Sophia Yin, DVM., MS. Karen L. Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB, CAAB, Editor-in-Chief

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1 Sophia Yin, DVM., MS Karen L. Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB, CAAB, Editor-in-Chief On 28 September 2014 we lost an exceptional advocate for the humane behavioral care of dogs and cats when Dr. Sophia Yin died too early, at the age of 48. Sophia was an inspired lecturer, a prolific author, a skilled educator, and a visionary whose primary commitment was to canine welfare. Sophia was a 1993 graduate of the University of California, Davis, College of Veterinary Medicine, from which she also received her M.S. in Her legacy to the field of veterinary behavior includes the remote behavioral modification device, Treat and Train /Manners Minder, the instructional books Perfect Puppy in 7 Days: How To Start You Puppy Off Right, How To Behave So Your Dog Behaves, Low Stress Handling, Restraint And Behavior Modification of Cats And Dogs, and numerous videos to educate clients and veterinarians, alike. The Small Animal Veterinary Nerdbook, in its third edition, was one of Sophia s early books, and it has guided a generation of veterinary students through the rigors of clinical medicine. Sophia worked with many organizations to ensure that the behavioral needs of both dogs and humans were met. Her poster series for the RSPCA in the UK, How Kids Should Not Interact With Dogs is one of a series of educational posters, pamphlets and short books ( How To Greet A Dog And What To Avoid ) that were designed to ensure that the most vulnerable humans have only good interactions with dogs, while concomitantly ensuring that the dogs needs were foremost. At the time of her death Sophia was a member of the AAHA Behavior Management Guidelines for Dogs & Cats task force and a member of the recently established advisory board of the Fear Free initiative in the USA. Sophia s value to the field is reflected in the tributes paid her both by those who had used her books and videos and those who knew her through her work, as the following comments reflect. Sophia s ability to cross disciplines was widely acknowledged, especially among those in practice and those who created guidelines so that practitioners could engage in state-of-the-art medicine. I am in shock about Sophia Yin. So sad. What an incredible loss - somehow she got out there and shouted from the roof tops and her voice was heard - she changed vet medicine - I was always the crazy Dr. Griffin who did not want to stress the animals -- and would not allow the students to scruff cats - and fed all the dogs hot dogs, and gave the kitties catnip and kitty snacks -- now, thanks to her, the students don't think I am crazy anymore -- they actually ask me to teach them how to not stress the animals and do low stress techniques... I never had the chance to tell her that. I wish I had. I have an original Treat n Train in my

2 closet. Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida. Over the years, I have developed the culture of my practice to be focused on making visits less stressful for our patients. A lot of the things we do are based on Dr. Sophia Yin's techniques and guidelines. I am so saddened by the loss of a great advocate for kindness and I plan to continue to honor her legacy in the way that I practice veterinary medicine. Marcy Hammerle, DVM, DABVP (canine and feline), member of the AAHA Behavior Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats task force. In June of 2014, I received the opportunity to meet for a weekend with a group of the country s most respected animal behaviorists to help create the AAHA behavior guidelines for accredited practices. As the token GP, I was giddy to have the opportunity to soak up the brilliance of these veterinary rock stars, including Dr. Sophia Yin. In trying to develop these guidelines and condense all opinions into one voice, the group would commonly shout Let Sophia speak! Perfect! Write that down! Sophia s eloquence and brilliance were immediately evident in the short weekend I spent with her. From my earliest days in veterinary school, Dr. Yin was an invaluable part of my development as a veterinarian. In my veterinary class, every one of my classmates had their lab coat pocket weighed down with her Small Animal Veterinary Nerdbook as we scrambled to work up cases before rounds. In the years since graduation, her brilliant insights into stress and fear have made so many veterinarians change the way they practice and have helped to squelch the old-school atrocities that were once the norm when an animal was taken to the back. I am certain that all creatures would give her a standing applause. Sophia Yin s legacy will live on through me and hundreds of veterinarians around the country -- as we continue to practice the lessons she taught. We have lost an amazing veterinarian, advocate and leader. Christine Horst, DVM, member of the AAHA Behavior Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats task force. Sophia was a great ally to AAHA, serving with us in many different roles: author, conference learning facilitator, and was currently working on the AAHA Behavior Management Guidelines for Dogs & Cats task force. But, she was so much more than that. She was a leader. A visionary. A friend. Sophia was a visionary for both pets and their people. Though she is gone, her contributions will continue to have a lasting impact for years to come. She will be missed. Erin Newport, DVM, Veterinary and Professional Education Manager, American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) "Dr. Yin is one of my heroes! Everyone who knew her will miss her presentations; her contributions were always excellent, funny, memorable, and practical. Students all know her

