Hi, Thank you for checking out my profile here at PetTech. I am from Kennebunk, Maine and a paramedic. I have been practicing in EMS since 2007. Prior to EMS I worked as a manager for an antique and interior design firm where I traveled around the world purchasing antiques, as well as in Juvenile Probation for a short period of time. I also went on to teach EMS in the community college system for five years. I was selected to teach an ESOL to EMT class in which the program itself made national headlines with the goal of putting asylum seekers and refugees into the working field and contributing to the economy. I maintain my instructor certification to teach CPR for the American Heart Association which is a labor of love and one that remains near and dear to my heart after having had to perform it successfully on my own child.

I also owned a pet sitting business called “Porches and Pets”. I started the business without any intent- a neighbor asked me to watch their Golden Retriever, Wally, and from there my reputation for my care built my business through word of mouth. Inadvertently, I specialized in high anxiety dogs (and a few cats) which required continuous support of the animals emotional needs as well as medical ones. My business lasted for about six years before meeting my (ex) husband and starting a family. I had always wanted to get back to the pet sitting business but the commitment to my family still makes this a challenge.

I have three sons, a fiance, and three cats- Tucker, Romeo, and Ajax (whom I love more than I like most people).

I have a passion for people and animals and while treating people is a skill I have honed since 2007 I realize there is very little in the way of education for the treatment of animals needing first aid or CPR. In the human world when something isn’t right we call the doctor and get the condition looked at. Pets lack the ability to verbally communicate in the same way and rely on their “people” to take notice. In busy lives we can easily look over simple signs.

Our pets have evolved into more than “just the family dog”. They are family members, we call them our children, we refer to ourselves as mom or dad. We aren’t looking at a dollar value to determine their lifes worth when they are sick or injured, and we invest in their health from the very beginning. We are buying the best foods, the most comfortable beds, and the most fashionable vests to make them look cool when they are out and about on the town.

The one thing I notice is that while we are investing in some important components of pet ownership along with the more frivolous (because we spoil our children) there is still very little out there to help owners not feel helpless when our best companion needs you the most.

I spoke briefly about my son needing CPR - he was two years old when he went into respiratory arrest - meaning he stopped breathing. I called 911 - our town ambulance was on another call and could not respond- a neighboring towns ambulance was sent on our behalf and got lost coming to my house. It took 26-minutes for them to arrive.

For a brief moment, I looked at my lifeless son and I had no idea what to do. My emotions interfered with my ability to respond despite having performed CPR countless times before. I gathered my composure for a quick moment and thought: “you do this for a living, stop being mom and be a care provider”. I switched my mom hat to the EMS one and my son was revived before the ambulance arrived.

I know first hand what it’s like to feel helpless and I am a trained professional. I never want another person to feel that way in a crisis situation whether it be for a human or four-legged family member. I was polarized for a moment even with extensive training because I was emotionally invested. I remember reflecting, “what would have happened if I didn’t know what to do?” I try not to think of the answer- and my hope is that should you ever need to call on the skills you will learn with me you will not have to reflect on that devastating answer either. I think its important to know that despite having all of the training and doing all of the “right” things- it may still not be enough for the best outcome. However, knowing when and how to respond will give you the tools you need to act and the piece of mind in knowing you did the right things, regardless of the outcome. My experience is that the emotional self and rational self do not always agree- my hope is that when you are in the moment you can get those two to meet in the middle.