Dr. Valerie Chalcraft - Staff Animal Behaviorist
Dr. Valerie J. Chalcraft is an applied animal behaviorist with a Ph.D. and a M.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Nevada. Dr. Chalcraft has studied the development of abnormal behavior of many species in captivity including chimpanzees, gorillas, lemurs, elephants, and farmed animals in varying degrees of intensive confinement. Dr. Chalcraft’s focus on companion animal behavior started in New York City as a Companion Animal Behavior Specialist at the Animal Behavior Center of New York and the Queens Community Animal Shelter. Dr. Chalcraft also served as Director of the Behavior Helpline at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in Manhattan and has observed many hours of behavior consultations with applied animal behaviorists at the ASPCA. Dr. Chalcraft established her private consulting firm, Applied Animal Behavior to serve clients in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Dr. Chalcraft moved Applied Animal Behavior to Chicago in 2005 and has been regularly referred by many veterinarians, trainers, shelters, and rescue groups in Chicago and the suburbs. She has been interviewed by various local media, including ABC television, the Chicago Tribune, and several college newspapers. Dr. Chalcraft’s emphasis has been to address problem behaviors from a perspective of fulfilling frustrated natural behaviors and learning new responses through behavior modification with a positive emphasis.