You know how a lot of us talk about these defining events in our lives that set us on a path? Well, Sundance R&R’s beginning wasn’t so much set on a path as it was having the path swept clean so we could finally see it. I had been rescuing abused Australian Shepherds with my mother and son for two decades when, one March morning, I drove up to my Mom’s house and found her lying on her front porch with what turned out to be a femur fractured in three places. Suddenly, her three dogs were in our living room. They knew us, loved and trusted us, so the transition for them and for us was gentle. It did, though, bring into focus for me what events like this mean to people and the animals with whom they are bonded. How traumatic that event could have been! Who would family members call to help? What if they couldn’t afford long-term boarding (which is not cheap!)? And when the human’s healing is at the point where they can move back home, who could help bring the people and animals back together?

And so, Sundance Rescue and Recovery’s path was cleared and our mission, values, and beliefs began to take shape. Today, we’re starting slowly, with help I can offer while still teaching full-time. But soon, our vision is that I’ll be retired, and we will have found our farm. Then, we can offer a home away from home for animals who feel the trauma facing their humans as strongly as the humans do.