Pet Behavior Care

  
Amy Marder, VMD, CAAB, Director of the Center for Shelter Dogs 

Dr. Marder is a veterinarian and a Certified Applied Animal Behavior Consultant through the Animal Behavior Society.  She is a graduate of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine and completed the very first residency in veterinary behavior at the same institution. For the past 20 years, Dr. Marder has been helping owners and their pets with behavior problems through her private practice New England Veterinary Behavior Associates.  From 1999 to 2001, Dr.  Marder served as Vice President of Behavioral Medicine at the ASPCA in New York City, where she founded the Center for Behavioral Therapy. During her time at the ASPCA Dr. Marder studied the behavioral evaluation of shelter dogs with the purpose of developing an objective and predictive test which could be used in animal shelters.

Dr. Marder has written two books and edited another for pet owners on general pet care.  She was the author of Prevention Magazine’s “Your Healthy Pet” column and has been a frequent contributor to veterinary textbooks and journals. Dr. Marder is also often asked to appear on television (20-20, Geraldo Live, Animal Planet) and is interviewed on the radio and press.

Dr. Marder served as Director of the Behavioral Service at the Animal Rescue League of Boston but has recently accepted the position as the Director for the Center for Shelter Dogs.  In her current post she oversees all research programs, manages a staff of four, continues to oversee all behavior programs for the Animal Rescue League, as well as, providing private consultations to pet owners of adopted dogs. She lectures and consults to shelters and at conferences throughout the US and internationally about animal behavior issues. Additionally, as an adjunct faculty member at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Dr. Marder hosts veterinary students from around the country for behavior externships at the ARL.

Sheila (Segurson) D'Arpino, DVM, DACVB, Senior Applied Animal Behaviorist for the Center for Shelter Dogs

Dr. Sheila D'Arpino is a pet behavior specialist and is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Her interest in animal behavior began in 1988 while volunteering in the behavior department at the San Francisco SPCA. She graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. After a one year internship in medicine and surgery at The Animal Medical Center in New York she spent 5 years working as a general practice/emergency veterinarian at animal hospitals in San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Sacramento, California. Her interest in companion animal behavior was renewed while working at Pets Unlimited ( a non-profit veterinary hospital and animal shelter in San Francisco) which led to a three year post-graduate  Behavior Specialty Training Program at UC Davis, with an emphasis on shelter animals and shelter behavior programs.

After completing the specialty training program, Dr. D'Arpino worked for the UC Davis Shelter Medicine Program and started a behavior specialty practice, Sacramento Veterinary Behavior Services. She is currently a Senior Applied Animal Behaviorist for the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Jackie Fantuzzi, M.S., M.A., M.B.A., Behavior Project Coordinator

Jackie holds an M.A. from Hunter College focusing on companion animal behavior, an M.B.A. from Montclair State University, and an M.S. from Rutgers University concentrating on equine exercise psychology.  Prior to coming to the ARL, Jackie spent two years volunteering and interning at the ASPCA in NYC.  She brings to the ARL her experience in the humane sheltering field, conference strategy and management skills, and her love for animals.

Laney MacDougall, Administrative Assistant to the Pet Behavior Care & Center for Shelter Dogs

Laney has been a volunteer with the Animal Rescue League of Boston Dedham Branch for 6 years working both with the shelter agents and with the Trainer assisting with Dog Evaluations, training, walking and socialization.  She also has helped with the Behavioral Helpline under Dr. Amy Marder’s supervision for the past 2 years.  She holds a bachelors degree in Communications from Regis College and brings to the ARL her eight years experience as Administrative Assistant to a Financial Planner and her love of animals.