachet, RI 2005)
 - As part of “Defensive Animal Handling” presented by the RISPCA (Warwick, RI 2005)
 - As part of “Dog Fighting Strategies, Solutions, and Officer Safety” presented by HSUS, RI Animal Control  
   Association, and RISPCA (Cumberland, RI 2004)
 - Department of Children, Youth and their Family (Providence, RI 2003)
 - Gateway Healthcare (Johnston, RI 2002)
 

 “Pesky Pets – Dealing With Common Behavior Problems”

 - New York State Veterinary Technician workshop (Hudson Falls, 2007)

 - Rhode Island Veterinary Technician Symposium (North Kingstown, RI 2007)

 

  “Learning Theory and Behavior Modification”

 - New York State Veterinary Technician workshop (Hudson Falls, 2007)

 - Rhode Island Veterinary Technician Symposium (North Kingstown, RI 2007)

 

  “Baby-Ready Pets - Teach the Teacher"

 - Rhode Island Animal Control Association Conference (Warwick, RI 2007) 

 - American Humane Association Annual Conference (Richmond, VA 2007) 

 - Association of Professional Humane Educators Conference (Denver, CO 2007)

 - Protective Animal Welfare Services (Ocean City, MD 2007)

 

 “The Anatomy of a Cruelty Investigation”

 - Massachusetts School of Law (Andover, MA 2007)

 

  “Dog Safety”

 - RISPCA Summer Camp and shelter field trips (Riverside, RI 2004 to 2007)

 

  “Canine Temperament Evaluation Workshop”

 - RISPCA workshop for area Animal Control Officers, shelter staff/volunteers, veterinary staff, private trainers, groomers, and breed rescues (Riverside, RI 2004)

 

 “Career in Animal Behavior and Training”

 - As part of RISPCA Critter Kind Summer Camp Career Day (Riverside, RI 2007)

 

 “Pit Bulls and Breed Specific Legislation”

 - As part of RISPCA Critter Kind Summer Camp BSL Day (Riverside, RI 2007)

 

 
Programs Created
 
 “Best Bully” / "Basics for Bullies"
 - Rhode Island's first breed specific dog training class, est. 2005
 
 
 “Baby-Ready Pets” 
 - While at the RISPCA, in partnership with Jane Deming of the Providence Animal Rescue League
 - The first program of its kind to prepare new parents (through birth, adoption, or fostering) designed to prepare pets for the new baby or child
 - Currently in over 30 states and Canada
 
 

Interviews and Articles
 dog training dog trainer dog aggression rhode island