Dena Branning

Animals have always been special to me. Growing up on a farm I was surrounded at various times by horses, cows, pigs, chickens, dogs, and cats. I was a horse-crazy girl and had my first horse at age 10. Being outside was much preferred to any indoor activity, much to my mother's dismay. She was forever going outside calling for me, thinking I had met some terrible fate. I was involved in 4-H, showing both my horse and my pig at the county fair, and had my first dog training sessions with a local dog club. Fast forward a legion of years and I find myself immersed in the dog world. I joined a local dog club, served on the board, instructed classes, competed with my dogs in various venues, and then the opportunity arose to try animal-assisted therapy. That is where "No Visitors - Except The Dogs" was born.