WESST Client Profiles

Amy Levya is a stay-at-home mom and entrepreneur. When she was looking for an appropriate location for her mobile and training business for dogs, Amy needed to find a location and option that worked for both her business and her family. She loves working with dogs and wanted to keep her business small-scale to ensure she was prioritizing being a stay-at-home mom to her two small children. In August 2024, she learned about WESST through the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce while exploring training facility options. 

Amy encountered zoning issues for her specific business, jumping through hoops for city ordinances, and high rental prices, and she ultimately chose to run a multi-structured business. Offering a mobile component to her business allowed her to meet private clients at home, as well as local parks. The boarding and training portion of her business is contained within her personal residence and allows more flexibility.  Both structures have come with their challenges too, from local park guidelines and city rules and city ordinance compliance and inspections to manage in her home. 

She was able to obtain a loan through WESST, securing a location to expand the boarding side of her business and allow space for an indoor training program. “My boarding program now enables long-term training, and I work with them daily on things like socialization and mental enrichment,” says Amy. “This has been a huge improvement to my training offerings, being the most sustainable and profitable component.”