I am writing this on behalf of Carolyn Weinbaum, whom I have known for the last seventeen years. While employed at the Audubon Institute she developed and implemented a husbandry-training program for our California sea lions. This involved a behavioral enrichment program and medical program that allowed us to weigh and hand examine these animals without the means of physical or chemical restraint.

During her tenure with the Audubon Institute she was also involved in developing animal training programs for our Great Apes, Red Wolves and Rhinos. With her’ assistance we were able to significantly improve our husbandry techniques through training programs.

In the last several months I have had the opportunity to attend her’ dog obedience school. She was very professional in the way she handled and taught her clients while working with their animals. Her ability to relate to both her adult and youth clients was outstanding. This was evident from watching her working one on one with my daughter who was 12 years old with her first dog.

The class size was small, with no more than six dog puppies allowed for individual attention, which gave the owners/handlers the confidence and ability to understand what was needed from both the dog and handler.

The course was well organized allowing each session to build upon another; the complete course ran six weeks. The handouts were well developed and explained in simple terms what we needed to learn. They complemented the handling component very well, and allowed us to review the techniques from the lesson at our own pace. Each week we would have the time to review our success or setbacks from the week prior and be given an alternative training option to consider, if needed.

In my 26 years in working within the zoological field with both exotics as well as domestic animals, there has only been a handful of staff that I would consider outstanding, Carolyn is one such person.

Yours sincerely,
Roger Iles
Sr. Curator of Mammals
Audubon Institute/Audubon Park & Zoological Garden