In this episode, Mara Velez (CPDT-KA) and I discuss how the Shelter Playgroup Alliance was created, developing best practices for safer shelter dog playgroups, how to match more compatible playmates, how to reinforce play breaks, and assessing organizational risk tolerance.

This interview was recorded on May 10, 2021.

Mara Velez's bio:
Mara Velez is the board secretary for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), and has spent more than a decade in sheltering at both open-admission and limited-admission facilities. She is the executive director for the Shelter Playgroup Alliance (SPA), a shelter enrichment educational organization that helps shelters implement enrichment programs, including playgroups. Mara is also the executive director of Humane Dog Training Advocates (HDTA), an owner-education focused nonprofit that aims to keep dogs in homes through education and training support. Mara holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology and completed all of the course work for a doctorate in education. She completed Trish King’s Canine Behavior Academy (CBA), levels I & II; Dr. Susan Friedman’s Living and Learning with Animals (LLA); The Karen Pryor Academy Professional Animal Training program (KPA); and more than 2,500 hours of animal-related continuing education. Mara is also a learning and development consultant to corporations across a variety of industries, where she advises and works on projects related to leadership development, process improvement, and learning program management.

Links:
Shelterdogplay.org
Shelter Dog Playgroup Guidelines
Mara's email: [email protected]


Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

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