01/09/2021
Hello Everyone! Jamie here.
I wanted to write a letter to you, my community, to express my thanks, update you, and share more about my story to you. I realized that I’m not sure how many of you know my story, where I came from, how I came to do what I do (what I LOVE to do). I am, have always been, a private person, sharing things about my private life feels really, really strange to me. But you all deserve to know me better, to understand who your kindness and generosity has been supporting. So here goes.
I had no idea how sick I was. I LOVE what I do, so I just kept doing it. I assumed things would get better, that the illnesses would go away eventually. My work gives me so much joy, so I just kept going. Until my body finally gave out, last month, when I was forced to stop and prioritize my health and battling these 3 diseases. I realize now as I’m writing this, that this was the first time I’ve taken Christmas or New Years off since I was 18 years old. Wow.
I trained my first dog when I was 7 years old. She was an Old English Sheepdog who belonged to my neighbors. Her name was Samantha (“Sam”). I groomed her, taught her to walk nicely on-leash, took her to the bark, and trained her basic obedience commands (sit, down). When I was 11 I started volunteering at my local animal shelter in Chicago. It was hard to see dogs so helpless, sad, confused, but I got to train them and give them small moments of goodness while they were there, so I stayed a while. I kept begging my parents for a dog of my own. Finally, when I was 13, they said “OK.” I said “German Shepherd,” they said “No, a Poodle.” I said “OK, Standard Poodle” they said “Miniature,” and I said “Okay!” That was Koko, my first dog, who I taught so many tricks to. He could sit pretty, jump into my arms, hop up onto the hood of my parent’s car.
Next came Mickey, a 1.5 year old intact male German Shepherd, who we adopted from the shelter and never neutered. I learned to do competition obedience with him, and we entered the world of dog sports together. He traveled with me across the country many times, hiked, camped, did everything with me until his body no longer let him. Then he stayed home and kept guard of the family until he passed.
I went to Sterling College and learned to work and live in harmony with the land. I gained a profound appreciation for nature and the earth after growing up nature-starved in Chicago, and I fell in love with the incredible, beautiful, strong state of Vermont. I knew, as soon as I set foot here, that I was home. I spent two incredible years at Sterling, lambing and farming and learning how to take care of nature as it takes care of us. Then I went to UVM for my degree in Animal Science. During breaks I worked all over the Northeast and Midwest US on farms, loving the hard work and outdoor life, the early days and nights, and most of all the animals. Always the animals.
While in school at UVM I worked at a boarding kennel. The owner, Margaret, a quiet, strong woman who knew and loved dogs like nobody I’d ever known, taught me much about dog body language, communication, and training. While working there I started to offer training to the clients, to help them with behavior problems. My training got popular so I began to offer classes. Those got popular so I finally started my own business, The Dog School, and have not looked back since. That was over 30 years ago.
In those 30 years I’ve owned and trained many, many dogs, each of whom has shaped the trainer and person I am today. There was Grace, who taught me the meaning of gentleness, Brody, my steadfast protector. Yoda, Mookie, Kobe, Tango, Pixel, Jiggs, and so many others who shaped me, and who I miss desperately, every single day. I got married, had my daughter, went through a divorce, and reshaped what family means many times. I would not change any of it.
What I would change is this sickness. I know I can’t, that we can’t change the past, but it’s been almost 2 decades of being ill, and I am so tired of it. I need to rest, to gain weight, to get treatment and allow my body and brain the time they need to heal. But rest is the hardest thing for me to do, it always has been. My family jokes that I am a Border Collie; always on, always working, always ready to do something, anything. The only thing they are truly not good at is taking breaks, resting, recovering. They will work until their body literally gives out, which I now see is what I did too.
I am so lucky. I have my amazing partner, Roman, to take care of things when I can’t. My incredible daughter Halle, and her partner Robert, and Mahayla, who are always there to help whenever needed, even as they build their own lives. And my extended family, friends, and community here in Huntington and beyond. I feel so comforted and beyond grateful for your support and kindness. To ALL of you who have taken the time to read this, share my story, and support my small family business during this time, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, really truly.
I need to go back to Phoenix AZ for treatment, and continue to modify my life here at home while I recuperate, if time/money allows. I will continue to write updates as I am able! I can only stand screens/computers for so long each day, and social media mentally exhausts me. But please know I appreciate all of you, THANK YOU for everything, and for continuing to care. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
