The answer is simple - animals and creativity.  Becoming a full-time artist in 2014, has allowed me to combine these passions by creating unique ink drawings of dogs and cats, as well as other types of animals.  Prior to pursuing a long postponed artistic career, for 31 years I volunteered and worked for animal welfare organizations.  The majority of this time was spent training first responders and coordinating 71 rescue and shelter operations for animals affected by disasters throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Japan, Poland, Romania and Sri Lanka.

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In 2007, I took on a different challenge.  I worked for an international animal non-profit at the time. A U.S. soldier serving in Iraq emailed the organization, desperate for help getting the dog he had befriended to his home in the states.  I was given the job of trying to determine if this was even possible.  It took me nearly 4 months to figure out this incredibly complicated logistical challenge. My determination paid off though. On February 14, 2008, I arrived at Dulles International Airport with Charlie.  Between 2008 and 2014, I made a total of 49 trips to Iraq, resulting in 531 dog and cats, plus one donkey, having a new life in the states with the kindhearted service member who couldn't leave their wartime buddy behind.

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There is one other way I love to express my creativity and that is through my photography. Spending time spontaneously wandering, seeing the often-unnoticed details of life brings me great joy. I've been fortunate to travel to 29 countries which has provided me with the opportunity to see some truly unique things.  One of my greatest experiences happened in 2014 and 2015 when I was fortunate to spend time in several refugee camps in Iraq's Northern Region of Kurdistan.  I could have stayed indefinitely capturing the faces of the youngest refugees.

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Actually, I do have a third passion.  Story telling comes naturally for me whether I'm writing or speaking the words.  I have been blessed to have some truly unique life experiences.  That is why I have written and had published three books.  Out of Harm's Way, Emergency Animal Rescue Stories and No Buddy Left Behind can be purchased wherever books are sold.