Help Dot and I Survive the "Cyber Bullying"

Recently, I was the victim of vicious, slandering, libelous, "Cyber Bullying" on Nextdoor, in an attempt to ruin my reputation, and destroy my dog training business.

The bully was a potential dog training client, whose goal was to discredit me, in case I told the truth about the breeder she got her dog from. She told me, and two friends of mine, at a dog event, that her dog has luxating patellas, which will cost her $10,000 to fix. She also said her breeder told her not to tell anyone, because she intended to keep breeding the line. So, she's intentionally breeding dogs with luxating patellas. Her breeder panicked that I knew this, and worried I might spread it, thus ruining her. Her breeder is pretending on her website, and telling everyone, that she's a reputable show breeder, but in fact, she's a backyard breeder, intentionally breeding dogs with luxating patellas, a debilitating genetic issue, which requires very expensive surgery to correct. The breeder was closely working with her to discredit me. I wouldn't have said anything.

In her Nextdoor post, the bully claimed I was "well known in the dog world as a dog thief", and no one should hire me to train their dog, because I'd steal them. She said I intended to steal her dog. She also said I don't do my job; I just take the money and run, and I'm not qualified to be a dog trainer.

I've never stolen a dog in my life. I'm highly qualified as a dog trainer, and my Facebook dog training business page proves it by showing my clients training with me in videos and pictures, which prove I know what I'm doing. I was mentored by the best in the business, the top show breeders for their breed, and the top dog show handlers, and I learned everything there was to know about dogs in every respect possible, behaviorally, physically, etc... In addition, I have many years of continuing education as a vet tech, some of which has covered dog behavioral training from a veterinary perspective.

The bully, and her breeder, were assisted by two others, strangers to me and them, who commented on her post, joined forces with her, and one of them even sent me a vicious email.

Together, these four, launched a campaign to get me removed from two groups that I had partnered with. Most of my business came from one of those groups, and I needed the other to promote my business.

This has destroyed my business, leaving me unable to pay rent, and other bills, and unable to support my miniature schnauzer, Dot.

I have been a professional dog trainer since I was 13 years old, as well as a dog show handler, and a vet tech. I've spent my entire life building up my dog training business, and maintaining a high code of ethics in order to do so. Next to my dog, my business has been my world, and meant so much to me. It's also the only means I have to support Dot and I.

I have no family to help Dot and I out. I'm completely on my own, and have been for most of my life. I've been working since I was a teenager.

I had Triple Negative Breast Cancer five years ago, and was told I'd die within the first two years, as most people with it do. I had surgery, and radiation. I had to refuse chemo, against all my doctor's wishes, because I wouldn't have been able to work, and would've lost the basement I was renting, and would've been living in my car with my dogs, having chemo and being so sick.

The worst part of it was that my little girl schnauzer, Izzy, was diagnosed with liver cancer not even 24 hours before my diagnosis of breast cancer. I was more devastated over Izzy's diagnosis than my own, and shelved everything regarding my cancer in order to care for her through the end. Then I was too devastated at losing her to care for myself, and didn't do anything about my cancer. It was our vet who took charge, found me a surgeon, and an oncologist, and was calling me regularly to push me to make appointments. She saved my life. She was also the first person to call me after my surgery, to see how I was. I wouldn't be here now, if it weren't for her, because I had a very aggressive cancer, that was growing very fast. She continues to be there for me, is supportive of my business, and is supportive of me through the Cyber Bullying as well, having said she'll do whatever she can to help me.

In addition, Dot has costly medical issues that require her to see her vet, as well as a veterinary radiologist, every other month.

I need my business to financially support Dot and I, it works well with the physical/medical problems I have, and it keeps me going mentally through all that I'm dealing with. I love my work. It's the thing I've always done best in my life, and really the only thing I know how to do, and do well. I get my self-esteem from working. I get gratification from helping dogs and their people. I need to do this work.

The bullies have taken away so much from me, and stressed me out to no end. I'm not sleeping much, or eating much, and am having bad headaches and chest pains from the stress. I'm so afraid Dot and I will lose our rental home, and have to live in my car.

It's taken me twelve years, since the recession destroyed me and my business, and I lost everything, and my two dogs (Isabella and Travis) and I had to live in my car awhile, to rebuild my business. We've had to live under the worst of circumstances everywhere we were forced to live, with everything from mold, mice, snakes, black widow and brown recluse spiders, flooding, physical and mental abuse inflicted on me, no kitchen, etc .. My doctors all believed my breast cancer was caused by the terrible mold conditions where we once lived. Even after my cancer diagnosis and radiation, I had to live there with the mold, despite my doctors wanting me out of there, because I couldn't afford to move, taking a great chance that the cancer would return.

We've lived in countless places over the twelve years. I haven't had a kitchen in all that time. Finally, where we're living now, I have a real kitchen, Dot has glass doors to look outside, and no one can hurt and abuse me - I don't have to live in fear anymore like I did round the clock when I had to live with abusive people, who caused me great anxiety and sleepless nights. I don't want to lose all we have now.

I'm telling you all this background to show you how far I've come in twelve years, how much where we live now means to me and Dot, and how much I have to lose because the bullies are destroying my entire life.

It took me twelve years - twelve very long years - to rebuild my life to this point, and in one second, someone did something that will take it all away from Dot and I, and we'll lose everything.

All I want is my work back. I want to be able to support Dot and I.

Dot's veterinarian, who has known me for many years, and her office manager, have offered to help me fight this, and I'm so grateful to them. Our vet was there for me when I had breast cancer, and did everything she could to help me, and be supportive. I wouldn't have made it through without her then. She wouldn't let me give up She knows everything I've been through, and has watched me build my business back up over the years, and has helped me with that too.

My friends and clients have also offered to help, and I can't thank everyone enough. I'm so blessed to have everyone behind me at this extremely difficult time.

Several of my friends on Facebook suggested in the comments section of my post about this, that I set up a Go Fund Me to help Dot and I get through this financially until we can hopefully get it straightened out, so this is why I created this page.

If you can help Dot and I by making a donation, even a tiny one, we'd greatly appreciate it.

Go Fund Me does take a fee/percentage out of your donation, and PayPal also takes a fee when you donate through Go Fund Me. So, a lot of money is lost that way. If you'd rather donate directly to my PayPal account, and not have any money removed from your donation by Go Fund Me and PayPal, please send me a private message on Facebook, and I'll give you my PayPal address. I tried to put it here, but this site blocked it.

Thank you so much for caring about Dot and I! ♥️