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Ellen J Mahurin, MA Animal Behaviorist, Business Owner

Ellen Mahurin founded Clever Critters in 2004. Ellen grew up on an Arabian horse farm in Rockford, TN where she enjoyed daily life on the farm especially training horses and dogs. In 1997, Ellen took the opportunity to train parrots and birds of prey at the Knoxville Zoo Bird Show. She continued to gain hands-on experience with animals through product research with the Petsafe corporation and employment with Northstar Foundation (service dogs for autistic children), Wilderwood Service Dogs (for the mentally handicapped), Chilhowee Veterinary Clinic, the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley, Cedar Bluff Animal Clinic and the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Office of Laboratory Animal Care.

Ellen is married to Rob who is her number-one supporter. Rob is the Clever Critters webmaster and also a tremendous help with editing and brainstorming. Ellen is mother to Hannah and Will. The Mahurin family includes a dog, Comet, and two cats, Daisy and Gilbert.

Education

• 2006 MA animal behavior/psychology - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• 2003 BA psychology - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• 2000 BS biology - University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Certification

• Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (Associate) - In progress
• Mentor to Animal Behavior College students
• American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator

Professional Memberships

• Animal Behavior Society
• Association of Pet Dog Trainers
• International Society for Anthrozoology

Other Experience

• Animal Works Board of Directors - Knoxville, TN
• Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee (CAIT) Education Committee - University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine

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Karen M. Davis, MS Animal Behaviorist

Karen Davis grew up in East Aurora NY with her family and dog, Otto. Karen worked as volunteer staff at Wolf Park, an education and research facility in Battle Ground, IN (the North American Wildlife Park Foundation) where she learned about wolf behavior, socializing and handling wolves, operant conditioning and enrichment. Karen was the head "pup mom" raising 13 wolf pups in 1997. Next, Karen worked as head of the wolf program at the Utica Zoo in New York. In addition to wolves, Karen gained training, raising and husbandry experience with a variety of animals including wolf-dog hybrids, bears, Siberian tigers, Siberian lynx, California sealions, reptiles, raptors and hoof stock. Karen also has experience training domestic dogs, conducting research for the Petsafe corporation, teaching biology and animal behavior courses to university students, publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting lectures at a variety of animal behavior venues.

Karen shares her home with dogs, Indie and Lily.

Education

• In progress PhD animal behavior/psychology - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• 2002 MS biology - Bowling Green State University, Ohio
• 1997 BS - Ecology, Evolution, & Population Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Certification

• Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (Associate) - In progress
• American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator - In progress

Professional Memberships

• Wolf Park education and research facility
• Animal Behavior Society
• American Psychological Association
• Comparative Cognition Society
• Tennessee Herpetology Society
• South Eastern Biologists

Other Experience

• Wolf Timbers Board of Directors - Bolivar, OH

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Ami E. Padget, BS Associate Animal Behaviorist

Ami Padget began her animal career working as a veterinary technician and dog groomer. Ami has cared for and trained animals at the Gulf Breeze Zoo, the San Antonio Zoo, Marine Life Oceanarium, and the Knoxville Zoo. Her training experience involves a variety of animals including dogs, parrots, birds of prey, dolphins and rhinoceros. Ami has also partnered with animal welfare organizations to find adoptive families for homeless animals, conducted product research for the Petsafe Corporation and presented research findings at conferences of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Ami has an 18-year-old chocolate lab named Cocoa and two cats, Friski and Nips.

Education

• In progress MA animal behavior/psychology - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• 2004 BS biology, Minor psychology - Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville
• 2003 zoo animal technology - Pensacola Junior College

Certification

• Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (Associate) - In progress
• American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator - In progress

Professional Memberships

• Animal Behavior Society
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums