Shel Graves
Certified, Experienced, Ordained
Shel has seven years of shelter and rescue experience working with traumatized animals and working to strengthen the human-animal bond.
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Fear Free Certified Trainer Professional,
Fear Free Speaker, Fear Free Coach -
CARE REDI Bronze Certification: Racism, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
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In addition, Shel is an Ordained Animal Chaplain through the Compassion Consortium (an interfaith, interspiritual, and interspecies center).
Our Story: Shel Graves Animal Consulting
All animals, including human animals, can benefit from positive reinforcement training which communicates that their behaviors work and are appreciated. It rewards and encourages behaviors we’d like to see more of. After all, this is what we love about animals: their cute, curious, adorable, and fun behaviors! Training can be fun, beneficial, useful, and stimulating and strengthens our human-animal bond.
I love animals, which is wonderful, but not, in-and-of-itself, enough.
To care for the animals in our lives, we need to:
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pay attention to them as individuals
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understand their needs and experiences as species
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learn as much as we can about them
This is what I’m aiming for when I say Shel Graves Animal Consulting is Doing Our Best for Animals. When I became an animal chaplain, I vowed to pay attention to animals and animalness and to encourage all to be confident, at ease, playful, and safe.
My desire to do this to my fullest capacity led me to start my consulting business. Read on for the rest of our story or book an initial consult now to begin our work together.
Must Love Dogs
When I was growing up, there were as many dogs in my family as humans. Before Taffy puppy, a Shetland Sheepdog, came into my life, I used to visit all the neighborhood dogs. Taffy and I went through obedience training and a husbandry series for 4-H. I love bathing, brushing, and caring for dogs. I like to teach them to enjoy it and participate (cooperative care). Taffy gave me my first experience with medical needs. She developed epilepsy. She gave me my first rescue experience, too. We found Ayla, a shepherd mix, with a litter of puppies beneath a juniper bush. Taffy’s ashes are scattered at Pasado’s Safe Haven among many animals who touched my life and changed the course of it. May Taffy’s spirit play freely with those friends.
Must Love Rescue
When I worked in rescue, animals came from cruelty and neglect cases and came into our care with severe medical and behavioral needs. I helped many large dogs including pitbulls, shepherds, mountain dogs, mastiffs, boxers, and Labradors. Little dogs came from hoarding houses and puppy mills including chihuahuas, terriers, spaniels, beagles, and pugs. I rescued the dogs I adopted, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, from conditions like this. I worked with dogs who had special needs; who were blind or had conditions like cerebellar hypoplasia (CH) or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). They were seniors, adults, and puppies. I loved the ball dogs, retrievers, agility dogs, scent dogs, hiking dogs, and lazy snuggly dogs. I did behavior assessments for them and helped them work through behavior and training plans so they could be adopted.
Must Love Knowledge
Working with animals with behavioral issues and traumas, I needed to know more to help them. To show them the best people could be meant learning as much as I could from informed, experienced, and reputable sources. I read a lot and studied with experts to learn more about animal behavior and how to help with difficult behaviors. While earning credentials and expertise, I have joined wonderful communities of people who want to help dogs, cats, and farmed animals. I am in awe of their contributions and grateful for their work on behalf of animals!
Must Love Cats
The first cat I lived with, Sophie, was a senior who died in my arms. Later, we adopted Mary Shelley cat from Everett Animal Shelter. I went on another learning journey when I began working with shelter cats from hoarding, cruelty and neglect cases. I created cat behavior plans and began training cats. Yes, you can train cats! I am a fan of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants' cat-focused Pounce! conference where you can learn from amazing cat behaviorists. There is always more to learn about other species!
Must Love Fear Free
I have trained dog and cat shelter behavior teams and led a Fear Free Shelter program. I've worked with dogs and cats who were sensitive to handling and fearful. I helped dogs who were exuberant adolescents and displayed difficult behaviors including jumping up, grabbing sleeves, and biting leashes. I helped cats acclimate to new homes and new family members. I love helping dogs and cats work through their behavior issues and fears. I love Fear Free practices which emphasize cooperative care and a considerate approach. I am a Fear Free Speaker and Coach.
Must Love Animals
As a vegan and animal advocate, I gravitated to work at a farmed animal sanctuary which rescued and cared for not only dogs and cats, but farmed animals including chickens, goats, sheep, turkeys, cows, pigs, ducks, donkeys, alpacas, and llamas. We treated them as individuals and provided them fun ways to enjoy their behaviors (enrichment). Although there are species-specific needs and preferences, farmed animals can learn in the same way dogs, cats, and humans learn. Positive reinforcement and Fear Free techniques work for all beings.
Must Love Seniors
As an adult, my spouse and I adopted a number of senior dogs with medical issues including heart disease, neurological issues, and epilepsy. We cared for them through their senior years and loved them at end-of-life. I have a heart for senior animals and their needs. Yes, senior dogs, cats, and farmed animals can continue to learn. I love helping them participate in and enjoy their (cooperative) care.
Doing Our Best
for Animals
