I am a speech pathologist in the Houston area who has a passion for dogs and kids (not sure which one comes first). I was raised in the Lake Charles area where my parents instilled in me a love and respect for dogs. My dad trains hunting dogs and my mom has raised multiple puppies in the past along with participating in dog shows for a period of time. Growing up and having dogs around was an integral and amazing part of my childhood, and my passion is to share that same joy with other kids who due to their challenges in life may not have had the opportunity to appreciate the love that a dog can give.
In the past few years, I have dreamed of incorporating my love for kids and dogs together. This opportunity happened to arise in May 2007, when I met one of the service dogs in our clinic. My boss pointed me toward the My Service Dog website and I began to research and make connections with passionate people like Allie and Jenny who shared my desire to find a service dog that would meet the needs of my kids.
Allie seemed to know exactly which puppy would fit into the clinic. Jess (my sister), Lydia (my niece), and I met Allie and Annie at Chili’s. All three of us where amazed by Annie’s soft eyes and calm presence as she patiently waited and watched. Watching Annie in training at the grocery store, I began to form a special bond with her as she learned to navigate all the distractions that come with a new environment.
I knew Annie’s calming presence would be exactly what my kids would need to help them to communicate and interact with the world. My hope and prayer is that Annie will become a part of the family of therapists, kids and their parents that I work with. As Annie becomes used to her new world, I will keep you updated on how she is doing and the friends she makes with the kids.