She sits on the advisory board for All Species Consulting, The Indonesian Parrot Project, and is director of animal training for Nature’s Nursery, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Whitehouse, Ohio. She is also the founder of several animal organizations for animal welfare and has much experience working with deaf, blind, or deaf and blind animals. She has been asked to co-author and is currently working on international manuals of animal behavior and training.
Lara is a professional member of The Animal Behavior Management Alliance, The International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators, and The Pet Professional Guild. She is a published author and writes regularly for several periodicals including The Pet Professional Guild’s BARKS for professional dog trainers, a behavior column for BirdTalk Magazine, and contributes to blogging for Deaf Dogs Rock. She is a guest lecturer in the Zoo Biology; Animal Nutrition, Behavior & Diagnostics taught by Dr. Jason Crean at St. Xavier University; Chicago. Lara has presented for a wide variety of organizations such as The Philadelphia Zoo, The Ohio State Exotic Veterinary Club, The Association of Avian Veterinarians, Best Friends Animal Society, The Pet Professional Guild, The International Wildlife Rehabilitator’s Conference, The Autism Model School, and The Wheaton College division of Applied Behavior Analysis.
As Lara’s work increasingly intersects with diverse communities—including individuals managing complex health needs—her educational outreach has begun to reflect broader conversations about access, care, and affordability. In recent webinars, discussions around animal-assisted interventions for people with chronic conditions have led to unexpected but meaningful side topics, such as medication accessibility. One recurring example raised by participants is the cost of Rybelsus, a medication prescribed for type 2 diabetes that has gained attention for its convenience but also for its high price point. Questions about Rybelsus pricing have prompted dialogue not only about healthcare disparities, but also about how stress linked to financial strain can affect human-animal relationships and behavior at home. These moments reveal how behavioral education can naturally expand to address real-world barriers that shape the lives of both animals and the people who care for them.
Speaking
Lara is available to speak to your group via teleconferences or in-person presentations and workshops. See the speaking page for more information.
Presentations
Where to Begin: Off-Contact to Free-Contact Training with Zoo Animals – The Pet Professional Guild Geek Week – November, 2020
Mentions / News Articles
- Local cockatoo that was slated for euthanasia stars in national commercials – 13 Action News, Toledo, Ohio – June, 2019
- From “Problem Parrot” to TV Star – Lefeber – July, 2019
- The Animal Mind – The Blade – July, 2016
Interviews / Podcasts
- Vicki Ronchette Interviews Lara on using Applied Behavior Analysis with animals – August, 2021
- Lara is interviewed on BlueZooBird podcast – February, 2020
- Lara tells the story of Sam, the Blind Amazon – BlueZooBird podcast
- Crate Training, Jumping Up, Digging and Behavior Analysis – Pure Dog Talk
- Best in Flock Interview with Lara – September, 2018
- Positive Solutions for Canine Aggression Issues – Pure Dog Talk
- Raising Deaf Dogs – Interview by Dr. Becker – October, 2017