‘It’s important to acknowledge that animals have a profound impact on the well-being of people. It should be recognized more often.’

Levittown

“I was working at a vaccine clinic upstate when a woman brought Tucker in and mentioned that he was going to wind up in the shelter that night. She said that she found him 2 miles off of her backyard tied to a tree barking. I immediately knew that he was mine because he literally fell in my lap and gave me his belly. He became my best friend. He has always been so sweet and kind in nature. We started going to dog parks and I found other things to do with him on Long Island, so we grew close. He has always been attached to my hip. He’s a big cuddler!

“Now, Tucker is an emotional support animal. I had diagnosed anxiety, and I didn’t like the medication I was being prescribed. I felt like it would dull my happy even though it tamed my anxiety. My therapist and I felt that Tucker and his presence calmed my anxiety as a whole. My doctor doesn’t really believe in emotional support animals, but my therapist does, and she could see the difference in my body language when I would bring him with me to meetings. She would have me bring him and then sometimes I was told not to bring him. I would glow when I would talk about him. She thought it would be beneficial for me to have him with me at work for when things get stressful. I work at a school, and when I bring him to work he brightens everyone’s day.

He greets everyone as individuals—each person gets a different greeting. Tucker is so receptive of when people are not in a good mood or they’re sad.

“It puts a smile on my face when I’m walking into the school and everybody says Tucker’s name as he rolls over on his belly. He greets everyone as individuals—each person gets a different greeting. Tucker is so receptive of when people are not in a good mood or they’re sad. When students come into the main office seeking medical help or they’re upset and want someone to speak to, Tucker greets them at the door and you just see a sigh of relief come over them.

“To see the true impact that he’s having on a child is so overwhelming to witness. It’s just so warming and beautiful to see how much he affects people on a daily basis, myself included. It’s important to acknowledge that animals have a profound impact on the well-being of people. It should be recognized more often. People are generally happier. I certainly am.”

‘I got divorced, and I knew I had to get into this industry so I could help people never go through what I had to go through with someone narcissistic.’

Levittown

“After college, I was first a pharmaceutical rep. We learned about the human brain and narcissism. I was married at that time, with two young children. My mother had just died, and I came home that night, and I was praying, saying, ‘Mom, I know you didn’t believe in divorce, but my husband is narcissistic.’

“Then this dating service opened on Long Island. Once I saw it, it was like a sign from my mother in heaven. I got divorced, and I knew I had to get into this industry so I could help people never go through what I had to go through with someone narcissistic.

“Fifteen years ago, I opened up my own matchmaking services, and we’ve been growing strong ever since. Being positive is the most important key to success in finding love. I can’t teach that. I cannot make a negative person successful and I can’t make them positive. If that person is positive, I can work around any other nitty-gritty things to help them improve.

It means everything to me that Long Island singles entrust the most important thing in their lives to me. I truly fell in love with finding love for people. If you have love, you have everything.

“The best part is when they tell me they’re getting married. I have over 1,000 success stories. This one particular couple two years ago was always our favorite and they asked me if I would officiate their wedding. It means everything to me that Long Island singles entrust the most important thing in their lives to me. I truly fell in love with finding love for people. If you have love, you have everything.

“I’m seeing the greatest single men all the time. Many times, they’ll ask me if I’m single, but I’ll say I’m not ready yet. My life has always been my two children and my business. I never tried to be great at 10 different things, or even three different things. On my tombstone, I want it to say: great mother, great matchmaker. That’s all I want to be great at.”