Category: Prevention

Advocating, All Pets, Allison, Behavior, Humane Education, TrainingLeave a comment

What is Animal Behavior Consulting?

Allison

For the past few months I’ve been working towards my goal of becoming a cat behavior consultant. I’ve had business cards printed, I’ve hosted a cat education table, I’ve been accepted as a client by our local university’s law students, and I’m pursuing certification through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultant. With regards to the latter, I won the Rebecca Park Scholarship which covers the cost of the Animal Behavior Consulting: Principles & Practice course from IAABC. I’ve just started this 12-week course, which will go a long way towards fulfilling the requirements for certification. The course has been … Continue reading What is Animal Behavior Consulting?

Allison, Behavior, Cats, Enrichment, Humane Education, Intervention, Local, National, WorkersLeave a comment

My Rebecca Park Scholarship Essay

Allison

In the spring of 2019, I won the Rebecca Park Scholarship which covers the cost of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants’ Animal Behavior Consulting: Principles & Practice course. It’s a $2,700 course, worth 36 credits with IAABC, and will provide me with the science-based foundation I believe is essential to a cat behavior consultant. My winning essay follows. Wow! I can’t believe that you are scamming people just to make some bucks. And when they see all that they would have to do plus pay for volunteering their time, what a discouragement it is to people who really … Continue reading My Rebecca Park Scholarship Essay

Advocating, Allison, Cats, Local, Spay/Neuter, VolunteersLeave a comment

My “Fishing Trip” with Nebraska’s TNR Groups

Allison

In a Trap-Neuter-Return program, community cats are humanely trapped, brought to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, eartipped, and then returned to their outdoor home. —Alley Cat Allies A managed Trap-Neuter-Return colony has a caregiver who monitors the cats, captures any that need veterinary care, and traps any newcomers to be sterilized and vaccinated. A properly managed colony is a health, stable colony in which no kittens are born. —Husker Cats I believe Trap-Neuter-Return is the current best solution to cat homelessness. For that reason, I consider TNR groups an integral member of the animal welfare village, and … Continue reading My “Fishing Trip” with Nebraska’s TNR Groups

Allison, Books, Dogs, Humane Education, NationalLeave a comment

Review: Things Your Dog Doesn’t Want You to Know

Allison

Things Your Dog Doesn’t Want You to Know by Hy Conrad and Jeff Johnson is a cute and funny book designed to entertain. For the most part, the comedy works. And while you’re unlikely to turn to Things Your Dog Doesn’t Want You to Know for reference, it does make a great addition to a bathroom shelf or any place you might need some relaxed readings. Sometimes, you’ll even learn a few things about man’s best friend. Oh, and it’s mostly safely for the entire family to read. Cute and funny require a delicate balancing act. Lean too far left or … Continue reading Review: Things Your Dog Doesn’t Want You to Know

Advocating, Allison, Books, Cats, Humane Education, National, VolunteersLeave a comment

Review: Gaby, Lost and Found

Allison

Cute! Fun! Sweet! Inspiring! All these adjectives describe Gaby, Lost and Found, by Angela Cervantes, about a girl who wants to rescue animals but soon finds herself in need of a permanent home. Gaby, her friends, and even the adult guardians in her life make for a realistic and endearing cast. Through the suspenseful plot, readers will learn about shelters and immigration, besides being entertained. What struck me foremost is how true-to-life but also sympathetic the characters are. Gaby loves animals. She’ll do anything to rescue them. But she still feels a little upset when a cat in a tree … Continue reading Review: Gaby, Lost and Found

Advocating, Allison, Books, Cats, Dogs, Global, Humane Education, WorkersLeave a comment

Review: Nobody’s Cats & Out of the Cold by Valerie Ingram and Alistair Schroff

Allison

If you are creative and care about the welfare of animals, what can you do? Valerie Ingram and Alistair Schroff wrote children’s picture books. Both Nobody’s Cats and Out of the Cold are based on true stories from northwest British Columbia and profits from the sale of the book go towards the care of animals in that region.  Nobody’s Cats tells the tale of a boy who saw a tiny black cat shivering in the snow by an old shed. The cat was just one of many that had been born or abandoned  there. A few of the neighborhood boys … Continue reading Review: Nobody’s Cats & Out of the Cold by Valerie Ingram and Alistair Schroff

Advocating, Allison, Books, Cats, Dogs, Global, Internet, Spay/Neuter, WorkersLeave a comment

Interview with Author Valerie Ingram

Allison

As part of volunteering with Husker Cats, I followed online groups that took care community cats. One day a post appeared about a picture book that had been published on the topic. The book was by Valerie Ingram, co-founder of Lakes Animal Friendship Society. Since that time, Valerie has become an inspiration to me in my animal welfare goals and a dear friend. Valerie and I both share a passion for pet education. This spring, she contracted me to write ten articles for Lakes Animal Friendship Society that could be run in local newspapers. My life this upcoming year will … Continue reading Interview with Author Valerie Ingram