When this storm devastated our mountain property, I realized these weren't just clients — they were families who'd cross state lines to help and those who could not come they donated generously to help with materials so we could rebuild from scratch
Like most folks here in the North Carolina mountains, I hoped Hurricane Helene would just be another roaring rainstorm rolling through. But I couldn't have been more wrong.
Look, we're no strangers to rough weather up here. Living in the mountains teaches you to prepare (especially with 20 plus dogs depending time of year). The thing is, this hurricane? Nobody saw it coming. Not a single person in our area was ready for what turned out to be the biggest weather disaster we'd seen in 100 years.
But here's what really caught me off guard: while Helene brought destruction, she also revealed something about our Fine & Dandy community that brought such a joy and love to my heart like I have never experienced.
When Radio Silence Hit, My Clients Launched a Search
Want to know what total isolation feels like? Imagine your whole world going dark in an instant. No power, no phones, no way to let anyone know you're okay.
Here's what it looked like in real life: The hurricane turned my driveway and property into an actual river (I'm not exaggerating). Trees and telephone lines blocked every escape route. And get this... the water pressure got so intense it pushed up through my septic system into the basement! There I was, stranded on what felt like a little island, completely cut off from the outside world.
In the meantime, my Fine & Dandy families, they weren't just sitting around hoping for the best.
These amazing people literally filed me on the missing persons list for the disaster. For their dog breeder! And it didn't stop there. They organized proof-of-life checks. Created phone chains through multiple people to track me down. One determined soul even reached out to my old high school trying to find connections. (Who does that for someone who just sold them a puppy?)
When I finally got back online and saw all those messages... MY HEART. I just sat there, stunned. These weren't just client check-ins — these were messages from people who genuinely cared if I was alive.
Volunteers Drove Hours to Rebuild Our Fences
The scariest part of losing those fences? The risk of my dogs not being safe & secure. And after Helene passed through, 85% of our fencing was just... gone. With 20 plus dogs, that's not just a problem. It was a problem that needed to be solved.
When word got out about the damage, I expected a few kind messages. Maybe some casual "thinking of you" texts. What happened instead? My Fine & Dandy families rallied like a championship team.
They jumped in their trucks with whatever tools they could gather and drove from different states to help. Some of these folks traveled as much as 6 hours just to reach us. And the thing that still gets me? They didn't just come once.
These incredible people:
Some had to find new routes to get to us, due to closed roads, to reach us
Brought tools,supplies and equipment
Put in 100 fence posts in the first round alone
Stayed multiple days, working from sunup to sundown
Kept coming back, trip after trip, despite living states away
Set up a GoFundMe
Looking at all these people working in my yard, something hit me: You don't drive hours through re-routed highways for someone and give up your weekends for just any business connection. This was something more. All so generously gave at all levels.
Mental Support
Financial Support
Physical Support
They were all my support to make it through a hard situation.
This was a group of true friends 🧡 My extended family.
The Fine & Dandy Community Rallied to Save Our Farm
When one of my clients asked to start a GoFundMe for rebuilding our fences, I honestly didn't know what to expect.
But our Fine & Dandy community? They showed up in ways I never imagined possible. Within just 10 days, they raised over $9,000 to help rebuild our fences. Not because anyone pressured them — they just wanted to help.
You know what really touched my heart? One of my clients, Marian, wrote:
"This text is overdue, and I have written you in my mind so many times. I have never been more overjoyed than when I saw your posts after the storm. I was reminded why I followed you as a breeder long before I contacted you. You are a resilient, strong woman with a heart for her animals like none other that I have seen. I have watched you with these new puppies and I see the love and care you pour into each puppy and each mom. I'm just so thankful for our precious Sully... and so grateful for your foresight in matching us with him."
Reading that stopped me in my tracks. See, all these years I've tried to be there for every question, every concern, every late-night worry. Not because I had to, but because I believed in building real relationships with my families. I just never realized how much those relationships would mean — not until they turned around and saved our Fine and Dandy Farm. They were there for me.
That fence fund? It wasn't just about donating to a good cause. It was about ensuring our Fine & Dandy family would rebuild in the face of adversity and grow stronger together.
Looking Forward
I used to think I understood what breeder-client relationships looked like. This experience changed everything for me.
Fine & Dandy has always been about more than just matching puppies with homes. It's about creating lasting bonds that support both dogs and humans through every stage of life. So whether you're thinking about welcoming home your own Aussiedoodle or just need advice about caring for your current pup, I'm here. You can reach out to me anytime, just like a friend.
After all, the best families are the ones that show up when it matters most.
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