Guest: Tracy Bowman with Fidos for Freedom

Today we are replaying a wonderful show from April 12 of last year where we talked with Tracy Bowman with Fidos for Freedom. Tracy has been a volunteer with Fidos since 2001, when her daughter Samantha became a junior volunteer. In 2003, Tracy joined the Fido's Training Department as an assistance dog trainer. Since that time, Tracy and her family have cared for; puppy raised, and trained many Fidos assistance dogs. Tracy has served on the Fidos Board since 2003 and currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors. Professionally, Tracy has worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 36 years with 24 years' experience in the application, development, and provisioning of information technology (IT) solutions, systems, and end user support. Tracy has 20 years of leadership and management experience; for the past eight years, she has focused on plant and animal health policy issues, currently leading a team of policy and legal analysts, public communications specialists, and experts in international and intergovernmental affairs. Tracy is married to Brian, a fellow Fidos volunteer. Together, they have one daughter, Samantha, who has served as a Fidos puppy raiser and trainer and is currently working on a clinical doctorate in audiology, no doubt inspired by her work at Fidos with people with hearing loss. Besides the many Fidos dogs in training that have made the Bowman household their home, Brian and Tracy have two dogs of their own: Brody, a 9 year old smooth collie who serves as a Fidos therapy dog and Mischief, a retired 14 year old Pomeranian Fidos therapy dog. In her spare time, Tracy is active in her church, working on its small groups ministry. Website: http://www.fidosforfreedom.org/