02/08/2025
Last night I was bestowed an amazing honor by the IACP president Jason Purgason. Many amazing people have received this award and I’m honored to be counted among them.
Inducted into the International Hall of Fame 2025. Theres so much work to be done to continue helping dogs and the people that love them.
Thank you to everyone who shares my passion for helping dogs.
***this was my acceptance speech. I wanted to share with all of you here.
First and foremost I want to thank the IACP for this amazing honor.
I am truly humbled standing here today and joining the legends that have received this award before me.
I’d like to thank each and every one of you for making this award possible…,
for your support and friendship
and your dedication to our beloved dogs.
I’d like to thank my beautiful wife Janet who amazes me every day with her love, support and honest input which allows me to be a better man.
I’d like to thank MY amazing dogs that have touched my life along this journey…
SILLY - BOOTS - GOOFY - MAYA - JIMI - BOZMAN - DUANE and SCHMOO
The IACP really is an amazing organization….
truly a one of a kind place that welcomes all dog trainers and dog professional : no labels, no bias, no hate and NO DRAMA….
If you love dogs and want to be in a group that supports you, you have found your home here at IACP.
Thank you to Jason Purgason and the entire board for continuing to move us forward and manning the HELM of this critical vessel.
To all of the board members, past and present - THANK YOU!
Dogs make the world a better place and I NEVER want to live a life that doesn’t include dogs.
This all started with a simple mission.
HELP DOGS AND THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THEM.
It started with shelter dogs and that continues to be my HEART AND SOUL.
I am grateful to every dog that I have worked with, FOR THEY ARE and ALWAYS WILL BE - MY GREATEST TEACHERS
Every dog I touch reminds me of a piece of myself.
My struggles,
my demons,
my challenges and
my passion.
I want to thank the amazing trainers and friends that I’ve made on this journey, be it in the pet dog world, the sport dog world or the military k9 world.
My life is fuller because of our friendships.
IN CLOSING, I DEDICATE THIS AWARD TO EVERY shelter dog that has perished because I couldn’t do enough.
The lack of resources, the lack of understanding, the obstacles often placed before us …
Because there are so many of them ….and such little time.
OUR goal MUST be more than just to get them out of the shelter…
the GOAL MUST BE… to PREVENT them from ending up there in the first place
To all dogs everywhere…. And the all of you… I make this promise —-
I continue to be a voice for you and I WILL ALWAYS fight for you!
