Laura King,
IACP-CDT
Laura is King's Creatures Animal Training's owner. She is a Certified Dog Trainer and Professional Member with the International Association of Canine Professionals and Professional Affiliate of the Midwest Bat Working Group.
She spent her childhood shadowing and helping her grandfather in his veterinary clinic and on his farm as well as shadowing other animal care professionals. She is a graduate of Oakland University with a B.S. in Biology.
Laura began training animals professionally in 2012 at the Saginaw Children's Zoo, a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). She went on to work for Joel Slaven's Professional Animals, Inc at two other AZA-accredited facilities, SeaWorld Orlando and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. She then entered the pet-training field at Found Chicago, where she trained dogs under Fabian & Brittney Romo & Jeff Jenkins. Laura launched King's Creatures in Tomah, WI, in September 2017. In September 2019, she moved King's Creatures to Cedar Rapids, IA.
She has worked with parrots, chickens, raptors, lemurs, marmosets, sugar gliders, otters, snakes, lizards, deer, pigs, cows, goats, sheep, camels, donkeys, tarantulas, cockroaches, skunks, rats, raccoons, cats, and dogs -- just to name a few! She utilizes her wide variety of animal training experience to work with her clients to develop the best training plan for their pets so that animals and humans alike can easily enjoy their lives together. She is always striving to meet the need in our community for a better understanding of animals that will allow humans and animals to happily coexist for years to come.
Laura lives in Cedar Rapids with her husband, Billy, and their cats, Azula and Mai, and dogs, Zuko, Korra, and Gouda. Billy is the pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids and North Liberty. He supports King's Creatures in a variety of ways including (but not limited to) starring in many training videos, serving as the friendly stranger for CGC testing, setting up for classes and events, and welcoming many animals into his home.
Laura spends her free time offering pro bono training services for Living Creatures Ministry, a program that trains and certifies therapy animals for WELS churches, volunteering with local animal shelters and rescues, volunteering at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, kayaking and hiking with her husband and pets, reading, finding "Giant Thing" roadside attractions with her husband, going to as many plays and musicals as possible, and drinking margaritas.
VISION
To create relationships in our communities that inspire compassion, encourage conservation, and lead people and animals to happily coexist.
MISSION
KCAT's mission is:
1. To cultivate a compassionate relationship between people and animals
2. To provide and promote opportunities for people and animals to improve each other’s well-being
King’s Creatures achieves this mission through:
TRAINING & BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
KCAT offers individualized plans that address the unique behavioral needs and training goals of each owner and animal. Since no two people and no two animals are alike, KCAT utilizes a wide variety of training methods and tools to meet each training need we encounter.
EDUCATION
Through classes, events, and social media, KCAT shares meaningful content with local communities and a broader community of those who share a passion for improving the well-being of people and animals.
SUPPORT
KCAT provides a pro bono training and certification program for therapy animals, Living Creatures Ministry (LCM). LCM allows WELS churches to utilize animals to share Christian love and comfort and to strengthen relationships within their communities.
KCAT fosters a supportive community that encourages lifelong training, education, and improvement for people and animals alike.