Simple, science-based, data-driven animal behavior education, coaching and consulting services for veterinary teams, pet professionals, and pet guardians
Hi, I'm Alyssa
My mission is to improve the welfare of companion animals through collaboration with veterinary teams and pet professionals to elevate patient care.
My vision is a harmonious relationship between all pets and people, and I hope to help achieve this by coaching and empowering veterinary and pet professionals to equalize physical and emotional health in every aspect of a pet's life. Together we can bring more empathy, understanding, agency and control to the lives of our beloved companions.
About Me
I am a licensed veterinary technician currently finishing a master’s degree concentrated in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare. My experience working as a black bear technician as an undergraduate sparked my interest in pursuing a career in medicine, and my role as team leader on those research projects helped me realize my passion for mentorship and education.
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Since hearing Dr. Marty Becker speak about Fear Free prior to its official release, I have been actively and enthusiastically contributing to Fear Free’s mission to “take the ‘pet’ out of ‘petrified’” on the smaller scale by showing my coworkers the many benefits of Fear Free, and now strive to be a leader in animal wellbeing through education and advocacy on the global scale.
My Philosophy
Behavior is typically associated with the brain, but behavior is influenced by a fusion of several factors: Environment, genetics, maternal care, learning history, physical health, sense of safety and security, and the human-animal bond, to name just a few. We can't tease apart the brain from the rest of the body or choose any one element to treat when evaluating behavior. The best outcomes arise from a treatment plan that is as simple as possible, multimodal, evidence-based, data-driven, and administered using a team approach.
SIMPLE & MULTIMODAL
Animal behavior is not always as complex as we think it should be, and our approach to evaluating and treating patients shouldn't be, either. The more complex and time-intensive an approach, the less likely it is to be adopted -- that's why I believe finding simple solutions is key to effecting behavior change, whether working with a pet parent/guardian or a team of professionals.​ A multimodal approach is important to ensure we're addressing as many contributing factors as possible. I place emphasis on ruling out medical causes for behavior changes, management of the environment and incorporating training/behavior modification. This is where the significance of the team approach is apparent, and building the right team is key.
In a world where anyone can label themself an animal behaviorist, dog trainer, behavior specialist, etc. without repercussion, it can be incredibly difficult to find trustworthy professionals who have the credentials, competency, and code of ethics to practice in a way that puts the welfare of the animal first. Qualified veterinary medical professionals and animal behavior and training professionals use science and data to guide their practice. Together, a team of credentialed professionals with varying perspectives and specialties can provide the best possible care for individual patients.​​
TEAM APPROACH
EVIDENCE-BASED
We still have a lot to learn, but we know a lot about animal behavior, cognition, and learning theory, and the science is clear. My approach to addressing behavior concerns and educating fellow veterinary and pet care professionals is evidence-based, data-driven, and designed with empathy and understanding. I am constantly learning from my colleagues and the research being done in the fields of veterinary behavior, applied animal behavior, animal welfare, and the like. I use this information to guide my approach.
Similarly, data collection and evaluation during the treatment of patients and coaching and mentoring of teams allows me to clearly see where we might need to alter our plan in order to reach our goals. Data provides objectivity. Progress is not usually linear, but by tracking trends, we can more efficiently and effectively move the needle in the direction we desire.