164. K. Holden Svirsky, CTC, CSAT

Holden Svirsky came to animal behavior sideways — through a layoff, a shelter volunteer shift, and the slow realization that what she'd studied about human learning applied just as well to dogs. Now a behavior consultant and longtime shelter professional, she chairs the Pet Professional Guild's Shelter and Rescue Committee and thinks carefully about what sustains people in this work over the long haul. In this conversation, she talks about connection as a genuine antidote to feeling out of control, why "the vibes were off" is a perfectly valid observation, and what a fortune cookie about sailing taught her about troubleshooting — and about not mistaking a rough patch for a failure.

https://colleenpelar.com/164-k-holden-svirsky-ctc-csat