Just a girl who loves animals and learning…

Molly Sumridge

Ph.D. candidate - Anthrozoology
MS - Anthrozoology
CDBC, C-AAIS, CPDT-KSA, CBATI-KSA, CFE, CFT,

Molly Sumridge is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Exeter. Her professional interests focus on primitive/ancient dogs, and behavior modification for dog sports and pet aggression. Her research focuses include human-animal relations and relationships specific to domestication, primitive/ancient dogs, cultural discourse, ideology studies, qualitative research methods, and how we communicate about our pets, non-traditional companion-animal relationships, and dog sports.

Today she works as a Director of Research for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals where she gets to focus her work on increasing access to veterinary care. Molly was previously an Assistant Professor of Anthrozoology at Carroll College where she lead the canine program in the Anthrozoology department. In this program, students train and care for foster dogs during the academic year. Her courses focused on research, training, canine ecology, cross-cultural human-canine relationships and conflicts, working dogs, and critical analysis of human-animal interactions and relationships.

These days she is up to her eyeballs in research working on a Ph.D. in Anthrozoology, focused on discourse involving the labeling of dogs, specifically New Guinea singing dogs.

While the intersection of all things human and non-human animal is her love and her life, Molly grounds herself through her loving husband, calamitous cat, patient parrot, spicy snakes, a flock of charming chickens, and a cast of colorful canine characters.

Molly's Certifications, Memberships, & Affiliations:

• PhD Candidate - Anthrozoology - University of Exeter

  • Dissertation: Betwixt and between: A qualitative study of New Guinea singing dogs living as companion animals in North America

• Master of Science in Anthrozoology

  • Thesis: Owner-reported attachment and behavior characteristics of New Guinea singing dogs living as companion animals (published in Anthrozoos 2021)

• Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS)

• Certified Dog Behavioral Consultant (CDBC)

• Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA)

• Certified Fear Free Animal Trainer

  • Also: Fear Free Veterinary Certificate

• Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor (CBATI)

• Certified Whistle Recall Instructor (CWRI)

• Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator

• Certified Compassion Fatigue Therapist

• Certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructor

• QPR Instructor

• Pet CPR and First Aid Certified

• AKC CGC, CGCA, CGCU, Trick Dog Evaluator

• Dog and Handler Team with Intermountain Therapy Animals

• Chicken and Handler Team with Intermountain Therapy Animals (yes you read that right, a therapy chicken)

• member of the Leadership Committee for the Helena Chapter of Intermountain Therapy Animals

• member of the National Shiba Club of America

• member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers

• member of the Animal Behavior Society

• member of the Animals and Society Institute

• member of the International Society for Anthrozoology

• member of the American Anthropological Association