Colorado Animal Welfare Conference Session
The Evidence for Behavior Modification in the Shelter Environment
3-4:15pm - August 19, 2026
City Lights 2 and 3
Shelter Operations
We all want to spend our time effectively and making a difference. But what behavior modification in the shelter environment is actually evidence based? Come see if what you are doing aligns with the published, peer reviewed literature and get some ideas on protocols you can implement that are actually evidence-based. This session will focus on behavior modification strategies for the purposes of treating problematic behaviors, driving adoption rates, and working towards pet health in dogs and cats. Temperament testing will not be covered in depth in this session.
Ariel Fagan, DVM, DACVB
Dr. Fagen graduated from Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She went on to complete an intensive one-year rotating small animal internship at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital. In 2017, she completed a 3-year residency in the American College of Veterinary Behavior at Behavior Vets of Colorado and Florida Veterinary Behavior Service. In 2018, Dr. Fagen became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior, the highest level of veterinary behavior specialty degree possible. She currently owns and practices out of The Veterinary Behavior Center, the largest veterinary behavior practice in Colorado, based in Boulder, CO. Outside of the office, Dr. Fagen has lectured in the US and internationally. She has conducted research studies in shelters, hospitals and wildlife breeding centers and has published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, AAHA Trends Magazine and NAVC Clinician’s Brief.