Meet Lisa Doneyson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lisa Doneyson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lisa below.

Hi Lisa, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

For the last 25 years I have been filled with a drive to find my purpose. To make a meaningful difference. I broke into the world of dog training at the age of 16. My parents purchased my first working dog. A red Doberman I named Reicher. Our local schutzhund club was where I was introduced to obedience and protection training. My parents were of the mind that as long as I had my Doberman with me, no one would bother me. They were right lol. On more than one occasion that dog saved me.
As I got older my interest in training grew. I became interested in scent work and search & Rescue. I started a career in obedience training while studying scent work and trying to get into S&R. It was very difficult trying to find the right people to connect with for S&R. It was such a tight knit community, you really had to know someone. It took me nearly 17 years to finally make the right connections. I was finally training with the best and felt like I had reached my goal. The next step was to actually be hired as a S&R trainer, but it would never come to fruition. I faced cancer more than once during this time. Breast cancer surgeries and then thyroid cancer and radiation. I tried so hard, to the point of showing up for training 24 hours after my thyroidectomy and not saying anything. I had come too far and was so close to accomplishing my dreams. I was offered a trainer position with Search dog foundation!
Finally all of my hard work was going to pay off. Well it didn’t, unfortunately i needed 2 more breast surgeries and the position couldn’t wait. I was passed over. The next few years would be very difficult health wise.
Now I had still made strides in my career. I produced the first certified Doberman in bed bug detection. Had an article published in UDC magazine for it. I had trained autism canine’s to assist with children, and countless dogs for families. I was making a difference but still felt like I wasn’t doing enough. I wanted my children to be proud of who I was. I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives the way my first Doberman (Reicher) made in mine. I started Blue Light Canine Foundation and found myself helping human trafficking survivors feel safe again. It all circled back to my parents keeping me safe at 16. A well trained dog is a lot scarier than an untrained dog. They are a natural deterrent. They provide comfort and security when it’s needed most. The trauma informed canine creates a ripple effect. This one dog can make that big of a difference. After 25 years I found my purpose

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I specialize in rescuing canines from high kill shelters and situations. Training as trauma informed canines for victims of human trafficking, autism, and companionship. I’m a firm believer in the ripple effect. This one small act has life changing effects for the dogs and their humans.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back the 3 things that helped me the most were, constantly educating myself, putting myself with more knowledge people, and never giving in even when I kept failing. The best advice I can give is to get back up and keep charging forward when life throws road blocks at you. Surround yourself with people who want you to succeed

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I feel overwhelmed a lot lol
There seems to always be someone or something trying to prevent me from moving forward. When this happens I will give myself the opportunity to rest so that I can rest my focus and try a different approach. Sometimes really do need to take a step back to gain the perspective you need to plot a different course

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Bluelightcaninefoundation.org
• Instagram: Bluelightcaninefoundation_
• Facebook: Blue Light Canine Foundation

Image Credits

Kodi Sieben media