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 Dr. John Ciribassi
Dr. Ciribassi was born and grew up in Jersey City, NJ, attended Southern Illinois University and graduated with a BS in Biology from the University of Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. After graduation he practiced dairy medicine in Pennsylvania along with his wife, Elise, also a veterinarian. In 1988 Dr. Ciribassi returned to Illinois with Elise and they opened the Gary at North Veterinary Center, a companion animal practice in Carol Stream (a western suburb of Chicago). In 1998, he began the process of board certification with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Soon after he began the Chicagoland Veterinary Behavior Consultants, a animal behavior specialty practice. In 2002 Dr. Ciribassi, along with Elise and another veterinary classmate (Dr. Marty Johnson) purchased the Carol Stream Animal Hospital merging with the Gary at North Veterinary Center. In October of 2006, Dr. Ciribassi passed his boards to become a board certified veterinary behaviorist. He has served as President of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association as well as President of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB). He lives in Carol Stream with Elise and his daughters Danielle and Rebekah.
Dr. Ciribassi sees patients on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Elmhurst Animal Hospital and Veterinary Specialty Center Locations.
Dr. Kelly Ballantyne
Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, received a BS in biology and her veterinary degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign. She began a non-conforming training program in veterinary behavior with Dr. John Ciribassi in the fall of 2008 and is seeking board certification in veterinary behavior. She practiced small animal medicine at a private hospital in Oak Park, IL after graduation from veterinary school in 2005. In the summer of 2009 she joined the faculty of the University of Illinois as a clinical instructor at the Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine. She lives in Chicago with her husband Rob, dog Bludger, and cat Aengus.
Dr. Ballantyne sees patients on Thursdays at Intergrative Pet Care on W. Armitage in Chicago.
Patricia Rattray
Patricia Ra ttray is a native of eastern Ohio but has lived in Illinois for most of her life. Previously involved in Human Relations, she took an interest in training when she got her first dog and was disenchanted with the number of aversive trainers in the Chicago area. She became associated with Narnia Pet Behavior and Training in Naperville where she learned more positive reward based techniques. She then took the DOGS course at Purdue University with Dr. Andrew Luescher (a board certified veterinary behaivorist) whereshe learned the principles of behavior modification. She began working for the Chicagoland Veterinary Behavior Consultants in 2002. He duties with CVBC include initial telephone conversations with pet owners, schedulingappointments, managing the various forms which need to be completed before the appointment, and handling most of the behavior modification training with the owners and their pets. Pat is also involved in a Boxer Rescue Group called Bailed Out Boxers.
Laura Monaco-Torelli, CPDT-KA, KPACTP
Laura began her professional animal training career in 1991 with the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. As a Senior Lead Trainer, she trained beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, river otters, and penguins. In 2000, Laura moved from marine to terrestrial animals, working for the San Diego Zoo and Brookfield Zoo as a Supervisory Keeper. She has trained a wide variety of species, including primates, large cats, birds of prey, horses, parrots, macaws, tree kangaroos, red pandas, and dogs while in the zoological community. Laura's experience with horses has provided numerous opportunities to teach them to cooperate in their daily care.
Laura's belief is that training should be fun, exciting, and educational for both people and their animal companions. Her unique professional background, which encompasses animal training, public and outreach programs, and educational seminars, allows her to create a dynamic and engaging environment for each client class. Laura's personal philosophy and unique skills keep her clients coming back for more training.
In August of 2008, Niabi Zoo (Niabi Zoological Society) invited Laura to be their Animal Training and Behavior Consultant, bringing her career full-circle and back to applying positive reinforcement training with exotic species. She is collaborating with Niabi Zoo staff, focusing on training programs with the primates, large cats, Arctic foxes, and reticulated giraffes.
The APVMA (American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association) invited Laura to speak at the 2009 Symposium hosted by the University of Illinois College Of Veterinary Medicine in Champaign-Urbana, and the 2010 Symposium hosted by Purdue University. She presented papers and provided interactive hands-on Labs for students to learn about positive reinforcement, marker-based training. Her continued collaborations include a partnership with veterinary behaviorist Dr. John Ciribassi and Animal Behavior Partners.
Laura serves as Karen Pryor Academy Faculty. She holds a TAGteach Level 1 Certification, and is studying for her graduate degree in biology. Laura continues to volunteer for the Shedd Aquarium as a SCUBA diver for the Wild Reef exhibit and also volunteers as a Delta Society Pet Partner and as a Doggone Safe "Be A Tree" Presenter. She also successfully completed the Purdue University Animal Behavior Clinic's DOGS Course.
Laura and her husband share their lives with spirited, energetic, and entertaining Rhodesian ridgebacks and lively cats.
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