ELISTA TEAM
PROGRAMME DELIVERY TEAM:
Alison Bush - Operations Director &
Programme Manager.
 Alison’s
real first relationship with an animal was with a dog named ‘Duke’
when she was 5 years old. Duke saw Alison through some tough times
in her childhood and really paved the way for her future work
with animals and her passion for helping others through the use
of animals.
Alison started her first job with animals at 13 when she worked
on Saturdays in a local Grooming Parlour, since then she has completed
a Diploma in Animal Care, Certificate in Health and Social Care,
Teaching Certificate and Honours Degree in Animal Science and
Behaviour as well as working in industries including Pet Shops,
Farms and Equestrian Centres.
In 2003 Alison moved to Ireland to work on a Therapeutic Farm
conducting individual and group programmes in Animal Assisted
Therapy and Animal Assisted Education before relocating and taking
the position of Course Co-ordinator of the Animal Care and Veterinary
Nursing in a further education and training college.
Due to her passion for helping others to enjoy and benefit from
interactions with animals Alison initiated a fun Dog Training
club and also started dog training classes in 2007 under the name
‘Happier Hounds Dog Training’. Alison is a founding member
of APDT
Ireland (Association of Pet Dog Trainers).
Her interest in human-animal interactions has allowed Alison
many of travel and learning opportunities including a trip to
Indonesia and the attendance of a Delta Society (now Pet Partners)
conference in the USA. Alison continues to train in the developing
areas relevant to Assistance and Therapy and gained her level
1 in Sign Language, attends seminars and workshops in dog training
and behaviour, completed her EAGALA stage 1 and Horse Boy Method
'Sensory Training Certificate'. Alison is aiming to increase her
own knowledge by continuing personal studies through participation
on a Masters programme in Animal Assisted Therapy.
Alison represented ELISTA Education and Ireland in a
two year international Erasmus+ project called “Animal Integration
in Education”. Within the project Alison educated teachers on
how animals can be ethically utilised in the classroom to benefit
children’s learning, behaviour and social interactions. She also
had a significant role in preparing the project’s European guidelines
for teachers.
Alison's own animal family is currently made up of Zena, Golden
Retriever, Stripes, rescued Dalmation XX,
Jack and Flapjack the Shetland ponies, Jester and Pedro, Phoebe and Moffit,
and numerous others at the ELISTA centre.
Dawn Sharpe - Programme Tutor
Dawn’s first pet, like many young new pet owners, was a goldfish
in a plastic bowl-simple, but the start to her interest in and
love of animals. As a young girl, the desire to learn more about
animals was enhanced by an Uncle who recorded episodes of David
Attenborough documentaries for Dawn. These were watched religiously
day after day.
Together with school friends Dawn created a Club IAW (Inside
Animal Welfare), which fund raised for WWF and did odd (animal
related) jobs like grooming, dog walking and "babysitting"
neighbour's beloved pets. Dawn’s interest in animals grew more,
eventually leading her down the path of working with animals.
Dawn has successfully completed an Animal Care course and further
progressed to complete a Diploma in Animal Management. Through
this course Dawn had the opportunity to gain first hand experience
into the benefits of animals for children with special needs as
she conducted research into the area.
Dawn has, for several years, actively volunteered with Special
Olympics Ireland and has much Special Needs experience from this
and other associated groups. Dawn regularly teaches children about
animals and enjoys seeing the pleasure they get from caring for
a pet.
Dawn currently has 2 cats, Jaffa Cake and Orea, a breaded Dragon
by the name of Dib Dab, a rabbit name Oscar, a ferret named Jackson
and of course a tank full of tropical fish. All which have been
rescues or unwanted due to abnormalities.
She is currently working in the area of Animal Husbandry and
Welfare, specialising in Aquatics, as well as being involved in
the delivery of ELISTA Education Animal Welfare courses.
Katrina O'Donoghue - Programme Tutor
 Katrina
O' Donoghue has been involved with horses all her life; competing
in Dressage and Eventing she travelled globally as part of Irish
Equestrian Teams. At a young age Katrina started working through
her BHS (British Horse Society) Stages to accumulate in her receiving
her Affiliate Instructor (AI) qualification.
Katrina has been involved in running commercial Equestrian Centres,
she teaches group and individual lessons and has organised league
and pony club events. Katrina also offers Equine Assisted Activities
to special needs clients and uses her Miniature Pony in EAT facilitation
through visits to nursing homes, schools and other care facilities.
(see service programmes)
Katrina is also certified to EAGALA Stage 1 and has completed
full training in the Horse Boy Method. Katrina is involved in
the delivery of the Equine Handing Husbandry and Instruction course
offered by ELISTA Education, and the progression course Equine
Assisted Therapy and Learning.
Ilse Sas - Programme Tutor
Ilse Sas has devoted her time, full time to dogs for well over
a decade. After being heavily involved in dog rescue in North
Co. Cork and regularly transporting dogs for re-homing to the
UK, an opportunity arose for Ilse to work with Hearing Dogs for
Deaf People.
Ilse was employed to assess and select dogs from Irish rescue
centres to become Hearing Dogs in the UK.
During this time, as Ilse’s own canine family rapidly expanded,
she became a valued member of COCO dog club, and after completing
Easy Lead (now offered through ELISTA Education) Canine Behaviour
and Training and then Canine Training and Instructing courses
she not only participated but also instructed on behalf of the
club.
Ilse has achieved dog grooming qualifications and has been responsible
for the delivery of an Animal Welfare programme offered in a Further
Education college, she is also a certified Canine First Responder.
Now Ilse splits her time between working as a Dog Groomer in a
Veterinary Practice, rescuing and re-homing dogs especially Dobermans
and Shih Tzu’s and caring for her Guinea Pigs and poultry.
Ilse assists in the delivery of the ELISTA Education Animal Welfare
course and tutors the Animal Rehabilitation progression course.
PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TEAM
ELISTA Education is pleased to have the support of various professionals
that work in areas relating to Animals and/or People. All support
team members, like ELISTA Education believe in the benefits animal
can have on people and are passionate about promoting a society
that uses and treats animals kindly, fairly and ethically. Professional
Support Team members support the aims and ethos of ELISTA Education,
they may have had input into course material following consultation
with programme design team, but are otherwise not affiliated to,
nor considered to be endorsing specific programmes.
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