Podcast Episode 75 - Lesley Gurule: Building Better Behavior Support in Shelters

May 6, 2024

#75 - Lesley Gurule: Building Better Behavior Support in Shelters

Download the episode – Download the transcript

Helping us kick off season 7 of Enrichment for the Real World, we’re joined by our very own, Lesley Gurule. Lesley is a behavior consultant with Pet Harmony and Lesley thrives on demystifying unwanted behaviors, collaborating with pet parents, and approaching every animal as an individual with unique needs.

In this episode, you’re going to hear Emily and Lesley talk about:

Why shelters and rescues need more behavioral support
Improving inclusivity and support in sheltering by getting rid of dogmatic slogans
Why it’s so important to get pregnant moms and baby animals out of the shelter ASAP
Learn the language of the species you live with

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Pet Harmony Consulting Services

Pet Harmony’s PETPro

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Meet the Guest

Lesley Gurule, CPDT-KSA

Lesley Gurule, CPDT-KSA is a dog trainer and behavior consultant with Pet Harmony. Her interest in dog training started through volunteering with an animal rescue in Brooklyn, NY. She went on to apprentice with Amanda Gagnon Dog Training in New York and after moving to Richmond, VA, enjoyed working as an instructor and trainer with multiple rescues and shelters. She has a soft spot for shy and fearful dogs, dogs from shelters or rescues, and puppies. Lesley is a supporting member of the IAABC and a member of the Pet Professional Guild. You can find her hanging out with her rescue dog Tammy, polydactyl cat Chet, and a rotating crew of foster puppies.

Meet the Hosts

Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA

Allie Bender is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed, and a Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 2006 and professionally training since 2012. She is the founder and co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

While in the animal sheltering industry, Allie realized that her passion lied in helping pets with maladaptive behaviors. Specifically, she wanted to help prevent animals with rehabilitatable problems from being euthanized. She loves working with dogs and cats displaying stranger danger, resource guarding, and leash reactivity. Her favorite thing about working with pets and their people is seeing relationships grow and seeing harmonious households develop.

Emily Strong, CDBC, SBA

Emily Strong is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 1990 and has been a behavior consultant since 2008. She is the co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

Emily started working with animals at a young age and struggled with the notion that you have to hurt, scare, or intimidate animals to help them. When she discovered the behavior sciences and learned that it wasn’t necessary to do so– that we can care for emotional, mental, and physical health simultaneously– she plunged headfirst into animal behavior. Emily loves helping current and prospective behavior professionals and working with pet parents through our in-depth services. She enjoys working with all species.

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