I grew up in Kansas surrounded by great vast amounts of land. As a young girl I remember riding around on the tractor in our soy bean fields or our hay fields putting up hay for our livestock and horses. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a veterinarian. As time went on I wanted to explore diseases and causes in animals and treat them that way. I was interested in Biomedical Engineering, however, there were only a few schools at the time who offered that field of study and I had already completed a year in Chemical Engineering. So, I changed my degree to Biochemistry. I graduated from the University of Kansas in 1997. Also in 1997, I married the love of my life Jon. We have known each other since kindergarten and started dating as sophomores in high school. We have been together ever since and something that is not seen much anymore; high school sweethearts. Jon and I have also added a special someone to our family. After 13 yrs of marriage, we had a little girl (Lauren) in Jan. Despite her coming 6 weeks early she is doing well, growing and excelling very quickly. She is such a joy to have in our home and the dogs are adjusting nicely. For the past 14 years I have been working for a Bio-analytical Laboratory working on Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics. Simply put, Pharmacokinetics means what the body does to the drug and Pharmacodynamics in doing such I evaluate the rate in which drugs accumulate within the body and what the drugs do to the body. After several years in the drug discovery world, I decided to go back to school and follow my heart. In 2007 I returned to school to get my veterinary technician degree through Cosumnes River College in California. I took the state boards in the fall of 2009 after graduation and received my registration. Therefore, I am now a registered veterinary technician through the state of California. I figured I would start small before making the big leap and going back to get a doctorate in veterinary medicine.
Currently we have six fur animals living with us. They include five dogs and one cat (adopted through the Consumnes River animal adoption program). We have a golden; Bailey (9 1/2 yrs), four Danes; a brindle Nalla (8 yrs), a fawn Laural (5 yrs), a brindle Cinnamon (3 yrs) and my boy Taz (2 1/2 yrs). Our kitty is Monk (~5yrs).
Growing up both of us have had pets of all kinds. Jon has had dogs and a bird. I have had lizards, fish, dogs, cats, and horses. Together, we have had dogs, cats, rabbits, a bird, a ferret (what a blast), fish, and horses. Our adventure into Great Danes was through my husband. His uncle, a veterinarian,often boarded a brindle Great Dane. My husband
spent alot of time with this dane and was heart struck ever since. Thus, we got our brindle girl Nalla (Adelaide's Sweet Nalla Piche') in May of 2003. She is a breeding from Wolke and Anadane Great Danes. My husband showed Nalla for a while then I got the bug more then he did. Nalla entered the ring at 14 months. She retired with 3 AKC points, including 2 best of breeds over specials. Nalla went on to get her CGC and obtain her rally novice title. She now sits on the couch and keeps it warm. Shortly after Nalla's retirement, I got my second dane, Laural.
Laural (Divine Acres Rising Victory V Adelaide) bred by Carolyn McNamara of Divine Acres located in WI. Laural hit the show ring with a bang at the Nationals taking 2nd out of a class of 26 for the futurity and pulled and considered during the regular confirmation classes at just 6 months old. She has been a tremendous amount of fun, and brings a great deal of joy to our family. Before Laural turned 2 yrs she received 9 AKC points and one major reserve. It was with great sadness that she pyo'd and had an emergency spay which ended her show career. I was devastated, but her health comes first. She is such an outstanding breed representation and she only needed her two majors to finish and she would have. She now lounges around on the couch. I cannot wait to bring her out as a veteran.
Currently Showing:
Cinnamon (GrCH/Am. CH Divine Acres Sugar and Spice Girl) is now 3 yrs old. A spicy but very loving girl. Cinnamon exhibits a wonderful representation of breed type, outstanding temperament, substantial bone. You never know what you will encounter first, a little spice or some lovin. She has such an amazing personality and temperament. She has been a joy and an adventure at the same time. Cinnamon finished her championship at the Willamette Valley Great Dane Specialty in Portland Oregon going WB/BOW under breeder judge Linda Tonnanocour. Cinnamon has been shown sparingly in the Breed ring of which she took Best Opposite Sex at the Great Dane of Northern California Specialty under judge Carmen Battaglia. She has taken many other BOS and BOB. In July 2010, Cinnamon took a group four
in a very large working group in Ferndale, CA. At the Great Dane Club of Northern CA Speciality 2011, Cinnamon took Select Bitch under judge Betty Lewis. Cinnamon will continue to be shown in the breed ring sparingly.
Taz (Divine Acres Talisman) is all boy, need I say more. He is an exemplary example of the breed. He has a stunning head piece and wonderful breed type, and bone. He was a wonderful and goofy temperament. He is stands at 36 1/2" at the withers. He is very confident, spicy, yet a loving young man. He is growing into a very fine young man and his brain is coming along. He brings a whole new element to the household. He is challenging, yet there is not a day that goes by that he does not make me smile. I have been told by many there is nothing like owning a boy. Taz currently has his International Puppy Champion title and has been shown a few times in the ring in the BBE class. Taz currently has 8 AKC points all from the BBE class including a Best BBE and a group 2. Taz is taking some time off to mature
and will be seen again in the show ring soon. Continue to watch this very typey, magnificent boy grow and mature.
Our home is a place where Goldens and Danes live like family.
