I am a Mom of 3, I come from a huge family that are all animal lovers. We have had dogs all of our lives. I had a best friend named Brandy (Chinese Sharpei) for ten years and when she passed it broke my heart but I have always had a big heart when it came to my pets. They are family and I think the misconception is that they are animals. I was a dog groomer for one year (1998) and had my own business in North Carolina. I learned a lot but it was worth it. I think it's important to have compassion and a serious soft spot for animals and if you have that connection, they will love/trust you no matter what.