Speakers

Claudia Richter, DVM, Residency with American College of Veterinary Behaviorists completed

Emilia Gordon, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)

About the speakers…

Description

Join Dr. Richter and Dr. Gordon on June 9 for a two-session webinar covering the diagnosis, treatment, and management of shelter dog behaviour conditions.

Topics include:

• Making behaviour plans
• Including use of medication and behaviour modification
• Challenges unique to shelter settings
• Decision-making around risk and outcomes including euthanasia

About the speakers

Claudia Richter, DVM, Residency with American College of Veterinary Behaviorists completed

Dr. Richter has practiced veterinary medicine in BC’s Lower Mainland for almost 20 years. She spent 6 years owning and operating her own veterinary hospital, where she focused on creating a modern, community-focused, small animal practice. Over her tenure, her practice achieved American Animal Hospital Association accreditation, the “gold standard” for veterinary practice medical procedures and management in North America, and the introduction of low-stress and fear-free practice methodologies.

Always an advocate for animals in the community, Dr. Richter created the annual “Vets In Action” program, where veterinary professionals from throughout the community join together to perform a day of free surgical and dental procedures for the local shelter animals. Dr. Richter also introduced a monthly pro-bono surgery program at her practice and volunteered many hours throughout the community. Her efforts were recognized in 2013 with the BC SPCA Veterinarian Of The Year award.

After years of practicing veterinary medicine in the Vancouver area, during which time she also spent many long days of “practice” with her own “high-maintenance” dog Kona, Dr. Richter recognized the need for a veterinary behaviour specialist in the Lower Mainland area. Dr. Richter completed her residency with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in December 2023 under the mentorship of Dr. Kenneth Martin (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists) and will sit her final board examination in September 2024.

Emilia Gordon, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)

Dr. Emilia Wong Gordon (she/her) received her DVM from the University of California, Davis in 2005 and obtained specialty board certification in Shelter Medicine Practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2020. She worked for the BC SPCA managing the provincial shelter medicine program for 8 years before opening a practice in 2022 providing mobile and consulting services to animal shelters, rescues, and organizations working to increase access to veterinary care. Her practice operates according to the belief that cross-sector collaboration with a One Health emphasis is essential to the shared goals of the animal welfare, veterinary, and human health professions.

Dr. Gordon’s professional and research interests include infectious disease, animal welfare epidemiology, and behaviour and welfare. Through her practice, she provides primary care services, including maintaining an active caseload of shelter clinical behaviour cases. She lectures on shelter topics at several universities in Western Canada and holds adjunct faculty positions with the University of Florida Shelter Medicine Distance Education Program and the Ontario Veterinary College.