About Us

I’m Brooke, and this project was created in honor of my Australian Shepherd, Poppy.

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Poppy had some mild anxiety and occasional reactivity, and we simply wanted to give her extra support. We enrolled her in a four-week boarding and training program, trusting that trained professionals would help her build confidence and come home safe and happy.
 

But that never happened. Poppy mysteriously died while in their care, and we received no clear explanation, no transparency, and no accountability for what happened to her.
 

Afterward, I learned something I never expected: in Texas, anyone can open a dog “training school” or boarding program. There is no education requirement, no licensing, no inspections, and no oversight of how dogs are trained, handled, or kept. Most standards that families assume exist simply don’t.
 

Texas has no statewide rules for:

 

• Training methods (including shock collars or aversive tools)

 

• How many dogs are housed together

 

• Hygiene or sanitation

 

• Food quality or feeding practices

 

• Required supervision

 

• Emergency response or safety protocols

 

• Mandatory notification to owners if a dog becomes sick, injured, or involved in an accident

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One recent law, Texas House Bill 2063 (2023), requires kennels to tell owners if pets will be left unattended and whether the facility has fire-safety systems. This is a start—but it does not regulate training, does not require qualifications, and does not protect dogs from unsafe care.

Poppy’s loss revealed the reality that many families discover only after it’s too late: Texas has virtually no protections for dogs in boarding and training programs.

 

This website exists to share Poppy’s story, raise awareness, and advocate for common-sense standards, transparency, and accountability—so no other family has to go through what mine did.