"Veterinarians have a unique perspective on the relationship between pets and their people. In general practice I find that a knowledge of animal behavior helps figure out what is going on medically; and as a behavior consultant I find that a knowledge of veterinary medicine helps me provide a complete picture of the hows and whys of pet behavior." - Dr. Derr
Terri A. Derr, D.V.M. is a 1981 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her undergraduate degree in Zoology included training in ethology, the science of animal behavior in the natural environment. As an associate veterinarian she pursued extensive professional continuing education in animal behavior. In 1995 she began seeing behavior cases in veterinary practice and in the years since then has seen hundreds of cases.
In 2002 she attended the first North American Veterinary Conference Post Graduate Institute course in Animal Behavior. She continues to pursue continuing education in behavior; in July of 2005 she attended the International Veterinary Behavior Society meeting in Minneapolis. In 2007 Dr. Derr presented an original short research topic at the meeting of the combined College of Veterinary Behaviorists/American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior.
Dr. Derr founded Veterinary Behavior Options in 2004. Her mission was to keep pets in their homes by providing convenient, reasonably priced behavior consultations to veterinary clients. Dr. Derr has an abiding interest in the welfare of shelter animals, and has served as Staff Veterinarian as well as Director of Operations for several local humane societies.
Dr. Derr is a licensed veterinarian in Minnesota and Ohio. She is a member of the HSVMA, MVMA, OVMA, and the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior. For three years Dr. Derr was Director of Behavior for Foster My Pet, an organization dedicated to helping pet owners in crisis keep their pets. Dr. Derr provided veterinary services to Carver Scott Humane Society in Chaska from 2021 to 2023 and now serves as veterinary behavior advisor to Coco's Heart Dog Rescue.
Dr. Terri Derr stepped off the Executive Board of the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior. AVSAB's mission is to promote the understanding of applied animal behavior through collaborative, scientific efforts that foster compassionate and respectful interactions with animals. Dr. Derr completed two two year terms as Member at Large.
Dr. Terri Derr announced her retirement from clinical behavior practice effectively immediately on May 18, 2021.
