There's a saying that you should love what you do in life, and Autumn Light does just that. "I love what I do," she says.
Who wouldn't love playing with dogs all day? Autumn loves that and she gets to do it every day of her work week. Her job involves working in the doggie daycare room where the dogs come and play together. She keeps a watchful eye to ensure everyone is playing fair and that all the dogs are safe.
"I feel like in daycare they come in as puppies and they grow into adults," Autumn says. "It's a great place that is safe for dogs to socialize and get proper stimulation while making bonds with other people and other dogs." She also likens it to a place that is peaceful for her while it involves a lot of fun and unconditional love. "I can walk in there with all those pups, and they make you feel better."
As far back as she can remember, Autumn has always had animals in her family. When she was in grade school her neighbor rescued cats and some dogs and would find them homes. She kept the ones for whom she couldn't find a permanent home. Autumn would help care for the cats and continues to help her neighbor to this day.
Today Autumn's own animal family includes Spirit, a red and white male Siberian husky; Rex, a male Australian shepherd/pit bull mix; Rain, a female cat; Kaos, a male frilled dragon; Skully, a male bearded dragon; and Calypso, a female snake.
Prior to joining Second Home Pet Resort about five and half years ago, Autumn worked at a veterinary clinic where she worked in boarding and also learned a lot about the medical side of the business.
With so many wonderful aspects to her job, she does single out interacting with the dogs and creating bonds with them as favorite parts of her position. "I'll see dogs who have just come in who were just rescued and are terrified or trying to get used to new sounds and smells," Autumn says. "Or maybe they don't like women or men. Being able to slowly build a bond with those dogs is amazing. You have to earn everything with a dog. It's all body language and what you do for each other. You can see the love in their eyes."
To make sure pet parents know their pets are in good hands, Autumn is sure to openly welcome them into the daycare room and show them around. She has them watch their dog interact with other dogs. "I let them know they can call and check on their babies," she says. "We always want it to be a great experience.
"I think that people should know about Second Home and that all of us here love animals to the fullest," Autumn says. "We always make sure their animals are very well taken care of and filled with love."
