We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anastasiya Harney . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anastasiya below.
Anastasiya , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Hi, my name is Ana Harney. I was born in Ukraine and I lived there with my sister until we were adopted to the U.S. when I was ten years old.
Growing up, my sister and I lived in a home that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. There was constant use of alcohol and other substances, our apartment was filled with rats and mice, we didn’t have a clean beds to sleep in, the walls and doors were falling apart, and our dogs and cats were never taken outside to use the restroom so you can imagine the smell. My mom, grandmother, uncle, my sister and I all lived together in a two bedroom apartment on the 5th floor in Zhytomyr. My family often threw parties at our apartment where homeless or struggling men would come over, drink, and sleep on our floor. These situations were often scary and they put my sister and I in terrifying positions, where we were constantly worried about being harmed.
Every night before those individuals arrived, my sister and I would hide any sharp objects such as knives, forks, and scissors that we could find in the house. Fights when everyone got drunk would inevitably break out people would threaten to stab each other or start beating one another to the point of being concussed. I often couldn’t fall asleep until two or three in the morning because I was so scared something would happen to my mom, my sister, or me. There were multiple occasions at night where my mom would drink so much she would want to jump out of the balcony and my sister and I would scream and cry and try to pull her back in so she wouldn’t jump. Going to sleep seemed like it would prohibit me from saving her so I would try to stay awake as long as I could.
When I was five years old, I found an abandoned box on the street and inside was a puppy. I was just a kid, but that moment changed everything. That little dog gave me something I didn’t even know I was missing—joy, comfort, consistency, and a sense of connection. For the first time, I had something to care for, and something that cared back. That puppy gave me a reason to look beyond the chaos.
Eventually, my sister and I were taken to an orphanage when I was seven. It wasn’t perfect—there was still physical, verbal, and emotional abuse—but it was safer than the home we came from. At least we had access to food instead of digging through trash and we made some of our best friends while there. There were 5 other girls in my grade that I shared a room with and those girls played a huge part in who I am today. Their names are Galina, Tatiana, Victoria, Yana, and my sister Katya. While at the orphanage, by the age of ten, I had lost both of my biological parents to alcohol. My dad had died when I was five and my mom when I was ten. It was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced knowing I’d lost both parents but I remained hopeful and even at a young age knew that the God the woman had shared with me was worth trusting in.
At the orphanage, an elderly woman from a nearby church would visit and share the Gospel with us. I didn’t fully understand her message back then, but I started praying anyway as she had told me that God answers prayers. Every night, I prayed that I would be adopted by a family with horses and even had drawn pictures in the orphanage of me belonging to a family with horses on a ranch. God answered that prayer about a year later. My sister and I were adopted together by a family that owns horses and had many of them on their property.
After we were adopted, my sister and I began praying for our Ukrainian friends to be adopted as well because we wanted them to have what we had; love, peace and consistency. Sure enough one by one, they all were over a period of about 5 years. We ended up growing up near each other in Texas, just 45 minutes apart. This further revealed to me how much blessing in life God can bring if I trusted in His plan, even as I came from a place of absolute hopelessness in Ukraine.
I came to realize that God had my life under control from the very beginning and that He never left me through the hard times. The world is broken and it puts us through hardships that feel nearly impossible to understand. I have learned that it’s not because God doesn’t care but rather it’s because the world is filled with darkness and brokenness. God is the one that is constantly pulling us out of those trials and He is the good that we see around us.
After my adoption, I grew up on the same ranch mentioned earlier and discovered my deep love for animals—especially horses and dogs. That little dog in Ukraine made a huge impact on my healing, and that connection inspired me to start dog breeding. I now live on a peaceful farm, surrounded by animals. Watching my dogs thrive in this environment made me want to give that same joy and healing to others that they brought to me.
I didn’t start breeding just because I love dogs. I started because I know, firsthand, how healing they can be.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Today, I’m focused on running two businesses, both of which are embedded in my personal story and passions: my dance floor rental company and my dog breeding program. They may seem like very different companies, but at the heart of both companies is the same goal: to create spaces where healing, joy, and growth can thrive.
My dance floor company was started from my love of celebrating love and life. After growing up in an environment where joy was inconsistent, I learned to appreciate the moments when people come together to dance, laugh, and create special memories. Our dance floors are designed to complement luxurious weddings, parties, and special events. To me, it’s more than a product—it’s a way to contribute to people’s happiest day of their lives. I love knowing that something I’ve started can be an impactful aesthetic and physical place to bring everyone together during someone’s once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
My dog breeding journey began from a place of healing. The first dog I had, which I found in a box back in Ukraine, gave me hope in the middle of chaos. That little puppy brought me comfort, joy, and a sense of purpose when everything else around me was falling apart. Today, I live on a peaceful, beautiful, big farm where I raise and breed dogs with that same hope—that they’ll bring love, comfort, and connection into someone else’s life. I focus on ethical breeding, quality care, and placing dogs into homes where they’ll be cherished.
