I've been around dogs my whole life, my parents raised seeing eye dogs, and I helped with training and daily care from a young age. In my teens, I helped my mom run a small dog-boarding business out of our home, so I'm used to dogs with all kinds of temperaments and routines. Over the years, I've often been the go-to friend for dogs that need a little extra patience or understanding, whether that's a shy senior or a high-energy handful. I recently lost my own pup, and while l'm not ready for another full-time, I miss having a dog around and love being able to offer that care and attention to someone else's.