Lydia DesRoche is the co-founder of NYC Dog & Cat Rescue group, A CAUSE FOR PAWS. Since it's establishment
in June of 2000, ACFP has helped rehome thousands of animals throughout the country while providing education and
training to new adopters. She regularly visited NYCACC to evaluate dogs and choose the dogs who were most likely
to thrive in an urban home environment. Lydia often returned from ACC with a foster dog whom she would personally
train and place. She remains in contact with every dog she has fostered ensuring continued success in their adoptive homes.
Many
of the rescued dogs came with bad habits and emotional scars from past neglect or abuse. Working with them made Lydia realize
she had a knack for canine behavior modification. Lydia enrolled in a 2 year Apprenticeship program with a well established
Training group, Who's Walking Who. This enriching program provided Lydia exposure to hundreds of dogs from different breeds
and backgrounds honing her skills as a handler and trainer. During her time at Who's Walking Who, she developed
a training and scholarship program open to volunteers and adoptable dogs of all Mayor's Alliance APOs.
In 2004,
Lydia established her own business offering both individual and group training for her clientele. Lydia treats every dog as
an individual and designs a program that helps each dog and its Guardian meet their goals and needs through positive
methods. In addition to her private clientele, Lydia designed and implemented a teen dog training course for NYCACC's
at-risk youth program and teaches Animal Haven's teen dog training program.
Lydia has appeared on Good
Day NY, Fox 5, & WNBC promoting adoption, giving agility demonstrations and has been featured in The Daily News, Time
Out NY, and Daily Candy to name a few. She can be seen daily walking through Central Park with her own dogs, Lizzy & Blue