Biography

Myrna Milani, BS, DVM
June, 2003

Myrna Milani earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Capital University (Columbus, Ohio ) and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Following a year as a full-time academic advisor to pre-veterinary students at the university, Dr. Milani entered private veterinary practice in New Hampshire. Her interest in and study of the relationship between humans and animals as it affects the health and behavior of both led her to write seven books for the general public:

The editors of The Reader's Catalogue, which lists the 40,000 best books in print , voted The Invisible Leash, The Body Language and Emotion of Dogs, and The Body Language and Emotion of Cats best in their categories. The Body Language and Emotion of Dogs also has been used as a textbook for collegiate courses in the human-canine bond and animal-assisted therapy and education, and is routinely recommended by dog trainers to their clients. Additionally, Dr. Milani has written a behavior- and bond-based veterinary text, The Art of Veterinary Practice: A Guide to Client Communication (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1995), the script for an audio tape, Understanding Your Cat's Behavior, for the general public for Proof in Advance Education Corporation, as well as scripts for the internationally broadcast Pet Care Minutes, sponsored by Merck Pharmaceuticals and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr Milani also wrote the monthly "Mind of the Dog" column for Cornell University's DogWatch newsletter for the general public and the monthly "Golden Triangle" column for Veterinary Forum about owner, animal, and veterinarian interactions. She currently writes a column on client communication for The Canadian Veterinary Journal.

Throughout her career Dr. Milani has taught numerous courses: biology, anatomy and physiology, animal behavior, bioethics, and wildlife ecology on the college level, and courses in the human-canine and the human-feline bond and behavior for the general public. In addition to doing private behavior/bond client consultations primarily on a referral basis, she serves as a consultant to non-profit and for-profit organizations regarding animal-related issues.

Dr. Milani has formally and informally discussed canine and feline care and behavioral problems with thousands of owners and professionals at shows and events, including those in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, Dallas, Miami, and New York City (Madison Square Garden). She has been interviewed regarding various aspects of the human-animal bond on numerous television shows including Today, Regis and Kathy Lee, Good Morning New York, and the NBC Nightly News. Her television credits also include an hour show on feline behavior for ESPN.

Other media work includes contributions to articles published in the Miami Herald, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, API and Reuters news services papers, plus Parenting, New Woman, Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, DogWorld, Prevention, and other magazines. In addition to supplying information for articles in Prevention, she also serves as a source of bond- and behavioral information for other Rodale Press publications such as their pet magazine and health books for the general public, and assisted Bulldog Productions in compiling the background for the Rodale-sponsored, award-winning PBS series, Pets in the Family on which she appeared in two segments. Her radio work runs the gamut from three-hour listener call-in marathons in San Francisco and Indianapolis, to in-depth discussions of specific behavior or bond-related topics such as on the syndicated Dr Marty Becker and Friends.

Dr. Milani is popular speaker who has spoken at a variety of professional meetings, including conferences of The International Society of Anthrozoology, The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and the Midwestern Veterinary Conference. Additionally she does seminars for trainers and the general public throughout the country. She enjoys a close working relationship with veterinarians nationwide who call her regarding behavioral/ bond problems and who refer clients to her. Additionally, the eclectic nature of her studies of the human-animal bond have led her to develop a network of trainers, breeders, psychologists, sociologists, ecologists, ethologists, shelter personnel, wildlife experts, law enforcement officials, and other professionals with whom she routinely shares personal observations and material. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, the International Society of Anthrozoology, the International Society of Applied Ethology, The Working Dog Foundation, The Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement, and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Dr Milani is the founder and owner of TippingPoint, Inc., an organization devoted to the advancement and understanding of the interaction between animal health, behavior and the human-animal relationship. She lives in Charlestown, New Hampshire.

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