Fostering Success: Cooperative Care
COMING ON May 17th!
We’re proud to host a presentation with Laura Monaco Torelli, faculty for the prestigious Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior -
Husbandry at Home & On Hikes: Considerations for real-world integration
Animals need regular care, but administering that care may be stressful for everyone involved.
Cooperative care offers a better way.
These practices not only reduce the stress of husbandry behaviors, but they also strengthen the relationship between the animal and us.
Laura has taught these techniques globally to trainers, pet guardians, veterinary staff, and zoological professionals.
For her, success begins with learning skills for husbandry at home within environmental conditions that are low stress, then building those approximations outside the home location. Perhaps nail trims during a hike, or administering ear drops during a fun group class, or practicing a stethoscope procedure during a dog sport event.
This presentation teaches initial strategies to transform the care experience that deepen the relationship between caregivers and their animals.
Presentation: 90 minutes
WHEN: Sunday, May 17th, Begins at 11 am (doors open at 10:30 am)
WHERE: DuPage County Animal Services, Community Room - 2255 Manchester Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
Registration and payment are required in advance
Includes door prizes and a Raffle!
Seating limited to 60
*Proceeds will be donated to DuPage County Animal Services to support the positive work they do in the rescue community.
ABOUT Laura Monaco Torelli, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA
Laura is the founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts in Chicago, Illinois. Her career began in 1991 at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, where she was part of the animal care team for beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, river otters, and penguins. After nearly a decade at the Shedd, she moved on to the San Diego Zoo and then the Brookfield Zoo as a lead supervisory trainer.
During her time in the zoo community, Laura learned from a wide variety of species, including primates, large cats, birds of prey, horses, parrots, tree kangaroos, giraffes, red pandas, and dogs. In 2020, the Wildlife Discovery Center team invited her to help support their wildlife rescue animal husbandry program.
Laura serves as a faculty instructor with Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior, as well as a teaching assistant for Dr. Susan G. Friedman’s Living & Learning with Animals online course.
She has presented at professional conferences and taught seminars across the United States, Italy, Sweden, the UK, Singapore, Japan, and the Caribbean. Laura’s speaking engagements include the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention, Midwest Veterinary Conference, Penn Vet Working Dog Conference, ClickerExpo, and the Aggression in Dogs Conference.
Her broadcast media appearances include FOX 32, WGN, NBC 5 news, WGN Radio with Steve Dale, and WCIU’s You & Me This Morning. Laura contributed training video content to the Fear Free Professional Trainer Certification program and to the Karen Pryor Academy Better Vet Visits online course.
This event is brought to you by Positive Solutions for A Sound Beginning, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization.
When: Sunday, May 17, 2026
Time: 11 AM (Doors open at 10:30 AM)
Capacity: 60
Duration: 90 Minutes
Location: DuPage County Animal Services - Community Room - 2255 Manchester Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
Fee: $40 per Person
To register for this class, you must agree to the A Sound Beginning Program Terms and Conditions.