Longer Bio for Anyone
Heidi Kristan Mottin is a volunteer & animal rescue advocate in southeastern PA, outside of Philadelphia. She & her pit bull Reed, whom she rescued from a shelter where he had resided for 4 years, work as a therapy dog team in area schools & hospitals.
Heidi has always been a dog lover & has had many rescue dogs. Almost all of her childhood pictures show her arms around a dog or a puppy in her lap.
Heidi's early career years were spent in advertising sales, during which time she earned a Master's Degree in Training & Organizational Development from St. Joseph's University. In 2010 she became the Financial Controller for her husband's golf course renovation company, freeing up more time for her to volunteer with animals.
She became passionate about working with difficult & misunderstood dogs in the shelter. Reed was one of those dogs whom Heidi knew needed a chance for someone to believe in him. So she worked with Reed for 2 years at the shelter before adopting him in September 2015. One year later Heidi & Reed became a Certified Therapy Dog team.
Heidi was inspired to write her first children's book after witnessing how the story of Reed's resilient journey, a homeless dog to therapy dog, resonated with all who met (and pet) him, from preschoolers to high schoolers to adults. Her goal is to spread Reed's multi-faceted message of hope & redemption to every person possible while encouraging pet rescue/adoption & breed awareness in the process. She believes every living being has worth & a purpose — sometimes it just takes one person to believe.
In addition to volunteering with animals, training her rescue dogs & writing, Heidi also competes in half marathons &triathlons. Her other rescue dog Rooney enjoys accompanying her on runs & makes a great training partner.