Michelle Martiya Returns as Chair of the Equid Division
Join us in welcoming back Michelle Martiya as chair of PPG’s Equid Division! Michelle helped found the Equid Division in 2018 and owns Essential Animal Training in Boca Raton, Florida. She takes the reins from Dorothy Heffernan, who served as chair of the division for two years. Click here to read the news release.
England Bans Shock Collars
Great news! England has banned the use of remote-controlled electric collars on dogs, effective February 1, 2024. The Kennel Club, which led the decade-long effort, made the announcement on Friday, April 28. Please help keep the momentum going! If you haven’t already done so, sign the Shock-Free Pledge today and encourage your friends, clients and colleagues to sign as well.
Welcome K. Holden Svirsky, New Chair of the Shelter & Rescue Division
K. Holden Svirsky of HoldenK9 LLC has stepped up as chair of PPG’s Shelter & Rescue Division. Holden is a dog behavior consultant with a certificate in training and counseling from the Academy for Dog Trainers. She is also a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer through Malena DeMartini’s certification program. She has been with PPG’s Shelter & Rescue Division since 2019 and helped author and develop the Pet Rescue Resource, an online toolkit for shelters and rescues to improve the adoption and retention rates of homeless pets, launched by the division in 2020. Read the full news… Continued
PPG Announces New Corporate Partner: Jungle Jordan
PPG has granted Jungle Jordan, aka Jordan Veasley, a three-year complimentary top-tier Ambassador membership in its corporate partner program, with the goal of joining forces to help educate younger generations about kindness to animals. Jordan is a zookeeper and wildlife educator whose mission is to make it fun to learn about the animal world. He advocates not only for the conservation of wildlife, but also for diverse audiences to get involved in animal care and conservation. Jordan hopes his voice will inspire more diversity and inclusivity in the animal world. Learn… Continued
Advocating for R+ Animal Training—Three Key Documents
Advocating for R+ Animal Training—Three Key Documents Contributed by Don Hanson, Chair of PPG’s Advocacy Division and a member of PPG’s board of directors As you know, positive reinforcement is under attack by some in the dog training community. Therefore, to prepare yourself to successfully advocate for and educate others about the benefits of positive reinforcement, I recommend you become familiar with these three documents: the PPG Guiding Principles, the 2015 AAHA Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines, and the AVSAB Humane Dog Training Position Statement. They will be valuable in helping… Continued
Class Action Complaint Against Radio Systems
Class Action Complaint Against Radio Systems On October 21, 2022, Plaintiff Steven Hernandez (“Plaintiff” or “Hernandez”) filed a class action complaint against Defendant Radio Systems Corporation. The lawsuit against Radio Systems in California is moving forward. PPG just received an email from the lawyer saying, “Great news! The court mostly sustained our claims in the shock collar case. That means the case is going forward and into discovery, such that defendants will start producing documents and be called for depositions.” Read the document below for details of the case. This… Continued
Give a Warm Welcome to Your New Chairs of the Assistance Animal Division
Give a Warm Welcome to Your New Chairs of the Assistance Animal Division Christina de Juan is the owner of CreScent Service Dogs in Central Florida, which helps people with disabilities train their service dogs for their individualized needs. She specializes in scent training for gluten and allergens, and also offers private lessons for scent detection dog sports. Natasha Attwood is the owner of Miyagi’s Dog Training and Behaviourist Services in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, through which she provides holistic dog-centered training and behavior modification services, and specializes in reactivity and aggression. Read the full news… Continued
Meet Laura Cassiday, PPG’s Feline Division Chair!
Laura Cassiday owns Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training in Baltimore, Maryland. She is also the chair of PPG’s Feline Division and serves on PPG’s Steering Committee. Click here to read Laura’s full profile!
PPG Member and Her Assistance Dog Let Down by Taxi Services
Uber is a taxi service that is accessible through an app. Within the app, you can book your driver and also let them know if you have an assistance dog. The idea is to help people easily access the most local driver and be assured that they can get to their destination, with their assistance dogs, in peace. However, some Uber drivers over the last five years have been refusing access to Ruby Welsford, a member of the Pet Professional Guild, and others (see below). It is illegal for Uber… Continued
Lorena Beatriz León-Patti Is Appointed Chair of PPG’s Inclusivity Division
The Pet Professional Guild has appointed Florida-based dog trainer Lorena Beatriz León-Patti as chair of its Inclusivity Division with immediate effect. As chair of the Inclusivity Division, Lorena also takes a seat on PPG’s Steering Committee. Click here to read more about Lorena and her new role as Inclusivity Division Chair. Congratulations, Lorena!
France Bans “Training” Devices That Cause Pain to Animals
On January 16, 2023, Members of Parliament in France voted to ban the “use on cats or dogs of any device that has an electrical charge, a looping collar which tightens without a restriction or which has spikes turned in towards the animal’s body.” Click here to read the full story.
The Roles of Assistance Animals
The three types of assistance animals are Service animals: Dogs and miniature horses are trained to aid their handlers who have been diagnosed with medical or psychiatric disabilities and have received a prescription for a service animal. Therapy animals: Therapy animals (with their handlers) are trained to provide comfort and therapeutic interactions to people in need in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private therapy practices, retirement and nursing homes, schools and in the aftermath of disasters. Emotional support animals: Emotional support animals provide their handlers with comfort and support within their… Continued
PetSafe Shock Collars Falsely Touted as Safe, Dog Owner Alleges
There is a new legal filing in California. It is a Class Action Against Radio Systems. A new Class Action case has been filed in California. The lawyer we have spoken to over the last year has finally found a member of the public with legal standing. You can read more here as it has been picked up by Bloomberg Law. PPG is mentioned in the filing and our resources are cited. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/petsafe-shock-collars-falsely-touted-as-safe-dog-owner-alleges The complete legal filing can be found here This is a consumer class action arising out of misrepresentations and… Continued
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