Dr. Zoe Demery

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.  She helped to grow a pet behaviour counselling 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.  She started 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 the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians and on 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).

Zoe is herself currently looked after by a Jack Russell-cross, a bearded dragon and two parakeets.

Maggie Karuga

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 is a pet lover and a mum of two boys. In her spare time she enjoys travelling, photography and is currently studying part-time for a Masters degree in international development. She also believes she is a good dancer.

Keely Needham

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 honors degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. She is a Candidate Member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians, as well as an active sub-committee member. She is working towards her CCAB accreditation in dogs under Zoe’s supervision.

Megan Richardson

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 years of experience working in a variety of different types of animal collections, especially in boarding and rescue kennels and catteries, along with being an assistant in 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, and has gained pre-certification with the CCAB. Megan is also an accredited Animal Training Instructor (ATI) through the Professional Association of Canine Trainers (PACT). Megan has been working as an animal behaviourist through Second Nature Behaviour and her own business for several years, and is currently gaining supervised experience with the aim of gaining accreditation as a CCAB in dogs and cats in the future. She is part of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians as a Candidate Member.

Victoria Stockley

Victoria is one of our associate behaviourists, with a special interest in cats. She 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. She is experienced in training dogs, cats and horses and worked as a veterinary nurse for several years before specialising in behaviour.

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, with special needs, and Magic 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