THE SHORT VERSION

I have over 45 years of experience working with animals. Prior to becoming a professional animal communicator the majority of my career was as a veterinary technician. I also have experience working in a boarding kennel, an animal shelter, fostering rescue animals, running a 501c3 non-profit rescue and as a professional dog trainer. Combining my lifetime of experience with animals and my intuitive skill as an animal communicator gives me a uniquely comprehensive perspective to offer my clients. Becoming an animal communicator has allowed me to look back and clearly see that each step in my professional career with animals ultimately culminated in opening me up to do this work.

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THE LONG VERSION

Like most people in this profession I’ve always been an animal lover. As a young girl I preferred stuffed animals to dolls and could often be found hanging out with neighborhood dogs. Growing up I wasn’t sure what path my life would take, but I knew it would be working with animals. I simply didn’t consider any other options. My mother saw my passion for animals and encouraged me along the way. As a pre-teen she drove me to my summer volunteer job at a local wildlife rehabilitation facility. She enrolled me in my first obedience class with one of our family dogs when I was 12, and over the next four decades I continued to take classes with my own dogs. Throughout my life I’ve always lived with dogs, and a variety of other animals ranging from rabbits and guinea pigs, to fish, various birds, hermit crabs, lizards, cats and ferrets.

After high school I was hired to work in boarding kennel. I spent all day with dogs! I learned how to interact with all types of dogs by watching their body language to assess what they were feeling. I learned how to gain the trust of a nervous or frightened dog and how to calm down an overly excited dog. I observed how different breeds often had different behavior traits and started studying breeds and dog behavior. I adopted my first rescue dog while working at the kennel, a 9 month old Whippet who was with me for the next 17 years.

After 4 years of working 7 days a week 365 days a year scooping poop, wrangling rowdy dogs and missing out on events with family and friends (the busiest times in a kennel are weekends and holidays), I realized I wanted something more and enrolled in a local Jr. College. After graduating I decided to pursue an additional degree in veterinary technology and while in school worked part time on weekends in a county animal shelter. Upon graduation I was immediately offered a job by the veterinarian I interned with and started on the next phase of my career with animals as a veterinary technician.

I enjoyed working as a vet tech and the knowledge I acquired over the next few decades in addition to my shelter and dog training experience led to some volunteer work fostering for a few rescue groups rehabilitating dogs for adoption. Before long I was managing a multi-dog home, fostering 10 or more small dogs at any given time along with caring for my own dogs, cats and birds. In 2003 I was asked to take over as president of a 501c3 non-profit dog rescue specializing in small dogs. Because I was particularly drawn to special needs and senior dogs and cats, I developed a sanctuary program within the rescue.

In 2012 I went through a divorce and decided to return home to the Chicago area along with 15 rescue dogs. I was in my early 50’s and decades of physical work with animals had caught up with me causing some physical challenges that limited my ability to continue working as a vet tech. I had also decided to take a step back from fostering. At this point I had fostered over 400 dogs and several cats over a period of 10 years. I knew this next chapter would still involve animals, but would include a change of direction in my career.

Shortly after moving and getting settled, I enrolled in an obedience class with one of my dogs. I liked the facility and the owner’s positive training philosophy. As luck would have it, she was looking for trainers to expand her business. I completed a professional dog training certification program and was hired to teach group puppy manners and beginners obedience classes. I also held private sessions for dogs with behavior issues. I was enjoying my new found career and really hitting my stride when unfortunately the owner of the facility became seriously ill and had to make the heartbreaking decision to close the business. I decided this was an opportunity to focus on my own animals. With more free time on my hands I started to explore integrative and holistic pet care to expand my knowledge base. I spent the next few years taking a deep dive into the holistic pet care world and was fascinated by the different modalities. I started taking an integrative approach with my own animals using both conventional and holistic treatments depending on the situation.

Eventually I started to feel like something was missing, and I realized just how much I missed working professionally with animals and their people. I felt very strongly that I had more to give along with a lifetime of experience to share, but I wasn’t sure what path to take. I also found myself wanting a deeper connection with my own animal family. That started my research into the world of animal communication.

After several months researching everything I could get my hands on about animal communication, I discovered Dr. Cara Gubbins and instantly knew she was the one I wanted to study with. She is an incredible teacher and mentor. I enrolled in her Animal Communicator Academy and embarked on my path to train as an animal communicator. Graduating from the Academy was my first step on my new path and perhaps the path where I was headed all along, to help bring people and animals closer through animal communication. It is incredibly fulfilling work and a continuing journey.

I currently share my life and home with 8 rescue dogs, 2 cats, 3 birds and a tortoise. I continue to have a soft spot for special needs and senior animals.