Lou Ann Forbes

Sniff-itTM Lady & Rescue Liaison

A voice for the dogs. A voice for the concept of mutual respect, communication and trust developed at both ends of the leash. The A Sound Beginning Program provides us the perfect opportunity to enthusiastically use our talents. Passion is foundation.

My talent is creativity. I am a retired art teacher, founder and manager of Blue Sky Prairie Textiles LLC and an only child. Quirky combination? Perhaps. The important thing is that companion animals have always played an important role in my life. My creative solutions have always been good with animals. After designing and making the Sniff-it^TM from my fabric, everything changed. It turns out that the specific kind of felted wool fabric that is my art form is also the perfect diffuser for essential oil! Handmade, portable and beautiful, the Sniff-it enriches The A Sound Beginning Program by enabling the dog to employ its exquisite sense of smell to be calm and make better choices.

Our goal is to improve and build a larger and stronger relationship with rescue groups and their foster homes. Often, foster and rescue is so time and energy consuming that each endeavor isolates rather than draws people closer. Assisting the coordination of rescue groups, and particularly foster homes, is another way of using my creative problem solving. An inclusive and open approach to building a supportive community composed of A Sound Beginning, rescue groups, fosters and new adoption homes will give any dog the ultimate best chance of achieving a forever home.