I have been an animal lover my entire life. I’ve always thought I inherited it from my grandmother, who is well-known in her small town for fostering and adopting abandoned animals. To this day she never forgets to feed and provide shelter for the wildlife and stray animals who wander through her backyard in rural Illinois. I’ve lived with cats the majority of my life, but not until I graduated high school and moved away from home was I able to live with dog friends. My philosophy around dogs and all wonderful creatures of this world is rooted in love and respect for each as an individual person. I believe in their capability, their intelligence, their hearts, and their purity of spirit. I do not subscribe to the concept of “owner” and “pet” but rather I feel blessed to have a mutually beneficial relationship with an independent being. **Although I consider myself to be relatively strong, I am a petite person. As such, I may not be able to take in energetic dogs over 60 lbs or so. Feel free to inquire, but just a heads up.**