April 2026 Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection
The Cypress Protocol
When reactive dogs are confronted with their triggers at every turn in the shelter setting, how do we make progress? This presentation will go over a special shelter dog, Cypress, and the multifaceted approach his shelter team took to help him overcome his reactivity and find his way into a home. From finding ways to control his environment, to playgroups, to training volunteers to continue working with him, his team pulled out every tool in their box to teach him how to cope in the shelter setting– and eventually in his new home. His case created what his shelter now calls the “Cypress Protocol” and has helped many dogs in the shelter setting succeed.
Guest Speaker: Lindsay Echito and Marie Lombardo, Orphans of the Storm
Lindsay Echito
Lindsay Echito can’t remember a time when she wasn’t obsessed with dogs, even memorizing her book of dog breeds as a little kid. When she fell into animal welfare during college, she never looked back. While she’s worn many hats over the years, from counselor to management, she now serves as Orphans of the Storm’s Dog Behavior and Foster Manager. Lindsay specializes in creating enrichment programs to increase quality of life for dogs in the shelter and setting them up for success in their new homes.
Marie Lombardo
Marie Lombardo has worked with animals since 2016 and currently serves as the Behavior Specialist at Orphans of the Storm. She develops individualized behavior plans, supports enrichment and welfare initiatives, and works closely with adopters and staff to promote successful, lasting placements. Marie holds a Master’s degree in Animal Science and Behavior: Canine and Feline Health and Care from Unity University and is dedicated to creating practical, humane behavior solutions that improve outcomes for both animals and the people who care for them.
Register here: https://maddies.fund/MonthlyBehaviorRegistration
About Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection:
Join us on the fourth Thursday of every month as we talk about dog and cat behavior - supporting pets in our community and animal shelters. Each month, we hear from speakers about topics of interest to our group, such as behavior medications, modifying animal behavior, assessing and improving animal welfare, and how organizations successfully provide behavior support to dogs and cats. Webcasts hosted by Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, Dr. Sheila Segurson
All recordings and resources shared during the webcast will also be available on the Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection page in Maddie's Pet Forum - https://maddies.fund/monthlybehaviorconnectionMPF
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