I was fortunate to experience wildlife at an early age while accompanying the gamekeeper/trapper with his sled wolves. Later on, my natural ability to communicate with wildlife, dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals brought me into veterinary medicine. After completing an internship in small animal medicine and surgery, I practiced small animal and equine medicine for a decade when I decided to complete a PhD in neuroscience. This led me to do research in a field called Chemical Senses where I developed a better understanding of animal communications. While practicing neuroscience applications, I had a direct and positive impact on the health, well-being, and welfare of countless laboratory animals of various species. Dissatisfied with caging and husbandry practices, I dedicated several years to research and developed a caging system for rodents that fulfill their species-specific needs, thus improving the welfare of both the caged-animals and their users. The caging systemM.I.C.E.® and OptiMICE/RAT are used worldwide.
Now that I have time to care for my and others’ companion animals (mostly dogs, cats, & horses), I am combining my 40 years old experience as an “animal whisperer” in the equestrian world with my expertise in small and lab animals in order to excel in animal behavior consulting. To support my efforts, I have the great fortune of having Dr. Katherine A Houpt, world-renowned behaviorist, as my mentor to becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Currently, I am a Non-Conforming Resident and a Fellow in Veterinary Behavior Medicine at Cornell University Hospital for Animals, Department of Clinical Sciences.
Germain F. Rivard, DVM, PhD
