Raised on a farm, I have always loved being surrounded by my animals. The ethics and hard work required to successfully raise healthy animals and thrive on a farm have served me well throughout my life. However, when I had my first child, I developed a severe allergy to my pets, which was devastating. I had to find new homes for all my animals or risk anaphylactic shock.

A few years later, I received my first Yorkie, Tinkerbell, as a Christmas present. She proved to be the smartest, most loving, and enjoyable dog I had ever had. When I lost Tinkerbell after 15 years, I was so crushed that I couldn't bear the thought of getting a replacement Yorkie. Instead, I acquired my first Australian Shepherd, and with the help of a new daily allergy pill, I began breeding and raising Aussies with my mother for 20 years.