Dogs help floral designer find balance, peace in life

When your office is a third of an acre of lush grass and sunshine and your clients do all the legwork and you measure your daily returns in the twitching paws of dreaming pups, you, dear sir or madam, are a winner in the game of life.

You are hope for the lowing herded masses.

You are, at the very least, Lisa Libby, professional dog park sitter.

"I love what I do," says Libby. "I work from my heart and I try to give these dogs special love."

Born and raised in Pukalani, Maui, Libby started out as a professional floral designer. Working for the prestigious M Group Scenic Studios, Libby helped design large-scale floral arrangements for two Super Bowls. She also worked for Maui-based events specialists Mary Charles & Associates, designing floral decorations for high-profile clients like Hyundai.

Alas, the flower business was not, as it were, all roses. Tight deadlines, high expectations and finicky clients eventually took their toll.

"Flowers stressed me out," says Libby, laughing.

Shortly after moving to Oahu, Libby found herself "eaten alive by the flower sharks" and lacking the motivation to press forward in a profession that promised nothing but more stress.

Libby wanted peace, and she found it at the Diamond Head Bark Park.

"I was sad so I just took my dog to the park every day," Libby says. "Eventually, I made a lot of beautiful friends and got to spend time with a lot of great dogs."

When one of Libby’s newfound friends asked if she could walk her dog while she was away, Libby gladly obliged. That led to other friends asking for similar pup-walking favors.

Libby couldn’t have been happier.

"Dogs belong unleashed, in natural surroundings, with other dogs," Libby says. "I pick them up from home, run them for an hour, then take them back home. They’re knocked out for the rest of the day."

Libby’s burgeoning circle of clients eventually insisted on paying for her services. Libby takes the money, keeps just enough for gas and incidentals, and donates the rest to the park.

"It was never my intention to make money off these dogs," she says.

After 24 stressful years in the flower design business, Libby says she’s found the right balance for herself. She walks as many as 18 dogs a day, shuttling them to the park in groups of up to six at a time. She also continues to do floral arrangements for weddings but spends much of her time advising brides on how to cut expenses.

In addition, Libby operates the Hawaii Dog Tails Facebook page as a "reality channel for dog lovers."

"I learn a lot from dogs," she says. "Dogs always feel good now. I try to put myself in the same position. I don’t dwell in the past. I try to turn negatives into positives. I try to live like they do."