With 30 plus years of professional animal sheltering experience, Renee offers animal welfare consultation services, specializing in shelter operations, dog and cat behavior training including assessment, enrichment and intervention, orphaned kitten care, and staff and volunteer training.
Renee is always striving forward with an innovative approach in active leadership for progressive shelter and animal welfare organizations. In 2009, Renee developed and implemented the San Diego Humane Society’s Paws to Success program which included an orphaned kitten nursery program. The first of its kind, this nursery provides 24 hour care for orphaned kittens between the ages of one day old to eight weeks, and has subsequently provided SDHS the opportunity of saving over 10,000 kittens to date. In 2010 Renee developed and implemented a rehabilitation program for cats older than four months to address intake protocols as it impacts behavior and subsequent success in a shelter setting. Through environmental housing changes and some minor behavior modification, she led the program to success which now boasts a 90% life release rate. In 2012 the rehabilitation efforts were expanded with the development of the SDHS behavior center for dogs and cats. This center was designed to address behavior challenges common in the shelter setting. In 2013 Renee began offering her expertise as a full time consultant and teacher to share her expertise with others. Renee has worked with organizations who seek to further develop their positive effect on the animal welfare community, including the San Diego Humane Society, RSPCA of Queensland Australia, Humane Society of United States, ASPCA and the Montgomery County Animal Services Division in Maryland. Projects have included training and guidance in behavior assessment and modification programs, operation needs assessment, development of policy and procedures, and staff training.
Renee also provides other specialized presentations and workshops on local, state and international levels.