The Truth About Cats and Dogs: Understanding Pet Behavior

Heather Bacon is the Veterinary Welfare Education and Outreach Manager at the University of Edinburgh’s Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE). She lectures internationally on welfare issues concerning companion animals and captive wildlife, and teaches courses in two postgraduate MSc programs at the university. With extensive experience in dog and cat welfare globally, Heather previously served as the Veterinary Director at the Animals Asia Foundation, an NGO focused on ending the bear bile trade in Asia. She holds a veterinary degree, a BSc (Hons) in Conservation Medicine, and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Postgraduate Certificate in Zoological Medicine.

Professor Nat Waran is a prominent academic serving as the Professor of One Welfare at the Eastern Institute of Technology in New Zealand. Formerly the Jeanne Marchig Chair of Animal Welfare Education at the University of Edinburgh, she has dedicated her career to advancing animal welfare through education and research. Nat earned her Zoology degree from Glasgow University and completed her PhD at Cambridge University Vet School with support from the British Veterinary Association’s Animal Welfare Foundation. In 1990, she established the first postgraduate master's program in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare at Edinburgh, which remains highly regarded. After moving to New Zealand in 2005, she held various leadership roles, including Head of the School of Natural Sciences at Unitec Institute of Technology. Since returning to Scotland in 2011 to lead the Jeanne Marchig Centre, Nat has continued to influence animal welfare policies and practices. She teaches courses such as Animal Behaviour and Welfare and The Truth About Cats and Dogs, focusing on improving the quality of life for animals through education and advocacy.

Hayley Walters is a dedicated Senior Veterinary Nurse specializing in animal welfare at The University of Edinburgh. She qualified as a veterinary nurse through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1999 and initially spent seven years in mixed animal practice in Derbyshire. In 2006, she joined the animal welfare charity Animals Asia, where she worked with Asiatic black bears rescued from the bile farming industry in China and Vietnam and managed dog shelter projects for animals displaced by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In 2012, Hayley transitioned to Scotland to become a Welfare and Anaesthesia veterinary nurse at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, where she trained veterinary students and nurses in anaesthesia, inpatient care, and pain management. Additionally, she has taught animal welfare and clinical skills to veterinary students in low- and middle-income countries through the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education. Hayley currently works remotely for the University of Edinburgh while also serving as a student liaison officer at Bottle Green Training and as a locum for Vets Now. Her contributions to veterinary education and animal welfare have been recognized with several awards, including an MBE from the Queen in 2018 for her services to the field. Hayley teaches courses such as Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal Welfare in the Clinic, and The Truth About Cats and Dogs, focusing on enhancing understanding and practices related to animal welfare.

Dr. Amy Miele is a Lecturer in Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Edinburgh, where she specializes in companion animal behavior. After graduating from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 2006, she gained five years of experience in general practice before returning to Edinburgh to pursue her PhD. Dr. Miele completed her postgraduate training in Clinical Animal Behaviour in 2010 and has since provided a referral service for companion animal behavior issues at local veterinary practices. She joined the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education, where she oversees both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in Clinical Animal Behaviour while also conducting veterinary behavior referral consultations. Dr. Miele enjoys spending her free time with her family and pets, including her Springer Spaniel, Louie, and Burmese cross, Stanley, who often appear in her lecture materials. She teaches the course The Truth About Cats and Dogs, which explores the behavior and communication of these beloved pets.