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EnglishWhat is the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB)?
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AVSAB (avsab.org) is a professional association of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and graduate-degree-level animal behaviorists. Its stated purpose is to improve the lives of animals and people through an understanding of animal behavior — strengthening the human-animal bond and enhancing patient welfare. The site is most useful if you are a veterinary professional or student looking for a professional community, a behavior consultant directory, or position statements; it is not a general pet-owner advice site.
Who AVSAB serves
According to the organization's own description, membership is open to:
- Professional veterinarians
- Veterinary technicians
- Doctorate-level animal behaviorists
- Researchers
- Students
The common thread is a professional or academic interest in animal behavior, not general pet ownership.
What the website offers
A community for members
AVSAB describes membership as access to a community of animal behavior professionals and students, including online forums, members and groups. The stated benefits include job openings, research opportunities, and scholarships. The site lists membership categories and a "See All Benefits" page alongside a join option.
Public behavior consultant directory
The site hosts an online directory of behavior consultants, described as the largest online database of veterinarians with a focus in animal behavior. Visitors can search the directory without being members. For practitioners, the directory is also presented as a way to grow a practice and increase visibility.
Position statements
AVSAB publishes position statements, which are linked from the homepage. These are the organization's formal stances on animal behavior topics — useful if you want the professional consensus view rather than individual opinion.
Blog articles
The homepage surfaces "Latest Blog Articles," giving a sense of current topics and organizational activity.
Newsletter
A newsletter sign-up form (name and email) is available on the homepage.
Current announcement: member course discount
The site currently highlights a discount for AVSAB members: 30% off the "Psychoactive" Veterinary Psychopharmacology course by Dr. Katrin Jahn. The course is described as RACE approved for 8.5 CE credits and covers:
| Module | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Neurotransmission, neurotransmitters and more |
| 2 | Who, when and why |
| 3 | Long-acting medications (SSRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, SNRIs and more) |
| 4 | Short-acting medications (SARIs, gabapentinoids, alpha-2 agonists, benzodiazepines and more) |
| 5 | Practical applications (over 3 hours of content) |
Discount details are accessible to members through a members-only page, so the 30% rate is a membership benefit rather than a public offer.
How to decide whether to use the site
- If you are a veterinarian, technician, behaviorist, researcher, or student: the membership community, job and research listings, and member discounts are the main draw.
- If you need to find a behavior consultant: use the public directory search — no membership required based on the site's description.
- If you want the profession's official positions on behavior topics: read the position statements.
- If you are a pet owner seeking general advice: the site is oriented toward professionals; the consultant directory is the most directly useful feature for you.
The site does not state pricing for membership on the pages reviewed here, so check the join page for current dues and category requirements before committing.