Animal Encounters, Inc. 888-WILD-411

Meet the Team!

Fawn with "Eridani" the Red Tailed Hawk.

Fawn Nyvold, RVT, CPDT
Director of Training
Fawn first started working with animals professionally, as an apprentice trainer in 1990 in northern California learning to train everything from basic cues to training dogs for police departments. In 1995 while working as an Animal Control Officer for the City of Hollister, she founded Animal Encounters. Back then, the wildlife shows consisted of mostly of rescued parrots, reptiles and invertebrates. The training program was limited to private lessons. After being accepted into the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program in 1999, Fawn was at America's Teaching Zoo from 6am to 5:30 pm seven days a week, learning all she could about the various species the school maintained. While in school she worked nights as a veterinary nurse (aka:technician) at an emergency veterinary hospital near the campus. Fawn is also a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) with the state of California. After graduating in 2001 majoring in Animal Behavior and Exotic Animal Training & Management, she incorporated Animal Encounters and expanded all of the programs to what you see on the website today. Fawn is also a licensed Falconer, a certified instructor for the Red Cross for Dog & Cat CPR/First Aid, certified evaluator for the Canine Good Citizen program with the American Kennel Club, and Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT). Fawn also founded All Creatures Emergency Center in Newhall in 2005. In addition to owning the practice, for five years she ran the the emergency practice as the Hospital Administrator. Then in 2011 Fawn found a buyer for the practice, negotiated and sold All Creatures Emergency Center to a veterinarian. Fawn took a few months off to spend time with her family and in September of 2011 she was excited to take the position of Director of Animal Behavior & Training for the SPCA Los Angeles (scpaLA).Currently, in addition to Animal Encounters and spcaLA, Fawn donates her time serving on the Board of Directors for a non profit group called Nature's Animal Rescue Fund (N.A.R.F.), where she is helping to design a low cost veterinary care program and assist the group to raise money to purchase a mobile veterinary unit to provide low cost veterinary care to the public and California wildlife rehabilitation facilities.

"Pickles!"

Christopher Nyvold, Director of Security
Chris has been with Animal Encounters since 1996 when he and Fawn were married. Chris is a former Marine, spending twelve years in the Corps. Currently he has a career in law enforcement. Chris helps with the classes on the weekends and maintains the facility's security in his spare time. Chris is especially fond of little dogs. One of his dogs "Pickles" is pictured here in his place.

Jen and her dog "Izta!"

Jen Toft: Animal Trainer, Animal Care Specialist & Facility Supervisor
Jen has been with Animal Encounters since April 2009. After graduating from Moorpark College's Exotic Animal Training and Management program in 2004, she travelled to Mexico where she lived and worked as a dolphin trainer. In Mexico she trained dolphins to safely interact with the visiting public. Jen is a certified instructor for the Red Cross for the Dog and Cat CPR/First Aid program, a certified evaluator for the Canine Good Citizen program with the American Kennel Club and is currently working on applying to take the national exams with the Association for Pet Dog Trainers to attain that certification as well.

Breanna with her two dogs, "Scout" & "Mini."

Breanna Collins: Animal Trainer & Animal Care Specialist
Breanna Collins has been with Animal Encounters Inc. since she graduated from Moorpark College’s Exotic Animal Training and Management Program in May 2006. She is a certified evaluator for the Canine Good Citizen program with the American Kennel Club. She was a volunteer for six years with the Apple Valley Animal Control Department and she occassionally works relief shifts at All Creatures Emergency Center as a veterinary nurse (aka: technician). Breanna also works part time for Woodland Hills Private School as an Animal/Nature Specialist who is in charge of the school’s barnyard. She teaches children ages 2 years old though 5^th grade about the animals on site and around the world through hands on activities. Breanna loves animals especially the small dogs like her two Chihuahuas.

Animal Encounters Therapy Dog Teams