Jen was brought up around animals. Born in the sprawling desert of Las Vegas, she spent most of her time surrounded by dogs, cats, horses, and various reptiles. Being around animals her whole life gave her a distinct sense of comfort around them.

A shy and quiet child, she felt a deeper bond with her animals than she ever did with kids her own age. When the other kids were going to parties or hanging out under the bleachers, Jen was lying in the middle of a pasture with her horse, or training her dogs, or cuddling with her cats.

Despite having no formal education in animal training, this upbringing helped teach her to understand animals in a way few others could. She was always confident and sure of herself when handling animals. She knew how to communicate with them and understand what they were communicating to her.

As an adult, she had to say goodbye to her childhood pets, and lived pet-free for a few years. She met her husband, Alan, and they had a beautiful child together. But, while she adored her family, her home, and her life, something was always missing. So when their kid started asking for a dog, Jen loved the idea. But not even she could predict just how profoundly a new dog would change her life.