All that I've said since I started working as a hairstylist is: "If all I could ever do is style hair and hang out with puppies, I'd be eternally happy." Since I can't have a puppy of my own right now where I live, it’d be so amazing to live vicariously through my client's pups and treat them like I would treat my own. Any day that I run into or hang out with a puppy is an exceptionally good day. To be able to do that for a living––now that's the American Dream right there! And I should make it clear that all dogs are puppies to me––even the sweet senior dogs who sleep most of the day under a patch of sunlight yet swagger during walks are also puppies in my bok! My family on both sides were large rescue and rehabilitation homes for all kinds of animals. I've grown up loving and taking care of all sorts of furry friends including my own––two yellow Lab mixes: Marshmallow and Munchy. I helped my baby Marshmallow through three pregnancies and I loved every second of that whole experience! There were puppies everywhere, all of the time! It was the best time of my life. I have a genuine love for each and every animal––so much so that I’ve become a vegan in the process. I just love each encounter with every gentle creature I meet, and could never understand harming any of them. Just like puppies throughout their lives, I would say that I am loyal to my clients and their pups. I will work with anyone and try to meet and exceed any expectation that they have of me while I'm caring for their furry child. I sure do love kittens and cats too––they’re also unbelievably cute. Anyway, I’d love nothing more than to take care of kittens and cats as well! My mom rehabilitated her cat, Swimmer, because she was born with "swimmer kitten," and couldn't use her back legs at all. After six months of in-home physical therapy, she is now a nine-year-old cat who’s certainly defied the odds for kittens with that disease. I have learned a lot about kittens and cats from my mother, as well as being raised around them throughout my life. My uncle has three cats and volunteers his time at the SPCA, and is always teaching me about their finicky ways and tricks to help care for them. For those animals that have had a hard life or troubled past, I enjoy the true bonding you can have with helping to heal them. The diversity in each puppy I meet is always so interesting, and seeing all of their different personalities like I know a German Shepherd mix who loves to eat snow, and a wiener dog who only barks at the mailman. The ability to hang out with these small, furry, almost-humans with four legs is something that comforts me and truly just makes me happy. Just meeting a new puppy (or any animal really) brightens my day and I can’t wait to work with them more and more. I have a naturally calm and collected demeanor that animals seem to love and connect with, which makes me the perfect candidate to hang out with all fur babies. And in spite of my easygoing vibe, I’m full of energy, compassion, and optimism. I’m a full-time apprentice at Gold + Arrow Salon in Downtown Portland, Wednesday through Saturday from 9:30am to 6pm. That said, if you are close, I will come back and take your pup for a lunch-hour walk. I believe pups need at least three walks a day to be truly happy.