Bideawee Hires New Staff Members

Bideawee, one of the country’s oldest and most respected animal welfare and pet adoption organizations, today announced the recent hiring of John Bartlett as Director of Adoption Experience and Desirae Cambrelen as Manager of Behavior and Training. Bartlett and Cambrelen will assist Bideawee in its mission of rescuing, caring for, and successfully integrating homeless dogs and cats and into loving homes.

Bartlett, a rescue advocate, avid animal lover, and award-winning fashion designer will oversee the adoption experience at Bideawee’s Manhattan and Westhampton adoption centers, and all mobile adoption events. He will work with staff to develop and maintain a positive adoption experience that matches even more pets with their forever families.

He recently served as Director of Philanthropy and Awareness for the non-profit Dogs Deserve Better, an organization that bought the property where Michael Vick had been running his notorious dog-fighting ring. The property has since been transformed into a sanctuary and rehabilitation center for dogs rescued from living their lives chained outside. When Bartlett’s beloved tri-pod pitbull Tiny Tim died in 2010, he founded the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund to raise money for independent rescue groups across the country. He created branded products to sell with the profits going to help these groups with emergency funding, vet bills, training, and transportation.

A resident of West Chelsea in Manhattan, Bartlett received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Harvard University and a degree in menswear design from Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). He has been an active volunteer at various shelters in the New York area, including the Yonkers shelter and the Animal Care Center of New York.

Bartlett said, “Bringing a pet into a home and into a family is a significant moment and should be executed with care and consideration. I am proud to be part of the Bideawee team and look forward to introducing New Yorkers to their new best friends.”

Cambrelen, an Applied Animal Behaviorist and Fear Free Certified Professional, will split her time among Bideawee’s Manhattan, Westhampton and Wantagh locations working with animals that require some additional assistance in modifying behavior problems. She will oversee canine behavior assessments; behavior modification for dogs and cats experiencing issues related to fear, sensitivity to handling, and leash walking; and post-adoption consultations for Bideawee alumni experiencing problems in the home.

After years of doing behavioral ecology research, Cambrelen pursued a more hands-on way to apply behavior knowledge leading her to the Behavioral Husbandry department at the Bronx Zoo where she assisted with the research and behavioral modification of exotic species. She also worked on the Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team at the ASPCA with animals seized in various cases of cruelty and neglect throughout the country, namely dogfighting and hoarding.

Cambrelen is a resident of Riverdale in The Bronx and graduated with an M.S. in Applied Animal Behavior and Animal Welfare from The University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK, and has experience working with various species of animals, from cats and dogs in shelters to exotic species in zoos to farm animals in a variety of husbandry settings.

Cambrelen said, “I am so thrilled to bring my experience to Bideawee and to help enrich this wonderful environment where animals’ mental and emotional well-being are cultivated as they prepare for their forever home.”

Leslie Granger, President and CEO of Bideawee, said, “The love and commitment that John and Desirae have for animal welfare is apparent, but what’s really exciting is the vast experience they bring with them. While John is making sure each of our deserving animals is placed with the best people to care for them, Desirae is ensuring these furry friends are ready for the important transition to their new, forever home.”