The No. 1 reason owners relinquish their pet to a shelter is behavior problems.

Kelley Bollen, a certified animal behavior specialist and shelter animal behavior specialist, has been in the animal welfare field for 25 years teaching shelter staff and volunteers, veterinary staff and the public about animal behavior.

“My goal in life is to educate people about the animals they care for at work, or home to improve the animal’s welfare and the human-animal bond,” she said.

A two-day video program, “Shelter Behavior Seminar,” will be held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 30-31, at 10 a.m. for dog owners and 11 a.m. for cat owners, at Lee County Domestic Animal Services, 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers. The sessions are free for the public. Those in attendance will receive a goodie bag for their pet.

“The seminar for the public addresses the common behavioral issues in cats and dogs that pet owners struggle with and how to understand and resolve these problem behaviors,” she said. “Most people don’t understand their pet — especially why they do what they do, especially the behaviors that they don’t like. They also don’t understand how animals learn and how best to train them in a positive way, so that they behave the way that the owner wants.”

Bollen said those who adopt a pet and see behavioral problems should call the shelter and ask for help.

“If the shelter can’t help them, the hope is that they are able to refer them to trainers and behavior professionals in the area that use scientifically based positive methods to modify behavior,” she said.

For more information, visit LeeLostPets.com or call 239-533-7387 (LEE-PETS).