Dr. Christine Olsen

Dr. Olsen is the developer and chief leader of PADA. She holds a master’s degree in ethology and a PhD in public health, focusing on the effects of animal-assisted services. She is both a certified cat and dog behaviorist and a certified dog instructor. For several years, she held the position of Felino Technician at Royal Canin. Notably, she spearheaded the development of the Personality Assessment of Domestic Animals (PADA), a screening test to evaluate the suitability of animals—such as cats, dogs, horses, and farm animals—for roles in animal-assisted services. Throughout her career, Dr. Olsen has collaborated on numerous international projects, building a vast network that includes some of the most respected figures in the field of human-animal relationships and animal-assisted services. Many of these individuals are now staunch supporters of the International Community of Anthrozoology (ICofA), a global community uniting practitioners, researchers, educators, and professionals in anthrozoology. Her research has focused on dog mentality, and she is the author of several peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters on domestic dog and cat behavior, animal-assisted services, and the human-animal relationship. In 2004, she founded the Norwegian Center of Anthrozoology, which expanded in 2019 to become the International Community of Anthrozoology (ICofA), where she currently serves as president.