Central to the mission of BIG FIX Uganda is the development of human-animal bonds. Our Comfort Dog Project has demonstrated for five years that dog companionship can reduce PTSD symptom severity in war trauma survivors. But what happens if your Comfort Dog has a strong prey drive and harasses (or even kills) your neighbor's chickens? Thanks to Animal Behavior Consultant and Dog Trainer Colleen Demling-Riley, BIG FIX Uganda now tests prey drive in all dogs we place, so that we can find just the right home.
Now BIG FIX Uganda is grateful to welcome Colleen to its Executive Committee, the four-person volunteer team responsible for oversight of the day-to-day management of the organization's activities. Colleen is a highly respected dog trainer in San Diego County, California, and she is a fully certified member of the International Associaiton of Animal Behavior Consultants. Her sixteen years of experience including training service dogs for Canine Companions for Independence, and development of the temperament test fo the Therapy Dog Program at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. She was a finalist for Women in the Pet Industry Network's Entrepreneur of the Year, among many other accolades. |
"We are overjoyed to have Colleen join us," reports Sarah Schmidt, who serves as current President of BIG FIX Uganda's Executive Committee. "Colleen is already working with us to review and improve all of our training procedures for the Comfort Dog Project. We aim to provide the best for the animals and people of Northern Uganda, and Colleen's expertise and passion will help us accomplish that."
Fellow Executive Committee member Bonnie Ladwig says, "I have known Colleen professionally for 15+ years and her ethics are above board, her integrity and character is unquestionable, and in many ways, she has shown other women, myself included, how to make it as a businesswoman through example."
Fellow Executive Committee member Bonnie Ladwig says, "I have known Colleen professionally for 15+ years and her ethics are above board, her integrity and character is unquestionable, and in many ways, she has shown other women, myself included, how to make it as a businesswoman through example."
On her Pawtopia Dog Training website, Colleen says, "I LOVE training dogs. I LOVE working with clients. I feel blessed every single time I watch a relationship transform as the pup and pet parent learn how to communicate with each other. Honestly, it’s why I do this. Dog training is my calling."