Dr Samantha Gaines is head of the companion animals science and policy department at the RSPCA in England and Wales. She manages a team of scientific and technical officers who develop policy, position, advice and information on companion animal behaviour and welfare. She has expertise in a variety of issues which affect the welfare of dogs kept as pets, for working purposes and those used in sport.
Prior to working at the RSPCA, and after gaining an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Sam worked as a research scientist for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. She was involved in various projects studying the behaviour, performance and welfare of working dogs. During this time she also was also awarded a PhD which studied the effects of housing and husbandry on the welfare of kennelled dogs.