From Struggle to Strength: How One Dog Shaped My Mission to Help Others

In order to be great at anything you do, you have to have a "why." For me, that "why" has always been dogs.

I have loved and connected with dogs my entire life. Growing up with dachshunds was more than just a childhood experience—it was a family tradition. My two standard dachshunds were my best friends and constant companions. So when I reached my early 20s, adopting my own dog was a natural step. That’s when Toby, a pug-dachshund mix, entered my life. He was only 16 weeks old and already in his fourth home. I was a struggling young adult, but I was determined to give him stability and set him up for success. We committed to training together, completing beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes.

Since I had always had more than one dog, I convinced my husband that we needed to add another. Adopting from a rescue wasn’t an option for us as renters, so I did what I do best—found another way. That’s how Pip came into our lives. I found her listed for $325 on Oregon Live, coming from a trailer in Boring, Oregon. She was barely weaned when I got her, and looking back now, I realize she was likely very inbred. I didn’t know then the challenges we were about to face.

Pip struggled from the start. She had difficulty eating and lacked motivation, but everything became painfully clear when, at one year old, she nearly died. She spent 11 out of 14 nights at emergency care, being transported between there and our vet during the day. That was the beginning of our journey managing her Protein Losing Enteropathy (PLE), which meant years of steroid treatments and unpredictable flares. When she finally came off steroids, her back went out. I spent countless nights sleeping next to her kennel, comforting her as she recovered.

Being a single puppy mom to a medically complex dog was overwhelming. I had to learn how to manage a prednisone dog—one that would eat anything in sight—while ensuring she had a safe yet enriching life. Pip was a firecracker, full of personality. My friends would joke that she was like "a trashy girl at Circus Circus, wearing her ex-boyfriend’s sweatshirt and bedazzled jeans, yelling at her current boyfriend to get her a drink." She played hard and loved life, but if not carefully monitored, even the smallest trigger could send her immune system into a spiral. Over her eight years, I spent over $30,000 in vet bills. We failed out of three puppy classes, but I learned how to adapt training to her needs and build a lifestyle that worked for her.

To many, this might sound exhausting, even miserable. But what I gained was invaluable. I built a support system of people who shared their knowledge, gave me hope, and helped me navigate the impossible. Without them, Pip and I wouldn’t have made it. That experience became the foundation of my mission—to pass on what I’ve learned to others.

After Pip passed, Bear and I fostered for a while. It was incredibly rewarding to pull dogs from bad situations, teach them how to be dogs, and send them off to their forever homes. When Beau joined us, I deepened my training journey even further, combining what I had learned with my work at the rescue. Alongside this, I’ve been raising Bear and my best friend’s dog, Sirius, to be certified and titled therapy dogs. They have earned their CGC, TKN, and VHMA titles, and we’re now moving on to more advanced training and deeper levels of CGC. This journey has added another meaningful layer to my work. Now, I get to help dogs and owners at all levels, equipping them with the knowledge and tools for success.

Pip taught me resilience, patience, and the power of a strong support system. Without the people who guided me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. That’s my why—to be that support for others, to share what I’ve learned, and to help dogs and their people build lives full of love and success.

Now, it's my turn to give back. I want to be a resource for those who are struggling with their pets, providing guidance, support, and the tools they need to succeed. No one should have to navigate these challenges alone, and I am here to help make that journey easier for both dogs and their owners.