Editors, Educators and Sources
The first step in launching the Outstanding Pet Care Learning Center program was to update the previous PCSA’s Level 1 and 2 programs. To do this, we sought out the most credible and meaningful expert sources available including:
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
American Association of Feline Practitioners
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Center for Food Security and Public Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Dr. Laura McLain Madsen received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1997. As well as practicing canine and feline medicine and surgery at Holladay Veterinary Hospital, she is also team veterinarian for Salt Lake Urban Search and Rescue, providing medical care for search and rescue dogs. She has published over two dozen articles in national veterinary journals and trade magazines, including Veterinary Economics, Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Forum.
Dr. Ken Schenck received his doctorate in 1975 from University of California at Davis. He Interned at Iowa State University in 1976, where he met and married his wife Charla. After working one year in the San Diego region they moved and purchased Mueller Pet Medical Center in Sacramento California, where he presently practices. Dr. Schenck grew his practice from a one doctor/five support staff practice to its present nine doctor/sixty five support staff. And in 2012 he moved from his then 5,000 square foot facility to his newly constructed, state-of-the-art, 27,000 square foot facility.
Mueller Pet Medical Center has provided Pet Overnight Lodging since 1950, but in 2007 he branched off The Pet Inn. The Pet Inn has provides Overnight Lodging, Doggie Daycare, and Professional Grooming. And presently it occupys 8,000 square feet in the new facility. The new facility has allowed him to more than double his room numbers to over 150, and to add three climatized indoor arenas along with four outdoor synthetic turf fields.
Dr. Schenck is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, the California Veterinary Medical Association, the Sacramento Valley Veterinary Medical Association, and the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. Along with his wife, Charla, of thirty five years they have one lap hugging cat, Squirrel, and one heart stealing dog, Chanel.
Joanne Morris CKO, is the Vice President of Morris Animal Inn, Morristown, NJ, co-owner of Morris K9 Campus, Randolph, NJ, and a principal owner of Morris Pet Care Consulting, LLC. Joanne has worked alongside her parents, Walter and Marianne Morris, over the last 12 years to develop a “world-class” pet resort.
Joanne grew up in the pet care industry starting out at the infancy of Morris Animal Inn when it operated as a small “mom & pop” operation. She has watched the business transform into a small corporation which is now one of the largest pet care employers in northern New Jersey.
Prior to rejoining Morris Animal Inn, Ms. Morris owned and operated four Invisible Fencing dealerships over the course of 15 years. During this time she developed an extensive operational, marketing and customer service background. The dealerships Joanne operated were recipients of national awards for sales and service accomplishments.
Ms. Morris attended Susquehanna University and continues to educate herself in both business philosophies as well as the pet care industry. Joanne was a speaker for Pet Care Services Association on the topic of Recruiting, Retaining & Motivating Staff.
She was closely involved with the multimillion-dollar renovation that Morris Animal Inn underwent, coordinating construction while remaining totally operational for a three-year period.
Most recently Joanne has worked closely with Outstanding Pet Care Learning Center “OPC Learning Center” to revitalize the education program previously offered by Pet Care Services Association. Joanne is passionate about providing quality pet care and feels that in order to accomplish that proper training and the education of pet care staff has to be a priority.
Susan Briggs is founder of Crystal Canine, a consulting and resource business for the pet care industry and co-founder of Urban Tails, a multi-service pet care center in Houston, TX. With over 12 years experience operating a large dog daycare, boarding, grooming and training center, Susan is a recognized leader in the industry. She has consistently worked to establish quality care standards and share her knowledge with others. In 2007 she co-wrote Off-Leash Dog Play: A Complete Guide to Safety & Fun with Robin Bennett. Susan and Robin have partnered on, Knowing Dogs, a staff training resource for the pet industry on dog language and safe off-leash playgroups, that was published in 2012. Their latest joint venture, The Dog Gurus, is an online membership community serving as “your best resource for off-leash play”.
In 2009 her second book, Counting Noses, was published as the only industry specific accounting and financial management resource available. Susan is a frequent speaker in the pet industry with her seminars on getting started successfully in the pet care industry, financial management, staff management, dog daycare and dog body language. She has partnered with other pet industry experts to organize Pet Care Business Basics, a seminar for anyone looking to get started in the pet care industry that debuted in the fall of 2011.
Susan has been a very active volunteer with pet industry trade associations sharing her passion for safe dog daycare operations and an overall better understanding of dogs in our care. Her goal with Crystal Canine is to make information more easily available to the pet industry through articles, presentations, self-study courses and hands-on seminars.
The pet care industry is her new passion, but her professional career began as an auditor for Ernst & Young. Susan has a Masters of Accountancy from Truman University in her home state of Missouri and passed the CPA exam in 1984. She has converted to a Texan and lives in Houston with partner Bill Kamps and three dogs, Sheppy, Archie and Lacey. Her dogs continue to provide lessons on the complexity of canine health and behaviors that has led her to expand her studies into natural and holistic pet care. She is a reiki master, multidemensional transformation master healer and uses many holistic care modalities in the care of her pets including natural diets, acupressure, massage, homeopathy, aromatherapy, essences, color, crystals, EFT, and animal communication.
