Fine Tuning Our Tools for Success in Animal Behavior with Marissa Martino

In late February/early March, the Operations and Veterinary Services departments participated in a series of in-depth training sessions with Hawaiian Humane’s behavior consultant, Marissa Martino.

Marissa is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), the owner of Paws & Reward, a private consultation company that works with animal shelters across the country, and a part of the Shelter Playgroup Alliance.

The two weeks of on-site work was facilitated by Hawaiian Humane’s Director of Operations Natalie Spencer and the Associate Director of West O‘ahu Campus Michelle Garcia. It provided a deep-dive review into Hawaiian Humane's current policies and tools, training and demonstrations on body language and documentation, intake to outcome stages, risk assessment and behavior modification, information gathering, decision making processes, and communications as they relate to animal behavior.

The skills and tools enhanced during these training sessions are a critical investment in ensuring optimal care for our animals, as well as setting them up for success on the adoption floor and in their new homes.

In addition, Marissa took part in Hawaiian Humane’s first Talk for the Animals event of 2023 for our volunteers, where she described how we support the animals who come into our care and how we treat each animal’s case with care and attention to their individual needs.

SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2023

5:30 PM VIP RECEPTION

8:00 PM CONCERT

Enjoy a private reception with refreshments, Broadway music and a surprise gift. A portion of the proceeds from the VIP Reception will benefit the Hawaiian Humane Society TO