Colorado Animal Welfare Conference Session
Trazadone And Then Some: Leveling Up Medication Tools For Shelter Life
3-4:30pm • Aug. 19, 2025
City Lights 1
Behavior Symposium
Trazodone is everywhere in sheltering—but it’s far from the only option. In this lecture, we’ll explore a broader range of behavior medications that can reduce fear, improve welfare, and support better outcomes for animals in high-stress environments. From fast-acting anxiolytics to longer-term solutions, learn when (and how) to go beyond the basics. Designed for veterinarians, trainers, shelter staff, and animal control officers, this session blends practical guidance with big-picture thinking to help animals not just survive shelter life—but thrive.
Dr. E’Lise Christensen Bell
Dr. E’Lise Christensen Bell (Dr. C) is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist on a mission to bring joy, curiosity, and understanding to pets and their people.
With 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine, Dr. C started from the ground up—cleaning cages and training therapy dogs at 16—progressing through puppy classes, dog training, and veterinary school, including a veterinary behavior residency at Cornell. Her journey includes hands-on roles in sheltering, general, specialty, and feline-only practices, giving her a well-rounded, compassionate perspective on the behavioral challenges families face.
Today, Dr. C’s boutique veterinary behavior service blends academic insights with practical solutions, creating a supportive space for families navigating pet behavior issues and professionals worldwide. Her service is a vibrant hub of consulting, international lectures, and media contributions, all dedicated to advancing animal behavior, public health, and sheltering knowledge.
Side Quests
– Partnering with pediatricians and family doctors to help families build safe, happy bonds with their animal companions
– Supporting neurodivergent individuals as they help struggling pets
– Saving the Oxford comma