Introducing AVSAB’s Executive Board

Dr. Karen Becker, VMD

AVSAB President

Dr. Karen Becker has enjoyed practicing Small Animal Veterinary Medicine since graduating in 2003 from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Becker’s main interests in Clinical Behavioral Medicine, including Canine and Feline Fear-Related Aggression,Generalized Anxiety, and Noise Phobia, blossomed after attending a residency in Small Animal Behavior at the University of Pennsylvania. She now offers comprehensive behavioral consults for dogs and cats who struggle with a variety of behavior issues. She is committed to promoting behavioral wellness in companion animals and to protecting the human- animal bond through education on canine and feline communication, instituting proper socialization, and through prevention and treatment of behavioral issues, or medical issues which may contribute to behavior problems. She is Fear Free Certified, and is a strong advocate for behavioral modifications which incorporate solely positive reinforcement training techniques. Licensed in PA and NJ, Dr. Becker is a long standing member of the American Veterinary Medical

Association, as well as the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and the Pet Professional Guild. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets, gardening, and baking.

Dr. Sarah Cutler, VMD

AVSAB President-Elect

Dr. Sarah J. Cutler is a small animal veterinarian with more than 30 years of experience working with cats and dogs in the suburban and urban New York region. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997, where she began her studies in small animal behavior medicine with Dr. Karen Overall. For the past two and a half decades Dr. Cutler has practiced medicine, surgery, and focused on the science of learning behavior and the human-animal bond. She has worked in large busy hospital, consulted with multiple canine rescue groups, and 14 years ago founded At Home Vet Care, a house call practice. More recently, in 2021, she opened The Behavior Clinic for Cats and Dogs in Bedford Hills, NY and expanded her team to include a Behavior Consultant who is also a CPDT-KA trainer and another UPenn vet graduate. She is licensed to practice in both NY and CT and has done more than triple the number of required hours of continuing education in order to maintain licensure. These include but are not limited to multiple NAVC Institutes (3), CVE Behavioral Medicine (one year), Karen Pryor Clicker Training Certification, and one on one mentoring with board certified veterinary behaviorists, as well as being a Certified Fear Free Professional. These courses have been dedicated to the study of canine and feline behavior, training methods, behavior modification, and the uses of medications to help particular issues such as fears, phobias, anxieties and aggression. She is passionate about continuing her education while helping to educate others.

I am a recent empty nester with two young adult sons and one 17 year old daughter. My husband and I enjoy hiking, cooking, reading, puzzles, travel, and the culture and diversity of the NYC region. I’m also an avid reader, started a book group, love to downhill ski and do yoga. We are both originally from New England and continue to travel to New England for leisure activities as well as because of our family ties. I’ve always loved being a veterinarian, but my true calling came to me when I realized the importance of using my voice as a veterinarian to advocate for not only physical wellness but psychological wellness of our patients, and that in fact they are dependent on each other. I currently have a 15 an a half year old female Calico DSH cat named Cleo and a 13 and a half year old Aussie mix named Cole.

My memberships include AVMA, PPG, AVSAB, Fear Free, IAABC, AAFP, Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement.

Brittany Atkinson, CVT

AVSAB Veterinary Technician Representative

Prior to becoming a veterinary technician, Brittany earned a degree in Anthropology with a minor in Biology from Northern Arizona University. During her undergraduate years, she interned at Chimp Haven in Shreveport, Louisiana, working with chimpanzees that have been retired from medical research. This work required her to quickly learn how to read chimpanzee body language, decipher the meaning of different vocalizations, and in turn reciprocate communication effectively. Brittany started her veterinary career in Sierra Vista, AZ in 2010. Since then, she has completed an associate’s degree in veterinary technology and is now a Certified Veterinary Technician and is the Lead Technician at East Maryland Animal Hospital in Phoenix, AZ.

She spends much of her time training the staff in low stress handling techniques and offering behavior consulting services to clients. Brittany’s passion for behavior was catalyzed in 2011 with the adoption of her dog Gru. Gru came to Brittany at twelve weeks old with both of his left legs broken after having been attacked on multiple occasions by another dog. The emotional scars of those traumas, in addition to his physical inability to be well-socialized as a puppy left Gru lacking in the important life skills he would need to confidently live in the world around him. When it became obvious that he needed more than just basic obedience training and exposure to other people, animals, and environments, Brittany sought the help of Dr. Gail Stevenson at Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson who had a special interest in behavioral medicine. Dr. Stevenson continued to mentor Brittany long after Gru ceased to be her patient, and encouraged her to join the SVBT and begin attending their conferences. After only 3 years of attendance, Brittany was asked to join the planning committee for the conference (now CABC); eventually finding her way to the sponsorship subcommittee which she has chaired for the last 6 years. Brittany was elected the President of the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians in 2023 and worked tirelessly alongside Dr. Steven Edwards to accomplish the merge between the SVBT and AVSAB.

Dr. Juanita Ashton, DVM, CDBC

AVSAB Treasurer

Dr. Juanita Ashton was born and raised in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.  She graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in PEI, Canada in 2003 after receiving a Biology degree from the University College of Cape Breton.

She was immediately taken with the behavioral studies at the AVC under the direction of Dr. Norma Guy at UPEI.  And after graduation, moved to Elmsdale, NS where she currently focuses on companion animal medicine, specifically, on the behavior of dogs and cats.

In 2016, Dr. Ashton received her certification in canine behavior from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

Dr. Ashton shares her life with her husband and four children.

Dr. Michelle Nicholson, DVM, MSc MANZCVS

AVSAB Member-At-Large

I am a veterinarian originally from the east coast and recently moved back to Nova Scotia, Canada. After completing my DVM at the Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island I was in general practice for many years in the Halifax, Nova Scotia and Ottawa Valley, Ontario areas. I also worked for the Veterinary Drugs Directorate at Health Canada and managed the pharmaco vigilance program while continuing part time in general practice. In 2017 I left the government to focus on veterinary behaviour.

I have had a strong interest in animal behaviour and welfare for as long as I can remember. I am particularly interested in how animals learn, how they interact with us, and the mental health issues that animals may develop, along with the impact this has on their relationships with us. This led me to veterinary behavioural medicine which focuses on pets’ mental health and the creation of an improved understanding of owners about their pets, which strengthens the bond between them.

I am dedicated to the stewardship of animal welfare, ensuring that care extends beyond the clinic to everyday interactions with animals. I am passionate about providing education and behaviour resources to the public, including pet owners and those who work with animals, to promote better understanding and care.

I am currently licensed by the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association and the College of Veterinarians of Ontario and I am a member of several professional organisations, including the American Veterinary Society of Animal behaviour, American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZCVS) in Veterinary behaviour through examination. I am also a certified Cat Friendly Veterinarian by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and fear-free certified, educated on techniques in reducing fear, anxiety, and stress while creating a positive experience for both pets and their owners and veterinary teams.

I am fortunate to be a member of a kind, humane, and science-based behaviour community, fostering collaboration and education among veterinary professionals, animal behaviourists, and certified trainers. I am dedicated to advancing AVSAB’s goals of improving animal welfare and strengthening the bond between animals and their caregivers through education, collaboration, and compassionate care.

I enjoy good coffee, all things music, being on the ocean, sea kayaking and doing scent work with the dogs. My current good read is Play with Your Cat! By Mikel Maria Delgado, PhD, highly recommended by my cats…

Shelby Helmerich, EdS, MS, LVT, RLAT, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, CRCST, Elite FFCVP

AVSAB Member-At-Large

My name is Shelby Helmerich. I am an Instructor in the Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Technology Program at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. I have been a licensed veterinary technologist since 2016 and have been teaching full time since the Fall of 2020. I teach courses in veterinary microbiology, public health, and animal behavior courses. I have been professionally training since 2016 in the western Kentucky and Tennessee area. My clientele encompasses many veterinary referrals, since I am the only one in the area that specializes in behavioral cases. I also work with clients in basic obedience, manners, puppy training, and even have a couple service-dogs-in training. In the past, I was a volunteer puppy raiser for Canine Companions. I am currently pursuing my VTS in Behavior and will sit for the CBCC this fall. I am in my first semester of the Doctorate of Education program at Murray State, pursuing the EdS to EdD bridge. I would say I am considered a crossover trainer having grown up in AKC obedience training and 4-H with traditional dominance-based methodology. I now identify as rewards-based and follow the LIMA approach to behavior modification and training.

My wonderful husband and I have been married for almost 5 years. We have a Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, and a Lagotto Romagnolo. My Lab was the dog that pushed me to change my mindset with training and behavior modification. We also have one cat, one rabbit, and two chinchillas. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, bass fishing, boating, and overall, spending time outdoors with my husband and our dogs.

Jamie Johnson, CVT, FFCP-Elite, LSHC-Silver, HABc, CPEP

AVSAB Member-At-Large

Dr. Steven Edwards, DVM

AVSAB Past President

Dr. Edwards grew up on Long Island, NY, where he attended Long Island University and earned a B.S. in Biology. He then made the long trip to St. Kitts to attend veterinary school at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, and completed his education with a year of clinical rotations at Virginia Tech.

While at Ross, Dr. Edwards was an active member of the school’s animal behavior club. He also served as Treasurer, and later President, of the school’s chapter of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. During his clinical year, he completed an externship with Dr. Carlo Siracusa, DACVB, at the Behavior Medicine Clinic at University of Pennsylvania.

After completing veterinary school in 2013, Dr. Edwards returned to New York and entered general practice. While he enjoyed the diversity of cases that he would see in general practice, he wanted to increase his exposure to behavior cases.

In 2017, after attending the NAVC Institute Clinical Behavioral Medicine (and later the Advanced Behavioral Medicine course), Dr. Edwards started offering veterinary behavior consultations at Shirley Veterinary Hospital in Shirley, NY. Over the next year, he saw behavior consultations, as well as general practice appointments.

In June of 2018, Dr. Edwards relocated to the Tampa Bay region of Florida and started Veterinary Relief and Behavior, LLC. He now provides in-home veterinary behavior consultations to clients, and relief services to hospitals in the area.