BehaviouRVNs

Alex qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1997 and has completed the ISFM feline nursing certificate, diploma and advanced certificate in feline behaviour. In 2023 Alex passed the advanced diploma in applied animal behaviour (feline) level 5 and is currently studying towards gaining the ABT (Animal Behaviour Technician) qualification. Alex currently works part-time for International Cat Care as the Cat Wellbeing and Behaviour Advisor and also as a self-employed lecturer and writer on feline behaviour and welfare. Alex is a member of the International Cat Care Feline Wellbeing Panel and has provided information about feline wellbeing to cat caregivers through her social media platforms under the name ‘The Cat Nurse’ since 2015.

Joy Shutt BSc(Hons) RVN C-SQP DipNCS(RVNCons)

Joy lives for cats. She is the Cat Friendly Clinic Cat Advocate, Nurse Clinic Lead and Head Nurse at a first opinion practice in North Wales. With a degree in Bioveterinary Science and lots of experience with Cats Protection, Joy eventually came to the veterinary sector in 2014, qualifying as an RVN in early 2019. In 2022, she completed a diploma in veterinary nurse consulting but also enjoys perioperative nursing and schedule 3 surgical procedures. Joy is a volunteer BVNA Advocate, organising regional and online CPD events. She is also a veterinary nursing course marker for Colourful CPD and writes for veterinary publications. Somehow, she is also hoping to start a feline behaviour qualification in 2024.

Joy does actually like dogs too and runs a Facebook group “North Wales Schnauzers”, who meet for regular walks and support the charity Schnauzerfest. As well as Frank, her miniature Schnauzer, Joy has a rescue cat who is newly hyperthyroid (typical) and three royal pythons.

She enjoys helping people better understand and relate to their animal companions which leads to a stronger bond and a more gratifying relationship between animal and human.

She is a Fear Free certified speaker and coach, a Fear Free Practice Certification Consultant, host of the podcast, Tails from Vet Tech, and serves on the board of Pet Professional Guild’s cat committee.

Tabitha has helped to develop training and behavior programs for various veterinary hospitals and shelters and works as a consultant for many shelters and private veterinary practices.

Behavior Solutions for Dogs & Cats | Chirrups & Chatter

Tails from a Vet Tech on Apple Podcasts

Lili Chin is an artist well known for her globally popular dog art,  while her work also includes cats and other species. Since 2008, she has been providing custom illustration and a catalog of art products for sale. 

 

Lili Chin's dog behavior infographics have become a popular tool for dog training professionals, veterinarians, behaviorists, and welfare groups who advocate for humane animal training methods.

 

A partial list of prominent behaviorists, authors, and organizations that have used her art include the late Dr. Sophia Yin, Fear Free Pets, RSPCA, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and International Cat Care.

 

Her first book - Doggie Language: A Dog Lover's Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend - was published by Summersdale in October 2020, has been translated to multiple languages and has won two DWAA awards. 

 

Her newest book, Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide To Understanding Your Cat is available now, published by Ten Speed Press in Summer 2023.

 

Lili Chin is Malaysia-born and currently lives in Los Angeles with a writer-husband, and two rescued and bonded cats - Mambo and Shimmy. Her muse is her rescued, blue-eyed boston terrier, Boogie. (2004 - 10/20/2020) She loves making frozen desserts, listening to podcasts, and playing board games.

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She is represented by Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary.

In this episode, I speak to Sarah Pointer, an exceptionally well-qualified crazy cat lady!

After completing her BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour, Sarah began nursing in 2006 in small animal practice and qualified in 2008. She began lecturing at Warwickshire College across the BSc Veterinary Nursing and related animal programmes in 2013. Her specialist interests include emergency and critical care, feline nursing and behaviour as well as veterinary nurse education and training. In 2017 she undertook a PGDip in Academic Practice in Higher Education, and was admitted as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Rebecca is a Registered Veterinary Nurse currently based at RDSVS University of Edinburgh. She is currently a student at the Karen Pryor Academy

“I took the jump to leave my job managing a restaurant to go back to college in 2013. I qualified in 2017 through the Level 3 Diploma route and since then have worked at the Dick Vets Small Animal Hospital. I always had an interest in training in some context because of my Dad's previous career as a dog handler, but like many things you never know what exists out there, who knew what a veterinary nurse was when I was in school. I have two labradors who have been my inspiration through my career choices or the chosen rabbit hole to go down to learn something new including my KPA studies. I am almost at the end of it now with my assessments at the end of October. “

https://karenpryoracademy.com/courses/dog-trainer-professional/

This week, I speak to my first student veterinary nurse. Emma is a 2nd year student at SRUC, who has a fantastic Instagram account, and an amazing amount of passion for animal behaviour!

"I'm Emma, I've just started my 2nd year of the level 3 diploma in veterinary nursing at SRUC Oatridge Campus. I've always been passionate about animal welfare, obtaining a degree in Zoology in 2020 before finding work in a veterinary practice by complete chance and discovering vet nursing, and I haven't looked back since! I'm most passionate about animal behaviour (particularly canine behaviour) and hope to be able to specialise in this at some point once qualified. I've already completed my Fear Free Certification and am a member of the Dog Friendly Clinic scheme through Dogs Trust and the BVBA and love being able to implement what I've learned over the years into minimising FAS for my patients (and even teaching some of my colleagues along the way!). I'm a massive advocate of muzzle positivity, ending breed stigma and promoting a variety of fear-free techniques in practice. I've even been given the opportunity to revamp and lead our nursing clinics to include confidence clinics for FAS dogs and have seen some great results with this so far.I'm hoping to continue developing my confidence, my skills and knowledge between now and qualifying as an RVN. "

https://www.instagram.com/empower_svn/

Charlie Wright tells me about her career

"I have been working within the veterinary profession since 2010. I am a Registered Veterinary Nurse and ABTC Accredited Animal Training Instructor, dedicated to reducing patient stress in practice. I am a full member of PACT and a provisional (CAB) member of APBC. During my time in practice, I ran confidence clinics, provided educational behaviour talks to clients, and at every opportunity tried to educate and inspire colleagues to adopt a behaviour focused approach with each patient. In recent years I have stepped back from clinical practice to pursue my passion for education. Today, my main work is in my role as Clinical Educator in Veterinary Nursing at Harper Adams University. Along-side this I also run my own pet behaviour and training business (Wright Pet Behaviour), where I try to approach stress reduction from the caregiver side of the pet."

Special guest week and I chat to the amazing Hannah Capon MRCVS and founder of 'Canine Arthritis Management'

Canine Arthritis Management was set up and is led by award-winning vet Dr Hannah Capon, winner of the 2019 CEVA Vet of the Year Award and the 2020 Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Impact Award. Hannah’s goal is to educate people about canine arthritis. She does this by creating online content about the early detection and multimodal management of canine arthritis for caregivers and professionals alike.

Canine Arthritis Management

Hannah knew very early in her veterinary career that she wanted to become a physiotherapist and set her sights on it from the very beginning. This attracted her because of the whole patient thinking and ensuring holistic treatment improved the quality of life for the patient.

Hannah qualified from the College of Animal Physiotherapy in 2020 and set up her own business in 2021 while continuing to work for Pennard Vets as a social media manager.

Hannah has a huge passion for making small but sustainable changes to pet care which add up to an improvement in the patient's life. She has a soft spot for golden oldies and those who have been misunderstood.

Hannah's Instagram

College of Animal Physiotherapy