EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXPERIENCE

Hurricane Katrina; Tylertown, MS, and New Orleans, LA; Aug 2005 – Mar 2006

On-the-ground leadership experience in disaster response, and management of emergency relief project. I spent eight months in Tylertown, MS, helping with rescue, assessment and socialization of dogs, supervising staff and volunteers, and working with all types of animals, including exotics.

Cat Hoarding Case, Pahrump, NV; Jul – Dec 2007

Managed on-site rescue of more than 800 cats living in horrible conditions in the desert. Developed a process and trained volunteers to socialize these traumatized cats for placement into homes.

RESEARCH PROJECTS
        
Assistance with sleepover study “Evaluating the effects of a temporary fostering program on shelter dog welfare,” by Lisa M. Gunter, Erica N. Feuerbacher, et al.

EXPERT WITNESS
         
Fatal Dog Attack; Conroe, TX. (2006)  
Breed Bias Case; Loudoun County, VA,  Animal Shelter (2009)
Cruelty Case against citizen; Ivins, UT. (2014)

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

CPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING
 
Professional Member APDT  (1999)
Nationally Certified Trainer CCPDT  (2002)
Completed 12 FEMA Emergency Management Institute courses
Certified first-aid first responder, EMT
Grand Canyon licensed whitewater raft and back-country guide
Experience with rock climbing and swift-water rescue

VOLUNTEER WORK
         
Involved in Children’s Justice Center, Kanab, UT (2016 – 2019)

Children’s Justice Center Groundbreaking

REFERENCES

Shelley Thayer, Executive Director, SPCA of Florida; sthayer@spcaflorida.org or 941-525-8035

Lisa Gunter, PhD, MA, CBCC-KA; Maddie’s Fund Research Fellow – Department of Psychology
Arizona State University; Lgunter@asu.edu or 650-274-6990

Sam Wike CPDT-KA VSPDT-CDT and Behavior Specialist,  The Inner Dog LLC, theinnerdogbehavior@gmail.com 732-963-7101 

 APPENDIX

Television Appearances

• Featured behavior consultant on DogTown National Geographic Channel; 2008 -2010
• CW Television Network re-airing DogTown as Dog Town USA 2015 – present
• Video previews featuring Sherry Woodard: Puppy Mill Dog, Ethiopian Cave Dog, El Paso Shelter
• Discussion of puppy mill awareness on “The Insider” TV show
• Discussion of bite prevention on “Mike and Juliette Morning Show,” Fox NYC
• Follow up for five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina,” Fox News National (Aug 2010)
• Left Behind Without A Choice, Hurricane Katrina documentary by Kim Walsh-Borgan (2007)

Radio Interviews

• Animal Radio (2004)
• Discussion of dog behavior/Life in Dogtown on Bark Radio (2011)
• Discussion about Canines with Careers on The Pet Corner 11 (2013) “Talkin’ about all things animal,” The Pet Corner (2012)
• Numerous appearances around the country promoting Dogtown TV show

Magazine Articles

• Training and behavior column – Best Friends Magazine,
• Article on Pahrump Cat Rescue – USA Today
• Various articles – Lady’s Home Journal
• Various articles – Dog World
• Various articles – Cat Fancy Various articles – Dog Fancy
• Various articles – People
• “Adopting Shelter Animals,” “5 Myths About Shelter Cats and Dogs” – Parade.com
• “How to Walk Your Cat on a Leash, and Why You Should,” “What Dogs Really Mean When They Smile, Yawn or Stare at You” – Huffington Post
• “Special Needs Animals” – New York Post
• “Ruffwear” – Men’s Journal
• “Do Dogs Remember Their Puppies?”, “Training Your Cat” – The Dodo
• “Is Your Family Ready for a Pet?” – Family Magazine

 Books

• “Paw Prints of Katrina” by Cathy Scott
• “The Cats of Kittyville” by Bob Somerville
• “Dogtown” by Bob Somerville
• “Dog Tips from Dogtown” published by National Geographic

Workshops/Shelter Consult Locations

Presentations on animal body language, dog training, daily care, behavior assessment, enrichment, creating behavior change using rewards at the following facilities and locations:

