Ban Dog Trainer Gellman
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How far can a dog trainer go? According to Facebook posts dog trainer Jeff Gellman of Solid K9 Training, Providence, RI has been essentially banned from giving seminars in some nations and cities because he’s downright abusive. Watch videos and decide for yourself.
Dog trainers have many views on what is the right way to train, but I hope that all professionals believe throwing objects at dogs is the wrong way and downright cruel, and that various methods I’ve witnessed in Gellman’s own videos may, in fact, be worthy of animal abuse.
Gellman is scheduled to present a two-day seminar October 3 and October 4 at Bark Avenue Daycamp, 1540 Hecht Drive, Bartlett, a suburb of Chicago. The Eventbrite registration doesn’t even include that location. We had to investigate to find out. Wonder why?
We’re Serious But Need Your Help: Speak Up for Dogs
So what can you do about it? So many of you have said you want to help.
Begin by emailing Bark Avenue Daycamp: info@barkavenuedaycamp.com. And tell anyone you know who cares about dogs to do the same.
Please consider adding your name to the letter at the bottom of this post authored by dog trainer and attorney Oleg Sobol. Now is the time to do this – the letter is addressed to the DuPage County State’s Attorney and the Bartlett Village President with the intent to keep Jeff Gellman away from the Chicago area. If he does appear, perhaps a humane officer should be on the premises.
If Bartlett doesn’t cancel the event, some are organizing a protest – and can let you know more if that happens.
Aversive Training Isn’t Humane or Particularly Effective
The owner of Bark Avenue Daycamp told me that she believes Gellman’s methods work. Well maybe for a time, and indeed you can often intimidate or frighten dogs to do what you want, but motivation is how learning really happens. Suppressing behavior using force or intimidation is typically a set up for a ticking time bomb, as sooner or later the dog reverts to what worked. And arguably most important, when we frighten our best friends, the human-animal bond is damaged. Also, not sure I even need to explain why at least some of Gellman’s methods are downright inhumane, like throwing objects at dogs.
Here’s one video:
There are lots of methods to stop dogs from jumping but hurting them as they leap up isn’t only inhumane, we know it doesn’t work longterm. Sure scaring the dog in the classroom setting it looks like success. Jeff Gellman doesn’t care about the relationship he has with any of these dogs, after all they don’t live with him. Dogs also will associate being choked when visitors arrive, so soon enough – no surprise – their view on visitors isn’t so positive as they associate pain with those visitors. So, jumping happy greetings may be replaced with aggressive greetings.
I disagree with Gellman’s statement below. It’s not fine. By the way, by discomfort, I believe he means pain.
Please click on the link and sign – and share with as many dog lovers and especially professionals, such as veterinarians, veterinary technicians and dog trainers.
AFTER READING THE FOLLOWING LETTER, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED AS A SIGNATORY, PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME BY CLICKING HERE.
Robert Berlin
DuPage County State’s Attorney
503 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187
Kevin Wallace
Village of Bartlett President
228 S. Main Street
Bartlett, IL 60103
September 21, 2020
Dear State’s Attorney Berlin & Village President Wallace:
An out-of-state corporation is planning a commercial event within DuPage County and the Village of Bartlett to profit from what we believe constitutes animal cruelty and/or the depiction of animal cruelty in violation of Illinois law. We, the undersigned animal care professionals, animal advocates and other concerned citizens, are grateful that government officials in DuPage County take Illinois animal cruelty laws very seriously. (See kennel fire killing 29 dogs here; recent dog beating here). We turn to you now to respectfully request that you investigate the lawfulness of these planned activities.
Solid K-9 Training, Inc., a Rhode Island profit corporation (“Solid K9 Training”), is planning and promoting a seminar to be hosted by Bark Avenue Daycamp, Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Bark Avenue”), located at 1540 Hecht Drive, Bartlett, Illinois. The seminar is scheduled for October 3-4, 2020, with ticket prices advertised at $375-$750. (See Eventbrite details here).
Solid K9 Training’s President, Jeff Gellman, who refers to himself as a dog trainer, uses practices that we believe may constitute animal cruelty and/or depiction of animal cruelty under Illinois law. We are not alone in our opinion. Over 163,300 individuals have signed an online petition asking the Rhode Island Attorney General to investigate Solid K9 Training’s practices in its home state. (See www.change.org petition here).
