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Our Team of Clinical Animal Behaviourists

Under the oversight of our Veterinary Behaviourist, our team of Clinical Animal Behaviourists are experts in different companion animal 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 owners of pets with behaviour problems. Our team consists of dog behaviourists, cat behaviourists, parrot behaviourists and dog trainers, who serve the West Midlands regions, including Birmingham, Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and surrounding areas.

All of our animal behaviourists and dog trainers are highly qualified and experienced, advocating for ethical, evidence and reward-based training methods. Our Clinical Animal Behaviourists are all insured and follow a strict code of conduct. 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.

Hannah Dawes with her dog

Hannah Dawes, BVetMed MRCVS

Veterinary Behaviourist

Hannah is a Veterinary Surgeon who graduated from the Royal Veterinary Cottage in 2008 and has worked in companion animal general practice ever since. She works part-time at a veterinary surgery in Stourbridge. She has a General Practitioner certificate in Small Animal Medicine and a postgraduate diploma in companion animal behaviour.

Hannah is passionate about improving pets’ mental health, as well as their physical health, and is particularly interested in the effect of medical conditions on behaviour. She is an active Candidate Member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians. When she is not helping other people with their pets, she is looking after her own dog, “Noodle”.

Zoe Demery Clinical Animal Behaviourist

Zoe Demery, PhD CPsychol ABTC-CAB CCAB

Senior Behaviourist & Founder

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 various species.

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 companion animals and their caregivers in and around Birmingham.  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 lectures on exotic pet behaviour to veterinary nursing and animal behaviour students.  She 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 communities in Shropshire.  Previously, she gained a first-class joint honours BSc degree in Psychology and Zoology at the University of Bristol.  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.

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 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 with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (CABC, certified to work with parrots, cats and dogs).  She is 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 based in Coventry, providing clinical animal behaviour support in Warwickshire, West Midlands, Northamptonshire and Worcestershire.

Megan Richardson Clinical Animal Behaviourist

Megan Richardson, BSc (Hons) ABTC-CAB 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.

Keely Needham clinical animal behaviourist

Keely Needham, BSc (Hons) CCAB

Senior Behaviourist

With a deep passion for animal welfare, Keely has over 15 years of 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 Behaviourist 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 Clinical 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.

Keely has a wealth of experience working with dogs of all breeds and backgrounds and has a passion for understanding the complex needs of troubled dogs and enhancing the bonds with their care-givers and owners. Keely primarily provides clinical canine behaviour services in Shropshire and the West Midlands

Maggie SNB admin

Maggie Karuga, MSc

Practice 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!

Victoria Stockley clinical animal behaviourist

Victoria Stockley, BSc (Hons) MSc ABTC-CAB

Associate Behaviourist

Victoria is one of our Associate Behaviourists for cats and dogs. 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 has a 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 moreover looked after by two wee dogs, Poppy and Dora. Victoria has completed the Advanced Certificate in Dog Training Instruction from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and she is a registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the ABTC in dogs and cats. She is a Candidate Member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians and is currently working towards independent CCAB accreditation.  She is a Full CAB Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.

Ella Kus with her dog

Ella Kus

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.

Otis Grace & Dom
Emma the vet
Luke, Harry and Trixy
Jules and Linda
Emma
Harry & Phantom
Lily & Kiki
Nicki the vet
Benji, Dawn and Paul
Hettie, Lily & Chester
Nardie's Flock
Ted, Rob and Michelle
Finn & Deborah
Cocky and Timothy
Gracie
Lynne
Charlie & Milo
Echo
Marley & Elaine
Chip, James & Sarah
Billie, Tammy & Mary
Riley & Paul
Riley & Paul
Pebbles & family
Trinity, Bella & Rachael
Dotty, Annie & Colin
Brambles & Corinne
Bubba, Karen & Gary
Alfie, Mary, Michael & Chris
Ernie, Jennie, Ian & Alfie
Ozzy & Bev
Goldie & Lucy
Sophie, Chloe & Rosie
Blaze, Laura & Glyn
Cocoa & Julia
Bailey, Andrew & Denise
Dylan, Juliet & Carl
Frank & Lynne
Buzz, Andy & Faye
Jessie, Charlotte & Dan
Yogi & Rupert
Murphy & Anna
Irene & Pauline
Kizzy, Gyp, Barry & Hilary
Alfie & Charley
Don & Poppy
Bobby & Jayne
Cookie, Storm, Andy & Julie
Bracken & Vivienne
Dexter & Dougie
Sadie, Julie and Mark
Nala
Skye & Lynette
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