• Animal Haven, Queens and Soho locations, sanctuary in upstate NY
• Sammy’s Hope, Edison, NJ
• Monmouth County SPCA, Eatontown, NJ Liberty Humane Society, Jersey City, NJ
• Pleasant Animal Shelter, East Hanover, NJ
• ARF of the Hamptons, East Hampton, NY
• New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Edison, NJ
• Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, Madison, NJ
• Lifeline Animal Project, Atlanta, GA
• Multiple locations in Page, Phoenix, Mesa, Prescott, and Verde Valley, AZ; Palm Springs, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara, CA; Jacksonville, FL; Ottumwa, IA; Grayslake, IL; Louisville, KY; Lafayette, LA; Boston, MA; Bozeman and Helena, MT; Santa Fe and Taos, NM; El Paso, TX; Kanab, Hurricane, George, Washington, Ivins, Iron County, LaVerkin, Enoch, Springdale, Park City and Salt Lake City, UT; Norfolk, VA; Cody, WY

Regular presenter on dog behavior and handling in biannual “How to Start Your Own Sanctuary” at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Week-long “Dog Behavior and Handling Workshop” at Best Friends Animal Society approved for continuing education credit by CCPDT (Mar 2008)

Best Friends Animal Society No More Homeless Pets National Conferences

2019 Dallas, TX “Pleased to Meet You”

2017 Atlantic City, NJ “Jumpy Mouthy Dogs”

2016 Salt Lake City, UT “Increasing Dog Adoptability” 2015 Atlanta, GA “Getting to Good Dog”

2014 Las Vegas, NV “Solutions to Common Canine Behavior Challenges”

2013 Jacksonville, FL “Dog Behavior/Body Language” Co-presenter: Lisa Waggoner 2012 Las Vegas, NV “Dog/Cat Behavior” Co-presenter: Jackson Galaxy

2012 Las Vegas, NV “Dog Body Language” 2010 Las Vegas, NV “Dog Behavior 101”

2008 Las Vegas, NV “Every Dog as an Individual” and “Cat Socialization After Rescue” 2005 Portland, OR “Assessment as Discovery, Not Pass/Fail”

2004 Las Vegas, NV “Assessment and Best Placement”

2004 Cincinnati, OH “Assessment, Adoptions and Follow-up”

Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) National Conference

2020 Panel discussion regarding canine health and nutrition.

Victoria Stilwell’s International Conference on Dog Behavior

2020 Virtual Conference. Topic: Helping shelter and rescue dogs.

Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Geek Week International Summit & Conferences

Multiple In-person presentations in FL and UT and virtual presentations internationally. Topics included canine and feline body language, health, socialization, and Canines with Careers. Presented seminars and lead hands-on workshops with a variety of animal species at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Improving Veterans Care Conference

2019 Rapid City, SD. Topics: Career animals, the differences between emotional support,

therapy, animal assisted therapy and service. Screening, training, placing career animals, and Q&A session.

Association for Behavior Analysis (ABAI) 43rd Convention

2017 Denver “Science at the Animal Shelter “presented with Dr. Erica Feuerbacher and Dr. Alexandra (Sasha) Protopopova

Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) National Conference

2016 Roundtable Moderator “How to Get Along Before You Say So Long” and “Surviving After the Death/Loss of the Animals We Care For”

2012 “Canines with Careers” w/ Lisa Lunghofer 2009, Oakland, CA “Helping More”

APDT – Canines with Careers and Best Friends Animal Society

INFORMATION BOOTH/ATTEND CONFERENCES 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.

The Penn Vet Working Dog Conference

Canines with Careers and Best Friends Animal Society

INFORMATION BOOTH/ATTENDEE: 2016 Philadelphia, PA and 2013 ST Louis, MO

Minnesota Partnership for Animal Welfare (MNPaw) Annual Conference

2015 (MN Paw partnership includes over 32 organizations)

Engagement included additional four days of presentation to MNPaw, Leach Lake Government/Tribal Police, Leach Lake Animal Control, Native American Humane Society, Band of Ojibwe.

Shelter Behavior Conference of the Northern Rockies

2015 Bozeman, MT (2-day, hands-on workshop and presentation on feline behavior/1-day, hands-on workshop and presentation on canine behavior)

American Legion Conference

2014, Boise, ID “Canines with Careers”