“Dr. Z.” to Speak on “Companion Animals in Society”

Alfred State College will host “Dr. Z,” aka Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, PhD, CAAB (certified applied animal behaviorist) executive vice president, nation programs science adviser to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, NYC, who will speak on “Companion Animals in Society,” Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, 7 p.m., at the College’s Lake Lodge, Terbury Road, Alfred. His presentation is open to the public free of charge. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation for local animal shelters.

Since 1988, Zawistowski has been involved in animal welfare involving pets, zoo, and laboratory animals. He has been a founder or member of many committees, several of which are the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, the Scientific Advisory Panel of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, and the Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources Committee to update the report on the Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in laboratory animals. In fact, Zawistowski was the lead animal behaviorist in the Michael Vick pit bull case.

Zawistowski is a well known speaker and media guest where he discusses education, animal behavior, and animal welfare issues. He has hosted the ASPCA Pet Check segments on PBS, and authored, edited, and consulted on over 20 books on animals and pet care, including Animal Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff (2004). Zawistowki is often quoted in newspaper and magazine articles, publishes in scientific journals, and is the founding co-editor of the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.

Zawistowski earned both master (1979) and doctoral (1983) degrees in behavior-genetics at the University of Illinois. He has taught biology at Indiana University, psychology at St. John’s University, and was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship in environmental biology from the National Science Foundation. Zawistowski is an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and a certified applied animal behaviorist, chairing the Animal Behavior Society’s Board of Professional Certification.

For more information, or to make reservations to attend (encouraged), contact the Center for Community Education and Training at (607) 587-4025, or via e-mail: ccet@alfredstate.edu.