Dr. Michelle Kutzler graduated from Washington State University in 1993 and worked in private practice in Minnesota for four years. Then she went to Cornell University to pursue a theriogenology residency and a PhD in Physiology. While at Cornell, Dr. Kutzler began her research using deslorelin (a GnRH agonist) to control cyclicity in dogs. Since 2002, Dr. Kutzler has been on the faculty at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Dr. Kutzler is also an Associate Veterinarian at West Hills Animal Hospital, where she sees canine patients for breeding management, artificial insemination, pregnancy diagnosis, cesarean section, semen collection for evaluation and/or shipping/cryopreservation, and performs both non surgical and surgical alternatives to spay/neuter. Dr. Kutzler has published widely in the area of small animal theriogenology with over 80 peer reviewed publications. For the last decade, she has been researching the disease mechanisms for the long term health problems associated with traditional spay/neuter. Dr. Kutzler is member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and serves on its Welfare Committee. She is also a member of the Society for Theriogenology and the American College of Theriogenology. In Addition, Dr. Kutzler is on the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs and the Chair of Scientific Committee for the 2022 International Symposium on Canine and Feline Reproduction. Outside of work, Dr. Kutzler is an American Kennel Club (AKC) Judge and AKC Breeder of Merit with her Dachshunds. Dr. Kutzler and her husband (Sean) of 25 years have 3 amazing children, including one who is will be graduating from veterinary school in 2022.