Our team of clinical animal behaviourists
Our team of clinical animal behaviourists specialise in different companion species, including dogs, cats and parrots. Whether furry or feathery, the animal behaviour experts at Second Nature Behaviour provide pet behaviour counselling services to help animals and their caregivers better understand each other.
All of our animal behaviourists and dog trainers are highly qualified and experienced, and advocate for evidence and reward-based training methods. Our clinical animal behaviourists are all insured and follow a strict code of conduct in order to work ethically. Our senior pet behaviourists are independently accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourists (CCABs). Find out more about our team of animal behaviourists and dog trainers below.
Find out more about our team of clinical animal behaviourists
Our team of clinical animal behaviourists are highly qualified, accredited and experienced. Find out more about our team of animal behaviour experts below.
Zoe Demery, PhD CPsychol CCAB
Senior Behaviourist
Growing up among a menagerie of animals made Zoe fascinated with working out what makes animals tick. This culminated in her doctorate at the University of Birmingham in animal cognition and behaviour. She was particularly interested in how parrots learn about the world around them and applied her work to a range of other animals, including human children of different ages.
Zoe has lectured on exotic pet behaviour to veterinary nursing and animal behaviour students. She has also published, taught and given talks on how different animals think through a wide range of media, in the UK and abroad. Zoe helped to grow a pet behaviour counselling business into a non-profit social enterprise, benefitting a variety of communities in Shropshire. Previously, she gained a first class joint honours BSc degree in Psychology and Zoology at the University of Bristol. In the past, Zoe has worked with a range of animals in a variety of environments – from radio-tracking Spectacled Bears through the Andes, to working out the emotions of lab rats, to training dogs for rehabilitation at the RSPCA in Hong Kong.
Since then, Zoe has been keen to put her findings and experience to practical use by helping both animals and the people they live with understand each other better. Zoe founded Second Nature Behaviour in 2015 to more effectively support all manner of companion animals and their caregivers in and around Birmingham. At the same time, Zoe is actively involved with organisations expanding the field of clinical animal behaviour. She is moreover passionate about mentoring colleagues, educating veterinary staff and advising local rescues.
Zoe is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) in dogs, cats and parrots, independently accredited by CCAB Certification (formally the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Accreditation Committee). Zoe is proud to be a Certificated Member of theFellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians and supports the FAB Clinicians Board of Directors. She is a registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) in the UK and a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society. Zoe loves to help animals from around the globe – she is a Certified Animal Behaviour Consultant (CABC, certified to work with parrots, cats and dogs) with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC). She is moreover very happy to be recognised as an Allied Professional Member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians.
Zoe is herself currently looked after by a Jack Russell-cross, a bearded dragon and two parakeets.
Zoe is a cat, parrot and dog behaviourist based in Coventry. Zoe provides clinical animal behaviour services in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire.
Megan Richardson, BSc (Hons) CCAB
Senior Behaviourist
Megan has always known that she wanted to work with animals and she has always been fascinated with animal behaviour and training. When she experienced her own dog having behavioural problems she realised that she wanted to pursue a career as an animal behaviourist, so that she could help others with their own animals’ behavioural difficulties.
Megan has worked in a variety of different types of animal collections, especially in boarding and rescue kennels and catteries, along with running dog training classes. This experience has brought about a passion for animal welfare as well as for behavioural rehabilitation.
Megan graduated from Harper Adams University with a first class BSc (Hons) degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, then grew her clinical behaviour practice with dogs and cats. She has many years of experience and is an independently accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB in dogs). Megan is an active member of various organisations, including FAB Clinicians, APBC and PACT. Last but not least Megan is registered as a CAB and ATI with the ABTC.
Megan is a cat and dog behaviourist based in Staffordshire. Megan provides clinical animal behaviour services in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Shropshire.
Maggie Karuga, MSc
Office Manager
Maggie has been managing the Second Nature office since 2015. She loves being a listening ear to anyone with pets with behavioural issues; offering support and at least some consolation over the phone. But more than that, she loves hearing their success stories. Maggie has attained a Masters degree in international development. She is a pet lover and a busy mum of two boys. In her spare time, Maggie enjoys travelling and photography – she also believes she is a good dancer!
Keely Needham, BSc (Hons) CCAB
Associate Behaviourist
Keely has over 12 years experience working with companion animals, during which time she developed a special interest in their behaviours and interactions. It was a chance meeting with a Clinical Animal Behavourist many years ago, and a better understanding of the role that led her to pursue it as a career.
Keely graduated from Harper Adams University in 2021 with a first class honours degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. She is a Certificated Member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians, and works part-time as a behaviourist for a large animal welfare organisation. Keely has independent CCAB accreditation in dogs and is currently working towards her independent feline accreditation under Zoe’s supervision.
Victoria Stockley, BSc (Hons) MSc
Associate Behaviourist
Victoria is one of our associate behaviourists, with a special interest in cats. Victoria has a BSc (Hons) and an MSc (merit) in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Lincoln. Her published thesis investigated how handling affects bearded dragons’ behaviour. Victoria is experienced in training dogs, cats and horses and worked as a veterinary nurse for several years before pursuing clinical behaviour practice.
Victoria’s particular interest in cat behaviour began when, at age 11, she adopted her first (feral) kitten (with adult help!). It was obvious from the start that Magic was a different cat, and she taught Victoria how much patience and understanding cats need. Victoria is currently the loyal servant to a cat named Twinkle, an incredibly personable cat with special medical needs.
Victoria is a Candidate Member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians and a provisional member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, which means having gained the relevant academic qualifications she is gaining the practical experience necessary for full membership.
Chris Wills, BSc (Hons) MSc
Associate Behaviourist
Chris enjoys meeting new clients and dogs, and is happiest when training and playing with Luna, his rehomed Labrador, who might just turn out to be the most trainable dog of all time!
Chris has always had dogs in his family from Caesar, a Sheltie who he begged his parents to have when he was five, to Blue, the Whippet and Skye the rescued Greyhound. After leaving his career in journalism in London, Chris found his calling, rescuing street dogs whilst volunteering at International Animal Rescue in Goa and trained as an accredited dog training instructor with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) on his return. Chris has 10 years experience working with dogs and is a Candidate Member and a crucial subcommittee member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians and is striving towards becoming independently accredited as a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist(CCAB).
Chris is one of our associate behaviourists and provides a lot of the follow-up support for Second Nature canine clients.
Ella Kus
Office Administrator
Ella is a student at Harper Adams University studying BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Welfare, a CCAB-validated course. She is currently doing a placement with Second Nature Behaviour for the third year of her degree. After studying A-Level psychology, she knew she wanted to become an animal behaviourist.
Ella has always been around animals. She has had pet dogs and hamsters and currently has a Jackhuahua. She has also briefly worked with horses and zoo animals. When she didn’t have pets, her family looked after dogs for friends and family, and in recent years, she has been looking after a friend’s rescue cat who had been traumatised by his previous experiences. Ella has loved seeing him improve and become more confident.
Ella is really enjoying her placement with Second Nature so far and looks forward to learning and gaining more experience in behaviour consultations.
