Director, Behavior & Training
Maria Eguren
Maria Eguren has an advanced degree in biology from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a specialization in animal behavior. She has also been certified as an Animal Behavior Consultant by IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants). During her 15 years in the animal behavior field, she has focused on ethology, enrichment programs, training, and consulting for wild animals in captivity and pets. She worked on behavior research projects for several zoos in Argentina and the U.S.A. She is currently head of the Behavior Department for the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. Her responsibilities include temperament assessments for cats and dogs going up for adoption, developing and implementing training plans for animals who need behavior modification before being placed up for adoption, teaching training classes for shelter and public dogs, consultations with the public during the adoption process and follow-up after the adoption has been completed, as well as consultations for people whose pets present challenging behavior issues.
Behavior Training Specialist
Margaret Daul
Margaret Daul, CPDT-KSA, ACDBC, KPA CTP, CTC has been a dog lover and owner all her life. She uses positive reinforcement to help families and their dogs learn to form lasting bonds and promote behaviors that can last a lifetime. She teaches public classes and individual consults for Peninsula Humane Society. She leads Guide Dog puppy training sessions in Palo Alto; teaching the raisers how to help their puppies develop into Guide Dogs. Margaret is a CPDT-KSA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge and Skills Assessed). Her goal is to help your dog and family to grow together. Margaret loves working with people and their dogs and is looking forward to meeting you and your dog in her training classes and consultations.
Dog Trainer
Sharon Hall
Sharon Hall is an animal lover and grew up with a wide range of mixed and pure breed dogs. In 2006 she joined PHS as an active volunteer in all aspects of the public dog training program. Sharon especially enjoyed volunteering as a dog training assistant in a wide range of courses offered at PHS. Sharon began teaching classes in 2009, and graduated from the Marin Humane Society’s canine behavior Academy taught by Trish King in 2011. She has also attended seminars on dog behavior and training by leaders in the field including Trish King, Pia Silvani, Pat Miller, Aimee Sadler and others. Sharon enjoys working one on one with her students and learning the latest insights into our doggie companions. In addition to her work at PHS Sharon is a member of the Mid-Peninsula Guide Dogs for the blind group, where she assists in training and hosting guide dog puppies.
Behavior Training Specialist
Barb Izzo
Barb Izzo is a CPDT-KA and CCTA certified professional dog trainer with particular expertise in positive reinforcement training techniques, behavior modification, and compassionate care. She graduated with distinction from the CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. At PHS/SPCA, she works with canines and their humans through public classes and one-on-one behavior consultations. In addition to her work at PHS/SPCA, Barb teaches classes and provides behavior and training support to other organizations and individuals. Barb understands first-hand the transformative power of the human-canine bond. Her service dog played a pivotal role in her life after she suffered injuries from an accident. This experience fueled her commitment to help strengthen the relationship between individuals and their canine companions.
Lead Dog Trainer
Tasha Suda
Tasha Suda has grown up with dogs her whole life and has been active in training and behavior since 2000, when she started volunteering as a dog training assistant at PHS/SPCA. In late 2001 she started teaching classes for PHS/SPCA. She also has a background in grooming; working as a groomer in Half Moon Bay for 6 years. In 2006 Tasha graduated Trish King’s Canine Behavior Academy. In 2013 she passed the Association of Professional Dog Trainers testing requirements to become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA).
She currently teaches a wide range of public classes at PHS/SPCA and conducts private one-on-one behavior consultations. She currently resides with a deaf border collie mix “Grayson”, a tortoiseshell cat “Ember”, and a border collie “Phoebe” that came to her home as a PHS/SPCA foster. Her passion is dogs and she has a soft spot for the special needs dog, whether it is a physical or behavior issue, and enjoys a challenge. Tasha has extensive experience working with herding breeds and deaf dogs. She feels the true reward of teaching is being able to witness the positive change in an owner and animal.