What makes me happy about running my business is that my job is meaningful to me. To me, it’s not just about running a business but helping couples create experiences and for families to have a dog that can complete their family. Whether it’s a couple dancing for the first time as husband and wife, or someone meeting their new best friend in a puppy—I get to be part of stories that matter.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Faith – Trusting God Even When Life Doesn’t Make Complete Sense One of the most impactful things in my journey has been my faith in God. Even when everything around me felt broken, I believe He never left me. From praying for a family with horses, to seeing my Ukrainian friends adopted after my sister and I were, God kept showing up by answering my prayers.
Advice:
If you’re early in your journey of becoming a Christian or have had a hard life experience, I encourage you to start by simply talking to God. You don’t need perfect words, you just need honesty and submerging yourself in trusting Him with your trials. Ask Him to guide you, to heal you, and to show you purpose in your pain. Trusting God doesn’t mean life will be easy, but it does mean you’ll never walk through those hard times alone.
2. Resilience – Choosing Growth Instead of Bitterness
I’ve had every reason to be angry, to give up, and to choose the same path my biological parents did, or to let my past define me. But choosing to heal, to forgive, and to choose a better lifestyle instead of staying bitter changed everything. Forgiving my biological parents, letting go of anger, and choosing a different outcome for my life were all acts of resilience that set me free.
Advice:
Resilience isn’t about pretending that things in the past didn’t hurt you, but it is about deciding not to let the pain have the final say. Don’t rush your healing, but don’t stay stuck in it either. Journaling, prayer, therapy, and surrounding yourself with people who encourage growth can help build emotional strength over time.
3. Purpose – Turning Pain Into Something Meaningful
God took the most painful parts of my life and gave them purpose. From my dance floor business to my dog breeding program, everything I do today is rooted in the healing I’ve experienced. Now, I get to bring joy, comfort, and connection to others.
Advice:
Pay attention to what stirs your heart. Sometimes your calling is hidden in the very thing that once hurt you. Ask yourself how you can serve others through your experiences. When you find a way to use your story to lift others, that’s where purpose begins.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I get overwhelmed at times, there’s no question about it. I’m a mom to a two-year-old who requires a lot of attention, my husband is a firefighter who works 48 hours on/96 hours off, and I’m also running two businesses. Between caring for my animals, managing clients and events, and the everyday demands of life, it can feel overwhelming. There are truly moments where it’s hard to breathe, and I wonder how I’m going to get it all done.
What’s helped me most is learning to pause instead of constantly going. When I feel that things are starting to spiral, the first thing I do is pray. I ask God to help me refocus, give me strength, and remind me that I don’t have to carry it all alone. Just taking a moment to reconnect with Him helps bring peace to the madness.
I’ve found that taking plenty of breaks in the form of walks with my dogs or little one can significantly help bring me back down to a good baseline. Being in nature, even for 10 minutes, helps clear my mind. There’s something about the fresh air, the quiet, and being surrounded by animals that grounds me.
I’ve come to accept my lack of perfection in the works I do, which helps my progression forward, as I recognize not everything has to be done perfectly or all at once. Giving myself permission to rest, reset, or even reschedule when necessary has been so freeing. I also lean on community, whether it’s my husband, close friends, or family, I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask for help. I’m not weak for needing support, and I believe it’s necessary to have those connections for success and maintaining a quality state of mind.
Lastly, I remind myself why I’m doing all of this in the first place. I think back to where I came from and how far God has brought me. That shift in perspective can be powerful. I went from digging through trash for food to running two businesses, living on a peaceful farm, and raising a family. Remembering God’s faithfulness helps me keep going even when I’m tired.
My advice for others in pursuit of business ownership or for anyone working in fast changing fields would be to avoid pouring from an empty cup. Pray, breathe, rest, and don’t be afraid to take things down a notch. You’re not failing by needing a break; it’s a great thing to listen to the tune of your body and mind. You’re honoring your limits so you can keep showing up with purpose for each task.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://howdy-doodle.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_howdydoodle_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556095553269
Image Credits
Jenna Brooke Clark, Stacy Sms, Savannah Brodowski, Sarah Tribett, Lenora Roberts
