Dr. Wailani Sung (MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB): Transforming Shelter Cat Care with a Fear Free Approach

Worry Less, Wag More: The Behavior Vets Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Sung reflects on her personal experience and discusses how shelter cats and kittens can benefit from a Fear Free approach.

• Scars and consequences of traditional handling methods
• Dr. Sung describes her first experience with low-stress handling
• Health and behavioral benefits of Fear Free handling in shelters
• Understanding cat body language
• Promoting Fear Free handling and making a culture change

Dr. Wailani Sung (MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB) is a Board-certified veterinary behaviorist. Dr. Sung obtained her Master’s degree and Doctorate in Psychology with a special interest in animal behavior and Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. She achieved Board certification in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Sung is currently senior director at Joybound People and Pets. She oversees the shelter behavior program, provides behavior consultations for privately owned pets and the admissions (intake) department. She also provides consultations to animal shelters regarding individual shelter pets and evaluations on animal shelter behavior programs.

Dr. Sung is a co-author of the book, “From Fearful to Fear Free”, in which she collaborated with America’s veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, veterinary colleague Dr. Lisa Radosta, and renown trainer, Mikkel Becker. Dr. Sung also co-authored a chapter in “Decoding your Cat”. Dr. Sung has been a contributor to the websites, PetCoach, PetMD and Reader’s Digest. Dr. Sung has written chapters for the following veterinary textbooks: Behavior of Exotic Pets; Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Behavior, 2nd Edition; Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline: 7th edition; Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarian and Staff, 2nd edition; Clinical Handbook of Feline Behavior Medicine. Dr. Sung is a highly sought-after speaker and has presented at the Western Veterinary Conference, MidWest Veterinary Conference, Christian Veterinary Mission Conference, HSUS Expo, New Mexico Humane Conference, Fear Free Pet Behavior Symposium, as well as local and state events. Dr. Sung was interviewed on the documentary, Cat Tales by NOVA: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/cat-tales/ and on the Netflix documentary, Inside the Mind of a Cat.
Links
https://bayareavetbehavior.com/

https://joybound.org/

https://vetvacationce.com/product/new-orleans-veterinary-conference-2025/

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