Curtis is a renowned animal behavior specialist. He has been studying and teaching Animal Behavior and Animal Welfare Management for more than 30 years.

 

A seasoned professional, Curtis studied Zoology (the behavior of elephants and primates) at UCLA, attended Los Angeles Pierce College, Equine Science, and earned a certificate in Dog Psychology, Emotion and Cognition from Duke University, and has completed the Master Course in Aggression in Dogs, the most comprehensive course on dog aggression available anywhere in the world.

 

He is a Registered Animal Therapy Handler with the most prestigious animal therapy organization in the United States. Curtis has extensive knowledge and experience in Canine Obedience, Animal Behavior Science, Behavior Modification, and Temperament Evaluation.

 

As part of a registered Animal Therapy Team, Curtis has certificates in Training for Therapy Dogs Teams, Canine Body Language, Animal Therapy with Veterans, and Animal Therapy for Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients. Curtis also teaches and works extensively with Service Dogs and their handlers and is particularly recognized for his commitment to Psychiatric Service Dogs and the individuals they support. He is a professional member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) in the Dog, Horse, and Working Animals Divisions.

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He is a member of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA), a professional organization composed of an elite group of animal welfare professionals whose mission is to advance the cause of animal welfare and to continue credentialing animal welfare administrators.

 

A recipient of the Los Angeles SPCA COMMITMENT AWARD, Curtis was recognized for his dedication and work with shelter animals, as well as for his training and humane education of thousands of Los Angeles city schoolchildren and teachers.

 

From participating in research on human-animal interactions at the International Society for Anthrozoology to coaching new therapy dog teams at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Curtis has gained many years of experience in the classroom and in his own business, helping and caring for animals.

 

In 2020, as Executive Director of one of the largest animal shelters in Houston, Texas, under Curtis’s leadership, more than 3580 surgeries were performed, and nearly 4,000 animals were saved from the City of Houston’s euthanasia list.

 

A sought-after consultant to many non-profits, Curtis' continuing interest is in the human animal bond and is continually attending conferences and workshops to keep current with the most up-to-date advances in Animal Welfare Management, Behavior, Enrichment, and health. He currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.