Meet our experts below and don't miss out on your chance to ask them your pet-related questions on our forum:

Dog Behavior & Training Sarah Babcock Leslie Burgard, C.P.D.T. Liz Marsden, C.P.D.T. Jacque Schultz, MA C.P.D.T. Leigh Siegfried, C.P.D.T. Pia Silvani, C.P.D.T. Cat Behavior & Training Jacque Schultz, MA C.P.D.T. Debby Williams	Pet Health Stephanie Janeczko,    D.V.M., M.S., D.A.B.V.P. Cat Health Dr. Grant Gugisberg D.V.M. Small Animal Care Joanna Campbell Legal Issues & Lobbying Elise Van Kavage, Esq.

Sarah Babcock
Shelter Outreach, Volunteerism and Dog Behavior

Sarah Babcock is Chief of Education and Training for the Richmond SPCA. She was employed by IBM for 14 years before leaving in 1998 to pursue additional education in animal behavior. She completed three years of graduate work in psychology/neuroscience with Dr. Craig Kinsley at the University of Richmond and graduated valedictorian and with honors from Jean Donaldson's Academy for Dog Trainers at the San Francisco SPCA in 2001. She joined the Richmond SPCA in 2001 and was promoted to chief of education and training in June 2007. She and her staff currently oversee the behavior helpline, children's humane education programs, adult education via Pet University seminars, behavior and training programs, outreach and companionship programs, the volunteer program and Project Safety Net. She currently lives with 5 dogs, 2 cats and 2 turtles.

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Leslie Burgard, C.P.D.T.
Dog Training, Positive Reinforcement and Reinforcing the Human/Pet Bond

Leslie has recently returned to San Diego where she began her career with animals as a veterinary technician in 1991. Since then, she has achieved a BS degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Penn State while building a successful full time dog training business, Dogs Think! Dog Training, since 1995. She is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) and has various other certifications achieved in her time working with shelter dogs and rescue organizations. Leslie believes that each dog learns a little differently than the next and lessons need to be tailored to meet the needs of each dog. Positive motivation training is her method of choice and determining what motivates each individual dog is half the fun! She believes that successful training starts with a strong bond between owner and dog and her training methods reflect her desire to help teach owners how to communicate with their dogs effectively so they can create and nurture that bond throughout their relationship.

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Joanna Campbell
Small Animal Care and Community Outreach

Joanna has had pet rabbits for over 30 years. She got the rabbit bug after a fellow student brought rabbits to class for show and tell. Since then, she has continuously had a variety of rabbits, from dwarves to Flemish Giants. Joanna first became acquainted with the House Rabbit Society in 1997. She went on to become a nationally certified HRS Educator, HRS Fosterer, and served on the House Rabbit Society board. At the same time, she founded a group, originally named Minnesota House Rabbit Society, and continues to serve as President of this group. Joanna has a degree in Classical Studies, which laid the foundation for her current career in animal welfare. Prior to running MCRS, she spent many years in electronic banking.

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Dr. Grant Gugisberg D.V.M.
Cat Health and Care

"Dr. Grant" Grant Gugisberg, a St. Paul native, is a 1991 graduate of the University of Minnesota - College of Veterinary Medicine and part of the Parkview Cat Clinic. He lectures nationwide on feline health and behavior topics in shelter cats for American Humane, Petfinder.com and Petco Foundation and has participated on national roundtable discussions regarding Feline upper respiratory tract infections. Clinical interests are internal medicine, upper respiratory disease and whole life behavioral issues. As part of his practice he operates a referral cat behavior service doing both in clinic and in home consultations. He is a member of the AVMA, MVMA, Fellow of the AAFP and past member of the St. Croix Animal Shelter Animal Care Committee.
Join Dr. Grant for a live Facebook chat Tuesday, March 9 between 12-2pm EST.

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Stephanie Janeczko, D.V.M., M.S., D.A.B.V.P.
Pet Health and Shelter Medicine

Dr. Stephanie Janeczko received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Biotechnology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2000 and her D.V.M. from Cornell University in 2004. Following graduation, Dr. Janeczko spent time in general small animal practice, where she worked with cats, dogs, and small mammals. Her experiences dealing with the animals from shelters and rescue groups strengthened her interest in the field of shelter medicine, and in 2006 Dr. Janeczko became the first resident in Shelter Medicine at Cornell University. During her three year residency, Dr. Janeczko gained experience working with a wide range of shelters through regular site visits and consultations. She also spent a significant amount of time seeing cases in the Cornell University Hospital for Animals and working with clinical faculty to train veterinary students through the Community Practice Service and on ambulatory shelter medicine trips. Dr. Janeczko has a particular interest in infectious disease as well as in the welfare of cats. While a resident, she earned a Master's degree in Epidemiology for her thesis research on the prevalence and zoonotic potential of Giardia infections in shelter cats and has worked closely with shelters investigating outbreaks of canine influenza virus and Streptococcus equi subsp zooepidemicus. Dr. Janeczko completed her shelter medicine residency in July 2009 and recently attained her board certification in canine and feline practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. She currently works as the Medical Director for Animal Care & Control of New York City and also serves as a consultant to the Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University and on the board of directors for the Association of Shelter Veterinarians.

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Liz Marsden, C.P.D.T.
Dog Training for Dog Aggressive Dogs and Enrichment Techniques

Liz Marsden, CPDT is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer who has worked with shelter and rescue dogs for more than 25 years and coached new dog guardians in their homes and in group training classes since 2001. Her specialties include reactive and dog-aggressive dogs, dealing with high-energy dogs, using enrichment to solve behavior issues, and helping people understand the special needs of puppy mill dogs. She is the co-founder of MissionDog.com which offers workshops, books and DVDs to improve the lives of shelter dogs through training and enrichment. Liz lives in Chaplin, CT and Washington, DC where she works in the behavior department of the Washington Animal Rescue League.
Join Liz for a live Facebook chat Monday, March 8 between 12-2pm EST.

