Yasmeen Gomez
- Animal Behavior and Welfare
Yasmeen Gomez
- Animal Behavior and Welfare
Growing up as the only animal-oriented person in my family, I was inclined towards animal care from a young age. This interest led me to explore various avenues for working with animals, which helped me develop my skills. My experience began with hands-on roles such as a dog groomer, kennel attendant, and veterinary assistant, each providing unique insights into animal care. These roles improved my understanding of animal management but also highlighted the importance of mental stimulation and enrichment for animals. Over the past 2-3 years, my focus has narrowed to animal behavior, specifically the use of positive reinforcement in veterinary settings through cooperative care.
Currently, I am involved in multiple research projects, including 'Cats in the Bag — Exploration into Cat Strollers', 'Nailed it: Exploring Effective Training For Nail Trims Using Scratch Boards', and 'The Nose Knows: Reducing Stress Through Olfactory Pairing'. These projects reflect my ongoing commitment to advancing animal welfare in veterinary settings by reducing veterinary stress through the integration of animal behavior practices. This involves creating and implementing protocols that foster cooperative care, as well as training veterinary staff and owners to understand an animal's behavior and interact accordingly.