My story really begins in my father's veterinary clinic back in Vermont. Being the only child of a vet and a teacher, my world was quiet and filled with animals. I learned early on that understanding them was less about science and more about a feeling—a deep-seated empathy.

For a while, I tried to live a different life. I got a degree in psychology, which led me down a path to a marketing career. It was fine. I got married, had my son, and did the whole suburban thing, but there was always this nagging sense that something was missing. The truth is, I felt more at home in a barn than in a boardroom.

Everything changed for me in 2005. I was going through a pretty rough divorce and felt completely lost. On a whim, I adopted a rescue shepherd mix, Buster. He was a wreck, full of anxiety, and honestly, so was I. Helping him became my mission. I read every book, went to every seminar I could find, and eventually apprenticed with a trainer. In healing him, I started to heal myself.

That was the year I got my certification and started "Green Mountain K9." It was the most terrifying and liberating thing I've ever done. For almost twenty years now, I've dedicated my life to helping dogs that others have given up on. It’s not just a job; it’s who I am. This farm, this work, these dogs—this is the life that was always waiting for me.