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Last weekend was the East African Kennel Club Craft Fair to raise money for the Kennel Club. It was hot but really, really nice to see families out with their dogs!  There were beautiful pedigree dogs, and much loved mixed breed mutts as well.

It’s the time of year that my phone starts to ring off the hook with enquiries about dog training. Most of these are not new puppies, but older dogs that still jump on visitors, steal things from kitchen counters and won’t stay off the furniture.

Amy grew up on a game farm in Indiana, USA so her lifelong association with animals started at a very early age. Her horses ran with the zebra, camels, buffalo and llama. Amy’s family bred and raised working Australian Shepherds. Amy worked for Radisson Hotels while attending Ivy Tech in Indianapolis, and then moved from The Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites in Indiana to the Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel in Alexandria, VA. Amy then moved to Moscow to open the first American-managed hotel in the Soviet Union, the Radisson Slavjanskaya Hotel. Amy oversaw all events at the residence and dachas, including 7 visits of the US President and Vice President.After a 15 year career in Hospitality Management, Amy took off her high heels to return to her roots and work extensively with the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac (a rescue started by ethical Labrador breeders) in Virginia, USA where she trained foster dogs and helped many dogs overcome behavioral issues. She also raised puppies for the CETC (Canine Enforcement Training Center) in Front Royal, VA. Five of the 6 puppies she raised went on to detect drugs and currency for US Customs and Border Patrol.Amy has been in Kenya since 2006 where she founded the East African Kennel Club and has been an active member ever since. She also belongs to the Labrador Retriever Club of Kenya and the Ladies Kennel Association. She teaches the Wednesday morning socialization class for the Labrador Club, the beginner’s obedience class on Saturday afternoons run by the German Shepherd Dog League and has recently started teaching a communication class for the Kenya Police Dog Section for the new dog handling recruits. Amy has worked with the staff at the KSPCA to train dogs for their annual Shaggy Dog show. In 2008, Amy started Custom Made K-9 Supply making handmade leather, professional quality leashes and working gear for security dogs as well as companion dogs.In her free time, Amy is working on a storybook to educate primary school children about how to take good care of their animals, especially dogs. Amy enjoys camping and frequently camps with the Labrador Retriever Club.Amy currently has a yellow Lab that was a US Customs dog (yes, she kept her only “failed” pup) and a lovable shenzi that showed up under her gate 2 years ago, likely from the Karura forest.

Many, many people comment on the articles I write about the KSPCA and the state of the dogs and cats in Nairobi. Many people want to do something but think, since they cannot take on another pet, have already given away old bedding or made a donation, that there is nothing else they can do.