Sherry Woodard, Animal Behavior Consultant
Sherry Woodard is Best Friends Animal Society's resident animal behavior consultant.
As an expert in animal training, behavior and care, she develops resources, provides consulting services, leads workshops and speaks nationwide to promote animal welfare.
Before coming to Best Friends, Sherry, a nationally certified pet dog trainer, worked with dogs, horses and a variety of other animals. She also worked in veterinary clinics, where she gained valuable experience in companion-animal medical care and dog dentistry.
Sherry came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in 1996 as a dog caretaker. Her understanding of and insights into animal behavior were quickly recognized and in 1997 she was asked to manage Dogtown, where she oversaw the daily care and medical needs of 600 dogs. As manager, Sherry was responsible for the intake of new dogs to the sanctuary, the placement of dogs in appropriate social groups, dog adoption programs, student and volunteer group visits, the foster care program, supply orders, and all matters relating to personnel. She participated in the design of new Dogtown buildings and exercise areas that have provided stimulating and comfortable environments for thousands of dogs over the years. Early in 2003, Sherry joined Best Friends' No More Homeless Pets national team.
Representatives from humane organizations and shelters across the country seek out Sherry for advice on animal management and behavior. She gives workshop presentations on dog care, animal behavior, training and adoption at national conferences as well as local shelters. She also assists individuals and shelter and rescue personnel with animal behavior, management and enrichment.
Sherry has written over 50 animal care, behavior and training documents for Best Friends that are used across the U.S. and by groups in Canada, Romania, China, India and Tbilisi, Georgia. She has created two training CDs with video: a basic and an advanced version. Sherry developed a canine behavior assessment method to help people learn what dogs need so that they can be placed safely in new homes. Sherry also created a cat behavior assessment program for shelter adoption staff and cat rescuers to help them read cats' body language and assess their needs.
Widely regarded as an expert on animal behavior, Sherry has consulted on and assisted with the investigation of animal cases in litigation, testified in a cruelty case in Fredonia, Arizona, and worked with law enforcement on a fatal dog attack case in Houston.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Sherry gained on-the-ground leadership experience in disaster response and management of ongoing emergency relief projects when she spent eight months in Tylertown, Mississippi, helping with rescue, assessment and socialization of dogs; supervising staff and volunteers; and working with all types of animals, including exotics.
She has completed six FEMA Emergency Management Institute courses. Sherry is a certified first-aid/first-responder and is currently studying to become an EMT. She has been a whitewater raft guide licensed in the Grand Canyon and has experience as a back-country guide and with rock climbing and swift-water rescue. She volunteers with local animal control and is a member of the local search and rescue operation.
Sherry lives in Angel Canyon in Kanab, Utah, with her son, five dogs, two cats, one chinchilla and one rat.
