Chris Davis Virtual Celebration of Life/Memorial

Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024

Time: 10 a.m. PST (double-check your local time with this time zone converter)

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You are warmly invited to join us for a virtual Celebration of Life honoring Chris Davis.  We’ll remember her remarkable legacy, dedication to elevating our understanding of parrot behavior, and the countless lives she touched with her passion for animals and genuine kindness. Please join us as we share stories, memories, and gratitude for Chris’ life and the joy she brought to so many.

Chris was, in many ways, an essential part of the heart and soul of Lafeber Company. Alongside her husband, Dr. Ted Lafeber, Chris helped guide the development of Lafeber’s semi-elemental EmerAid—a pioneering line of emergency foods to help save critically ill birds, small mammals, reptiles, wildlife, cats, and dogs. Together, Chris and Ted lovingly supported one another’s vision and dedication to improving the lives of animals and those who care for them.

A Lifelong Bond With Animals

Chris Davis, a beloved pioneer in avian behavior, recently passed away, leaving an indelible mark on the bird community. Through her groundbreaking work in avian behavior and unwavering dedication, Chris transformed countless lives, touching the hearts of birds, caregivers, and animal lovers alike.

Chris grew up in the rural foothills of Southern California where, until she was 5, her only playmates were animals. From that young age on, Chris dedicated her life to the well-being and care of animals, and long into her adulthood, she still considered them her primary social group.

Her professional career in animal-behavior consulting and modification started when, at 12 years of age, she trained her first dog, a large adult boxer with behavior problems who had been given to her family. Despite the difficulties she had in training him, within a couple of months, she took the boxer through obedience trials and won first prize; the only child in a field of adult trainers. Although Chris lived in rural ranchland, her animal friends were numerous and varied, and she often went for walks on dusty country roads accompanied by a pet turkey, sheep, collie, and monkey.  She also had rats, guinea pigs, and chickens as her most trusted and beloved friends and family.

Many years later, after life took her in many directions, including working in offices, Chris realized that she would never be happy if she wasn’t working with animals. In the mid-1970s, she began working in Orange County, California, at Lion Country Safari, where she performed in the bird show owned by Ray Berwick, who also owned the Animal Actors Studio at Universal Studios. He was also one of the top movie animal trainers of the time.

Transforming Our Understanding of Bird Behavior & Care

In the late 1970s, bird importation and ownership began to skyrocket because of one of Ray’s most popular actors, Fred, the cockatoo on the popular “Baretta” television show. For a few years, Chris worked at both Universal Studios and Lion Country Safari. During that time, people asked her questions about problem behaviors their birds were exhibiting. Until then, few people in the United States had pet birds and knew little about them. In general, it was believed that birds could be trained, but were not intelligent enough to respond to behavior modification. Because of this, many pet birds that exhibited negative behaviors were badly treated or simply discarded.

Chris became the first person in the country to visit clients’ homes to assess their interactions with their avian companions and to devise methods for modifying their environments and behaviors so people could have better relationships with them. Initially, she also focused on educating the veterinary community so they could benefit from what she was learning about companion bird behavior modification. In time, she visited more than 2,500 homes before finally accepting mostly telephone consultations.

Dr. Irene Pepperberg and Chris were lifelong friends, as both shared an interest and passion for companion avian behavior. Chris has spoken nationally and internationally at veterinary conferences, pet shows, and bird clubs. She contributed articles, papers, and chapters for numerous veterinary textbooks and, for more than 30 years, she wrote columns for several magazines continuously, including Bird Talk magazine’s “Heart to Heart,” one of Bird Talk’s most popular columns.

Chris loved all animals, from the majestic whales of Alaska to the wondrous birds that bring joy into so many homes. One of her greatest joys was helping animals and igniting the hearts and spirits of both long-term and neophyte animal lovers through sharing information and experiences that validate the profound importance of animals sharing their lives with humans. She deeply believed that animals are blessings, enriching the human soul in profound ways.