Section 3.01 of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act states that “[n]o person or owner may beat, cruelly treat, torment, starve, overwork or otherwise abuse any animal.” (510 ILCS 70/3.01(a)). Further, Section 3.03-1 states that:
No person may knowingly create, sell, market, offer to market or sell, or possess a depiction of animal cruelty. No person may place that depiction in commerce for commercial gain or entertainment…The creation, sale, marketing, offering to sell or market, or possession of the depiction of animal cruelty is illegal regardless of whether the maiming, mutilation, torture, wounding, abuse, killing, or any other conduct took place in this State. (510 ILCS 70/3.03-1(b)).
A depiction of animal cruelty is defined as, among other things, “any visual or auditory depiction, including any photograph, motion-picture film, video recording, electronic image, or sound recording, that would constitute a violation of Section 3.01…of the Humane Care for Animals Act.” (510 ILCS 70/3.03-1(a)).
As shown in a video that is publicly available on the website of the ABC affiliate in Providence, Rhode Island, a practice proudly employed by Mr. Gellman is physically striking a dog over the head with violent force. (See ABC video and article here). As shown in the video and summarized by Joe Warzycha, President of the Rhode Island SPCA, “the dog clearly responds in a manner that is indicative of pain.” (See ABC video and article here). Although Mr. Gellman opines in the video that this procedure is necessary, accredited experts in animal behavior science know otherwise. (See, for example, “The Use of Punishment for Behavior Modification in Animals” by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, located at www.avsab.org). Regardless of the purported efficacy of or intent behind Mr. Gellman’s practice, we believe it is a clear example of beating, cruelly treating and/or otherwise abusing an animal, as contemplated by the Humane Care for Animals Act. Furthermore, we have every reason to believe that this practice and/or similar practices will take place or be depicted within Illinois during Solid K9 Training’s planned seminar at Bark Avenue. (See Solid K9 Training’s Facebook video dated September 19, 2020 here).
As such, we respectfully request that you investigate the lawfulness of the planned seminar, whether with respect to the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act, or any other Illinois law or county or village ordinance relating to business licensure, permits or practices in general.
Sincerely yours,
The 186 (and counting) animal care professionals, animal advocates and other concerned citizens listed on the “Signatories” pages that follow
SIGNATORIES
- Oleg Sobol, Esq.
- Jennifer Wahlund, DVM
- Jacqueline Cobb, DVM
- Sheila Newenham, DVM
- Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC
- Susan G. Friedman, PhD
- Jesse W. Johnson, Board Certified Behavior Analyst
- John Coletta, M.D.
- Sherri L. Oslick, PhD, JD
- Jean Donaldson, Founder of the Academy for Dog Trainers
- Steve Dale, CABC
- Michael Shikashio CDBC
- Brenda Belmonte, CPDT-KA
- Sue Bohr, NCCMT
- Pam Yano, CPDT-KA
- Liz Mishima KPA-CTP
- Lora G Johnson, CPDT-KA
- Ali Evanson KPA-CTP
- Amy Hammonds IAABC
- Heather Haggerty ABCDT
- Erica Kendzora KPA-CTP
- Aimee Busse, CPDT-KSA
- Janice L. Petrella, KPA CTP, Doggone Safe Certified Dog Bite Prevention Educator
- Mary Thompson, CPDT-KA PMCT1
- Karla Paschon ABCDT
- Jordan Bradley, KPA-CTP
- Lois M. Barta CCDT
- Leigh Casino, BSMT, President, Hightails Hideaway, Inc.
- Phyllis Zboril, CTC
- Leslie Radoicic, CNWI
- Josie Sims, ABCDT
- Cassandra Williams KPA-CTP
- Liz Mishima KPA-CTP
- Ashlee Trotter, BS, CPDT-KA
- Steven Frost, KPA CTP, CPBT-KA, SBA, A Sound Beginning Program Manager
- Jordan Michaels, ABCDT
- Karen Sandy CPDT-KA
- Kelly Yearwood, KPA-CTP
- Gina Nichols, CPDT-KA
- Kathy Ihlenfeldt KPA-CTP
- Jenny Mancuso VSA-CDT-Online
- Kristi Benson CTC PCBC-A
- Concetta Phillipps ABCDT
- Katherine Moody, CPDT-KA
- Tim Steele, CTC
- Ashley Given CPDT-KA, Owner, Lucky Pets Sitting Services
- MaryKaye Kendrick IAABC-ADT, SBA
- Eva McCLain, CTC
- Jane A. Matthews, MSW
- Amy Terceira, CTC
- Heather Hunter CPDT-KA
- Jessica Ring, CTC, PMCT, PCBC-A, CPDT-KA
- Mary M. Angilly, CTC, CPDT-KA
- Julie Benson, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
- Anne Aalbue CPDT-KA
- Natasha Mathew, KPA-CTP
- Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA
- Sarah Pennington CTC and Academy for Dog Trainers Faculty Member
- Fernando Luis Diaz, CPDT-KA, CDBC, CSBS
- Lisa Skavienski, CTC, CSAT
- Nickala Squire, CTC
- Lori Ogawa CPDT-KA
- Peggy Bowers CPDT-KA, PMCT2, Fear Free Certified,
- Debbie Foster, IAABC, IAATE
- Sheila Spitza, President, Wet Nose, Inc.
