Hi! Thank you for your interest.  I am one of 40 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists in the world and I believe ethical and humane methods are the only ways to nurture psychological health in animals and functional relationships with their peeps.  I am a member of the Animal Behavior Society and Interdisciplinary Forum for Applied Animal Behaviorists. 

My fascination with animals and passion for their welfare was born at five years old when I released tadpoles from a cohort’s sand bucket.  Boy, did I get in trouble!  My innate empathy of animals, now combined with over 20 years of scientific and applied education in animal behavior, enable my dedication to improve the lives of animals and the society in which they live.

Carleton’s Place Animal Behavior Clinic, my mobile practice, provides on-line and and on-site consulting, training, forensic, and educational services to pet and foster parents, animal care practitioners, litigation attorneys, animal welfare organizations, shelters, and educational institutions across the United States and Canada.

Carleton’s Place is named in honor of my late great Golden Retriever, Carleton, and founded on progressive scientific leading edge information about animals: How they learn, why they behave the way they do, and how to treat them for safe and rewarding relationships.

Many people ask me about my academic route.  While “what” I was going to be when I grew up was a divine calling without question, “how” I was going to get there was a bit more questionable.  Fortunately, I came across fascinating landmarks and people along the way.

I earned my Masters of Science (M.Sc.) in Psychology at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) studying wolves, and my Ph.D. at York University (Toronto, Ontario) studying birds and primates.  After that, I did a 2-year postdoctoral applied animal behavior residency at the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center (New York, New York) including an internship at the Central Park Zoo.  I assessed and rehabilitated surrendered and homed dogs and cats, as well as those seized by Humane Law Enforcement Agencies as strays and from neglectful abusive conditions.  At the zoo, I worked with alpacas, monkeys, rabbits, chinchillas, hedgehogs, goats, sheep, birds, and a potbelly pig within the contexts of husbandry, research, and enrichment.

Media is the best way to educate the public, so I am happy to be filmed and interviewed by the media regularly.  I also lecture on a variety of animal behavior topics across the US and Canada.  For more information link up to my resume and brochures.

I practice Yoga, I do not eat meat, and I try to hit the beach every day...in memory of Roxanne and Carleton.