Trust your loved pets to a professional who has real, time-tested experience. With more than 29-years in the 'animal biz' and upholding a deep appreciation for all animals, your dog, cat, or other pet is treated with unparalleled love and attention; a full understanding of its safety and well being; and provided with an environment he or she can quickly and comfortably adapt to in your absence. Life started like many, a family dog, always Dobermans, cats and a deep love for animals. But just loving animals and the experience of ‘having a dog’ does not qualify one, to be a professional. There is so much more to know, and every dog is different. At the age of 12 I got my first horse. I was not one of those kids that had a horse at a boarding facility and took lessons on the weekend. Tonka was 16.2 hand unbroke Appendix, that my step dad bought in a bar for $400. From there on, unsupervised, was 100% responsible for her care. I babysat so I could support her, and spent hours checking out books from the library soaking up all the knowledge I could. I learned by repeatedly falling off, getting bit, kicked, and beat up by Tonka, and endless hours in the barn. Lol I went on to equestrian college (I brought my horse) for a 3 year intensive program completely all hands on experience riding and training horses. Consistently winning the award of best in barn care. I specialized in dressage, training and teaching. After college, I unexpectedly got a job at a thoroughbred racehorse facility, where I went on to ride all over North America, and some of the premier racetracks. I rode for top trainers such as Baffert, Sheriffs, Drysdale, Hollendoffer, McAnally, Sadler, Casse, as well as being an assistant trainer for Alex Fehr. From being first time under saddle, to racing in stake races and Breeders Cup contenders. While this experience may seem irrelevant to boarding pets in my home, if you know horse people, you would know they are next level in animal care. And if you know thoroughbred racehorses, they are 10 levels above that. For the last 5 years of my thoroughbred racehorse career, I worked at a premier racehorse facility in Rancho Santa Fe, working for Sid & Jenny Craig (the weight lady), where in addition to what we call being an exercise rider, I was a manager for the farm that was always at it’s 250 horse capacity. I was responsible for all the routine care, worming, vaccinations and worked closely with the vets and farriers. It was common to have many multimillion dollar horses at our facility. I believe a multimillion dollar horse is just as valuable as your fur baby, and is treated as such. From college on, I always had my trusted Doberman by my side, looked after the various barn cats, goats, chickens, turkeys, cows, pigs, whatever you can imagine being in a barn. Concluding my racehorse career, after breaking many bones over the years I decided to pivot to a career that might not kill me. And that is when I started my horse photography business in 2005. Sporthorse Photography. While getting my business started, I worked as a vet tech at a small animal practice, expanding my medical knowledge, from horses, to dogs and cats etc. Throughout my life, if someone I knew needed someone to look after their pet, I was always the go to person, the obvious person to ask. Working at a vet clinic, those request increased, as it’s very desirable to hire a vet tech, however, vet techs work long hours, so that is one disadvantage. Once I got my photography business up and running, I worked full time as a track photographer in Del Mar, California, and going to Hollywood, and Santa Anita to cover the big stake races including the Breeder’s Cup. I expanded to dogs and cats, and started a second business, Every Dog Has a Story. I have had my images published in hundreds of publications including ESPN, Horse Illustrated, Dog Fancy, Willow Creek Press calendar, Brown Trout calendars, Orvis, Pet Safe, just to name a few. Working for publications such as Dog Fancy and Dog World, they would send image requests for different topics or dog breeds. So when they would for instance request Boston Terrier images, I sought out to do as many photoshoots of Boston Terriers and in doing so I learned so much about each breed, or sports such as agility and herding. In 2009 I relocated, and while I was getting my business and clientele to being full time, I started a dog boarding business, Indian Arm Dog Vacation Boarding. It was located off the grid, 8 miles up an inlet, boat access only. It was like spring break for dogs, spending all day jumping off the dock and going on hikes, right from my backyard. I was pleasantly surprised that people were willing to drop their dog off with me at the public dock, I’d put a life jacket on them, and head up to doggy paradise. Over a couple years I managed to acquire many regulars. Dogs that came up, even when their parents weren’t leaving town because they had so much fun up at my place, and where they could play with their friends from previous visits. This is also where I started to foster dogs. I guess all things have to end, and I decided to return to Southern California, not really all that bad though, because I love California. On returning, a client, a long time dog trainer, (Lu Meyer’s Encinitas Obedience) had passed away, and the family offered me the live in job of taking over the boarding side of the business, while they decided the future of the property. I was involved in the process of recruiting a dog trainer. Her facility was much more structured being it was an agility and obedience academy, compared to my very free spirited off the grid location, but I learned a lot about dog training. Ultimately they decided to close down the dog training business. Fast forward to arriving in Hawaii, I became aware of the feral cats and the problems they face. First I started bringing adoptable kittens home, and finding homes for them. I was particularly invested with a colony at Malaekahana Campgrounds. I quickly became obvious that I could not keep up with the kittens being born, and learned about Trap Neuter Release (TNR). First I started fixing one at a time, and that wasn’t enough, so I sought the help of KAT charities and Joey’s Feline Friends, where we mass trapped the entire colony, fixing over 50 cats. Since then I have been heavily involved in fostering and doing TNR, and everything from mamas giving birth, neonates, to handling the most feisty feral cats, fixing them and returning them to their colony. I now manage one small colony, and I’m proud to say the population has not grown in over 2 years. Albeit, I have acquired some cats along the way.