- Eryn Sweeney-Demezas, Board Member & Co-Founder, Adoptable Friends, NFP
- Pamela Kitts, Chairman of the Board, Adoptable Friends, NFP
- Greg Yearwood, President, Pits for Patriots
- Heather Owen, Executive Director, One Tail at a Time, NFP
- Pam Byrne, Board Member, As Good as Gold Golden Retriever Rescue of IL
- Greg Yearwood, President, Pits for Patriots
- Valerie Moore, Board President & Training Coordinator, Midwest Labrador Retriever Rescue
- Stephanie Rheingruber, President, Wish Upon a Rescue
- Peggy Grandahl, Director, Paws Crossed Rescue Resource
- Nicole Ormsby, Vice President of C.A.R.E., State representative for Bailing Out Benji
- Paula Walinski, Owner, Precious Paws Inc.
- Deyanne Gabriel, Lost Cats of DuPage County Illinois
- Carrie Frost, Humane Educator
- Deana Noonan
- Madeline P. Kolder
- Stephanie Rheingruber
- Sarah Majewski
- Kari Schnulle
- Andrea Salis
- Diane Obey
- Nanette C Boryc
- Elizabeth Despain
- Jessica L. Hall
- Diana Tucker
- Laurie Hetzel
- Kathleen Voss
- Nancy Konopasek
- Sonia Fetherling
- Heather Stimetz
- Ashley Roth
- Pat Fitzgerald
- Joanne Rowe
- Jennifer Stewart
- Ardyn Cieslak
- Julia Debernardi
- Debra L. Piscola
- Cathy Bonich
- Jill Kaider Boland
- Dawn Pauley
- Jonas Dornseifer
- Kathy Cieslak
- Deborah Plowman
- Mary T Ramsden
- Karen Mazzaroli, Foster
- Jane Ann Edmonds
- Jonelle Reuland
- Linda Latelle
- Cindy Lochmueller
- Alyssa Horne
- Lou Ann Bryson
- Steven Barr
- Rosemary Davy
- Anna Halverson
- Jack Cieslak
- Suzanne Anders
- Laura Heisinger
- Erica Gennaro
- Marisa Pyatt
- Kristin Lucey
- Gail Russell
- Karol Jean Thies
- Martha Lemke
- Damien Rizzo
- Emma Brkic
- Colleen Maney
- Jen Monaco
- Ashley Bonick
- Corinne Connor
- Tom Van Winkle
- Julie Schroeder
- Teresa Klimek
- Paul Klimek
- Kathleen M. Dietz
- Kathy Arthur
- Frances Stabosz
- Mary Lou Basten
- Lou Basten
- Diane Thompson
- Inessa Kramer
- Lois Ann Persenaire
- Michael Stuczynski
- Kenneth Kramer
- Lisa J. Clark
- Marlene Pedone
- Morgan Stuczynski
- Jennifer Dunski
- Ashley Hanson
- Sharon Ushman
- Tracy Swiston
- Racheal Miller
- Stephanie Benner
- Megan Coody
- Kathi Zadak
- Jessica Cieplinski
- Cecily Lehman
- Carol Anderson
- Mary Farina
- Emma Colangelo
- Linda Ward-Johnson
- Elizabeth Bryant
- Jocelyn Fennewald
- Sabrina Fairless
- Michelle Rudolph
- Sandra Townsend
- Janice Zazinski
- Susan Schmult
- Karen Miller
- Lisa A. Klich
- Laura Vento
- Peggy Grandahl
- Karen Given
- Karen R. Clarke
- Natalie Cantieri
- Tomas Ramanauskas
- Stephanie Lee
- Laurie Scible
- Michelle Levine
- Alexis Bond
- Brynn Obrien
- Joseph J. Sebek
- Hannah Paist