The end of 2018 found me recovering from breast cancer treatment. I was a little worse for wear but looking forward to getting back to my real life and return to work. I was offered the opportunity to join a team with a well-respected breeding program. I had not yet worked with dogs professionally, but they were a great love of mine. I was initially hired for my administration skills and backgound in medical office management. My new team and the program were small at the start, and every task was an all-hands-on-deck situation. In short time, we found I had an affinity for working with the dogs directly, and I really enjoyed the personal care aspects above all else. As the program grew I transitioned into a full-time role as a doggie doula and puppy raiser. The mom dogs, who lived in their forever home, would come stay at my house to deliver their puppies. I would assist the moms' with their delivery, oversee their healthcare, and raise all the puppies until they were adopted into a forever home. Caring for the moms and raising the puppies meant lots and lots of grooming, literally hundreds of dogs over the years. It turns out I love the process of grooming, and I looked for every opportunity to grow my skills in an unofficial capacity. At a workshop offered by a professional groomer, something sparked in me, and I knew I wanted to groom dogs full time, so I attained a certificate in pet grooming and I'm living the dream.