Oh Behave!

Dr. RuthAnn Lobos, DVM, CCRT
Lead Veterinarian for Purina

Dr. RuthAnn Lobos currently serves as a lead veterinarian for Purina.  Prior to joining the team, she managed the Global Scientific Programs and Events for the Purina Institute, which advances the science of nutrition, promoting global collaboration with veterinary and other scientific thought leaders to help pets live better, longer lives.

Dr. Lobos joined Purina in 2005, as Veterinary Communications Manager for Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. In this role, she managed the comprehensive VIP experience for the brand, as well as Purina’s robust partnership with the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Throughout her Purina career, Dr. Lobos has worked as Senior Manager of Training and Senior Manager of Veterinary Communication for Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. She played an integral role in the annual Companion Animal Nutrition Summit, a signature event that connects more than 150 global thought leaders to advance science and research in pet nutrition.

Dr. Lobos graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She also became certified in canine physical rehabilitation through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2010. She completed her certification as a veterinary acupuncture therapist from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2021. She also is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians, and Colorado Veterinary Medical Association

Dr. Lobos currently resides in Boulder, Colorado, where she spends her evenings and weekends practicing as a relief veterinarian. Outside of work, Dr. Lobos is an avid triathlete and marathoner and enjoys fly-fishing, working with sporting dogs, hiking and camping with her husband and son A. Dr. Lobos has three rescue dogs, including a 16-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, Stella, and a 7-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, Finn, and a 3-year-old French Bulldog, Rigolets.

Dr. Maggie O'Haire 

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTION 

Dr. Marguerite (Maggie) O’Haire is an internationally recognized Fulbright Scholar who is currently an Associate Professor of Human-Animal Interaction in the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University. She earned her BA in Psychology from Vassar College in New York and her PhD in Psychology from The University of Queensland in Australia. Her research program focuses on the unique and pervasive ways that humans interact with animals. From research with household pets to highly trained service animals, her findings have been instrumental in evaluating the effects of human-animal interactions. She has received funding from three different NIH institutes (NICHD, NCCIH, NCATS) to fund her human-animal interaction research.

Dr. O’Haire’s research topics have included classroom-based, animal-assisted intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder and the effects of service dogs for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and their families. In addition to her peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters, her work has also been highlighted in over 3,000 media stories around the globe, including NPR, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. Dr. O’Haire has won the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) Early Career Award and the Young Alumnae Achievement Award from Vassar College for her exceptional professional achievements. At Purdue, she currently enjoys teaching and mentoring students in her productive human-animal interaction lab.