Who is Chaser?
The Power of Play
Team Chaser
Senior Executive Producer, Pilley Bianchi
Executive Visionary, Robin Pilley
Executive Director of Education, Ingrid Quigg Norris
Executive Producer, Liz Brooks
Pilley Bianchi (aka Deb Pilley Bianchi)
Senior Executive Producer/Co-trainer of Chaser
Pilley Bianchi is the youngest daughter of Dr. John W. Pilley, Jr. the owner/teacher of Chaser the Border Collie, known internationally as “the smartest dog in the world.” Chaser has the largest formal language learning of any animal in the world. Bianchi has been involved in her father’s work with Chaser as a producer, co-trainer, writer, and media consultant. She has collaborated in television, radio, and print interviews with TIME, PEOPLE, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, THE NEW YORK TIMES, BARK, MODERN DOG, THE HUFFINGTON POST, WIRED, PARIS MATCH, USA TODAY, THE DAILY MAIL, etc., as well as film, shoots with 60 MINUTES USA, 60 MINUTES AUSTRALIA, THE TODAY SHOW, ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT, CBS Sunday Morning, NAT GEO WILD, DISCOVERY, THE BBC, ITV, NOVA ScienceNOW, HILLS SCIENCE DIET, FOX & FRIENDS, INSIDE EDITION, THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, BETTY WHITE’S Smartest Animals in America etc.
Bianchi partnered behind the scenes with her father and his co-writer Hilary Hinzmann on their New York Times bestselling book “Chaser, Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows 1000 Words” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). She has appeared as an expert on Chaser at SXSW, Hill’s Science Diet, Fox & Friends, PBS, Dogspot.in India, CBC Canada, SBS TV South Korea, WIRED, the AKC, the ASPCA, The IAABC, NPR Canada, Talk RADIO London, etc.
She had a remarkably close personal relationship with Chaser, with whom she shared a bedroom and finally understood her place in the family hierarchy when her father mistakenly called her “Chaser” on the phone.
Robin Pilley
Executive Visionary
White water raft guide & research producer/co-trainer of Chaser
John Pilley's first born, Robin followed in her father's footsteps with a BS in Psychology from Wofford College and a BA in classical guitar from USC. Like her father, she is also an expert white-water paddler and was head raft guide at the Nantahala Outdoor Center for 17 years. Robin was a professional photographer in NYC during the off-season from the river.
Robin was integral in documenting Chaser's training, co-training and research. She was responsible for Chaser's day-to-day care, particularly in her senior years. She has raised three lovable Siberian Huskies.
Ingrid Quigg Norris
Executive Director of Education
Ingrid is our Executive Director of Education and has been a community engagement educator of over 20 years with organizations such as Hub City Animal Project, the Spartanburg Humane Society, Tyger River Foundation, Watershed Ecology Center, and Galveston Bay Foundation. She is known for her charismatic speaking engagements on Animal Welfare at such conferences as the Association for Professional Humane Educators, The Humane Society of the United States Animal Care Expo, Michigan Partnership for Animal Welfare, and ESRI Southeast User Conference. Her experience and passion for educating young children and adults into developing programs for the aforementioned organizations, drove their educational programs to a higher level than previously imagined. As an award-winning educator, she was on the board for the Association of Professional Humane Educators.
Ingrid has been an instrumental visionary of the Chaser Initiative, marrying the methods of John Pilley and Chaser with her extensive experience in animal welfare education to provide a unique classroom experience that informs, engages, and inspires young audiences to think outside the box inside an environment fertile for learning.
We are thrilled that Ingrid is currently dedicating her resourcefulness, creativity, and positive energy into developing dynamic humane education and outreach programs that engage audiences of all ages on compassion education and play-based training.
She is the pet parent of Mable Mae a lab/golden retriever mix and Chevy a domestic shorthair cat.
Liz Brooks
Executive Producer and Rain Maker
Liz brings her extensive expertise in the event industry to managing the team. She has had a close personal relationship with Chaser and the Pilley Family for over 10 years. Her daughter Stella was one of Chaser's regular playmates.
Liz is an animal lover who has a dog, cat, chickens and bunnies and when we need anything done quickly, efficiently and properly - Liz knows how to deliver.
