About Us - a small team with a big vision

Con Slobodchikoff, PhD

Founder and CEO

Con Slobodchikoff is Professor Emeritus of Biology at Northern Arizona University and CEO of Animal Communications, Ltd. He is an expert at decoding animal language, using innovative experimental and analytical techniques. His work has shown that prairie dogs have a sophisticated animal language with all of the design features of human languages.

He has written or co-written some 100 scientific papers and popular articles on animal language, behavior, and evolution. He has also edited three books on these topics. He is the author of Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of Animals (St. Martin’s Press), How to Talk to Your Dog (Lyons Press), and the lead author of Prairie Dogs: Communication and Community in an Animal Society (Harvard University Press).

His work has been featured in a variety of news media articles and interviews. A joint production by BBC and Animal Planet did a one-hour documentary of his work, shown by BBC TV in Europe and on Animal Planet as part of the Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom series.

He has a B.S. and a Ph.D. degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Find out more about Con at conslobodchikoff.com

Katherine S. O’Donnell

Chief Communications Officer

Katherine S. O’Donnell is the Founder of OP Creative Communications and brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and animal welfare. Passionate about fostering understanding between people and animals to reduce unnecessary euthanasia of dogs, cats, and other animals, Katherine has made significant contributions to the field.

Her expertise in strategic communication has driven impactful campaigns, fostering greater awareness and support for animal welfare initiatives. She has served on the City of San Francisco’s Pet Disaster Preparedness coalition, collaborating with multiple agencies to prepare people and animals for disasters. Katherine played a key role in crisis management during a Bay Area shelter fire, providing strategic messaging to donors, stakeholders, supporters, and the community, while handling public relations with the media, resulting in worldwide news coverage.

Her extensive background includes working with animal rescues, pet adoption agencies, and veterinary clinics, tirelessly promoting animal welfare on a global scale.

Starr Denison, MS

Animal Behavior Coordinator

Starr Denison holds a B.S. in Zoology from Northern Arizona University and an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With over 30 years of experience as a professional animal trainer, she has worked with a diverse range of species, including marine mammals, dogs, cats, birds of prey, and parrots. She is a former Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed and has served as a board member for the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).

Throughout her career, Starr has lectured and consulted for numerous organizations and animal shelters. Notably, she developed an enrichment program aimed at reducing stress in animals awaiting adoption, leveraging her extensive knowledge of animal behavior and communication.

Additionally, she has created an innovative product called Scent Dots (patent pending), designed to assist in training for avoidance and/or to provide anxiety relief for dogs and cats (scentdots.net).

Jack O’Donnell

Youth Advisor

Jack O’Donnell assists in the integration of technology in fostering the human-animal bond. Emphasizing the impact of technology on future generations, Jack seeks to help younger generations in engaging meaningfully with animals and advocating for understanding communication between species. He works with focus groups on UX/UI and interactive gaming.