I'm Michelle and I am thrilled to be a part of Canine
Adventure. I have always loved dogs and always dreamed of a way to incorporate
this love into my work life. As a matter of fact, I was set on becoming a
veterinarian until I interned one summer and found that I was too tender-hearted to interact with sick and injured pets... so I went to nursing school
instead!
Now I balance my time between counseling families about senior care
resources in our community and getting outside with the dogs I work with.
Each time I take a dog out for an adventure walk, I learn
something about communication, focus, and respect. It has been great fun
interacting with all of these unique canine personalities. I have a three-dog
family of my own and will go to great lengths to ensure their health and
happiness. My commitment to our clients is to give their dogs a remarkable
experience and treat them as I would my own!
About Stella...
After
five dogless years in a tiny apartment, I moved into my first house in 1998 and
was itching for a furry companion. I went to the local animal shelter in
Galveston, TX and immediately connected with a 12 week old lab/chow mix named "Oreo". She came home with me and was deemed "Stella", which I thought was a
much more dignified name. We were happily bonding when I got a call on day
three from the shelter stating that all of Stella's litter mates had Parvo and
I needed to have her euthanized. I was devastated, but thankfully consulted with
our veterinarian who told me what to watch for and how ridiculous it was to
follow the shelter's suggestion.
Stella never got sick and has been my faithful companion for
eleven years now. She has seen my
through the toughest of times and is always by my side, whichever room in the
house I happen to be in! She loves to ride in the car, take long hikes, and
watch for the mailman.
About Gypsy and Rambo...
I
adopted these two lab mixes the day before Thanksgiving, 2002. I had gone to
the shelter "just to look" and ended up with two puppies in my car. They were
wrapped up in a ball together making it impossible to take just one. Since that
day, they have never been separated, so I might as well write about them
together.
While we were living in Galveston, we'd walk the beach
daily, me and my pack. Gypsy had a knack for catching sand crabs while the other
two chased seagulls. All three loved to swim in the gulf. We moved back to
Richmond during hurricane Katrina... me in a Uhaul with three dogs getting me
through the 23 hour drive. What a trip! We were very excited to discover the
James River Park system and all of the fun swimming places. We have rarely
missed a day at the river since we moved back home in 2004. These guys keep me
active! I cannot imagine a life without dogs. I have reaped countless rewards sharing
my life with my three.
