I want to start with an apology for my one-week tardiness in sending out the Comfy News this month! The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. I worked nine busy days as a Union County Poll Worker and, during that time, I experienced my first major car accident. Thankfully, everyone is okay, but it certainly added its own layer of stress and time management.

Today, however, I’m excited to finally share some important news I’ve been eager to announce since September. I will admit, it’s taken more time than I had hoped for all of the moving pieces to fall perfectly into place but now I feel fully prepared and content with the changes ahead.

Beginning this December, I will be enrolled in the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional Program. Some of you may remember that I completed their Foundations course earlier this year. In reality, that was a stepping stone toward the highly respected certification program. Now, I’m thrilled to be diving deeper and committing the next 6-months towards becoming a Certified Dog Trainer.

Working with animals and helping others have been my driving force since I was first asked the dreaded question in elementary school: what do you want to be when you grow up? Twenty years later, I began The Comfy Pets, and yet, I still feel like I could do more. Obtaining this certification is something I’m called to pursue as more and more pet parents like yourselves seek guidance for behavioral issues. With my background as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter and my ongoing commitment to education, this program is the natural next step to continue supporting you and the community through fear-free and positive reinforcement methods.

To complete this program, I’ve chosen Bambi as my partner dog. Some of you may remember when I found, rescued, and nurtured her back to health during one of my extended stays in Costa Rica. Since 2023, Bambi (alongside my beloved Dulce) has held a special place in my life and now I’m proud to call her my training companion. Given the nature of the virtual program and the location of my partner dog, this means I will be temporarily based in Costa Rica.

While I’m physically away, rest assured I will remain actively involved in managing The Comfy Pets from afar. More importantly, since August, I’ve focused on creating a team of reliable and compassionate professionals who can carry on the level of care you expect. Many of you have already met Josh, whose expertise has shone brightly, and soon you’ll get to know Alison and others as well!

Thank you for your ongoing trust in The Comfy Pets and for sharing this exciting journey with me. I’m grateful to have such a wonderful community supporting me in taking this next step!

As always, please do not hesitate to text or reply to this email with any questions or concerns. Take it from someone who has struggled to accept change, I understand everything you may be feeling but trust me when I say that the benefits of these changes will speak volumes. At least that has always and continues to be my ultimate goal: doing my best to prioritize you and your pet’s care.

Stay Comfy,

Tanya