Public Dog Trainer
Gabriella Gallelo
Gabriella Gallelo was able to care for dogs, cats, and rats while growing up in the bay area. She started volunteering at PHS in 2016 and continued volunteering at the Yolo County SPCA while getting her bachelor's degree in animal biology from UC Davis. Through their dog behavior internship, she discovered her passion was in strengthening interspecies communication. While in Davis, she researched to understand what factors influenced the bonds between humans and animals in multi-cat households. She applied this work in her own household by training her cats tricks and to be respectful of one another. At PHS, Gabriella works to help humans and dogs understand each other better.
Behavior Training Specialist
Mary-Ann Fernandes
Mary-Ann Fernandes has grown up in the SF Bay Area and started volunteering at PHS in 2011. At PHS, she started off walking dogs and helping with dog enrichment, which led her to assisting public training classes, behavior consultations, and taking dogs on day trips off-site. She became part of the staff at PHS in 2015 and has attended Trish King’s Canine Behavior Academy, completing Level 1 and the advanced courses on behavior consultations and dog aggression. As a staff member of PHS, she works with both dogs and cats with behavioral issues, trains volunteers to work with shelter dogs and cats, counsels members of the public before and after adoption, and provides one-on-one behavior consultations. She’s rescued and rehabilitated nursing kittens in the past and has a soft spot for herding breeds.
Public Dog Trainer
Dusty Cayssials
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Dusty comes with a background in Human Resources and Education. While living in North Dakota briefly, she acquired her two dogs which became the catalyst for her deep interest in canine behavior and training. Dusty immersed herself in learning through books, videos, and hands-on experiences.
Upon returning to the Bay Area, Dusty further her dog education by attending the renowned Karen Pryor Academy and working at a dog daycare, where her love for dogs and dedication to the training process flourished. In 2023, Dusty started volunteering with the Peninsula Humane Society, and soon after, embraced the opportunity to become a public dog trainer.
With a focus on creating strong, healthy relationships between dogs and their owners, Dusty emphasizes the importance of training for the well-being of both. They take pride in helping people connect with their pets, finding joy in seeing those bonds grow through effective training.
Public Dog Trainer
Marc Wong, CTC
Marc has been an animal lover for as long as he can remember. As youth growing up in Singapore, he would often return home with stray animals in an attempt to care for them. After a successful 17-year Engineering career, Marc returned to his love of animal care by starting a successful home-based doggie board, train and daycare which was featured in PEOPLE magazine.
Considering himself a "Crossover" trainer, Marc chose to focus exclusively on force-free training techniques after being exposed to the writings of Susan Friedman, Ian Dunbar and Jean Donaldson. He would later go on to enroll in Donaldson's 2-year program at the Academy of Dog Trainers, eventually graduating with honors and obtaining Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC). His specialties are "Lure-Reward" training as well as Desensitization and Counterconditioning of fearful / aggressive dogs.
When not teaching classes at PHS/SPCA, you'll find Marc volunteering as a teaching assistant at dog shelters around the San Francisco Bay Area or simply enjoying spending time with his (4 human + 2 dog) family.
Public Dog Trainer
Cindy Dinh
Cindy is a dedicated dog trainer who has devoted her career to enhancing the bond between dogs and their owners. In addition to growing up with dogs, she completed an internship with Sirius Puppy Training, recognized for fostering strong connections through early socialization and practical life skills using science-backed techniques. This experience deepened her commitment to effective training methods. With six years of experience as a dog groomer, Cindy excels in gentle handling techniques and works with dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments, teaching them to not only tolerate but genuinely enjoy their grooming sessions. She leads PHS/SPCA off-leash puppy play groups and public classes, creating fun and engaging environments for reliable training. Cindy emphasizes off-leash verbal cue reliability during play, addresses common puppy issues, and nurtures confident, socially savvy dogs while preventing problem behaviors. Dedicated to helping puppies become calm and friendly companions, she looks forward to guiding families on their training journeys.