Angie Cook
General Director, Canine Cohesion
Shelter Divison Head, FDM
CDBC, CBCC- KA, LFDM-B,S
I have had a lifelong love for all animals and have spent over 15 years working professionally with dogs in many capacities.
My journey began in sheltering where I very quickly realized that, while finding an adoptive home was the end goal for rescue, ensuring optimal quality of life for the animals while in the shelter was paramount. As Director of Operations for a small rescue, I began learning extensively about dog behavior in order to create programming that would reduce the Dog’s stress and help them to cope better in the shelter environment. The small rescue I worked for was later acquired by the Asheville Humane Society, where I assumed the role as Director of Operations. One of my first tasks was to create a behavior program for the shelter dogs at a time where this was less prevalent. I worked with Kim Brophey to create the Shelter L.E.G.S. model which was very successful. During my time working in sheltering, I deployed with the ASPCA and helped recover animals from dog fighting and hoarding situations. I also served on the board of the North Carolina Animal Federation and have appeared on rescue related podcasts.
I eventually left sheltering and began working with dogs with severe behavioral issues, specializing in aggression, fear and anxiety. I continue to be intrigued by the inner workings of dogs and seek the most current science and understanding of their experience with veracity. I strive to impact shelter and rescue dogs, as the head of the Family Dog Mediation Shelter Division.
As the Director for Canine Cohesion, I hope to bring all of my knowledge and experience to the table and create programming and opportunities for the dogs of the Carolinas and beyond, that will fulfill their behavioral needs and allow them to thrive in their relationship with their families and their life in general.
Complex Aggression (human, dog, other species, reactivity),
Anxiety,
Separation Anxiety,
Trauma,
Fear,
& Neuroses
Meet My Dogs
Gus:
Nearly two-year-old English Cream Golden Retriever
Gus is relatively chill for a Golden, but enjoys a good party! He should have been named FOMO because his primary goal is to be in the center of any fun. He has been a fun dog to have because he enjoys learning in different, less-conventional ways. He loves his human brother and sister and wishes his doggie sister, Izzy, didn’t hate him.
Hobbies: Collecting socks, hole digging, stick chewing, box shredding, chasing squirrels, playing with his human brother, cleaning up food dropped on the floor by toddlers and putting slobbery toys in my lap
In Loving Memory (2025)
Izzy:
Chiweenie
I adopted Izzy when she was 5 years old. She was a foster fail who chose me and served as an emotional support dog for my other fearful dog, Bailey. Izzy has been on many adventures and weighing in at 9 pounds, could hold her own on hikes and in social settings. At 18, she slowed down and couldn’t hear at all, but was always up for some crazy antics. She was my little buddy, warming my lap and bed.
Hobbies: scavenging for food, pretending she hasn’t eaten when she has, refusing to pee outside when it rains, pretending to pee so she can get a treat, warming my lap, eating cat poop, chasing flies