The purpose of a shelter animal risk assessment is to examine an animal’s behavior over time and across a variety of contexts to assess the level of risk of putting that animal out into the community through adoption, fostering, or rescue.

Mara Velez is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), and has spent more than a decade in sheltering at both open-admission and limited-admission facilities and formerly a board member-at-large for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). 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.

Fernando Diaz is a board member-at-large for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and the behavior and training manager for Pasadena Humane. He has almost 15 years of experience in the animal care industry, having worked with marine mammals, reptiles, fish, cats, and dogs. He oversees the training, development, delivery, and evaluation of the organization’s behavior programs, working with staff and volunteers to do so. Fernando is a certified dog behavior consultant (CDBC) and a certified shelter behavior specialist (CSBS), and a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA). Fernando works with cats, dogs, and reptiles through his business, Building Better Bonds Pet Consulting where he focuses on fear-based behaviors and aggression. Additionally, Fernando is a professional member of APDT. Fernando lives in California and shares his home with two hound dogs and a cat.

Dot Baisly is a board member-at-large for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and is the director of behavior for Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA. Dot is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), a certified dog behavior consultant (CDBC), certified cat behavior consultant (CCBC), and certified shelter behavior specialist (CSBS). She also holds a master’s degree in Animal Behavior from Tufts University. She has been working in animal welfare and behavior for over 20 years, both in animal welfare and rescue organizations in New York and New England, and with private clients as a consultant, evaluating dogs, and educating staff and volunteers.

Amanda Kowalski is the vice president of behavior programs for San Diego Humane Society, where she leads a team of animal trainers and caregivers who provide specialized behavior plans for shelter animals, as well as behavior support to members of the San Diego Community. She has specialized in behavioral care in shelters for over 13 years. She holds a master’s in animals and public policy from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, is a certified animal welfare administrator through The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AWAA), is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), and serves on the board of directors for the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Amanda also consults with other shelters and rescues with creating and implementing behavior programs that support their animal populations and communities.

Marissa Martino was the community liaison at Dumb Friends League where she provided technical assistance to other shelters across the country and previous board president for the Shelter Playgroup Alliance. Marissa worked for the Humane Society of Boulder Valley as the behavior and training coordinator, the East Bay SPCA as the director of behavior and training, and the behavior manager at Dumb Friends League in Denver. 

She developed and implemented behavior modification programs for shelter dogs with various special needs including fear, separation anxiety, resource guarding, and inter-dog aggression. Marissa has presented at several shelter-focused conferences, including the HSUS and Animal Care Conferences.

She is currently designing a behavior course for shelter professionals in Nevada on behalf of the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation, piloting in the Fall of 2022.    

Pasadena Humane, located in sunny southern California is looking for an experienced shelter behavior professional. This role would be responsible for implementing playgroups the SPA WAY! We can't think of a better opportunity to work with a fantastic team! Click here to learn more.

The Shelter Playgroup Alliance is an entirely volunteer-run organization that relies on donations to support our educational efforts, so every penny of your donation goes a long way! If you like what we do, consider a $35 donation to help off-set our costs. Click here to view our 2020 Annual Report which details our expenses.