Name: Zach Sawyer

Age: 22

Education: Senior at Roger Williams University

      Major: Communications with a concentration in Public Relations

      Double minor: Philosophy and Graphic Design

History:

      Born: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

      Raised: Falmouth, Maine (a suburb of Portland)

      Family life: 1 older sister (Taylor) 1 younger sister (Maddie). Extended family is large and very close family.

      Favorite part of job: Seeing the changes as they occur in behavior, temperament, quality of life, obedience, socialization. It is truly gratifying to be a part of.

       Pets: Basset hound who shared my exact birthdate. We named her Bessie and she lived happily until around our 12^th birthday. Shortly after she died, our family relocated to a bigger house with a much larger yard which lead to our rescue of two brother dogs from a local pound. Vincent and Julius (German Shepard/Lab mix). Also have had 3 cats. Tigger (ran away when I was 4) Gus (18) and Stella (10 months) 

      Bio:

      My family has always had pets. Tigger was in the family before myself. Bessie was purchased when I was 1 or 2 after our family moved back to Maine after my birth. Shortly after Tigger ran away, Gus was given to my sister Taylor and I as a Christmas surprise. After Bessie’s death, we rescued Vince and Julius from a local pound. My dad purchased a pot bellied pig, Henry Cochon (pig in French, as the farmer was French Canadian) from a local farm after our move to our new, large home. My parents have always both worked full time since I was young and my sisters never seemed interested in training our pets, so it was left up to me. Vincent and Julius were taught not only simple obedience, but also simple tricks like roll over and play dead. I felt truly proud at family get-togethers when our dogs were the only ones behaving, while others were being destructive. Now, I am excited to further my very basic knowledge under Jeff’s excellent tutelage. The opportunity to work with dogs is one I never imagined for myself, but feel I am lucky to have found it.