Sarah Heath
Sarah Heath qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Bristol University in 1988 and spent four years in a mixed general practice before setting up Behavioural Referrals Veterinary Practice in 1992. She is an honorary lecturer in Behavioural Medicine within the faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool and responsible for the behavioural medicine curriculum for undergraduate veterinary students. In addition to her clinical and teaching work Sarah has written a number of books and regularly contributes to veterinary publications on behavioural topics. She also lectures at home and abroad on the topic of animal behaviour.
She became the first veterinary member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors in 1990. In 2001 she was awarded the Melton Award by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) for meritorious contributions to small animal practice and in 2002 was awarded the Vetlink Award for outstanding service to the Veterinary Nursing Profession. She was a founding member of the BSAVA affiliated Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group and served as its secretary for 7 years. Sarah is the co-founder of the International Veterinary Behaviour Meeting which is now established as the most important international congress on Veterinary Behavioural Medicine and is held every other year. In 2002 she became a Founding Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Behaviour Medicine (Companion Animals) and served as the second President of that College from 2003 to 2008. She is a European Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine (Companion Animals). She is Immediate Past President of the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology.
Kate Richardson
Kate qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Glasgow University in 2005. She spent the 1st seven years of her career in mixed animal practice in Dorset, before joining Behavioural Referrals in January 2013. Since graduation, Kate has gained additional post graduate qualifications in Small Animal Medicine and in 2012, gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling from Southampton University. Following completion of this qualification, Kate decided to pursue her interest in behaviour work further and took the position as a Veterinary Behaviourist within the Behavioural Referrals team.
Outside work, Kate enjoys spending time with her young family and two Border Collie crosses, Tilly and Kiwi. She enjoys walking, travelling and gardening, especially when the weathers sunny!