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Jacque Schultz, MA C.P.D.T.
Pet Behavior and Training

Jacque Schultz is Senior Director of Community Initiatives at the ASPCA where she has been on staff for over twenty years. She began her career as an animal behavior counselor and eventually led the behavior and training department. A certified pet dog trainer, she taught a variety of dog obedience classes for 14 years. Her current work includes serving as grants officer for the ASPCA Equine Fund and consultant to the ASPCA Partnership Program. Jacque is an award-winning author of dozens of articles on dog and cat behavior and breed profiles as well as co-authoring The ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs and two new books in the ASPCA Kids series: Having Fun with Your Dog and Amazing Pet Tricks. Jacque has presented workshops on animal behavior, pit bull issues, shelter enrichment and breed identification at national, regional, and state animal welfare conferences.
Join Jacque for a live Facebook chat Thursday, March 11 between 12-2pm EST.

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Leigh Siegfried, C.P.D.T.
Dog Training and Puppy-mill Rehabilitation

Leigh Siegfried began her work with dogs as a volunteer dog walker at a local animal shelter. She is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and has been working professionally with dogs since 2002. Her experience includes managing an award winning dog daycare and training facility and serving as the Behavior and Training Manager for one of the most progressive shelters on the East Coast. Leigh is the owner of Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training and specializes in behavior consulting for dogs. She is also the Co-founder of Mission Dog, a company committed to enriching the lives of dogs through education (educating the humans, that is). Mission Dog offers workshops and products designed to help dog owners improve the well being of dogs in their care. Mission Dog released the first ever DVD for Puppy Mill Dogs! "Adopting a Puppy Mill Dog- Everything You Need to Succeed," is a great resource for people that recently adopted a puppy mill dog and are looking to get started on the right foot. Leigh speaks nationally at animal sheltering and pet industry conferences and is proud to support the efforts of shelters and rescue.

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Pia Silvani, C.P.D.T.
Dog Training and Behavior

Pia is Director of Training and Behavior at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey. She has developed various courses focusing on reward-based techniques, which are extremely effective in the enhancement of the bond and relationship of our companion animals. Twenty years ago, through the research of many people, Pia was instrumental in developing a behavior department for St. Hubert's. Today the shelter offers pre-adoption and post-adoption education to all adopters. St. Hubert's now has a very successful private consultation department for pet owners specializing in aggressive and anxiety-related problems. Pia writes behavior articles for the shelter's newsletter, library and magazines around the country. She has been written up many times in national and international newspapers and magazines. She gives guest appearances on television and radio and is the host of Teacher's Pet located on www.petliferadio.com. She has spoken on three continents at various conferences and forums and routinely with trainers and shelters to assist them in improving and expanding their education and programs.
Join Pia for a live Facebook chat Wednesday, March 10 between 12-2pm EST.

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Elise "Ledy" Van Kavage, Esq.
Legislative Attorney Specializing in Animal Welfare Law & Lobbying

Ledy has worked extensively in the humane movement. Currently, she is the Senior Legislative Attorney for the Best Friends Animal Society. In 1985 she organized the Madison County Coalition Against Pound Seizure, successfully stopping the sale of animals for research from her county animal control facility. She then founded the Madison County Humane Society and served as its president for eight years. In 1992 she co-founded the Illinois Federation of Humane Societies and served on its board for ten years. She was also a cofounder of Operation SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today) in the St. Louis Metropolitan area and served as a board member for eight years. Ledy joined the ASPCA in 1999 as a Midwest Government Affairs and Public Policy Associate. She worked for the ASPCA for nine years as Sr. Director of Legislation and Legal Training. During that time she spearheaded the passage of over 20 humane bills making Illinois the best state for animal laws in the nation. She is a Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association's Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Animal Law Committee, and Chair of the Animal Law Committee's Public Relations Subcommittee, Co-Chair of it's Companion Animal Subcommittee. Ledy also serves on the Animal Farm Foundation Board. She has been interviewed on the subject of dangerous dog by the New York Times, MSNBC, NPR's Justice Talking, the Chicago Tribune, and the St. Louis Post Dispatch. She is a co-author of a chapter on dangerous dog ordinances in the American Bar Association Book, Dangerous Dog Laws published in 2009, and author of an upcoming article in the International Municipal Attorney Association's magazine. Please note that Ledy is licensed in the state of Illinois and, since legal issues vary by jurisdiction, any and all answers must be compared to your local laws and regulations.
Join Ledy for a live Facebook chat Friday, March 12 between 12-2pm EST.

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Debby Williams
Cat Enrichment and Shelter Health

Debby has been in the animals health field for over thirty years. She spent twenty years with the local emergency clinic and eventually found her way to the Erie County SPCA in Tonawanda, New York. Presently, she is the Veterinary Services Manager and oversees twenty staff members and thirty volunteers. She oversees the Erie County SPCA medical student preceptor program with area colleges and veterinary colleges throughout the United States. She is co-founder of the AdvoCATS, the cat enrichment program at our shelter which recently received national recognition in HSUS Animal Sheltering magazine. She has spoken at various Petfinder Adoption Options about setting up a cat enrichment program and upper respiratory illness, one of her favorite topics. In her spare time, she is happily married to Bruce; has two beautiful grown daughters and shares her home with eleven cats and three dogs.

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