I have always had a passion for animals and caring for them. I got my first dog when I was about 12 when he was just a puppy. In 2008 he had a disk rupture in his back and had emergency surgery where they said he would never be able to walk again or use his faculties by himself. After a lot of rehabilitation and the use of a K9 cart, he has been able to enjoy life to the fullest. Copper is now almost 15 years old and has a few more problems now but still loves life. He has been my inspiration for so many things I do including getting my veterinary assistant certification from Animal Behavior College and becoming a Firefighter and National Registry EMT-B. Even though I am an EMT for humans, it has given me the experience to be able to handle emergency situations that arise with him and other animals. Since we got Copper, we have also adopted another special needs dog named Bella. They are both dachshunds however she has slightly different needs and temperament. I love to interact with dogs of high energy as well as older dogs who just want to cuddle. Also, while I have only owned small breed dogs, I have experience caring for medium and large breeds as well.