Bristol Veterinary School
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About
Staff and students
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The Clinic team
Dr Emily Blackwell BSc PhD CCAB
Dogs Trust Lecturer in Canine Behaviour and Welfare
Emily is the director of the behaviour clinic and is certified as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB). She did her PhD on separation related behaviour in dogs, and so has a particularly in-depth understanding of the development and treatment of this presentation. She also has considerable expertise in all aspects of clinical behaviour, and has particular interests in developing the evidence base in clinical behaviour, optimising the clinical process, and in the prevention and treatment of behaviour problems in re-homed dogs. Emily also teaches extensively on the BSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare.
Dr Rachel Casey BVMS PhD DipECVBM-CA Dip(AS)CABC CCAB MRCVS 
European Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine (Companion Animals)
Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare/Cats Protection Senior Lecturer in Feline Behaviour and Welfare
Rachel is a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine (Companion Animals), a RCVS recognised specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine and certified as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB). Having done her doctorate on feline behaviour, she has a particular clinical interest in cats, but is also interested in the effects of physiological changes and pathological disease on the development of behaviour; individual differences in the development of fearful or anxious states; compulsive behaviours, and the rational use of psychopharmacological agents in all species. She also leads a programme of clinical research and teaches clinical behaviour on the BSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare and BVSc degree.
Christine Basse BSc MSc
Christine obtained her undergraduate degree in BSc Psychology in 2001 and an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare in 2005 from Edinburgh University, including a project on cat –human interactions based at Bristol. In 2007 she joined the companion animal group to work as a research assistant on a project funded by the RSPCA on predicting separation-related behaviour in dogs in re-homing centres. In 2009 she joined the clinical team and is currently working towards accreditation as a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist ASAB. She also teaches on the Higher Education Certificate course in Companion Animal Welfare and Behavioural Rehabilitation and on the BSc in Animal behaviour and Welfare degree.
Bethany Loftus BSc
Beth completed her undergraduate degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Bristol in 2008. Since graduating she has worked on a research project involved in improving hen welfare, and on a project looking at the welfare implications of the use of different types of training devices in domestic dogs. Beth has now joined the clinical team, and is working towards accreditation as a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist ASAB. Beth has a particular interest in equine behaviour and methods of training in dogs. As part of her scholarship she is doing an Masters by research. The title of her project is: A case control-study of the risk factors associated with feline Atopic Dermatitis.
Anne Seawright BVSc MRCVS
Anne graduated from Bristol in 2004 and after a period working in general practice came back to join the clinical behaviour team in 2006 as BSAVA/ Petsavers Senior Clinical Training Scholar in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine which she completed in 2009. As part of her residency programme, Anne was conducting research into the link between the occurrence of Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) and stress caused by environmental factors in collaboration with the feline medicine team at Langford.
Anne remains in the Companion Animal Group to study for a PhD. She is investigating measures of emotional states and individual response styles in domestic dogs.
Sezan Ozgunay BSc
Having graduated from the Animal Behaviour and Welfare degree at the University of Bristol in 2011 Sezan went on to join our team as a Resident in Clinical Behaviour. Sezan is working towards accreditation as a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist ASAB and is particularly interested in the social behaviour of dogs, both between dogs and the unique and complex relationships that develop between dogs and people. Sezan is currently undertaking a Masters Research project looking into the risk factors of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disorders in dogs.