Let’s Meet Susan!
I am a Certified Laboratory Animal Behavior Professional at
the Battelle National Biodefense Institute in Maryland, where I oversee the
environmental enrichment program for a diverse group of lab animal species - everything
from mice to nonhuman primates. I’ve always been interested in behavioral
enrichment. I completed the programs in Animal Training & Enrichment and
Laboratory Animal Behavior to gain a greater understanding of animal behavior
and to develop enrichment and assessment plans for the animals in my care.
Our programs have been very successful. In fact, a colleague
and I recently published an article about successful use of positive
reinforcement in a laboratory environment; it appeared in a recent issue of Lab
Animal Science Professionals.
How did you benefit
from your experience at the Animal Behavior Institute?
I have been able to apply positive reinforcement training and
to develop enrichment devices at my facility in Maryland; this is also where I
completed my field experience requirement.
One of my favorite outcomes from the program is the ability to get our sheep
to submit to voluntary blood draws without being restrained.
What was your favorite
course?
I have a strong background in psychology. Thus, it was probably
inevitable that my favorite course would be the Human-Animal Bond. I learned
skills that I could apply to my own pets as well as those at the shelter where I
volunteer on weekends. I’ve used my new skills to train my cat to walk on a leash
and to work with rabbits at the shelter. While I was training my new puppy to
sit, I unintentionally taught my cat to sit as well!
After completing my training, my one wish would be that all
the volunteers at my shelter could take courses with the Animal Behavior
Institute to increase their understanding of animal behavior and enrichment.