I enjoy spending time with my husband, our three dogs, and one cat. We travel every time possible and have been to 17 states thus far and we hope to be able to visit all 50. We have been to Mexico and the Bahamas and would love to tour Europe someday. The most enjoyable thing to me about visiting new locations is the food and the culture, there’s at all times one thing new to try to study. I do not miss all the work, however I do miss the friendships I actually have made. I know that each of us actually LOVES sharing our particular canine with others.

I am so impressed with the issues our members are doing to “hold a hand in” the remedy canine scene whereas most places are closed to us. I know that when this passes, and it will move ultimately, ATD will bounce back as robust as ever. It seems only a short while ago that I attended my first board meeting but now I am a seasoned veteran. This board is a hard-working group that may be very devoted to canine therapy. It is endlessly working to keep Alliance of Therapy Dogs because the premier accrediting organization in the nation. I even have so loved these nearly three years of serving on your Board of Directors. We are comprised of some amazing individuals whom I enjoy getting to know better.

However, for the majority of the past decade, my focus has been on correctional services, together with a federal jail, two county jails, and juvenile detention. My ardour for animals began early in life and now extends to my skilled life.

I retired my remedy canine, Simba, a couple of years ago, and shortly after that, faced losing him as he got here to the end of a full life. I am at present trying forward to rescuing another dog to train as a remedy dog within the close to future. I feel especially lucky for the opportunity to work with a great group of people who maintain the identical passions for canines as I do. It goes with out saying that this has been a tricky yr for all of us. COVID-19 has accomplished a quantity on not solely ATD but the whole country, even the entire world.

We have so many proficient teams in this organization and I love getting to satisfy so many individuals who love their canines just as a lot as I do. By my facet is my husband, Axel, who not solely shares my love of animals, however is the reason I obtained into dogs within the first place. Axel is a huge assist with all of the work that comes along with having a interest farm with a wide range of animals and is also an active tester/observer for ATD. In 2006, I turned a Tester/Observer, joined the board in 2009, and have worked with many wonderful groups for the previous 18 years. I love meeting new folks and their dogs and listening to how much they take pleasure in their many adventures. Our Tosa Ken, Saint Bernard, and Dogue de Bordeuax all had the respect of being registered ATD dogs. Over the years, my visits have included nursing houses, instructional seminars, hospice, a neighborhood airport, hospitals, church services, and Girl Scouts.