Meet the Team
The passion and expertise of our team are the keys to our success and the effectiveness of our process
Find out more about us here...
The Battersea Beginning:
In 2000, our directors Rick and Sam van Eggermond met at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Rick, a Clinical Psychology student from The Netherlands, was conducting a dissertation study for his Masters degree on the parallels between human and canine behaviour modification. Sam was the rescue specialist assigned to support him with a complex, fear-aggressive case.
What began as a professional collaboration became a lifelong mission. Together, they have managed some of the largest rescue centres in Europe, developing the rehoming and assessment protocols that many centres use today.
Our
Story
Rick van Eggermond
Director / Head Behaviourist
(MSc Clinical Psychology)
Sam van Eggermond
Director / Nutritionist
Specialist in the gut-brain connection and its impact on reactive behaviour
With her HND in Animal Science & Behaviour, Sam has worked at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (where she met Rick!), and at one of the largest European rescue centres in The Netherlands, focusing on behavioural assessment, procedures and rehoming as well as lecturing on Animal Behaviour at College level.
Sam's passion is canine nutrition and the effects on behaviour in our dogs, which led her to complete the Canine Nutrition Ofqual Level 3 with IPET and the Level 4 mentorship under the Association of Pet Nutrition Consultants (APNC), making her a fully qualified canine nutritionist.
Sam has also completed courses with Chirag Patel, Fenzi, ACE Anxiety courses with Sarah Fishers team, School of Canine Science and many IMDT courses.
Apart from working with behaviour clients for UKCCRA, Sam also works for Biome4pets as a nutrition consultant and is currently working to write an accredited nutrition course for MyPetNutritionist
Together with Rick she owns Moss the Border Collie and Newt a cross breed. Newt was reactive to other dogs when she came along but now often works as a stooge dog to help clients!
Alice Booth
Veterinary Physiotherapist
Completing gait analysis to identify pain and/or discomfort that often contributes to reactivity and aggression
Alice's passion for animals has always been there, but when her border collie, Jarvis, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, an interest in rehabilitation & pain management was ignited. At age 12 she discovered the title ‘Veterinary Physiotherapist’ and knew this is exactly what she wanted to do!
Alice studied for 4 years at Harper Adams University to obtain a BSc Hons degree in Veterinary Physiotherapy and also completed a groundwork conditioning course during this time.
Alice is interested in the ‘Prehabilitation’ concept; the idea of maintenance physiotherapy to spot changes to the dog's movement or tissue state early and completing targeted exercises regularly to prevent the onset of injuries. She currently offers treatment using massage therapy, electrotherapy (including LASER, TENS & NMES) therapeutic Ultrasound and heat therapy and is RAMP registered.
Alice provides vital support at UKCCRA assessing dogs for pain and discomfort as well as working alongside vets and clients providing a tailored physiotherapy plan to manage and reduce pain.
Rhiannon Bessant
Pre Cert Clinical Animal Behaviourist
Dogs have always been in Rhiannon’s life and in 2008 she welcomed Betty, a Springer Spaniel puppy, into the home. Having such a high energy and naturally busy breed encouraged her to explore different activities to channel this energy and strengthen their relationship, which guided them into agility and flyball which took them to the Crufts final.
Then along came Todd, a rescue Springer Spaniel X Border Collie whose complex character and specific behavioural needs sparked Rhiannon's interest in canine behaviour, which she subsequently studied at the University of Lincoln.
After graduating with a first class BSc(Hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare in 2021, Rhiannon went on and completed her Masters degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Edinburgh in June 2024.
She supports and works alongside Rick on a lot of the behaviour cases.
She owns Ava, a Golden Retriever and Ernie, a working Cocker Spaniel to keep her busy!
