SABCAP - South African Board for Companion Animal Professionals

Good morning everyone,
Please be advised that the Journal Club will unfortunately not be continuing this evening due to a lack of interest and participation.
The annual AGM will be held in June, and a motion will be put forward to dissolve SABCAP due to the ongoing apathy and limited member participation. It has become increasingly unsustainable for only a small number of members to continue investing their time, energy, and resources into an organisation where there appears to be little interest in active involvement or in furthering the industry as a whole.
Petra and I have come to the decision that our energy and efforts would be better directed toward initiatives where they can make a meaningful difference and where there is active support and engagement.
The agenda for the AGM will be distributed shortly.
Thank you to those members who did make an effort to support us along the way. We sincerely hope that you find the support, collaboration, and sense of professional community that is so greatly needed within an industry that often seems resistant to change and progress.
Kind regards, Charmaine

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New to MHERA? Start with our free course and learn how to apply the MHERA method in your practice or facility.

Whether you're a trainer, behaviourist or keeper, this course will give you the tools to confidently measure and improve the wellbeing of every animal in your care.

Start your free course today by enrolling here: https://mhera.org/shop/mhera/mhera-method-free-introduction-course/

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🐾 Behaviour problems in dogs and cats? What if the solution isn’t purely behavioural…

Sometimes the answer lies in looking at the whole animal.

Join SABCAP for a fascinating webinar on a Holistic Approach to Challenging Behaviours with Vicky Payne – holistic veterinarian, behaviourist, and gundog trainer.

Learn how complementary therapies and integrative thinking may support better behavioural outcomes in our patients.

📅 20 March 2026⏰ 19:30💻 Live on Zoom

🎟 Tickets:• Members: R150• Non-members: R200

⚠️ Online booking only via:🌐 www.sabcap.org.za

Bookings close 19 March at midnight.

📢 Join us for an eye-opening evening and expand your approach to behaviour.

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The Illusion of the Unfazed Dog: A Scientific Analysis of Shield K9’s High-Level E-Collar Demonstration - Dog Training Phoenix | Dog Obedience and Behavior Training A deep scientific look at dogs trained with high-level shock collars. Learn how habituation, negative reinforcement, and conditioned suppression create the illusion of calm while masking stress, fear, and emotional suppression in working-line dogs.

🌟 A heartfelt thank you to Karin Pienaar for an outstanding MHERA webinar! Your insights and expertise made it a truly enriching experience. 🙌
To everyone who attended—thank you for being part of the conversation and contributing to such a dynamic session.
📢 If you missed it, don’t worry! The webinar will be available to purchase soon. Watch this space for updates right here on SABCAP!

🎓 MHERA Webinar with Karin Pienaar
📅 Presented by SABCAP
🧠 Exploring Emotionality in Animal Behaviour Therapy. This webinar is open to everyone and there are no prerequisites for attendance.

Join internationally renowned animal behaviourist Karin Pienaar, developer of the MHERA method, for an insightful webinar hosted by SABCAP. Discover how Mood, Hedonic Budgets, Emotionality, and Reinforcement Assessments (MHERA) are revolutionizing the way we understand and treat behavioural challenges in animals.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
• The scientific foundation of MHERA
• How cognitive bias impacts behavioural resilience
• Practical applications across species and settings
• Tools for assessing and improving emotional wellbeing
📍 Karin Pienaar is a Certified Animal Behaviourist (C.A.B.), author of Mood Matters, and a leading voice in welfare-based behaviour therapy. Her work spans domestic pets to captive wildlife, and she’s a key contributor to South Africa’s national task teams on animal welfare.
🎟️ Reserve Your Spot
[email protected].

🎉 Meet the SABCAP Committee Board Members! 🐾
We’re excited to introduce the passionate and talented individuals who make up the board of the South African Board for Companion Animal Professionals (SABCAP). Each member plays a vital role in supporting and growing the companion animal profession in South Africa.
👩‍💼 Charmain Du Toit – Chairperson
📚 Tanja Grensing – Journal
📋 Petra Du Toit – Administration & Finance
📱 Sheralynne Rosslee – Social Media
🐕 Nicole Burger – Behaviour
🐾 Lucy Breytenbach – Animal Assisted Activities & Service Animals
🎥 Moira Meyer – Webinars
Together, we’re working to promote excellence, education, and collaboration in the field of companion animal care. Stay tuned for updates, events, and resources from this amazing team! 💙