In 2011 to 2012, Shannon interned with veterinary behaviorist Dr. Rachel Malamed. She is one of the few veterinary technician graduates (2012-2016) of the North American Veterinary Professional Institute Behavior Course presented by Dr. Karen Overall, Dr. Kersti Seksel and Dr. Martin Godbout. In 2014, she completed Living and Learning with Animals (LLA), for veterinary and other animal behavior professionals, by Dr. Susan Friedman. She has also served as president for the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians. She founded Ventura Pet Wellness and Dog Training Center in Ventura, California, in 2006. The center offers a variety of training classes and Shannon specializes in helping fearful and unsocialized dogs. In 2015, she also developed Truly Force Free Animal Training, an internetbased training site dedicated to spreading knowledge regarding force-free training. In 2019, Shannon published her first book, The Evolution of Dog Training: From Choke Chains to Clickers, uncovering the secrets of a well-behaved dog.
Evelia Rivera Evelia Rivera CPDT-KA is the owner/trainer of PAWsitive Approach, LLC in Milford, Connecticut. She graduated from the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree and then worked at a local Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited aquarium from 2006-2016, where she became a marine mammal trainer and worked with harbor seals, river otters, and meerkats, along with sea turtles and a variety of fish. During her time at the aquarium, she began working with a therapy dog group. She enjoyed working with seniors and at-risk teens, helping them build bonds with therapy dog teams. Shortly afterwards, she began working and training pet dogs for the same group, working with pets and their parents to become therapy dogs. In 2016, Evelia decided to expand her passion for animal welfare and join a local shelter as their behavior coordinator. Using enrichment and training to help build bonds with cats who have been brought to the shelter and having adjustment problems along with “fierce” TNR kittens who didn’t know (yet!) what good things people could bring. Her experience with exotics and canines helped her work with and understand felines and hoisted her firmly into the world of cats. Some of Evelia’s other experiences include being a past member of the Beardsley Chapter of American Associations of Zookeepers (past co-secretary), presenting twice at IMATA conferences on sea turtle training and lionfish conditioning, a Canine Good Citizen evaluator, a supporting member of the IAABC, an APDT professional member who is also on the APDT the membership committee, and a PPG member. Born in Bridgeport, Evelia grew to love and respect animals during family trips to the Connecticut Beardsley Zoo and her dream was always to work with marine life or horses. In
