About Me
Laura Mees, Trainer

Contra Costa Animal Services
Behavior Team Apprenticeship

• Participated in behavior intake evaluations/re-evaluations; used low-stress handling techniques to help dogs safely exit & return to kennels, & coached volunteers in safe exits/returns as needed

• Filmed & assisted behavior team with dog/dog introductions & playgroups using SPA guidelines

• Under behavior team guidance, applied principles of learning theory to create and implement training plans; assisted training staff with public group classes 

Contra Costa Animal Services
Lead Volunteer

• Mentored, trained & supervised new volunteers in handling, enrichment & adoption counseling

• Handled dogs in introductions between adoptable & resident dogs; educated adopters on body language in interdog interactions

• Planned, prepared & delivered enrichment to shelter dogs; used standard training protocols to improve quality of life & adoptability (e.g. click to calm & treat/retreat games)

• Worked with potential adopters to match them with a dog who meets their needs; counsel on behaviour & integration with other animals in the home

• Partnered with shelter leadership to advocate for volunteer program needs & provide feedback from participants & adopters; communicate leadership meeting outcomes to the volunteer group to help build engagement/motivation within the program

Contra Costa Animal Services
Foster &
Field-trip Program Management

• Created processes needed to launch & run foster/field trip program, affording dogs decompression & enrichment opportunities with members of the public.

• Used LIMA based handling techniques to put on and remove harnesses, leashes, and martingales prior to field trips or foster placements

• Analyzed surrender notes, behaviour evaluations,& volunteer walk notes to match field trip & foster applicants with compatible dogs

• Spearheaded fundraising/donation efforts & established wholesale partnerships to supply the foster program with enrichment supplies, safety equipment, gear & food.

Underdog Animal Rescue
Foster & Behavior Support

• Fostered & placed 90+ dogs in the last four years.

• Fostered dogs returned for reactivity, impulse control, timidness & other behaviours; under the trainer's guidance, implemented behavior modification plans to improve likelihood of safe & successful placements

• Advised on pathing for behaviour cases

• Provide adopters & other foster families with  resources & support when dogs in their care had to be euthanized or transferred to a sanctuary due to behaviour

• Develop standards for selecting foster dogs for the general program & evaluate dogs for the rescue to pull; Assist rescue in evaluating the needs of dogs coming from homes & shelters; making placement recommendations based on history, behavior & foster home capacity