Dr. Valerie J. Chalcraft is an applied animal behaviorist with a Ph.D. and a M.A. in Experimental Psychology. Her background in companion animal behavior started in New York City as a Companion Animal Behavior Specialist at the Animal Behavior Center of New York and the Queens Community Animal Shelter. Dr. Chalcraft served as Director of the Behavior Helpline at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in New York City has observed many hours of behavior consultations with applied animal behaviorists at the ASPCA. She also had a private consulting practice with clients in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. In addition to dogs and cats, Dr. Chalcraft has studied the behavior of chimpanzees, gorillas, lemurs, big cats, bears, and other species in captivity. Many of her studies have focused on abnormal behaviors that occur in wild animals who live in a captive setting.