Carol's Biography:
I have always had dogs in my home, from the time I was about two until today. I was given a handsome German Shepard, named Jocko, after the death of my dad, I was only 19 months old, and it was believed that he would be a help to me getting over grief at such a young age. I loved that dog, and he was my best friend as I got older.
After his passing, I had other special bonds with my other dogs, there was Sparky, a true All American black terrier mix who I trained to dribble street hockey balls with his paws, and Pumpkin, a three- legged girl who loved to run the beach, Brandy a German Shepard that went to serve as a companion to a police officer, Gretchen, another black & tan German Shepard that we found in North Dakota, who went to live with a wonderful family on a huge farm in North Dakota, and Terry, another black and tan German Shepard that was part of the Seeing Eye Program based out of New Jersey.
However, the biggest change in my personal life as well as in my professional career (working with youth considered at-risk and families in conflict) and my desire to utilize my gifts and talents in helping others as well as training dogs and their human family members occurred on January 19, 2004, the day our beloved 15 ½ year old Golden Retriever, Sunni crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
My life and my outlook on life has not been the same since that day.
Sunni was a gift of unconditional love; she accepted me and our family as we were, always to be there by our sides. I found it very difficult after her passing to not have a “golden spirit” in our home. Within a month of her passing, I was driving to pick up my vehicle from the garage, and I had passed by a particular open field, as I had many times before on my way there. However, this time was different for me, as I drove by it, and I started to cry like child who had lost a best friend. I was in deep grief. All I could think of was how much Sunni would have loved to run through it chasing the rabbits, ignoring my command to “come” all for the sake of having a great time! Upon arriving at the garage, I decided to sit in the car for a minute, I didn’t want anyone seeing my puffy red eyes. I had my head turned looking out my window when a knock came on the driver’s side window. There stood a friend of my friend to show me a picture of a golden litter born the day after Sunni passed away.
This woman gave me her number and told me that I was very welcome to come by to see the pups. At first I was torn, then by the time they were ten days old I couldn’t resist, and I called her. To my surprise she invited me over to the house to visit. Eight weeks later I had not one, but two beautiful Golden Retriever sister pups, Casey and Grace. I then was referred by the same woman to position that was available at a local small boarding kennel that was also the home of Champion Labrador and Golden Retrievers. I came to discover, my girls were the great- granddaughters of the gentle, handsome Champion named Rush, owned by this woman. Wow, how life can throw you a wonderful surprise!
Upon meeting the owner, I was hired to learn the business ways of kenneling and the dog show world, while also managing an Alternative to School Suspension program geared for youth in grades 6-9 in King George, until the end of the school year. This I came to learn was very, very hard work, and not to be taken lightly. There is a great amount of hard mental and physical work that goes into taking care of other peoples pets in a kennel environment in order to not only keep the environment sanitary, but to make sure the pet and owner’s stress is reduced during this time of separation. For most of the general public, I believe that many think that all you have to do is make sure the dog gets out to potty and is properly fed. NOT SO! In order to be great in pet care business an individual needs to be able to communicate with not only the owner, but the pet too. I loved this job, even though the pay was not what I was use to in my prior professional field, the learning experiences gave me more than any dollar amount.
Thus, leading me to found a lifelong dream, " Aislinge Labradors" my own Labrador family line along with offering
pet care & training services.
I continued my training with Grace and Casey, to prepare them to become Certified Therapy dogs, as I continued in this new world I had found. Training was very important to me to achieve, as both my grandmothers had passed away to Alzheimer’s complications, a dear friend of ours, Ryan, an eleven-year-old boy passed away due to complications from leukemia, and my college mentor, passed away due to stroke complications.
I saw the differences that were made in lives of my special people when animals were allowed to visit them, so in finding a means to honor each of their lives and my memories, I chose to become involved in Animal Assisted Therapy as part of my professional development and career goals. (All of these deaths happened within 7 months of each other, my “rocks” in my grieving were my family and pets).