3 NerdBook, too. She contributed a unique voice to our veterinary profession. Her approach to spreading understanding the daily use of behavioral science within veterinary hospitals helped untold numbers of animals. Sharing her techniques for low-stress handling provided many young (and a few old-dog) veterinarians access to handling skills that were never previously specifically outlined in any text or classroom. It is difficult to know she is gone and important that we honor her by continuing to forward her work." Kate Crumley, DVM, President, American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) The specialist community, in particular, appreciated her gifts. I have always admired Sophia, not just for her gifts in getting needed information across in a multitude of media, but also for her curiosity and willingness to find out about anything she was interested in. It seems like every time I talked to her, she had done something new - taken The Chicken Course from Bob Bailey, done some horse training, gone to this course or that - all to personally try out the various methods to see for herself if they were valid and workable for others. To me, this is the essence of a scientist- one who asks a question, then tries it out for themselves, and takes what they find, whether they expected the outcome or not, then passes it on. She had boundless enthusiasm for those self-tested techniques and knowledge, and an unparalleled gift for communicating those truths in a universal way. That combination of gifts- the willingness and ability to test things out, and the ability to pass them on to the rest of us- is rare. As with others with great gifts who died too young, we will have to share what we have of her work, and honor her each time we pass it on. Leslie Larson Cooper, DVM, DACVB I never realized how important she has been to my personal and professional life until the day of her death when I looked at her book the Perfect Puppy in 7 Days that I have been using assiduously to train my new puppy. Earlier that afternoon I was deciding which of her videos to show at the lecture I am giving next month and when I put the puppy in the car there was the Manners Minder I take to my consults where I usually recommend How to Behave so your Dog will Behave. We have lost a brilliant colleague. Katherine Houpt VMD PhD DACVB, Emerita Professor, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine Sophia s unwavering commitment to promoting, teaching, and implementing training techniques based in science has been seen, heard, and felt around the world. Sophia s unique perspective, persistence, and passion allowed her to start a true cultural change within the veterinary community. This is no small feat. The tools she created for pet professionals to learn better handling techniques, and the tools she created to make pet owners understand their pets better, are reflective of her insight, intelligence and creativity. I think I can speak for my colleagues when I say she has left us humbled, inspired, and re-dedicated to ensuring that

4 the cultural change she has started, not only continues, but thrives. On behalf of all the animals she has helped in the past and on behalf of the animals her legacy will help in the future, we thank you Sophia. Emily D. Levine DVM DACVB Sophia was a dedicated and passionate person, especially when it came to what she loved doing most. Teaching people about their pets and helping us all communicate with them. She was instrumental in teaching us all how to better interact with animals for their welfare. I remember her telling me that she got into this field when she took her dog to a training class where aversive methods were used. She felt that there HAD to be a better way. And she found the better way and then taught it to the rest of us. God speed Sophia. John Ciribassi DVM, DACVB, President, American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior Sophia was a truly amazing fellow behaviorist, veterinarian and friend. I had the unique opportunity to work with Sophia for a week when she stayed at my home, accompanying me to my hospital each day and researching ideas on low stress handling techniques. I was flattered and awed that she had chosen me to help. I saw a different side to Sophia this week and I continued to be astonished at her energy, vitality and generosity. She was full of ideas, thoughts and questions and when she left, she was able to develop, write and publish her book within the year. Several years later Sophia wanted to set up psychopharmacology rounds by video chat with me and I again felt privileged that she asked. All our video chats ended up showing off each other s animals, catching up on personal lives, laughing at what we looked like at 6:00 a.m. and we rarely got any true hard-core discussions done! I always admired Sophia and wanted to have her boundless energy, ideas and creativity. Sophia was an inspiration to me and I would praise her work to my clients, to my fellow veterinarians and even family. When I felt overwhelmed I would remember Sophia s vivacity and renew my energy and focus. She was a truly compassionate and kind individual for those who had the time to get to know her. I wish I would have told her how much of a role model she was to me as I will now never have the chance to do so. I will strive to keep her memory and work alive and make a renewed focus to begin telling those who are important and an inspiration to me just that. Kelly Moffat DVM, DACVB Sophia Yin touched so many of us in so many ways. Her determination to teach people how to handle and dogs and cats in a thoughtful and gentle manner was unmatched. With seemingly endless energy, she demonstrated by example. She reached out to all people connected with animals, effectively communicating with pet owners and professionals alike. She was always proud of each new project, each new way for sharing her knowledge. I will remember Dr. Yin professionally as I continue to share the information in her books, posters, and videos that she so generously made available. Personally, I will remember our shared

5 conversations about both professional and personal pet challenges. Ellen Lindell, VMD, DACVB I didn't have the fortune to spend a lot of time with Sophia, but that fact makes my strong memories of her all the more substantial. Somehow we ended up sitting next to each other on buses at various veterinary conventions quite a few times. Access to each other always led to vigorous discussions of animal behavior, how to help animals and how to make their lives better. She was bright and inspiring and full of ideas. We'd get in a mutual feedback loop of invigorating discussion. I will miss you Sophia and I will miss our discussions. You were a bright flame in the world, snuffed out way too early. Sharon Crowell-Davis, VMD, PhD, Diplomate ACVB, Professor, University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine News of Sophia's death stopped me in my tracks, as it has so many members of the animal behavior and welfare family. Many others have expressed sentiments that mirror mine, and better sang her praises, as I did not know Sophia well. I knew her through her work; I only had occasion to speak to her once - she was easy to like immediately. If we take our cue from how animals related to Sophia, then it is easy to see how true that first impression shall remain, forever. All deaths evoke sorrow; unexpected, premature ones catch us unprepared and leave us wondering. I am very sad for the pain and distress she must have experienced for which she sought relief, and for the anguish her family and close friends now share. I hope they can find comfort both in Sophia's legacy to animals and their people and in the outpouring of support from the community. The strongest force in the world is a human soul that has caught fire; Sophia kindled a light in many... pass on the light; care, unapologetically, for your patients - care for each other. Soraya V. Juarbe Diaz, DVM, DACVB Dr. Sophia Yin s work outlives her, and will be a key part of the foundation on which emergent behavior-centered practices, humane policies and welfare guidelines will be based. Such legacies are rare. Given such rarity, we owe it to our patients and to each other to continue to learn to interact and communicate with dogs and other animals in a manner that works only in their best interests.