Success Stories - Mahzeevar Dallas

If you found yourself in Mumbai, India, and you saw an ambulance for animals on the streets, it may have been there as a direct result of the efforts of Mahzeevar "Maazie" Dallas, a 2009 ABI Animal Assisted Therapy graduate. Since 1996, Maazie has been volunteering for an animal hospital that will send an ambulance out to pick up sick, injured or abandoned dogs, horses, cows, etc. For a time, Maazie had her own 24-hour rescue helpline. She outfitted her own vehicle to serve as an ambulance that could be used when the animal hospital's was unavailable.

At the age of 9, Maazie joined a volunteer group that sang to patients in hospitals. This gave her the idea that animals, as well as music, could make a huge difference in people's lives. Thus began her interest in Animal Assisted Therapy & Activities.

Elephants have always held a special place in Maazie's heart; she is an active crusader for the humane treatment of elephants in her native country. At one time, with no regard for her own personal safety, she had the responsibility of temporarily confiscating elephants that were being mistreated by mahouts. Mahouts are people that ride elephants and often use them to make money from tourists.

Maazie has always believed in the therapeutic power of animals; the program at ABI has given her the knowledge and confidence to put her passion into practice. She found that the enthusiasm of the teachers motivated herself and her fellow students, helping to get the best from each of them. She always felt that she knew her instructors and they knew her.

In addition to engaging in Animal Assisted Activities with her rescue lab, Abby, Maazie loves photography, creating greeting cards, and cars (she also used to test drive for car magazines!)..

Spotlight on: Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center
 

The Aark provides temporary sanctuary for thousands of injured and orphaned birds and mammals annually. The Aark was founded in 1979 by Mary Jane Stretch, one of the nation’s leading authorities on wildlife rehabilitation. She holds Federal and Pennsylvania wildlife rehabilitation permits and is a Master Bird Bander.  With over 30 years of dedicated experience in aiding in the care and rehabilitation of birds and mammals, Stretch is a frequent speaker before national, state and local groups. Her work has been featured on such national television programs as the “Today Show” and her life’s dedication has been chronicled in recent books: The Swan in My Bathtub and, more recently, For the Love of Wild Things.

The work of the Aark is divided into three major areas: rehabilitation, education and training; each with the common goal of fostering the care and understanding of wildlife. The staff at the Aark sets broken bones, treats illnesses, and provides food and shelter for birds and mammals that have been injured or have been orphaned and are too young to care for themselves.

The goal is to return these creatures to their natural environment as quickly as possible, once they are able to fend for themselves. Every effort is made to avoid interfering with the development of those natural characteristics that each wild creature requires to survive in the wild. Annually more than 5,000 birds and mammals find aid and shelter through the doors of the Aark.

The Aark and its staff devote a portion of their busy schedules to educating those individuals and groups interested in learning how to respect and care for wildlife. The Aark is accredited by many regional colleges and high schools that offer academic credit for the rigorous program offered under the guidance and direction of the Aark Staff.  Internships are available;  student interns gain invaluable experience in the handling and care of orphaned and injured animals, including both endangered and rabies vector species.

If you are interested in an internship with the Aark, please call Mary Jane or Leah at (215) 249-1938. The Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center is located at 1531 Upper Stump Road, Chalfont, PA. If you are located elsewhere in Pennsylvania and are looking for internship positions, visit the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators where you can search by county. Please be aware that not all counties have wildlife rehabilitators. For internships and job opportunities outside Pennsylvania, visit the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.

Accredited Better Business Bureau Member

Through the efforts of Dr. Rene Brooks, ABI’s Director of Academic Advising, the Animal Behavior Institute is now an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau. Accreditation from the Better Business Bureau demonstrates that an organization abides by the Code of Business Practices and meets all criteria of the bureau..

New ABI Faces

Professor Elizabeth Seward, MA is a Certified Therapeutic Instructor with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. Betsy recently joined the ABI faculty as an assistant professor teaching Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (ABI 261). As an equine specialist in Mental Health and Learning, she is also certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has focused her career on partnering with horses to promote growth, development, and balance. Betsy has taught international clinics in horsemanship, including programs in Germany, England, Canada and the Netherlands. She is currently finishing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and expects to receive her doctorate in 2013.

Chris Ochadlick is our new Admissions Counselor. Chris has over 25 years of experience working in education. A published writer and photographer, Chris will also be responsible for ABI’s newsletter.

What's New

Registration is currently underway for our Summer semester, which begins on June 21. Classes are filling rapidly; be sure to register early to reserve your place in class. Please note that our revised registration process allows you to register for courses up to a year in advance; discounts are available when you sign up for three or more classes together. Our new 2012-2013 catalog is now available online, detailing the program requirements and course availability for the coming year.

If you haven’t taken a look at the Job Postings Board at ABI, we encourage you to do so. Our postings are searchable and updated monthly; make it a part of your job search. (Please note - the Job Postings are only available to registered students and alumni.)