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PPG Appoints Maria Karunuñgan as Vice Chair of Its Shelter & Rescue Division


Please join us in congratulating Maria Karunuñgan as the new vice chair of PPG’s Shelter and Rescue Division!

“I am excited to help support Division Chair Holden Svirsky and the PPG in this new role, and continue the volunteer efforts and collaboration that I have been a part of since this division was formed in 2017.” 

Maria Karunuñgan, PhD, CTC, CSAT, has spent nearly 10 years working in different behavior and training capacities for various shelters and rescues in the Northern California Bay Area, including the East Bay SPCA, Joybound People & Pets, Berkeley Humane, and Contra Costa Animal Services.

Maria is an honors graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers and specializes in helping animals who have been rehomed or need help staying in their current homes. Maria is a graduate of Yale University and received her PhD in educational research from Emory University.

In addition to her academic work, she has written for Bay Woof, BARKS from the Guild, and 4 Legs and a Tail.

She now resides in Burlington, Vermont, and runs Fetch the Leash Dog Behavior & Training.