Hi there! My name is Val, and I have been a dog lover since birth. I have lived with dogs my whole life, and have always considered them some of my best friends. Apparently I used to think I was one when I was a toddler, but I may have just hoped so. I grew up in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico until the age of six, and some of my earliest memories are saving street dogs with my mom, taking them to the vet, and getting them adopted at the local humane society. Together, over the years, we have done this for over a hundred dogs. I've always been close to animals, and am very conscious of their needs. My last pup was an elderly and diabetic rescue, and I went so far as to learn how to do veterinary standard glucose curve tests myself to keep him safe. I was living in Sedona, Arizona at the time, and if he ran out of insulin or was acting strange, it was not unusual for me to drive for an hour and a half in the middle of the night to go to a 24 hour vet in Flagstaff, for an exorbitant cost. Dogs can't talk to us, but they communicate, and I think one of the most important things we can do is listen to what they have to say. Plus, that's what money is for. They bring beauty and love into nearly everything in life. I kid you not, I'm obsessed with dogs, and with keeping them safe, loved, healthy, and happy. My skills include: medical knowledge from personal research; I am able to give injections and medicine, and help with physical therapy (although, if it is a rather large dog that needs injections, I will ask for a few training sessions with the owner present to ensure comfort and success). I am also quite active, and am happy to walk extensively or go on a run with your pup, as well as throw countless tennis balls. I'm strong, so don't worry about the bigger dogs on leash. I have always cooked my own dog's food from scratch, so if you need that, I can do that for you as well. I will talk to your dog a lot, if they like that, or play music, or just cuddle and play. I am a pretty good trainer, and most dogs that have stayed with me have left with the ability to shake paws, so if any training is needed, I am also happy to work on that. I have taken care of several puppies and loved it, and I understand their sensitive stomachs, unpredictable sleep schedules, and impressive amounts of endless energy. That being said, elderly dogs really steal my heart. I adopted my pup at the age of twelve, and had him until he was nearly eighteen. After that experience, I pledged that I would always adopt the older dogs, the ones less likely to find homes. Big dogs, small dogs, puppies or elders, all dogs are my favorite to love and take care of. P.S. If your dog is an escape artist - I might be the one for you. I'm usually the one on the other side of the call saying "I found your dog," it happens to me a few times per year. I'm also fairly OCD, so you can count on your door being locked. And checked twice, and the stove being off. In case you're someone who needs to hear that kind of thing, because I can relate. They're family! Much love and thanks for reading!