However, before I could have “the girls”, as I called them, tested for their Canine Good Citizen Test, I found out that I had severely herniated discs in my C-spine, and would need to have surgery.
It was at this time, a very special black puppy found his way into my heart and to our home,
Patuxent’s Cut Above Ordinary, aka, Angus, which in Irish means; “Excellence, Strength and Vigor”
.....but to me he is my Gus.
Sometimes folks hear me refer to him as my “Gussieman”. I met Gus with his mommy, Letty McNulty at the AKC Fredericksburg Kennel Club annual All-Breed Dog Show. I walked up to Letty, and asked who her puppies were sired by, I knew the “backend” build, and before she could answer me, I said, “They are Custus babies”. Letty was very surprised, well one thing led to another, and Gus would be home with me two weeks later. (This all happened in time before my surgery, and rehabilitation time).
After my surgery, I was not able to have my golden girls at my side, but Gus was
able to be there, and so he was, everyday & night. Once I was healed, we
continued our training with full force. Gus, Grace and Casey would all attend training classes with me. Gus and Casey did earn their AKC Canine Good Citizen certifications, as well as their Therapy Dog certifications through Therapy Dogs International. Both tests require the dogs to be able to have good manners, accept the owner’s commands, be of good temperament, and be able to accept other humans and animals.
I did not have Grace TDI tested, as I got a call from a friend in New England, regarding a couple on Cape Cod whose own Golden passed away, and she was inquiring if I was still considering placing Grace in a home where she could be a princess but to also be the “therapy” dog I had raised her to be.
It was in June 2006 that I made the trip back home to Cape Cod to place Grace with a wonderful couple that lived 100 yards from Nantucket sound, these folks owned a small bed and breakfast where Grace would not only be the princess, but the Ambassador of the inn, sharing her love with visitors who missed their own dogs.
I remember distinctly the day I let her go; I kissed her nose, looked deep into her eyes, and told her to do her job, and to do it well. Grace walked with Neil towards the beach, and never looked back. As much as I hurt, and cried as I drove away, I know that I had done my job in preparing her to be the girl they needed her to be. To date, she has brought them so much love & happiness, and I know that for her, I made the right decision.
Gus and Casey do the same when we visit Nursing homes such as Heartfields Assisted Living, in Fredericksburg. They both walk in, and know they are working, and are very calm when the folks there with their canes, wheelchairs, shuffled walks come up to them, just to get a little love and to give a little love. Both of them will be part of the Dogs on Call program at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Pediatric ward, a wonderful way to honor Ryan and his dear family.
I have added two more girls and a boy to our team. Caragh, " my little girl" and her cousin Karma, Chocolate girl, AKC Champion pointed, Major pointed handled by Carol.
Both girls continue in training, as well as continue in competition events such as AKC Conformation and Rally Obedience events.
Brady, my high spirited yellow boy, Brady has been in training for Rally Obedience, and is proven himself to be a quick learner and LOVES RALLY!
Gus continues to compete in the above show venues too, we worked hard as a team to earn his first title in Rally Obedience, and his Champion Confirmation title.
Murphy has earned his UKC Championship and is active in Hunt Test training, we are working towards his JH at this time, My other Labradors, Sera, Danucci, are both Champion pointed, Taylor, is showing in AKC and UKC confirmation as well as preparting for his JH title Hunt Test & Ms. Sophie, Taylor's momma will show in veteran classes at Labrador specialties, each continues to compete in venues suitable for them, and those can be viewed on each of their pages.
As for my “training” I have earned my AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator certification and continually update my training skills by training and participating in several events.
I teach house manners and Canine Good Citizen classes to pet owners.
I continue my education in Canine Behavior & Learning Theories through attending and completing courses
with Animal Behavior Associates as well as other well recognized Canine Behavior and Training programs.
I love taking my dogs out in the community to show just how good they are, but more importantly to allow them to do the job we love to do, together, to give unconditional love to those in need of a non-judgmental ear, To be a soul just able to be there helping a child or an adult in time of need, whatever it may be.
