Shannon Cummings

In 2002, Shannon Cummings cofounded ShelterWorks (www.shelterworks.us), a nonprofit company dedicated to improving the lives of homeless animals and the professionals who work with them. She has helped to guide animal care agencies, humane organizations, and private rescue groups through the process of creating intake guidelines, behavior assessments, adoption protocols, and safe handling practices. She was part of the team that created the SF/SPCA Lifelinks intake program, designed to increase the shelter?s adoptable population, and served as the shelter manager for the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society.

As part of ShelterWorks, she has worked with individual agencies and communities in the U.S. and Canada. She has done presentations to students at the SPCA training academy and the vet school at the University of California, Davis. Her interest in this field has led her to do continuing research on behavior assessments, aggression, and return rates.

Shannon is a trainer with more than 10 years of experience in teaching classes and doing private consultations. She graduated with honors from the SF/SPCA dog training academy and has been fortunate to work with some of the best minds in the animal training and welfare field.