Jill-Marie has been working with and training dogs for the last fifteen years. For the last eight years Jill-Marie has been on staff at the spcaLA. First as a Humane Educator teaching inner-city youth dog safety and bite prevention techniques and then as the agency's first dog trainer and behavior specialist. She has been in that position for seven years, now holding the title of Manager of Animal Training and Behavior.

In that position she has created the H.E.A.L. (Helping Enhance Animals' Lives) program. H.E.A.L. is a program aimed at training volunteers & staff in proper handling techniques as well as training the volunteers to train and socialize the dogs in our care thus increasing the animalsŐ chances for long-term successful adoptions.

Another aspect of her job with the spcaLA is the on-going temperament assessment of our shelter dogs. By doing this we are better able to make placement recommendations that will also increase the dog's chance for successful placements.

Jill-Marie has also been the primary trainer for the TLC (Teaching Love and Compassion) program. In that capacity, her primary responsibility was creating a daily training program for the twelve participating youth and six dogs. Temperament Assessment and dog selection were also important aspects of her duties as trainer for TLC. Jill-Marie authored the Dog Training Workbook as part of the overall TLC curriculum. TLC has been expanded into a national program.

Over the last few years Jill-Marie started the agency's first ever dog training classes offered to the public. The training program now consists of basic training classes, specialty classes and agility classes. Along with that, she added the service of a free behavior help line, both of these services giving vital post-adoption support and intervention to adopters and the general public. Evaluation of pets for the Animal Assisted Therapy program is another area in which Jill-Marie is involved.

Jill-Marie currently shares her life with her two Belgian Malinois, shepherd mix, two terriers, her two cats and the newest member Beckett a Border Collie. She competes in agility with her dogs and enjoys hiking and camping with her canine family.

Website: www.spcala.com