PDTE 2019 June Newsletter

Sandra Sánchez Muñoz - Spain
My name is Sandra. In my childhood I
was always surrounded by animals. My
parents taught me to be humble and
they instilled a love and respect for
animals in me from a young age. When I
decided to study I chose psychology
because I felt that studying something
like veterinary medicine would be
difficult for me because it would be in
conflict with my personal ethics.
When I was finishing my university
degree, I was offered a job in company
that focused on animal-assisted therapy
with dogs, where I worked as a
psychologist. Seven years ago, I ended
up leaving this job because I felt that
my boss did not have an appropriate
knowledge base for working with dogs,
he did not respect their nature and was
not concerned for their welfare.
The first dog I ever lived with was
Rumba. Rumba is a Labrador Retriever
and we have been together for eight
years. She is my mentor and my guide.
With Rumba I have cried a lot,
sometimes out of frustration because I
felt like I did not understand her but
many other times out of happiness. I
have spent hours watching her sleep,
play, explore, eat… and over time I
began to understand that she was
communicating with me.
Currently, I work as a psychologists and
I also teach psychology classes for
university students. I have taught
psychology of learning and
psychopharmacology for 10 years. Now
I am able to teach students what I
would have liked to have been taught
from the beginning, how to respect the
welfare of others, whether they be
human or non-human animals.
Earlier, my husband, who is a PDTE
associated member, and I had the
opportunity to meet Turid Rugaas in
Barcelona. I saw that we share the
same philosophy and it is because of
this that I would like to apply to join this
organization.
Vida Pla - Spain
Hello, my name is Vida and I am here
thanks to my dog ‘Bigotes’. I rescued
him in the wild six years ago and after
spending a lot of money on specialists
for his education and not getting any
solution to my case, I decided to study
myself, learn to understand him as he
needed and solve my problem
ourselves.
Today, it has become my passion and a
way of life. I have not stopped studying
although I always think that I still do not
know anything.
I am interested in dog psychology and
solve problems from the roots using
always kind and respectful methods.
Audrey Doornbos - Netherlands
My name is Audrey Doornbos, I’m
married and live in the heart of the city
of Groningen. We share our house and
garden with Wilson, a wonderful Boxer x
Wetterhoun mix of 6 years old. Almost
ten years ago I had the opportunity to
change my career. From the graphic
design industry I moved to the
veterinary clinic being a vet technician.
In 2011 I earned my diploma. Up until
today I work part time as a veterinary
technician/assistant.
I grew up with boxers and always
enjoyed having a dog around. For about
20 years I had no possibility to take
good care of a dog. One day before my
40th birthday, we picked up Wilson! I
got snapped by our first boxer at the
age of 4, I was literally in his face...
Little did I know, let alone my parents.
Even after that the dog was still my best
friend. Now I know why and how it
happened. Poor dog for the situation he
was pushed in...
To learn more about the behaviour of
dogs I started a course with my former
dog trainer. In 2014 I earned that
diploma but soon I found out it left me
with questions and doubts about his
approach.
Then Turid Rugaas entered my life! First
a seminar and now half way with the
IDTE-TR in the Netherlands. I’m getting
answers to my questions and learn my
doubts were not in vain.
The more I learn, the better I can
provide clients at the vet clinic with
appropriate advice on how to handle or
treat their dogs.
The more I learn, the harder it gets to
actually work at the clinic because of
the ill treatment and clumsy handling of
dogs by their owners.
The more I learn, the more eager I get to
improve the treatment of dogs at the vet
clinic. Not only by the owners but also
by the vets and my fellow technicians.
Because dogs deserve that!
Summer 2019 - PDTE Newsletter 27