Pets have been part of my life from the time I was five years old. My first dog, a miniature dachshund we named Kris Kringle, was a Christmas present from my parents. He was my childhood friend until he died at age 15 when I was an undergraduate in college. I had two other miniature dachshunds later in life, Nacho, a wirehaired, and Cisco, another shorthaired.
My love of animals prompted me to consider veterinary medicine as a career, but college counselors discouraged me from pursuing this path, which at the time was an extremely male dominated field. And I was silly enough to listen! But all things considered, things worked out fine anyway!
Instead, I earned my undergraduate degree in medical technology and microbiology and went to work in human medicine as a medical technologist in a large hospital in Denver. After just a few years, I realized this field was not my passion.
My concern for both animals and the environment led me to enter a master’s program in wildlife biology at Colorado State University (CSU). After completing my degree, I was drawn back to medicine and animals, and took a position as a medical technologist at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) at CSU.
It was there that I was first exposed to a class in animal behavior and decided this was the field I’d been waiting for. After a few detours, including one to co-found the pet loss program at the VTH (now part of the Argus Center), I finished my Ph.D. in 1989 having done my dissertation project on separation distress in puppies.
I incorporated Animal Behavior Associates, Inc. in partnership with my major professor, Dr. Philip Lehner, when I was still in graduate school. At that time, I began working with people and behavior problems in their dogs and cats under Dr. Lehner’s supervision. I also became involved in competitive obedience, earning titles on my Dalmatian Katie and her cousin Peaches, my Irish setter Blaze, and my German shorthaired pointer Brandy. In the midst of all this, my first cat Amos entered my life and I haven’t been without cats since. Cats are so different from dogs, and mine have enriched and expanded my life and my education in uncountable ways. Amos, Tipper, and Dan’s cats Hamlet and Vonnegut have all since passed away, but now our big orange tabby Buffett rules the roost. Buffett allows Ashley, our 8 year old Dalmatian, and Coral, our 1 year old Irish setter puppy to also share the house with him.
My education, experience working as a behaviorist at the VTH after graduate school, and later at a large animal shelter, the Denver Dumb Friends League, and for the past 10 years full time with ABA, Inc. have given me the breadth and depth of knowledge I need to help you and your pets live together happily. And I’ve shared my life with dogs and cats for virtually all my life, so like you, my pets are my kids, my family.
All of us at Animal Behavior Associates, Inc. are committed to helping make life better for your pet, and for you by helping make the pet you share your life with an enjoyable, safe companion.
