OAKLAND, Calif. ” October 21, 2009 ” Danielle K. Simmons was selected as the winner of the 2009 Outstanding Veterinary Technician of the Year Award, sponsored by Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.®. The award was presented today during an awards ceremony at the American Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) annual conference in Oakland, California.
The 2009 Outstanding Veterinary Technician of the Year Award, presented by Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.®, recognizes a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers who exemplifies the APDT spirit by demonstrating empathy for animals and humans and by meeting a variety of requirements set forth by the APDT Awards Committee.
Simmons is a certified veterinary technician in Pennsylvania with an Associates of Science degree in Veterinary Science Technology from Johnson College. In 2007 she received a scholarship from the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians to attend the Veterinary Behavior Conference at the University of Georgia. She continues to study behavior and training and incorporate what she learns to benefit the patients that she works with at Abington Veterinary Center where she is head technician and at For Paws and a Tail where she is a training coordinator. Simmons is also the President-Elect of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Technicians Association.
“As a Certified Veterinary Technician, my role is to be an advocate for my patients, and I take that role very seriously,” says Danielle Simmons, winner of the 2009 Outstanding Veterinary Technician of the Year Award, sponsored by Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.® “I feel that working in the field of animal behavior is one of the most significant ways in which I can do that.”
In her winning essay, Life with Floppy, Simmons says, “After about a year of studying behavior, I came across a dog that I knew I could help. She was a one year old Labrador mix that was about to be euthanized at my clinic. She had been labeled an incurable fear biter. I felt an immediate connection to this dog and knew I had to act. I convinced the owner to give her to me and I have never looked back. It has been three years and not only do I have a truly wonderful companion, as well as a highly skilled agility dog, but what I have gained from owning this dog is immeasurable and will stay with me throughout my career as a veterinary technician, and throughout my life.”
Simmons currently shares her home with three cats, five dogs, including Floppy the rescued Labrador mix, and her husband Ben. She enjoys training and competing with her dogs in agility trials.
Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.® is a synthetic pheromone that mimics the natural appeasing pheromone released by the lactating female to reassure her puppies. The pheromone therapy helps to reduce symptoms of fear that include: barking, house soiling, whining, whimpering and destructive behaviors. It also helps comfort dogs that are newly adopted, moving to new homes, adjusting to new pets, visitors and environments, or those frightened of thunderstorms and fireworks.
For information about Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.® for dogs or Comfort Zone® with Feliway® for cats visit petcomfortzone.com or in the U.S., call toll free at (800) 234-2269.