Our Journey
In a land far, far away...
2018
I lost my pekingese, Sully, to congestive heart failure at 11 years old. At first, I thought I'd never rescue again. The heartbreak was unbareable.2019-2020
I realized that Sully wouldn't want me to stop helping. After a year of healing I decided it was time to visit shelters again. My boyfriend and I visited all the local shelters and rescues, we thought we found our guy. We had everything ready to bring him home and were set to pick him up the same exact day that Pennsylvania shut down due to Covid. The facility wouldn't allow us in and told us we couldn't have him due to him being "dog selective," anyway.2020
Asuka popped up on facebook as needing a home. She was in New Jersey and the shelter was full. I was hesitant to take in a pitbull but the sadness on her face made it imperative, it felt like a sign from the universe as I was walking around with a hole in my heart where a dog used to be. I knew we wouldn't have a chance for a proper meeting. We weren't allowed in the building due to Covid protocol, so we met through a fence. She was adorable and had these giant beady eyes. There was no discussion, after everything was completed, we took Asuka home.2021
When we got her we were living with my boyfriend's parents. In the end of 2020, beginning of 2021, we finally moved out and into a second story, one bedroom apartment. Little did we know, Asuka would develop some serious anxiety within the first few weeks of the move. She'd been used to having another dog around, someone was always home, every human in the house gave snacks constantly, and she had a big back yard to lounge in. Within three weeks she developed reactivity to other animals, complete lack of leash manners, constant accidents in the house, refusing to eat, and having major allergic reactions. This would be the step that Spartan Kicked me into the world of dog training. I needed answers, and I needed them right away.2021-2023
I studied training through the internet, hard. Every day. I made a LOT of mistakes: we were sad, confused, happy, excited, and disappointed in what felt like a never ending cycle. In the midst of it all I lost jobs, left the career I went to college for and spent 10 years dedicated to, became a full time dog walker and sitter through Rover, got married, spent over a month in the hospital, bought a house, and kept pushing. Then...I found Tulsa Pack Athletics and Freed By Training, Jerri and Mattison changed my entire world. I've spent the last year studying directly under them both. Coming now, to the end of 2023, I feel like I've crash landed on the softest pillow in the universe and this is exactly where I belong.2024
I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life helping others to find their way home. Through it all - the pain, confusion, happiness, frustration and excitement, my purpose on this earth is to be a guiding hand for you and your dogs. I'm so happy to be here, to help make all of our dreams come true.