PACT Full Of Pride This Thanksgiving: Welcoming Melissa McCue-McGrath, Our First USA PACT-ATI!
This time of year, as many of our friends across the pond celebrate Thanksgiving, it feels incredibly fitting to express our gratitude and share some truly exciting news! Here at PACT, we're giving thanks for our growing, global community and, in particular, for welcoming an extraordinary individual as our very first PACT Accredited ABTC-ATI from the United States of America: the incredible Melissa McCue-McGrath!
For those who don't know Melissa, she is an absolute awesome human being and dog trainer. Her skills are incredible, and her love for welfare-based training is evident in everything she does. We first had the pleasure of discovering Melissa when her brilliant book, Considerations for the City Dog, was recommended to us. After devouring the book and loving every page, we knew we had to connect, so we arranged an interview on our podcast back in 2020.
The second we met her over Zoom, we just clicked! It was apparent from that first second that Melissa would be a life-long friend. It was just one of those moments when you just KNOW that the person you’re talking to is your kind of people. After that initial spark, we kept in touch, recorded more podcasts together, and eventually, Melissa even visited the UK, allowing us to meet in person. More recently, we were thrilled to invite her to deliver what turned out to be a triumphant highlight presentation at DOGx 2023, and the rest, as they say, is history (and a very exciting future!).
Friendship and Formalities: Upholding PACT Standards
The reason we're mentioning all this personal history is important. When Melissa then mentioned that she would be interested in becoming an accredited member of PACT, although it was a "no-brainer" for us in terms of her expertise and alignment with our values, it was crucial that she still had to go through our robust assessment process to officially join.
At PACT, we're incredibly proud that our community is built on genuine connection and shared passion, but it's equally important that our standards remain unwavering. PACT couldn’t be further from an "old boys' club" if we tried – the rules for joining aren’t set by personal friendships, and showcasing best practice involves having robust governance in place. Even for someone as esteemed and well-known to us as Melissa, the process was thorough, objective, and meticulously designed to ensure there were no conflicts of interest. These conflicts of interest are perfectly normal but once we identify one we act accordingly. In this case in meant that Melissa was assessed by an external assessor who had no prior relationship with her. Our commitment is always to the integrity of our accreditation process and, by extension, to the welfare of the dogs and humans our members serve.
A Robust Route to Certification: The External "Option 4" Pathway
A criticism often unfairly levelled at organisations such as PACT, and more widely the ABTC (Animal Behaviour & Training Council), is that they can appear elitist, and that further regulation could create unnecessary barriers. However, our rigorous assessment processes are precisely what ensure the highest standards of welfare-friendly, science-led practice.
Melissa joined PACT via our External "Option 4" route, which has been designed for highly experienced professionals who meet our stringent criteria. This pathway meant she was required to complete a Viva (an oral examination), pass a comprehensive written exam, and have her practical skills meticulously assessed. We also had to explore other hurdles like making sure that Melissa’s insurance was comparable to our requirements (which now, as this has been trailblazed by Melissa, will be easier for all future applicants across the globe). This robust process ensures that every PACT Full Member, regardless of their background or prior relationship with us, meets the exceptional benchmark we set for professional excellence.
You can find out more about the various pathways to joining the PACT community and the rigorous requirements by clicking the button below, It’s worth mentioning here that this Option 4 route is set to evolve, from it’s current form, in early 2026 so if you’re interested in exploring this particular route there is still a few weeks left to get in touch.
Thankful Today and Looking Ahead: A Global Community of Excellence
Welcoming Melissa is more than just a celebration of her individual brilliance and our friendship; it's a tantalising testament to PACT's and the ABTC’s growing global reach and our unwavering commitment to fostering a community of truly outstanding, welfare-focused dog professionals. As we reflect on what we're thankful for this season, we are incredibly grateful for friends like Melissa and for every dedicated member who upholds the high standards that define PACT.
Here's to many more years of friendship, collaboration, and collective impact on canine welfare, both in the UK and across the globe! So we give thanks and HUGE Congratulations to Melissa. We are proud to have you join our community!